Comments on: Why I Unfollowed 45,000 People On Twitter

By: Why I’m Not Following You

Why I’m Not Following You — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:18:57 +0000

[...] it the ultimate spam purge, and Im not the first, John Chow and Seth Simonds collectively unfollowed 100,000 people (intentionally I presume..), and are better for it (or so [...]

By: New Spring & Unfollow | K-Squared Ramblings

New Spring & Unfollow | K-Squared Ramblings — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:37:12 +0000

[...] I can barely keep up with ~45 people on Twitter, never mind 45,000! via @rzazueta [...]

By: AngelIVXXX

AngelIVXXX — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:39:59 +0000

An insult is an insult, more or less really doesn’t matter. No perhaps, they were shortchanged. Yep and abusing that freedom is your choice too.

I don’t have to block everybody. I choose to have respect for other people and not abuse the system, so blocking “everybody” is not necessary.

By: Seth

Seth — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:01:34 +0000

People are typically more insulted by being blocked than by being unfollowed.

Shortchanged? Perhaps. I suppose that all depends on how one uses Twitter. The cool thing is, we’re all free to do as we like with our accounts. You may block everybody, I choose not to. It’s all okay.

I like that about Twitter.

By: AngelIVXXX

AngelIVXXX — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:32:25 +0000

Online relationships are no different than any relationship with other humans, i.e. communication.

That being said, whatever reasons to mass unfollow, the ethical move would have to also been mass block, that way people would not have been insulted by the unethical move you made to unfollow them and leave them following you.

You shortchanged other people, but you didn’t shortchange yourself. You kept your followers, followers that you gained by trying to get your numbers up.

As for value, what value? Self-centeredness is really not a valuable trait, no matter how you dress it up.

By: sethsimonds

sethsimonds — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:28:17 +0000

Hi Keith,
I'm glad I have the opportunity to throw a few questions into the mix every
so often.

If somebody provides content that you find valuable, I think the discussion
of whether or not they follow you on Twitter is of little use. If you can
find value that is based on reality and not just the presence/absence of a
direct message option, I think the end result is more sustainable and
perhaps even a bit more fun!

Once you've switched things around and had a chance to get a feel for your
new Twitter space, drop me a note? I'd like to know how things work out for
you.

Thanks!

By: keithprivette

keithprivette — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:39:36 +0000

Seth your perspective is dead on. I have struggled with this one for a while. There are people that dont follow me, but I follow them because of the valuable information they share with their list and afraid I miss out by not following. On the other hand if they dont want to engage me what value is happening between us. I think I am going to take some of your advice and get back to a manageable community of push and pull engaged participants!

It is great to see lately the thought leaders out on twitter taking the lead and really shaping the direction this and all the micro-communities that can be formed and engaged with a more powerful message.

Once again thank you for sharing your thoughts and perspective these are priceless teachings you can not learn in the book, only from livin it in the streets of Twitterville!

By: sethsimonds

sethsimonds — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:18:21 +0000

I think that definitely works and is a better reflection of how social
interactions work in our day-to-day lives. Best of luck!

By: sethsimonds

sethsimonds — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 05:35:25 +0000

I agree with most of what you've said. You left nothing for me to be snarky
about! =)

By: netadept

netadept — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:47:59 +0000

I started following a large number of people so that I can see what some people have to say, my thought is to keep following the ones I find interesting.

http://twitter.com/netadept