Please Think Before You Tweet

Twitter is a great platform. It allows you to express yourself quickly and succinctly. You can connect with other people and share your thoughts or observations, all in less than 140 characters.

The only problem with it is that it is almost too easy. Any random thought can be quickly typed out and published.

I know I have some great thoughts that I feel I just need to blurt out. My thoughts are important. Everyone should hear them, shouldn’t they?

So I quickly type out my thought.

Before I hit “update” though, I read it over and really think about whether I want this thought out there permanently.

Sometimes the answer is no. Certain thoughts are better left unsaid or unTwittered.

I think some people really need to edit themselves more. Not everything should become the subject of a Twitter of Facebook update.

These social networking sites shouldn’t be random and uncensored thoughts repositories.

People really do need to think before they hit “update.”

So here is a quick test you can do before you hit “update”, “publish”, or “send”

Do I want this thought out there forever?
Is it appropriate to wear this tweet on a T-shirt?

I can see all sorts of PSA “Please think before you Tweet” Maybe we really do need such ads. People seem to have lost their common sense.


14 responses to “Please Think Before You Tweet”

  1. Hi Chase. I agree, and have followed the same protocol as you. Many times I've typed out a tweet and then deleted it. I've noticed how you number your tweets that are continued from each other and tweet them in chronological order from top to bottom. I'm impressed 🙂

  2. Hi Davina,

    I got that numbering trick from Kevin Smith (http://twitter.com/THatkevinsmith)

    But I modified it.

    I decided to to put them in order so that when you scroll down to quickly read my tweets, you get them in order. It takes a little but of preplanning or counting but I think it's worth it. I'm glad to hear you like it.

  3. Hi Chase .. I must start using Twitter regularly .. and like you hate the inanity of Facebook, My Space and Twitter .. though I can see the business sense of it too.

    Just working out the strategy ..

    Hey – great to have that numbering trick info .. thank you!! I'll have to have a look.

    Have a good week – PS – I came over from Barbara Swafford .. but have seen you around!!

    Hilary Melton-Butcher
    Positive Letters

  4. Hi Hilary,

    I have found some great websites and educational resources from Twitter.

    The best thing is that you can ask a question and if you have some good followers, people will actually help you out. It's happened to me several times so far and it's a great thing.

  5. Hi Chase – I'm a first time visitor – clicked over from BWB. Great blog name! I also like what you wrote about Twitter. I haven't yet taken the leap into Twitterville, exactly because of what you said. I know it can be a great resource and builder of community, but I'm not sure I have the patience to wade through all the rest of it.

  6. Hi Ela,

    I think it is important to remember that anything you post to the World Wide Web is technically out there forever. Even if you delete something, the page can be cached or stored somewhere. Deleting things online doesn't mean that the information is still not there is some form.

    Twitter does have a function that allows you to delete Tweets so they cannot be seen any longer. This is a good feature. However, you can also click on "more" to search through any previous tweets of anyone you choose to read. In this way, your tweets are permanent.

    I hope this helps. Just remember anything written down whether online or on paper can manage to stick around and come back to you even when you least expect it.

  7. yeah, I know, that's why sometimes I write something because I feel I want to be open and than I think that I should show my best 'face' instead of my inner struggles or stupid thinking which can haunt me later on and I did use to delete a lot, now I think before posting, although, to keep it authentic as blog should be, I write thoughts.

    with your blog you have to be even more careful as you are a teacher, kind of not this free Chase but a teacher.

    yeah, I will remember anything writtern down does manage to stick around and come back.

    thanks for the chat.
    I'll come back for more.

  8. Hi Ela,

    The flip side is that sharing personal things really can help. People, for the most part, are friendly and will offer you plenty of free advice and help.

    Also sometimes the best blog posts are the ones that show inner struggle. You just have to decide how much you are going to share. As a precaution, I don't share a lot of personal details online however.

  9. I know, this is the flip side. I actually joined a yahoo group provide by dr. Eric maisel, and my struggle is that I like to stay private and work on whatever bothers me privately, but then I see how people are opening up and how it actually helps because we realize we are not really that different. We say we are alone and different and we don't fit but that is just not true. we are lost, yes, but not differ that much.
    I've read one of his books as he is a psychologist and creativity coach and I am thinking of getting another one.
    but I definately think it is better to think before posting.

  10. Hi Ela,

    I know that I come upon some great realizations by talking or writing. I keep a journal and I find that really helps me sort some things out as well.

    Thanks a lot for your comments and this discussion!

  11. Hi Chase, could you please remove the comment with email link please? I just don't want it left there and I thought that I can delete it on my own after you read it but there is no delete option. who knew? thanks