A Quick Brief on Twitter Etiquette (To RT or not to RT?)
Hello all, I’ve noticed some uncomfortable situations on twitter that can easily be avoided. This makes sense because there doesn’t seem to be a set guide to describing exactly what a “RT” is and how to use it properly, or when something should be an @ reply, etc, etc.
Recently I was RT’ed, something that happens to everyone all the time. This time, however, the person who RT’ed me completely changed the text from my original tweet, and thus changed my intentions. But it still had my name in front of the thought, which was unsettling. Now anyone who saw his RT would think that I meant something completely opposite of what I originally intended. Let’s clear this up:
An RT is a direct quote. Generally used if you want to share what someone else has said and still give them credit.
But if you want to post, for instance, a link that someone else posted but take it into a different context, your ideal tweet would use “via” to give the original post credit. For Instance, if the original tweet was something like this:
“Oh wow, look at how awesome this brand new, unheard of website is! http://www.youtube.com/”
Your tweet may be something like this:
“Wow this website totally sucks! http://www.youtube.com/ (via @username )”
This also goes for posting links, thoughts, or ideas that you feel your followers will enjoy that you got from another twitter user. If you see a link that you really like that a friend posted, it’s considered rude to post it to your followers without giving the original user credit through a RT or (via@username) reply.
And if you want to RT a post someone made and add your own comments, add the comments before the term “RT @username” to clearly separate your thoughts from theirs.
We all know that there aren’t any set rules for behaving on twitter, but these are some things that I’ve seen affect the way users see each other that can be easily cleared up!
Be kind, no flaming without a blatant sense of humor, and make the internet nicer,
@jenmussari
This is the best thing to wear for the day, you understand. Because I don’t like women in skirts; and the best thing is to wear pantyhose or something else under a short skirt, I think. Then you can have the pants under the skirt, and then you can pull the stockings up over the pants underneath the skirt. And you can always take off the skirt and use it as a cape! Well, I think this is the best costume for the day. (sighs) I have to think these things up…you know.
(whispers) This is the revolutionary costume, I’d never wear this in East Hampton.
— “Little” Edie Beale
