Comments on: Twitterlist Backlash – Why Don’t You Want To Be On A List?

By: Vicky Harres

Vicky Harres — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:55:43 +0000

Lon, I can’t really think of any lists I don’t want to be on (I’m sure someone will surprise me at some point though). I don’t see Twitter lists as a problem. I really enjoy looking at other people’s lists. And, I have found some interesting people and publications to follow through other people’s lists. So there is value as well.

By the way, I was just looking through lists I’ve been put on, most having to do with PR, and found the most interesting list name is “juice.” I don’t know why I’m on a list called juice, but I’m in good company

As to people worried that lists will be used to target spam at certain groups, I think there are a lot easier ways to spam than to search for lists that fit your spam topic. Search engines would be much more effective to get long lists of people interested in say photography (think: wefollow.com, twellow.com, even google or bing).

By: Kate Ottavio

Kate Ottavio — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:34:15 +0000

Hi Lon,

Way to be quick on such a timely topic! 

My frustration with Twitter lists isn’t necessarily being on a list I’d rather not be on. I can ignore that (I think). What does irk me about this feature is the complete disregard for what I see Twitter to be: a community. Lists might just drive us into the “who is cooler than whom?” mentality we had in high school. Are there already cliques on Twitter? Yes. But before lists they were somewhat fluid…the lines could be blurred. The list feature gives a black and white statement of “sorry, you are NOT in this group.” Mediums such as Twitter and Facebook must change; they cannot remain stagnant. But what they must also do is listen to their users to find out what they really aren’t feeling so great about. Like me…and lists.

Thanks for letting me know about your post!!

@kottavio

By: @jeffdonald

@jeffdonald — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:25:58 +0000

Raima’s right – we’re about to see a flood of spamming and likely more phishing. If you’ve done some amateur photography and a couple of photog people put you on their lists, how long can it be before everyone selling anything remotely photography related starts spamming those folks with offers?

By: Thandelike

Thandelike — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:01:17 +0000

I was wrong! You can put people you don’t follow on a list… see Liz Pullen’s suggested strategies and etiquette here: http://spiral-scratch.blogspot.com/2009/10/twitter-lists-101-etiquette-strategies.html

She suggests you put people on lists who you don’t follow but want to check in on every now and then…

By: Raima

Raima — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:29:31 +0000

Hi, Lon – thanks for posting this question. I’m one of those who is worried about being put on lists by people I don’t follow and don’t know. What if the list is a way to collect names in order to start phishing or spamming them?

I have noticed a big increase in the amount of phishing scams on Twitter in the last few weeks – could it be due to people being put on lists so that their Twitter names and profiles become easier to find? I don’t know – but I’m worried.

By: Tweets that mention aka @obilon » Blog Archive » Twitterlist Backlash – Why Don’t You Want To Be On A List? -- Topsy.com

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:15:26 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by alexsteed and obilon, Tony Veitch. Tony Veitch said: RT @obilon: Twitterlist Backlash – Why Don’t You Want To Be On A List? http://bit.ly/1ANd3T [...]

By: Thandelike

Thandelike — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:12:55 +0000

I too am happy to appear on a list created by someone who knows my feed. I also may be categorized differently than I might expect….but so far that too has been a pleasant surprise. Someone put me in a list of “smartwomen” and another “treasures”. Thank you, I will take it!

Since a Twitterer actually has to follow us in order to list us I don’t think there will be an abuse of the system — say by someone who thinks we belong on a list of people who are “fullofit” or “deadwrong” or “jacka**es”.