The Friendlist/Followers Manifesto
It’s time that you freed yourself from the trap of following. You don’t have to follow anyone. You don’t have to worry about unfollowing people. The sites that you use to follow people today could easily be gone tomorrow, along with your entire buddy list. Breathe deep and realize that none of this matters.
- You are free to friend whomever you want on the internet.
- You don’t have to follow everyone who follows you.
- You have a limited span of attention- it’s your choice who you waste it on.
- Following people is a small gesture- keep it in perspective.
- Becoming an online friend requires as much commitment as a click of a mouse.
- If someone follows you, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they want/love/obsess over you.
- You are free to quit following anyone anytime.
- If you take offense to what someone says or does, you can leave them with a click.
- If your list is too big, trim it.
- Don’t worry about people getting upset.
Sooner or later people will stop worrying about that stuff(some people always will).
- Unfollowing to make a statement is douchey.
- Most people couldn’t give a shit about whether you’re following them. You are one of many.
- Later on you’ll probably re-follow them, since you’re that douchey- and soon people will tire of your behavior and learn how to block you. Then you’ll really need your therapist.
- Obsessing over whoever is friending/leaving you is sad. and douchey.
- It’s a sign that you need more real-life friends. Put on your shoes and head out of the basement.
- If someone has more followers than you, you’re still ok.
- They’re probably miserable anyway- like celebrities. I hope that makes it hurt less.
- If you add enough people to your list everyday that it’s a chore, your’re either a spammer or Scoble- either way you’re useless.
- Seriously.
- Wouldn’t your talents be better used in sending junk mail or telemarketing?
March 30th, 2009 at 11:27 am
If you follow someone for the express purpose of hoping they will follow you so you can spam them with your advertisements be prepared to not only be unfollowed but blocked. Spam is Spam no matter what buzz words you use to color it.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Here here! Very well put. I was just having a similar discussion with a friend of mine earlier in the day in regards to people following us on various social networks.
Cheers!
March 30th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
I agree with all points covered here. I wish this was required reading before getting a twitter account. I actually recently lost a real life friend apparently because I unfollowed them on Twitter, how douchey is that? Very. It’s very douchey.
I even made a watercolor about it http://www.flickr.com/photos/docpopular/3361110650/
March 30th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
love love love this. so awesome.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Everyone has their own definition of Follower and Friend and within that lies the ultimate virtual social network conundrum. I agree that too much weight shouldn’t be placed on the relationship, but in my experience that can be said about almost everything in life.
And is it just me or does this read like Baz Luhrrmann’s “To Wear Sunscreen?”
http://tinyurl.com/cbqmsr
March 30th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
This should be part of the TOS at every social networking site.
March 30th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
you are blogging again! yahoooooooooooooooooooo
March 30th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Haha, I got here because Scoble ‘liked’ it on FriendFeed and it then showed up on his Twitter, and someone RT’d it.
March 30th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Nicely put. Following/unfollowing can be related to age, mood, religion, politics, gender, parenting or even hormones (PMS).
Who’s best to follow? Who would you unfollow?
A really “kewl” twenty-something may seem like an immature kid to a CEO.
A fantastic mother may seem obnoxious to a single bachelor.
A successful corporate executive may seem boring to a traveling nomad.
And yet they ALL can relate at certain times if they experience (and tweet about) migraines, traffic, weather, flight delays, or iPhone issues.
Instead of obsessing about numbers, interact with those who can relate to where you are and what you have to say. At least that’s how I use Twitter.
March 30th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Heh, you rock, my friend. That was awesome, can I forward?
March 30th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
great post! love it ed!
March 30th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
[...] The Friendlist/Followers Manifesto | EDADKINS.com. [...]
March 30th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Ha! I laughed out loud reading this piece. It really gave me perspective…..
As a newbie on Twitter, I have wondered about all of this.
I love having this context. And the humor? Priceless!
Thank you! Phebe
March 30th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
I can’t think of any reason to follow someone who doesn’t follow you back. If you’re interested in what they have to say you can just go to their site. If you have to get a tweet from them about what desert they’re having or their latest blogpost to remember your interested in them, you ain’t that into them. You have to be a cocky SOB not to follow a real person back, unless they have some obvious marketing, political, or other agenda that annoys you. Otherwise you’re a douche bag. The world is flat. That’s the only thing Friedman is right about.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:20 am
Thanks to everyone for your feedback- this all came from conversations I’ve either had or overheard where people have been stressing over the consequences of unfollowing people. I think it’d be great if we all agreed that it’s no big deal to follow or unfollow anyone.
Thanks again! Great responses. Hopefully this gets some real traction in how we all feel about this stuff.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Loved @jetwithanya’s comment…short, sweet, and to-the-point! (”Following/unfollowing can be related to age, mood, religion, politics, gender, parenting or even hormones (PMS).) It IS frustrating to follow someone only to have him/her turn around and send spam. Why not disclose honest reasons about twittering before subjecting people to that?
March 31st, 2009 at 6:09 pm
@Pickering
“You have to be a cocky SOB not to follow a real person back…”
Respectfully, you’re very wrong.
Nobody dictates to me – or anyone – how to use Twitter or how I should control my own information flow throughout the day. This service is a tool, that’s it. The community is merely the one we make out of it, and nothing more. There is no obligation on any of us to take on someone’s info flow merely because they hit that Follow button.
I don’t really understand the douchebag comment, it’s an odd, sweeping verdict on people you have absolutely no data on.
Recommended: The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz.
April 4th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
This is good. Although i was hoping it would be funnier. It’s shockingly level headed and minimally sarcastic. You’re probably having some UNR J-School flunky ghost write for you again based on midnight voicemails. (sad)
Still, I agree. And is the social media douchebageratti ready for the inevitable conclusion that it is NOT all about the conversation? Or, if it is about conversations, it’s about small conversations, between big-F Friends and not some scoblistic circlejerk. (OMFG did you see what @lancearmstrong tweeted this morning? I bet his glutes were SOOOO tight!!!)
Thanks Ed. Keep up the good work.
-M
April 5th, 2009 at 7:29 am
great thoughts. couldn’t agree more.