Comments on: Why Twitter Doesn’t Work http://trishatorrey.com/2009/05/14/why-twitter-doesnt-work/ A blog about patient empowerment, advocacy, safety, consumerism and tools to navigate the dysfunction of American health care. Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:29:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Char Brooks http://trishatorrey.com/2009/05/14/why-twitter-doesnt-work/comment-page-2/#comment-32527 Char Brooks Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:45:09 +0000 http://trishatorrey.com/?p=930#comment-32527 I have had the same issues with Twitter that Lisa has had. I have asked questions, felt like a ghost in the middle of conversations that I don't have time for (as you said Trisha), been a good listener and responsive and not gotten feedback. I've read Twitter power, followed his steps for checking in and finding thought leaders and still haven't figured out a way to make this a good use of my time and enjoyable for me. I'm always willing to learn new ways. I have a book coming out shortly and am a member of several two private forums and others have offered to "tweet it up" for me. That's really supportive and I appreciate that. I hear you Trisha when you say it may be that I'm following the wrong people or too many people if this is the case. I follow many of the same people you do, I suspect, because our fields of interest are similar. I welcome any advice you or others have on this. Thanks. I have had the same issues with Twitter that Lisa has had. I have asked questions, felt like a ghost in the middle of conversations that I don’t have time for (as you said Trisha), been a good listener and responsive and not gotten feedback.

I’ve read Twitter power, followed his steps for checking in and finding thought leaders and still haven’t figured out a way to make this a good use of my time and enjoyable for me.

I’m always willing to learn new ways. I have a book coming out shortly and am a member of several two private forums and others have offered to “tweet it up” for me. That’s really supportive and I appreciate that.

I hear you Trisha when you say it may be that I’m following the wrong people or too many people if this is the case. I follow many of the same people you do, I suspect, because our fields of interest are similar. I welcome any advice you or others have on this.

Thanks.

]]> By: W. Eric Martin http://trishatorrey.com/2009/05/14/why-twitter-doesnt-work/comment-page-2/#comment-31761 W. Eric Martin Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:37:50 +0000 http://trishatorrey.com/?p=930#comment-31761 Twitter is just a piece of technology, and it doesn't have to be used as originally intended. I run a website about board games, for example, and I use my Twitter account to post information about games being released in North America, links to interviews with game designers and publishers, links to reviews of hot games, and still more links to other game-related articles and miscellania. While I could post such material directly on my website, effectively I'm serving as a news scoop for my readers and funneling the information directly to them, as if they've subscribed to a niche newspaper. I don't follow anyone or reply because that's not the purpose of my Twitter feed as I see it. Having ongoing conversations would reduce the value of the feed to my readers. Twitter is just a piece of technology, and it doesn’t have to be used as originally intended. I run a website about board games, for example, and I use my Twitter account to post information about games being released in North America, links to interviews with game designers and publishers, links to reviews of hot games, and still more links to other game-related articles and miscellania.

While I could post such material directly on my website, effectively I’m serving as a news scoop for my readers and funneling the information directly to them, as if they’ve subscribed to a niche newspaper. I don’t follow anyone or reply because that’s not the purpose of my Twitter feed as I see it. Having ongoing conversations would reduce the value of the feed to my readers.

]]> By: PB http://trishatorrey.com/2009/05/14/why-twitter-doesnt-work/comment-page-2/#comment-31610 PB Wed, 27 May 2009 07:08:38 +0000 http://trishatorrey.com/?p=930#comment-31610 This is a great post. You are so right, it only works if you allow it to, if you engage people and then really listen to what they are saying. Who knows, you might just learn something useful from someone else. I have. This is a great post. You are so right, it only works if you allow it to, if you engage people and then really listen to what they are saying. Who knows, you might just learn something useful from someone else. I have.

]]> By: Pat Morello http://trishatorrey.com/2009/05/14/why-twitter-doesnt-work/comment-page-1/#comment-31544 Pat Morello Thu, 14 May 2009 18:11:02 +0000 http://trishatorrey.com/?p=930#comment-31544 Lisa, I'm not sure that it's actually working but that is what I've been doing, so here's hoping! Can you contact me privately, please? I have some advocacy questions I would like to ask you. Thanks, Pat Lisa, I’m not sure that it’s actually working but that is what I’ve been doing, so here’s hoping! Can you contact me privately, please? I have some advocacy questions I would like to ask you. Thanks,

Pat

]]> By: Trisha Torrey http://trishatorrey.com/2009/05/14/why-twitter-doesnt-work/comment-page-1/#comment-31543 Trisha Torrey Thu, 14 May 2009 17:28:08 +0000 http://trishatorrey.com/?p=930#comment-31543 Lisa, You may need to re-think who you follow. I would love to follow everyone who follows me, but I think I would feel overwhelmed as you do. Instead I follow people I consider to be thought-leaders in my patient empowerment sphere. Then, for example, when someone posts a link that is of interest, I might retweet it (RT). Or I might reply to that person and comment on it. The only conversation I need to follow closely is the one with the person I have just replied to. Also, once you have found those thought-leaders, then follow the people they are following so you can take part in broader conversations. Hate to say it, but I would unfollow those who are talking about stuff that doesn't affect me. Nice for them, but I just don't have time. Trisha Lisa,

You may need to re-think who you follow. I would love to follow everyone who follows me, but I think I would feel overwhelmed as you do. Instead I follow people I consider to be thought-leaders in my patient empowerment sphere.

Then, for example, when someone posts a link that is of interest, I might retweet it (RT). Or I might reply to that person and comment on it. The only conversation I need to follow closely is the one with the person I have just replied to.

Also, once you have found those thought-leaders, then follow the people they are following so you can take part in broader conversations.

Hate to say it, but I would unfollow those who are talking about stuff that doesn’t affect me. Nice for them, but I just don’t have time.

Trisha

]]> By: Lisa http://trishatorrey.com/2009/05/14/why-twitter-doesnt-work/comment-page-1/#comment-31542 Lisa Thu, 14 May 2009 17:22:57 +0000 http://trishatorrey.com/?p=930#comment-31542 OK, I admit I just don't get it. If I "follow" people, I get bits and pieces of conversations they're having with people I'm not following. And If I WERE following all those people, I'd get nothing but a pile of chaotic tweets that don't relate to one another in any way! Plus, I'd have to be on Twitter 24/7 to follow anything with a hope of understanding the thread. Meanwhile, I have hundreds of people following me with whom I have nothing in common except a general interest in the topic of autism (or a personal connection). I tried following people, but wound up with conversations like... My sink is clogged. I think I've caught the swine flu. My kids are in a show today! I know the name of a plumber. How about those Celtics? I mean - what you're describing works in a forum, a blog, or even a listserve. But on Twitter?? Lisa OK, I admit I just don’t get it. If I “follow” people, I get bits and pieces of conversations they’re having with people I’m not following. And If I WERE following all those people, I’d get nothing but a pile of chaotic tweets that don’t relate to one another in any way! Plus, I’d have to be on Twitter 24/7 to follow anything with a hope of understanding the thread.

Meanwhile, I have hundreds of people following me with whom I have nothing in common except a general interest in the topic of autism (or a personal connection).

I tried following people, but wound up with conversations like…

My sink is clogged.
I think I’ve caught the swine flu.
My kids are in a show today!
I know the name of a plumber.
How about those Celtics?

I mean – what you’re describing works in a forum, a blog, or even a listserve. But on Twitter??

Lisa

]]> By: Joan http://trishatorrey.com/2009/05/14/why-twitter-doesnt-work/comment-page-1/#comment-31541 Joan Thu, 14 May 2009 14:17:24 +0000 http://trishatorrey.com/?p=930#comment-31541 You are so right! People need to learn how to use Twitter the right way and not get on followers nerves :) You are so right! People need to learn how to use Twitter the right way and not get on followers nerves :)

]]> By: Carol Dunlop http://trishatorrey.com/2009/05/14/why-twitter-doesnt-work/comment-page-1/#comment-31540 Carol Dunlop Thu, 14 May 2009 12:29:44 +0000 http://trishatorrey.com/?p=930#comment-31540 This is a great post. You are so right, it only works if you allow it to, if you engage people and then really listen to what they are saying. Who knows, you might just learn something useful from someone else. I have. This is a great post. You are so right, it only works if you allow it to, if you engage people and then really listen to what they are saying. Who knows, you might just learn something useful from someone else. I have.

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