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twitter + obama -- huh?

by TimothyW
28 replies
obama is giving out (to the public) the twitter names of congress people (so the public can make their opinions heard).

But -- and this may be a dumb question -- how does that accomplish anything? Having a person's twitter name only allows you to LISTEN to them, not to SPEAK (send a message) TO them, right?

When you follow someone on twitter, you are LISTENING to what they tweet OUTWARDS. Has nothing to do with the ability to send THEM messages -- right?
#huh #obama #twitter
  • Profile picture of the author ladywriter
    You can send direct messages on Twitter.

    Read about Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark, NJ, and how he used twitter during the blizzard earlier this (?) year.
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  • Profile picture of the author J Bold
    Of course you can message someone of you have their twitter name. You can also tweet and mention their username in the tweet and they'll see it on their dashboard where they can see "mentions" of their twitter username. So very likely you could actually let them know how you feel, yes.
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  • Profile picture of the author Micah Medina
    Hi there, America. I'm Barack Obama.

    Are you too lazy to write, call or send an email to your Congressman? Well, I've got an answer for you... :p
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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
    I don't get it. What's the difference between "sending someone a msg via twitter" (unsolicited) + SPAM?

    I thought the entire foundation of the internet was: If I want to LISTEN to (whomever), I can CHOOSE to do that (subscribe / opt in). But YOU sending me a msg, without my in-advance permission? Nope. Not allowed.

    Again -- isn't that SPAM?
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    • Profile picture of the author Micah Medina
      Originally Posted by TimothyW View Post

      Again -- isn't that SPAM?
      Well, there are these certain people called public representatives and -
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    • Profile picture of the author gefflong
      Originally Posted by TimothyW View Post

      I don't get it. What's the difference between "sending someone a msg via twitter" (unsolicited) + SPAM?

      I thought the entire foundation of the internet was: If I want to LISTEN to (whomever), I can CHOOSE to do that (subscribe / opt in). But YOU sending me a msg, without my in-advance permission? Nope. Not allowed.

      Again -- isn't that SPAM?
      I'm thinking people don't quite understand what SPAM really is. It is used more as a catch-all term now and people say it when referring to anything unwanted.

      In reality, spam is irrelevant or inappropriate messages sent on the Internet to a large number of recipients.
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      • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
        Originally Posted by gefflong View Post

        I'm thinking people don't quite understand what SPAM really is. It is used more as a catch-all term now and people say it when referring to anything unwanted.

        In reality, spam is irrelevant or inappropriate messages sent on the Internet to a large number of recipients.
        So, sending unsolicited emails to individuals or companies is not spam?

        Who determines what is irrelevant and/or inappropriate?

        What is a "large number" of recipients?

        What are the guidelines?

        I thought any "unsolicited" emails were considered spam.
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        • Profile picture of the author gefflong
          Originally Posted by TimothyW View Post

          So, sending unsolicited emails to individuals or companies is not spam?

          Who determines what is irrelevant and/or inappropriate?

          What is a "large number" of recipients?

          What are the guidelines?

          I thought any "unsolicited" emails were considered spam.
          You thought wrong.

          Just because my Senator doesn't "solicit" my email message doesn't mean it is considered "spam" if I do send him one. Sending an email message would be me giving my Senator or Representative my opinion... Which he should consider since he is representing me in the House or Senate.

          I don't think Obama was asking each one of us to contact every Senator and Representative... just those who represent us.

          Big difference.
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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
    that guru said...

    you can only Direct Message people who follow you. you can @reply/@mention any twitter user even if they dont follow you, but not direct message.

    one of twitter's dumb rules.

    __________________________________


    That was my point. The internet isn't set up so people can send msgs UNsolicited to whomever they choose. It is set up (in general) to NOT allow that. That is considered SPAM.

    Also, one can debate whether that twitter rule is dumb or not. In any case, it *IS* in keeping with how the i-net works, in general. Thank you Seth Godin.
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  • Profile picture of the author Robert Michael
    also, another reason this does no good, is people who own programs like tweet attacks can just go and create thousands of accounts and then blast out millions of @mentions to these people.

    it cant be trusted.. just because u get a message on twitter that looks real, doesnt mean was sent by a human.

    so these officials would probably just disregard them anyway
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  • Profile picture of the author PepperVA
    I'm sure Obama has a good intention behind this.

    And yes, I think Twitter is a very powerful tool to reach the public & solicit their views.

    I've heard of a President as well who utilized Facebook for his people so address their concerns to the government, and it had been a success.

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    • Profile picture of the author nthmarketing
      Originally Posted by PepperVA View Post

      I'm sure Obama has a good intention behind this.
      My grandma always told me that the pathway to hell is paved with people with good intentions, I guess this verifies it.
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      • Profile picture of the author Micah Medina
        Originally Posted by nthmarketing View Post

        My grandma always told me that the pathway to hell is paved with people with good intentions, I guess this verifies it.
        My grandma told me it was paved with people comparing innocuous things to Satan.
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  • Profile picture of the author OpticalOut
    What percentage of US government officials are going to send pictures of their **** now that they are using twitter? LOL. Seems like it could be a good way to get in contact with our representatives. Then again, I bet that the person behind that account is just a staff who replies with general responses (just like email).
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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
    I didn't want this thread to get political. Just wanted the technical details of what twitter does + does not allow, etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
    Here's a quote from an article...

    But then his staff kept Obama's Twitter feed busy, posting Twitter handles of Republican representatives and senators from each state so people could personalize their appeal.
    The "compromise" hashtag, which helps categorize Tweets into themes -- was flooded with messages from people using the 140-character Twitter limit to make their wishes heard.


    One example came from the Twitter account of John McMullen, who describes himself as a designer from California. The Tweet, addressed to Colorado Republican representatives Cory Gardner, Mike Coffman and Scott Tipton, read....


    ______________________________


    Huh? I still don't get what that means -- "The tweet, ADDRESSED TO..."


    As far as I can tell, that's not how tweets work.
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    • Profile picture of the author Robert Michael
      Originally Posted by TimothyW View Post

      Here's a quote from an article...

      But then his staff kept Obama's Twitter feed busy, posting Twitter handles of Republican representatives and senators from each state so people could personalize their appeal.
      The "compromise" hashtag, which helps categorize Tweets into themes -- was flooded with messages from people using the 140-character Twitter limit to make their wishes heard.


      One example came from the Twitter account of John McMullen, who describes himself as a designer from California. The Tweet, addressed to Colorado Republican representatives Cory Gardner, Mike Coffman and Scott Tipton, read....


      ______________________________


      Huh? I still don't get what that means -- "The tweet, ADDRESSED TO..."


      As far as I can tell, that's not how tweets work.
      you can @mention someone, which addresses the tweet to them.
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      • Profile picture of the author Justin Jordan
        Dude, have you ever even used Twitter? Because these questions sure make it sound like you don't.

        You can direct a message to anyone, if you know their username, regardless of what the folloiwing relationship is. I'm Justin_Jordan - go sign in or sign up and send a tweet starting with @Justin_Jordan - I'll see it.

        As to spam, it's not. I'm not going to try to convince you that's not, because from the looks of it you've made up your mind, but JUST sending someone an unsolicited message is not spam even if they were a private citizen. But these are not private citizens, and don't have the same expectations about privacy. This is why you can write things about politicians and other celebrities that would get your butt sued if they were private people.
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        • Profile picture of the author Robert Michael
          Originally Posted by Justin Jordan View Post

          Dude, have you ever even used Twitter? Because these questions sure make it sound like you don't.

          You can direct a message to anyone, if you know their username, regardless of what the folloiwing relationship is. I'm Justin_Jordan - go sign in or sign up and send a tweet starting with @Justin_Jordan - I'll see it.

          As to spam, it's not. I'm not going to try to convince you that's not, because from the looks of it you've made up your mind, but JUST sending someone an unsolicited message is not spam even if they were a private citizen. But these are not private citizens, and don't have the same expectations about privacy. This is why you can write things about politicians and other celebrities that would get your butt sued if they were private people.
          @Justin_Jordan is a mention/reply - NOT a direct message.
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    • Profile picture of the author gefflong
      Originally Posted by TimothyW View Post

      Here's a quote from an article...

      But then his staff kept Obama's Twitter feed busy, posting Twitter handles of Republican representatives and senators from each state so people could personalize their appeal.
      The "compromise" hashtag, which helps categorize Tweets into themes -- was flooded with messages from people using the 140-character Twitter limit to make their wishes heard.


      One example came from the Twitter account of John McMullen, who describes himself as a designer from California. The Tweet, addressed to Colorado Republican representatives Cory Gardner, Mike Coffman and Scott Tipton, read....


      ______________________________


      Huh? I still don't get what that means -- "The tweet, ADDRESSED TO..."


      As far as I can tell, that's not how tweets work.
      That's not what Obama was asking people to do. Here is what he said.

      "Let your members of Congress know, make a phone call, send an e-mail, tweet, keep the pressure on Washington and we can get past this," said @BarackObama.

      "If you live in Wisconsin, ask @SenRonJohnson Senator Ron Johnson (SenRonJohnson) on Twitter to support a bipartisan compromise to the debt crisis," one tweet said.

      He was asking people to reach out to THEIR Senators... Can't really control how questionable people will use information.
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  • Profile picture of the author sscot
    Does anybody know that which kind of products or services are converting well among congress people? :p
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    I guarantee you that at this point, it's a complete waste to try and send any kind of message to your representative. It's not like they're going to see that one tweet out of a million and say, "holy crap that guy has a point. I think I'll change my position!"

    Right now they're not looking or listening to any of it.

    I think he actually has an ulterior motive for mentioning twitter, and that's to get more people to use it. I'm sure we'll find out the why later.
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  • Profile picture of the author laustinseo
    Not only can you direct message them but you can reply them and it shows in their mentions... Also Obama lost 10,000 folllowers for posting 100+ times in a few hours.
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    • Profile picture of the author GlobalTrader
      Originally Posted by laustinseo View Post

      Not only can you direct message them but you can reply them and it shows in their mentions... Also Obama lost 10,000 folllowers for posting 100+ times in a few hours.
      Actually it is over 40,000 followers as of two days ago per the following article -

      President Barack Obama takes debt battle to Twitter, loses more than 40,000 followers in one day

      If Internet laws are like telephone laws then our illustrious leaders have exempted themselves from having to abide by them. In regards to the Do Not Call lists, both political and charitable organizations are exempt.
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      GlobalTrader

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  • Profile picture of the author Caleb Spilchen
    I unfollowed Obama for a reason. He didn't respect his followers at all.

    I think they should teach Presidents how to use Twitter.

    Caleb
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    Canadian Expat Living in Medellin, Colombia

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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
    gefflong...

    You said...

    He was asking people to reach out to THEIR Senators... Can't really control how questionable people will use information.

    _______________________________

    Forget Obama - forget who he is urging people to send tweets "TO."

    What I'm trying to get at is, what does it mean to "send a tweet TO" someone -- anyone.
    (I mean sending a tweet "TO" a particular person who is NOT following you)

    I see now that it is possible to put someone's handle into your tweet, then it will be "seen" by the intended recipient's "mention" section.

    But, that's not really sending a tweet "TO" an intended person. As whosthatguru is pointing out.

    So, this from Justin Jordan:
    "You can direct a message to anyone, if you know their username, regardless of what the following relationship is."
    is incorrect.
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