US Open Officials say no to Twitter

Serena & Venus Williams each have one. So do Andy Murray and Andy Roddick. I am speaking today of Twitter and the warning from US Open officials about reckless tweeting by the players.

Ostensibly, their concern is the dissemination of “inside” information from the Courts and it’s effect on the game and illegal wagering. Judging from recent tweets from the players (click on their names above to go right to their Twitter page), this doesn’t seem to be a real issue.

Serena is busy plugging her new book, Venus is exciting about ringing the closing bell on the stock exchange and Federer keeps us plugged in on some pretty mundane goings-on such as checking his email and going to sleep. Roddick seems to enjoy his tweets and really engages. Here, he comments on the US Open “No Tweet” rule (10:28 PM Aug 28th from web):

i definitely respect the rule about inside info and on court, but u would seriously have to be a moron to send “inside info” through a tweet

But the US Open is actually being pretty proactive, given the online climate and the lack of forethought that is rampant in our online behavior. I know I sound preachy, but I cannot stress this enough, especially to my younger readers…be mindful of what you post online! At least make some small effort to think a little down the road. Do you want that angry post “out there” in perpetuity? I’ve seen the t-shirts that admonish, “Don’t drink & text”, which I think is both hilarious and great advice. The same rules apply to your photos and to your Tweets.

One of my Facebook “friends” recently made a really angry post about a family member that made everyone who read it really uncomfortable because there were clearly serious issues that needed to be discussed “offline” and not aired on the wall for all to see.

Open season on your life and every whim? Think before you press those keys and hit the “post” button.

Tweetlater changes name to SocialOomph -service remain the same!

One tool that I find really useful in managing my Twitter account is located on a site I’ve talked about before (previously) called Tweetlater.com. (check out my blog entry from Positano on 7.3.09).

Tweetlater.com (now called now called Social Oomph [socialoomph.com]) is a service I use for myself and Mutt Media Clients that provides statistics and automation of your Twitter account, while still enabling you to keep it personal. You can use this free service to track and vet your potential followers and you can set up automated personal responses to push at the appropriate time. Other great features? You can set your account to automatically follow anyone you approve to follow you, or you can not follow, block or even report an potential follower as spam – all at a time you find convenient. All you have to do is login and go to manage your account(s). You can maintain and manage several and instead of getting inundated with notifications, you can set aside time as desired to go through and vet.

It’s a great service that you can administer yourself and it’s also a service we provide to our clients at no additional charge if we already have you on our roster. Send us an email or post your questions right here.

Social O

Yesterday, it was widely reported that writer Alice Hoffman received a less than glowing review of her recent novel, “The Story Sisters”. One such review appeared in the Boston Globe by Roberta Silman. I read the review and in truth, it was kind in some places and critical in others. This is the nature of creating something and putting it “out there”. People criticize and excuse me for stating the obvious, but so do critics.

Hoffman has enjoyed much success in her career and is a seasoned writer. I would think she would have acquired a thicker skin through the years. Apparently not.

In a series of ranting Tweets posted to her Twitter account (partial list here, thanks to Gawker.com), Hoffman basically rants about Silman’s critique and publishes her personal phone number and email information and exhorts her followers to get in touch if they want to tell her off.

In my opinion, a public figure should be a bit more adept at holding it together, even circumstances much more difficult. A bad review (which this was not) is no excuse for a public meltdown and release of personal information with encouragement for the public at large to take action against another.

SELECTED TWEETS FROM ALICE HOFFMAN:

“Roberta Silman in the Boston Globe is a moron. How do some people get to review books?”

“Now any idiot can be a critic. Writers used to review writers. My second novel was reviewed by Ann Tyler. So who is Roberta Silman?”

“No wonder there is no book section in the Globe anymore. They don’t care about their readers, why should we care about them?”

“If you want to tell Roberta Silman off, her phone is _____________. RSilman@verizen.net (sic). Tell her what you think of snarky critics”

Hoffman then soon after and through her publicist, released this apologetic statement (as they say, a day late and a dollar short):

I feel this whole situation has been completely blown out of proportion. Of course I was dismayed by Roberta Silman’s review which gave away the plot of the novel, and in the heat of the moment I responded strongly and I wish I hadn’t. I’m sorry if I offended anyone. Reviewers are entitled to their opinions and that’s the name of the game in publishing. I hope my readers understand that I didn’t mean to hurt anyone and I’m truly sorry if I did.

Of course, the synical amongst us could just view this entire episode as one giant publicity coup. Silman, through her lukewarm review and the resulting tirade on Hoffman’s part, have garnered the novel much more notice than it may have received otherwise.

Ironic, huh? Any thoughts?