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We Don’t Need a New Twitter

calnewport.com

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Re: We Don’t Need a New Twitter

#31

Post by mjr00 »

randomdata wrote: post #15
damnesian wrote: post #2

When thinking of the real value of Twitter, I end up thinking about how it seemed when it was first on the scene. For a short while, users as a group were using it "correctly" (or maybe "usefully," or "sanely"): reporters found it to be a great way to get breaking stories out in the public sphere. I remember what for me remains "peak" Twitter- following a favorite investigative journalist who happened to be near grou…

> reporters found it to be a great way to get breaking stories out in the public sphere. Isn't that how it is still used? At least with a weather bent? That's about all I ever see in my Twitter feed is information about upcoming weather risks, with far more detail than you get from your usual weather forecasts. It's great and I've been able to learn a lot more about the weather because of it.

That's likely because you engage with weather-related content.

For all its problems, Twitter does do a great job at tailoring the algorithmic feed to your (expressed) interests. I just follow/engage with artists, so I rarely see any English text on my feed. The people who see a constant feed of political hot takes have presumably engaged in political arguments on Twitter.

As an aside this was what pissed me off most about the change to require users to log in to see tweets; I'll always use incognito mode to view tweets with topics that I don't want polluting my timeline.

Re: We Don’t Need a New Twitter

#32

Post by Exuma »

Headlines like this make me not read the article, because anyone who actually writes this headline seems to lack the unawareness that his opinion is literally 1 insignificant stupid opinion floating in a sea of 10 billion shitty opinions.

Headlines like this are an immediate benefit to me because it allows authors to filter themselves out.

There are so many better ways to offer takes on things that don't depend on the stupidest worded headlines like "We dont ____", as if my use case is the same as yours.

It's actually mindblowingly painful to me when people would even consider that, I mean it's physically painful to think that someone thinks that. And, obviously it half the time might not mean to be taken literally, and in this case the author lacks insight as to how many people are disgusted by stupid headlines that have this "I decide what's best for you" energy. Yes Cal Newport, certainly you know what is best for the entire world.

Re: We Don’t Need a New Twitter

#33

Post by dragontamer »

randomdata wrote: post #30
dragontamer wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wikipedia being a non-profit, and Jimmy Wales being a respected leader, is key to Wikipedia's success. Why should I contribute to the curation of a for-profit company? Especially if Twitter will simply be sold off to the highest-bidder, such as a rich narcissist with a chip on his shoulder? ----------- This past year, we've seen the collapse of trust in three community driven websites: 1. Twitter 2. Reddit 3. StackOv…

What says that Wikipedia is successful and not just existing like Twitter and Reddit are likely to continue to?

For better or for worse, Wikipedia is devoid of advertising revenue, and therefore seemingly immune to these ups and downs to the ad-tech market like Twitter/Reddit have been this past year.

Re: We Don’t Need a New Twitter

#34

Post by bowsamic »

Twitter went downhill as soon as it became socially acceptable to have conversations on it. When it was pure status updates and quick information bursts, it was fine. Basically, bring back the 140 character limit.

EDIT: got a bad source on the old character limit which claimed it was 120

Re: We Don’t Need a New Twitter

#35

Post by bowsamic »

Exuma wrote: post #32

Headlines like this make me not read the article, because anyone who actually writes this headline seems to lack the unawareness that his opinion is literally 1 insignificant stupid opinion floating in a sea of 10 billion shitty opinions. Headlines like this are an immediate benefit to me because it allows authors to filter themselves out. There are so many better ways to offer takes on things that don't depend on th…

It's physically painful to you when people have opinions about what is not useful for other people? If that is so, you really need to see a doctor

Re: We Don’t Need a New Twitter

#37

Post by waihtis »

Exuma wrote: post #32

Headlines like this make me not read the article, because anyone who actually writes this headline seems to lack the unawareness that his opinion is literally 1 insignificant stupid opinion floating in a sea of 10 billion shitty opinions. Headlines like this are an immediate benefit to me because it allows authors to filter themselves out. There are so many better ways to offer takes on things that don't depend on th…

Social proof is probably one of the strongest cohesive bonds of civilization. Cal Newport is a fairly well known person in tech. You might not respect him, but there are probably hundreds of people who's opinions you will take as gospel.

Re: We Don’t Need a New Twitter

#39

Post by waihtis »

The people demanding a "new twitter" are those who set up weird hierarchies and benefitted from the obscure, hidden "blue checkmark" game - more often than not, their only tweets were lukewarm pro-current thing babble. I don't miss old twitter a bit.

Re: We Don’t Need a New Twitter

#40

Post by dsr_ »

Exuma wrote: post #32

Headlines like this make me not read the article, because anyone who actually writes this headline seems to lack the unawareness that his opinion is literally 1 insignificant stupid opinion floating in a sea of 10 billion shitty opinions. Headlines like this are an immediate benefit to me because it allows authors to filter themselves out. There are so many better ways to offer takes on things that don't depend on th…

"An Essay In Which I Present Points About The Social Media Service Formerly Known As Twitter, Arguing That Newer Systems Should Not Attempt To Duplicate It Because That Would Reduce Their Value To Society."

or

"We Don't Need A New Twitter"

and trust that people will supply context.

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