Comments on: Automation Defeats the Purpose of Social Media

By: Did You Get Caught Trying to Boost Your Follower Count? | SheenOnline

Did You Get Caught Trying to Boost Your Follower Count? | SheenOnline — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:21:20 +0000

[...] might also like…Automation Defeats the Purpose of Social Media5 Easy Ways to Explain Twitter Without the Geek GarbageAn iPhone Case Won’t Help it Work [...]

By: bonnieL

bonnieL — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 04:59:30 +0000

*You find people and connect with them based on the value they have to offer you. That is the most basic action that occurs and everything else builds from that simple choice of “following” someone.*

So simply, yet accurately described. Thank you.

By: bonnieL

bonnieL — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:59:30 +0000

So simply, yet accurately described. Thank you.

By: Rahsheen Porter

Rahsheen Porter — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:48:03 +0000

I agree. If you wouldn't do it in someone's face, you probably shouldn't do it online.

By: ZackBrandit

ZackBrandit — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:55:38 +0000

Interesting thoughts. Being new on Twitter, I noticed that every time I follow someone, I get also followed, even though I have made just a few tweets. Some might see it as a token of appreciation, others as an extra way to get visibility.

You can find the same behavior on social networks such as LinkedIn. Some people see a sport in getting as many contacts as possible, yet they don't really use them. When talking about Twitter I tend to think that those who auto-follow are also the biggest users and though it is impossible to "physically or mentally" follow 40.000 people everyday, they use the @name to have conversations with the participating/interesting ones.

What I'd like to know is how you can differentiate someone who personally decided to follow you from someone who did it automatically. Is there a way to know?

I discovered your blog while using Friendfeed, and I like it.
will be back

By: Rahsheen Porter

Rahsheen Porter — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 03:01:05 +0000

Not really any way to know if someone has auto-followed you, but I think it's just more of an issue to auto-follow others. Although, as I get more and more followers, I'm starting to wonder if I might change my mind on the subject. going through 50 to 100 Twitter profiles becomes tiresome

By: Top 5 SM Trends That Should Die Before 2009 : 42 Points on a Double Word Score

Top 5 SM Trends That Should Die Before 2009 : 42 Points on a Double Word Score — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:20:03 +0000

[...] Chris Brogan – a man far wiser than I – started discussing this on Twitter just last night based on this blog post and this blog post, which is going to make me look like I’m cribbing ideas. But I promise, [...]

By: Naturally Alise

Naturally Alise — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:10:21 +0000

A lot of the annoying and irritating factors on social networking stems from the fact that many people on these sites lack social graces/training in "real life." Most of the practices online would not fly at all with their "real life" equivalents.

By: KyNam Doan

KyNam Doan — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:01:35 +0000

Hello Rasheen. I completely agree with you on the harmful effects of auto-reply/DM. However, my position on the auto-follow is a little more nuanced. If someone is interested in what you have to say, chances are that you will be interested in what they have to say.

I don't auto-follow, but I tend to follow-back most people to take advantage of the long-tail effect (as many people will un-follow if you don't follow them back and I don't expect this behavior ever changing).

Additionally, I don't know them yet and a small twitter bio doesn't do them justice. If they come to my attention on Tweetdeck then I might begin interacting with them.

Thanks for the post!

By: Denise

Denise — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:28:35 +0000

Hear, hear! I am being stalked on Twitter and I don't know why:) If I don't know you or know of you then should I care about yours sex life,your love life, your childrens' lives, or your inspirational thought of the day? Maybe I should, I dunno:(

By: sHaE-sHaE

sHaE-sHaE — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 07:43:47 +0000

I think you rlast line summed it up. Some people are mailing list or message board material. They really aren't the Twitter types.

By: Rahsheen Porter

Rahsheen Porter — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:44:30 +0000

Always appreciate your comments. It's definitely an ego thing and it's something that really gets under my skin. When you begin to focus on numbers and metrics and stats, you forget to actually provide value. Those numbers represent people and those people didn't come just to be counted.

By: Shevonne

Shevonne — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 05:38:13 +0000

I think people put their egos in it sometimes. If they see that someone hasn't followed them, then they unfollow them? Why? If you find that person interesting, who cares if he/she hasn't noticed you? With auto replies, I have noticed more and more people doing this. It's not like Twitter is an Ezine, so why are people using auto replies? I find them annoying. Great post, as always.