Comments on: 5 Reasons Twitter Direct Messages Are Useless

By: Jef Nance

Jef Nance — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:37:25 +0000

Just another against-the-grain post from Seth that violates the misconceptions of the average person using Twitter.

Thanks for being un-average, Seth, and please continue to buck
the common logic on social media and Twitter specifically. They'd
be wise to put you on staff over there in SF, but I'm not sure they
could take it.

You are a pioneer, Sir... your legendary un-follow of 30k people
still makes me laugh! Right on, Seth, nicely done...

-jef

By: sethsimonds

sethsimonds — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:42:14 +0000

Ahh, but I don't believe I said "entirely worthless." =)

It makes sense to use a DM like leaving a note on the counter...except it's a note that you have no real way of keeping track of. Great for blurbs though.

In the end, if you find that something works well for you, please ignore me. Twitter is many things to a variety of people. I delight in that fact and understand that we all walk away from the party with a different back of left-overs.

Thanks!

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:16:35 +0000

Actually, I communicate with several colleagues on Twitter — not sure why, just got in the habit, and it works fine. Updated version of leaving a note on the counter, I guess.
The fact that there are people who misuse it doesn't mean it's entirely worthless.

By: sethsimonds

sethsimonds — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:59:39 +0000

Perhaps a few international women? =)

I read all of my DM's (~40/day) and they seem to work well as a different type of twitter stream. Most of it's just "you on skype?" etc.

Hobbies are good. Collect the whole set!

By: Carlos Duran

Carlos Duran — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:01:40 +0000

When I first started on Twitter all of like 2 months ago or so, I used to DM's to meet people I wanted to build a working relationship with, that is... UNTIL... I realized bots had taken over DM's & most folks simply don't read them.

So now I just use it when someone sends me a DM, guess I'm one of the few lonely Twitters who reads his DM's, maybe I need more women in my life or at least a new hobby. =)

All the Best,
~Carlos Duran
http://twitter.com/CarlosDuranLive

By: sethsimonds

sethsimonds — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:08:39 +0000

What you say about the speed of DM's being sent as text messages makes sense.

Not sure about the rest. We are each the captain of our own boat though. Sail on!

By: sethsimonds

sethsimonds — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:41:07 +0000

Yes, you're right about the phone calls. I'm a big fan of using skype in conjunction with google documents to work on writing projects. Very efficient.

I think the only spam filter you can use on a live conversation is the brutally honest “dude, you're putting me to sleep right now” =)

By: sethsimonds

sethsimonds — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:39:25 +0000

No, DM's aren't very good for passing on confidential information because they're not especially secure. Trashtalking is best suited for…well, it's never really a good idea so perhaps it doesn't matter where you do it? I'm uncertain on that one.

I'm afraid you've confused Direct Messages and Tweets. Hmm.

By: sethsimonds

sethsimonds — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:36:32 +0000

I know quite a few people who use DM's to alert others to sent emails...just like the people who use tweets to alert others to sent DM's. It's a vicious circle! =)

Step it up a notch and send the DM saying "find me on skype" ... it's always more fun to see the face of the person you're enjoying a conversation with!

I'm all set on talking about TV shows. No time for them! Perhaps when I'm old.

Thanks Dave!

By: DaveMurr

DaveMurr — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:20:18 +0000

I only use DM's to let peope know I just emailed them...

Kidding!

DM's are alright. I mean I'll use them if I feel the conversation I'm having w/ someone would be better suited for the phone. So being lazy, I simply DM them. Plus I may be thinking I don't want to clutter the stream with a "hey did you watch the bachelorette?" conversion.