Twits, twats, tweets...One minor debate going on at
ConservativeHome is why David Cameron isn't on Twitter. A quick glance shows probably half for and half against the idea of DC twittering...but one comment stands out (no, not mine although I added my tuppennyworth which coincides with the second bullet point below) but towards the bottom
GuyTheMac nails it: as I've linked to his blog I'm sure won't mind if I copy most of his ConHome comment here (my emphasis):
- The league tables for 'number of followers' are a nonsense - any quick google search will show you how to quickly 'buy' followers, and there is a juvenile (yet compelling) culture of 'I'll follow you if you follow me'. The magic is having quality followers not the quantity of them.
- For Cameron a 'quality' follower would probably be swing voter. The reality is that most people on Twitter are either IT Geeks, Media/Marketing Types or Political Animals - the vast majority of whom are dead set in who they will vote for. As others have remarked those who aren't political are unlikely to be inclined to follow Cameron.
- It is therefore simply not a good use of the Man's time and a distraction from methods of campaigning that could engage the people he isn't currently reaching.
- Staying off also avoids the potential banana skin of the ill-advised tweets after a shandy or two. I actually follow our local Labour MP in the hope she drops a clanger.
- Anyway, it's a neat technology and it has its place - but it aint the game changer its proponents think it is and DC is right in sidestepping it.
Looking at the league table published I think is a clear indication of what Guy says: the top 3 are Downing Street, Richard Bacon (For fuck's sake!) and Sarah Brown: IMHO all 3 must be falsely inflated, the 1st and 3rd by hordes of Labour minions - the 3rd probably hoping to boost Gordon's image by trying to convince anyone he is "normal" by association - the 2nd by complete morons. Anyway, last year
Seldo told us ten things Twitter is not...
Twitter will be here today, gone tomorrow. It's part of the no-substance layer of rubbish which is stopping us getting to the real issues, the real ideas.
YanıtlaSilPeople surely don't believe the great and the good (I use the term loosely) actually write their own tweets? I used to think David Cassidy wrote his own Jackie column, but I was 13.
P.S Mi gato se llama Bertie pero me no llaman Paddy! Una que sorpresa!
I've yet to find a really dull blog or a really interesting twitter page. Must try harder!
YanıtlaSilP.S....of course blogs aren't like that at all
YanıtlaSil;-)
I was just wondering when we get near the election and tv and radio has to be careful about showing biasness to a particular party if such adverts will have to be dropped as they could be seen as a subtle way of electionearing.
YanıtlaSilIt's been reported that Gordon Brown is going to give an interview to Piers Morgan so the populist use of the media goes on...and he is joining a list of interviewees such as Katie(Jordan)Price, Richard Madeley etc...
YanıtlaSilI hope Piers is as good as he can be but I presume he will be the not-good, jaded, partisan wanker....aprt from that no worries :-)
YanıtlaSil