Read on Twitter
I love Twitter. Almost all of my wonderful and varied real life social life comes from folks I’ve met on Twitter.
But Twitter is tense these days. Call it what you want but it’s there.
In the face of this, here are my personal rules on this platform:
But Twitter is tense these days. Call it what you want but it’s there.
In the face of this, here are my personal rules on this platform:
Rule 1. I assume positive intent. Twitter is a medium so easily misinterpreted and people aren’t their best selves every second of every day.
I am not going to judge you for some harsh joke against me or some mean spirited comment.
I am not going to judge you for some harsh joke against me or some mean spirited comment.
Rule 2. I am allowed to be wrong on Twitter. I will allow you to be wrong too.
Maybe I said something wrong. Maybe I said something poorly. I am allowed to be wrong and change my opinion and/or apologize.
Being wrong and improving yourself is good, not bad behavior.
Maybe I said something wrong. Maybe I said something poorly. I am allowed to be wrong and change my opinion and/or apologize.
Being wrong and improving yourself is good, not bad behavior.
Rule 3. I don’t argue on Twitter. This was my first social media rule and probably the best.
For whatever reason, Twitter brings out the worst in disagreements and I actively refuse to participate.
The only way to win Twitter fights is not to play.
For whatever reason, Twitter brings out the worst in disagreements and I actively refuse to participate.
The only way to win Twitter fights is not to play.
Rule 4. I will not say anything to anyone that I wouldn’t say to their face.
The limitations of Twitter mean it is so, so easy to fall into snarkily blasting some stranger — saying something you’d never ever say to them if they were standing in front of you.
The limitations of Twitter mean it is so, so easy to fall into snarkily blasting some stranger — saying something you’d never ever say to them if they were standing in front of you.
Rule 5. For 99% of cases, I will not tweet anything that I think will cause harm (eg in careers, emotions, self-worth, reputation etc)
This one is hard because of course what about someone who kills a puppy or something. These are exceptions.
This one is hard because of course what about someone who kills a puppy or something. These are exceptions.
Rule 6. I recognize that people aren’t the worst thing they’ve tweeted.
People’s behavior is a normal distribution. People who are normally kind, wonderful folks will have a moment of absolutely monstrousness. I don’t judge them for it.
People’s behavior is a normal distribution. People who are normally kind, wonderful folks will have a moment of absolutely monstrousness. I don’t judge them for it.
Rule 7. I have broken and will break these rules. Not often, but after tweeting daily for a decade it happens.
And when I do break them, I hope you all think about Rule 1 and give me some slack.
And when I do break them, I hope you all think about Rule 1 and give me some slack.
