Seems DU is too often becoming a link to Twitter feeds

[luv2fly]

Twitter feed after Twitter feed after Twitter feed...

I used to like Raw Story articles until they became nothing but a paragraph of "news" followed by people reacting to it on Twitter. It gets old fast, and in my opinion, it's getting old here too.

I know some of you like it, no need to harass me if that's your intent. I'm curious though if there are others like me, who find it of little to no value.

[cloudbase]

1. I mostly agree.

Some are newsworthy; celebrity tweets, not so much.

[Factchekr]

2. and the problem

Is.....

[rpannier]

81. For me, the problem is

They are treated as real news, when often they are just opinion (at best) or just made up out of somebody's hope for attention (worst)

[TimeToGo]

84. A significant

Amount of stuff here is just opinion. Not just tweets.

[rpannier]

86. That is true

But that's not how they are being presented in many cases
We get a lot of stuff posted from twitter that is opinion but presented as fact

[TimeToGo]

89. I get that

[Treefrog]

3. You're not alone.

I think some have nothing better to do than scour Twitter all day just looking for something to post on du.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

6. There are a lot of Twitter personalities that are held in high regard here

But I also get tired of seeing the same 4 or 5 people constantly reposted here.

[Dream Girl]

21. Takei, Rather, Olberman, Fugelsane...

I’m almost always in agreement with the posts but they aren’t interesting or newsworthy in any way.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

53. Pavlovitzs, Tiedrich, Hoarse Whisperer, Reich as well nt

[USALiberal]

4. I like it, it is a new source of news. Nt

[question everything]

11. No. They are a source of opinions that as we have seen with the most famours twitter - just pop

from this person's head. They are not verified - as news are supposed to be - and certainly are not edited.

[USALiberal]

13. Many posts have video, same as any news would show! Nt

[question everything]

59. Even videos often give a very limited view not showing the whole story

[mahatmakanejeeves]

25. Sorry, but I disagree. A lot of reporters put out their stories first on Twitter. Later,

the stories show up at the newspapers where they work.

[womanofthehills]

35. Agree - you will find the news as it breaks on Twitter

You can follow your favorite reporters, writers, scientists, world newspapers, etc. I started following world virologists and scientists.

[question everything]

63. Stories which have not been edited and verified

At least newspapers and TV news are being verified- in most cases - before publication.

[keithbvadu2]

70. Not so much for Fox fantasies which they mislabel as news.

[sheshe2]

37. Yet this is your opinion, question everything

Many tweets have links attached to WA Post, CNN. MSNBC, NPR etc.

Yes, many of them are opinions, just like DU. I really do not see a huge difference.

[question everything]

64. Yes, opinions just like DU. And this is the question: news or opinions

and should they be treated the same?

On my iPad (but not the desktop) I have to click on the link and I refuse to do this. Yes, my loss, I suppose.

I do click on them in the Lounge for kitties and puppies, though ..

[sheshe2]

68. There are tweets that are news AND opinions.

As I said, just like DU.

[crimycarny]

42. Twitter is the only place I've been able to find information from real people in Afghanistan

Like someone who reported his Afghan friend was able to make it to the airport safely. Also reported that his friend said things have calmed down from the initial panic. I want to be able to hear how things are from ordinary people over there, not the media. Twitter is the only platform I've been able to find that information.

[Grasswire2]

98. you have a very strange opinion of twitter.

Very, very strange.

[Cracklin Charlie]

20. I find lots of good news articles in Twitter threads.

New news. It’s fast paced.

[chia]

48. Exactly. Journalists I trust linking to their latest bylines. Doctors, RNs with their real time

experiences. On the ground live reporting. And so many links to articles have been to timely, informative pieces I save to my files for future reference.

[nolabear]

5. It's slippery but the fastest source of news and keeping track of the RWNJs

[applegrove]

10. +100

[wryter2000]

7. I am totally with you

Do we not have interesting ideas of our own?

[applegrove]

8. Tiedrich, Takei? Oh I would miss them so much.

[luv2fly]

16. I see you just posted a couple of tweets

And labeled them as such in the title, which is appreciated. Those of us who don't care so much for Twitter feeds can avoid them if we want to.

[applegrove]

26. That's why I do it.

[marble falls]

19. Copy and paste.

[applegrove]

30. I do that often when the article is the thing.

[Biophilic]

88. Oh, me too. I am so thankful for those of you who do bring those tweets to DU.

I would never see them otherwise and inevitably at least one and often more make my day. I love their short pithiness.

[lpbk2713]

9. I'm with you.

If I wanted to know what was going on at Twitter I'd open an account.

[USALiberal]

14. Well, Twitter is here to stay! Nt

[LanternWaste]

47. Well, no one argued otherwise! Nt, part 2

[PoliticAverse]

76. Until it isn't. n/t

[jmbar2]

12. I like it when it's well-curated by a trusted DUer

It's often the best source of rapidly breaking news, debunking of lies, and good discussions (such as Teri Kanefield) that don't appear in MSM news.

[Dream Girl]

15. I agree. What's really annoying is when someone posts a statement or quote by a minor

Personality like it’s news of great report. John Fusellane or Keith Olberman, Dan Rather, George Takei, etc. They’re usually super excited when they post this stuff which is mildly in sync with my views, but definitely not news. Usually no one comments on these posts either.

[Treefrog]

17. Exactly.

They’re always so proud of posting a quote from someone else. Curious.

[marble falls]

18. Plus a billion! I want more to my news than 426 characters.

[ProfessorGAC]

22. Some Tweet Posters Are Better Than Others

Those that post screenshots of the entire thread so the theme can be followed without linking to twitter, are usually good.
Or, a poster might post a link to a rolled up thread, where it's quick & easy to load & read just text.
I don't need pictures with every story.
I click on most of them anyway, but I almost never hit links that take me to Twitter itself.
I don't think their layout & navigation is all that.

[luv2fly]

28. I don't really understand all the Twitter terminology but I get what you're saying

Some are certainly easier to follow than others, and if it becomes repetitive, which many of them seem to do, I just give up.

[msongs]

23. we need more posts about the completely irrelevant pillow person nt

[sheshe2]

43. This

[rpannier]

85. I am waiting for him to pay the 5 mil he likely owes Bill Anderson

https://www.salon.com/2021/08/18/mike-lindell-lashes-out-as-cyber-expert-demands-5m-reward-for-debunking-election-data/

Other than that, he's an annoying sideshow for the sideshow who is only someone of note on Steven Bannon's shows

[CrackityJones75]

24. Antiquated social media platfrom post

Antiquated social media platfrom post complaining about posts being shared from soon to be antiquated social media platform.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

27. I'll mail a reply to you. NT

[CrackityJones75]

32. Responded via pony express

[Sympthsical]

60. Always go full Ron Swanson

[luv2fly]

29. Twitter is soon to be antiquated?

I can only hope! Facebook too!

So if it's soon to be antiquated, what's replacing it?

[CrackityJones75]

31. Facebook is antiquated.

Twitter will be too. Mostly just us old people on FB anymore.

[womanofthehills]

38. Twitter is where the news is in real time

Can’t really compare it to Facebook. I’m on Facebook to see what friends are doing but I go to Twitter for up to the minute news.

[Treefrog]

62. As someone posted the other day, Twitter is digital high school.

Ick.

[luv2fly]

92. I didn't see that

But it certainly fits!

[CrackityJones75]

74. Yeah but the utes are moving on from it.

Before long it will be micro reporting on other platforms.

[hlthe2b]

33. I am bothered by that (as long as the embed shows up) far less than link-ONLY posts OR

videos that don't even include any clue as to what it is about. At least if the tweet shows up (or the person copies the text beside it) you can get the full gist without having to click a link or watch some ridiculous time-wasting video.

[Initech]

34. I use Twitter links when articles are behind paywalls.

It's slightly less annoying but still annoying.

[Caliman73]

36. It depends. Context is always important.

When a person simply posts the Twitter feed without context or without asking something, or making some kind of statement, then yes, it gets annoying.

I like having discussions so context is important to me.

[live love laugh]

39. Don't read them then. nt

[luv2fly]

54. I pretty much don't

But thank you for the insightful commentary.

[leftstreet]

40. It's a step up from just posting tv talking heads

'turn on so-and-so now' is just retro

[Sympthsical]

61. The assumption we have cable is fun

I don't know a lot of people in my peer group who pay for cable. We kind of all went streaming years ago.

If something important happens, eh, it'll be on YouTube soon enough.

[FelineOverlord]

41. Guilty as charged

I admit my guilt. To be honest, I rarely watch TV news except occasionally Rachel Maddow.

I don’t think i could have survived the last five years without it. The Resistance is VERY powerful on Twitter.

I had only been a casual Twitter user before 2016.

It is a very powerful platform, with over 300M users each month.

I really believe we kicked Trump out with the help of Twitter. Why not use his favorite platform AGAINST him?

[PortTack]

52. This!

[Tetrachloride]

44. Curated stuff is what i like. and add a comment of one"'s own

I deleted my Twitter app.

I don’t watch any news shows for more than 5 minutes a week. Except once recently I watched Rachel for 10 minutes.

Curated news headlines by DU members is good for national politics but is still driven by hot button issues.

I know more about the Squad than the totality of Wisconsin’s members of Congress.

[LanternWaste]

45. I don't do Twitter so I generally ignore most of them

Not of any real value to me... so for the most part, I simply ignore them or pay them little heed. If I click on a link which contains one I'm disinterested in, I simply click back and don't worry about the three seconds of my life lost.

Easy-peasy, Chuck E. Cheesy.

[womanofthehills]

46. Another thing I love about Twitter

I can actually have dialogues with some of my favorite authors and doctors from around the world.

[fescuerescue]

49. Yea I've noticed that for awhile.

I hate twitter myself.

[AZProgressive]

50. There are people I can find on Twitter that I can't find on Du

Most of them are politicians. Sorry I like websites where I can follow who I like and block who I don’t like without any of the complaining.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

51. That's why the Trash Thread option exists.

[Sherman A1]

55. I have put Twitter and Tweet in my garbage can

but apparently this subject made it through. I really don't know what I find more tiresome posts posts with Memes, posts about the latest Twitter outrage or posts complaining about the latest Cable Infotainment Drama TV outrage.


To me they are all

[luv2fly]

56. I didn't know you could do that, thank you

And my apologies for breaking through your filter!

[Sherman A1]

57. Not a problem

go to My Account and use the Trash Can tab. I just did Twitter and Tweet yesterday so it may take awhile to cycle. I have added topics and words such as Trump, Donald, Cat, Kittens, etc to sort the feed out better for me. This only applies to things in the Latest Threads and not the Home Page.

Give it a try, it really helps.

[Sympthsical]

58. I rarely find anything of use in them. It's just spam to me at this point.

It says to me, "I am literally unwilling to read even one paragraph if I can help it."

If I wanted to know what celebrities or TreeGuy18643 thought about current events, I would follow them.

Now, if you're the kind of person online - and they are legion - who read headlines and maybe a sentence or two before reacting and commenting on something, Twitter is totally made for you. And I'm not singling DU out here. The entire Internet and social media are like this. The number of times I actually go read the article to find the headline and/or first paragraph do not even remotely match the actual content is astounding.

The other day, I saw someone post a link with a post title that made it clear they didn't even make it past the first paragraph.

Like, why? Why?

More talking than reading leaves thinking adrift.

[Treefrog]

66. Yes.

Exactly.

[ShazamIam]

65. Twitter is a place Democratic, liberal and progressive legislators and informers not given tv time.

or print space can communicate with us.
It is where legislators like Schiff, Swalwell, Whitehouse, Porter and many others can communicate with us. And we can spread around even as television cuts them short and doesn't give them many slots anyway.

Twitter has become a mainstream source for messaging and I think it belongs here, it is not the same as facebook.

[dixiechiken1]

67. I like it...

Some tweets are incredibly witty and some are very informative. Some are even both. There are so many sources available to us from which we can glean news, entertainment, ideas and opinions. Twitter is one of those sources, as is DU.

I always appreciate the Twitter posts as I would probably never see them otherwise. I also appreciate that DU is not just tolerant, but accepting of so many sources of information. If I don't want to see something, I pass it by. That option is also available to everyone here.

[monkeyman1]

69. can't stand Twitter or Facebook ! both garbage!

[bucolic_frolic]

71. I get tired of just a link

It takes time to follow a link. More efficient and courteous to copy and paste the content and also provide the link. Saves all the readers the time of clicking on the link.

[betsuni]

72. I like Twitter. Big thank you to everyone who posts tweets.

[keithbvadu2]

73. Twitter posts can be just like editorial cartoons

Twitter posts can be just like editorial cartoons

They can support your own viewpoints or they can be used as an example of what you find objectionable.

[Mysterian]

75. Yeah, I hate that crap.

Nothing original just people cutting and pasting twitter.

[Orrex]

77. Some DUers have hugely inflated their post-counts by doing nothing but retweeting

They often fill DU's front page, and their posts are nothing more than a subject line and someone else's witty or insightful comment.

I find it tedious.

[BornADemocrat]

78. I have zero use for Twitter

I only use it to tweak people once in a while.

The instant gratification hate fest that is Twitter is the among the worst things the internet has given us.

[bigtime]

79. The thing is dislike

The thing I dislike is posts that contain only the link without the text. I work all day and Twitter is blocked on the server at work. So I click on these posts and all I get is a blue “link to tweet”. No idea what the post says. This is indescribably frustrating. I mean hey, if you think the tweet is so important, take 10 seconds and include the text in your post.

[Orrex]

87. Preach it.

I posted a similar complaint years ago almost verbatim. A surprising number of people gave thoughtful responses, stating that they'd try to make a point of quoting tweet in their message body, rather than simply linking to it.

But a disappointing number of others got in my face about it, refusing to engage on the subject beyond scolding me for looking at DU during my work day, as if I'm not entitled to breaks or lunch time.

[rpannier]

80. Agreed

They tend to be heavy on opinion and light on facts

[halfulglas]

82. Not having an account on Twitter, I get annoyed when you have to follow the link

To get the real gist of the story. I check Raw Story on their site for the headlines but leave because they always use the same annoying phrases of an RWer being "destroyed" or something for a post or action. I wish they really were destroyed rather than just being criticized by a retweet or something. The effusive and bombastic language drives me crazy. The only stories I spend any time on are a reprinting of something from Salon or other reputable sites.

[Gilbert Moore]

83. little to no value.

Agree.

[FakeNoose]

90. I agree that it is a problem - and it's annoying

... for those of us who don't live and die on Twitter. /s

OK the problem is that a lot of breaking news is first posted on Twitter. So the DU posters are anxious to grab it and post on here. Maybe we shouldn't jump so fast. We DUers don't need to be the first ones to see every news story. I know I'm fine with waiting and seeing the important stuff, after it has been sifted through and commented on by the "me-firsts."

I'd rather spend my time reading - not the first - but the best version of any news story. I don't have to read Twitter, and I wish our posters wouldn't be so hasty.

When the Twitter post is referencing a published piece that's on a respected news website, we should be clicking on that rather than the Twitter feed. Am I right? That's what I prefer to do, and I'm guessing a lot of other DUers feel the same way.

Long story short - posters please do not post the Twitter feed. Click through to the published news story and post THAT on DU. Most of us would really appreciate the extra effort.

[luv2fly]

93. Great response thank you

I doubt it will influence too many folks but if it does, hey cool!

[Wicked Blue]

91. Posts that are only links to tweets annoy the heck out of me

There are some folks whose posts I don't bother to check because they only post Twitter links.

[CaptainTruth]

94. I appreciate the links. Why? Because I get the majority of my news, unfiltered...

...from original first-person accounts on Twitter. No media spin, just reliable sources that I get info from 2-3 days (at least) before I see it in the MSM.

IMHO, anyone who doesn't like/use Twitter just isn't using it correctly. Find reliable sources & organize them into Lists, grouped by subject matter with relevant reliable sources. It takes a while, it probably took me about 4-5 years to vet my sources & compile my lists, but once I did it (I've compiled at least 20 lists), I have a great source of information.

The one thing that annoys me is that when it comes to Lists, Twitter only allows me to make them Public, where every Twitter user can see them, or Private, where no one other than me can see them. I'd love to be able to create "Private" lists where I could give my fellow DU members access to my List. If any of you know how to do it, please let me know.

[Voltaire2]

95. All you tweets get off my lawn!

[myccrider]

96. I mostly don't have a problem with Twitter links...

Just like everything else I read here, I evaluate the worth of each post based on my opinion about the content.

[Grasswire2]

97. twitter is where the national conversation now exists.

I learn more there in ten minutes than in a couple of hours elsewhere.

From experts. From first-hand accounts. From background in-depth reporting. From history professors and federal prosecutors and scientists and ...

Your experience there depends on who you are following.

Follow smart people, learn smart info.