This post is dedicated to everyone who has ever thanked anyone for an RT (retweet.) I used to do it, but don’t anymore. Here’s why –
1) Clutter. I talk enough here for most streams.
2) I don’t understand why people thank others for passing along information.
I’m a fairly nice guy. So part of me wants to follow the general rules of etiquette and do the polite thing. After all, I’m a writer. It’s my nature to reciprocate (see #1 above.)
I recently saw someone tweet about www.retweetrank.com. Curious, I went to the site and queried my own twitter handle (no password needed, by the way). Turns out I’m like in the top few percent in retweets (yes, I was as shocked as you are.) Anyway, knowing this, how could I possibly thank everyone who has ever retweeted me? If If you think I look like a jerk for not thanking people, imagine thanking only *some* people. Please know that I do really appreciate that people think some of the things I share here are worth sharing with others. I’m totally grateful for that. Who wouldn’t be?
But I still don’t get the public thanking thing. If anything, the person RTing you is thanking YOU for passing the information along to them so they can share it with others, right? In which case, the appropriate response to someone who RTs you *should* be, ‘You’re welcome.’
Anyway, if you’ve ever RTd me, thanks. And you’re welcome.
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Andrew Weaver
Feb 9, 2010
I’ve wrestled with this off and on. I always end up just thanking people. I try to do it with a bit of a twist though (not always, but often). I thank them and then ask them a question or make a comment about what it was we both just shared with these series of tubes. I like doing that because it can strike up some good conversations. When you just simply say, “Thanks for the RT”, you usually won’t end up in much of a conversation.
Pet peeve: Thanking 20 people in one Tweet.
Good post, man. You’re welcome – because I’m going to RT this.
Melissa
Feb 9, 2010
I think I am an over-thanker … it is a fine line to walk. The RT is often in and of itself a compliment (“I like what X had to say”), which is why people tend to say “thanks” following a RT … but it can become cumbersome and overkill if you’re popular and being RTed to death. I’m not nearly at that level so it’s less of a problem, but if I were more active/popular on Twitter, I bet I’d feel similarly to you.
Jim Mitchem
Feb 9, 2010
Haha – you’re welcome Andrew. And thanks. (this is getting confusing)
Jim Mitchem
Feb 9, 2010
It’s perfectly fine to thank Melissa. I think most people do. And this post was my way of trying to explain why I don’t, but that I’m still grateful for any acknowledgement of things I share. It’s a tough call. I just wonder why people ‘thank’ – is it because of the acknowledgement thing, or because more people might follow them – thus increasing their credibility? I just don’t know.
Thanks for the comment tho. 😉