As I use @hootsuite and me being a certified Twittaholic, I, from time to time, go check my listings on my main twitter home page. What I found out is that for the last 6 lists I was added to, they were only generated by @formulists. My first thoughts were: Why do they use this app (or whatever you can call it) to list me? It’s true that I am only being active on twitter since January this year, but I never used a generated list except Converstionlist to list my followers or Following that are actually interacting with me on a daily basis.
No natural listing anymore!
Some of you may say “they need to sort out their Followers/following, so they can follow a more clearer not crowded stream” But hey let me tell you that they can sort them out non-automatically. If you do a quick search on Google about @formulists you’ll find out that most of the keywords are: fast easy, Snap…
I care about you therefore I list you!
What a beautiful feeling is, when you list a tweep in relation of his contribution to your stream. You convey a caring sense! I care about you, therefore I list you. Sometime I get listed in some marvelous lists like “Cool and exciting“, “Real butter not margarine” and it goes on. But when you see that you have been added to the “Who my friends talk to” list Come oon please! The name shows that it is a generated list, not true, not natural.
Twitter ethic = BE YOURSELF!!!
@formulists wanted to easy the process, but they forgot @twitter ethic! how to be yourself when you have third party websites or apps that do all the homework for you, how to be you when you only get to tweet and not list by yourself people you feel they are worthy to be listed. You know the excitement when you see a tweep sharing something then you start to think about his timeline, go check it out and then feel the need (urge sometimes) to list him/her. Does @formulists convey the same excitement!?!
Twitter is about commitment, feelings and patience right? Now tell them!
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I am the escaped cat of @Glitterglitzer and @BarryckR. I blog, I quote, I bling, I dance and I hug! I love fun, beauty, weird and incredible.
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Barryck Bro, I do align with your thoughts here… but the neat trick is to have a proper lists of people you want to talk or take note to .. but having said that .. formulists does help you to find more similar people/similar interests etc. And along with that it makes people noticeable..
My bottom line would be
1. Have real lists to list real people you want to connect to
2. Make use of formulalists for discovery and attention purposes
point 2 must not be implemented all alone. there must be 70% real list and rest could be formulalists .. etc..
My 2 cents
I totally agree with you Syed. They need to sort people with the same interest, but isnt it not the first purpose of twitter is to follow people in the same niche we are? here is the question. @formulists can manage these type of lists, but not go play in the personal fields such as the “people I like the most” come on!
Thanks for sharing your thougts Syed, it’s always a pleasure to have you in here. Cheers Mate and Eid mubarak…
I’m already aware of this Twitter list app, Bariq. As I am able to manage my own Twitter list ‘Follow My Tweet Hearts’ without any problems, I never willing to use it. In my opinion, Twitter and automation won’t go well together. ‘Formulists’ may be used as a reference, but one can’t be entirely depending on it.
Wow, this is so interesting to me. People often times think that since I’ve sent almost 45,000 tweets and I have almost 35,000 followers that I know about the apps like this; however, I’ve never even heard of such an app! Hahaha
I didn’t even know that there was an app for creating lists, but then again, I suppose there is an app for everything on Twitter. I don’t really check my lists or check who unfollows me. Both of those things are out of my vision since my focus is on building relationships, engaging and writing posts for Bit Rebels.
I can see how some people would use this though. I never would, but there are many many Twitter accounts that are on auto-pilot 24/7. The people that set those up really have no idea how ineffective they truly are, so it would make sense that in that same spirit of cluelessness, they would use something like this to create their lists. LOL It seems silly to me really.
Thanks for the education!
@Diana AdamsTotally Agree with you Diana, I only check my Lists sometimes just to make relationships youknow, when a tweep lists you, it usually means you have this value he wants to show to the world, so I just get in touch with them. It’s an another way of building relationship and Engaging
A.R.Karthick
I’m pretty open when it comes to how people utilize Twitter (except for the obvious spammers). There are useful Twitter how-to guidelines, but in the end, you have to feel comfortable with how you utilize and interact on Twitter. The same goes for third-party apps. This is definitely an app I haven’t heard of before and some people may or may not include it in their repertoire. There is no right or wrong…it comes to personal preference. However for me personally, I like being able to control my own lists which I do refer to from time from time. Thanks for sharing this interesting post Bariq! ;D
I’m pretty open when it comes to how people utilize Twitter (except for the obvious spammers). There are useful Twitter how-to guidelines, but in the end, you have to feel comfortable with how you utilize and interact on Twitter. The same goes for third-party apps. This is definitely an app I haven’t heard of before and some people may or may not include it in their repertoire. There is no right or wrong…it comes down to personal preference. However for me personally, I like being able to control my own lists which I do refer to from time from time. Thanks for sharing this interesting post Bariq! ;D
I think this is a lot like trying to keep track of who is following you – it doesn’t matter so much, because they are the ones who are reading it.
The only lists I find offensive are those with racist names, hateful, or have called me something that is not true, like a spammer or a bot.
It’s a good idea to check in every now and then, but I wouldn’t worry about it. I tend to agree with Syed and believe tools for discovery on Twitter are more good than bad.
If you are on a Twitter list that you don’t want to be on, you can momentarily (or permanently) block the person to be removed from the list =)
Great thoughts, Barry~!! I agree with the spirit of the post – at least when I am creating lists.
x0x
Anita Nelson @ModelSupplies
Hi Bariq,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Formulists.
I too would argue that Formulists is not a replacement for every kind of Twitter list. The lists that are automatically generated with Formulists are ones we noticed were commonly being made manually for the purpose of sorting people into more manageable groups people wanted to easily connect with, like “Locals-I-Follow” or “People-I-Talk-To”. Formulists is also about making Twitter lists useful for things they had not been used for in the past, such as showing users who recently unfollowed them or discovering new people such as who their friends on Twitter have been talking to most.
I agree with Ruhani Rabin above that there is a place for list automation and a place for manual list creation. As cool as one would be, there is no algorithm for generating a list of people that qualify as “real butter not margarine” or a list of “people I could die for” (http://twitter.com/#!/BarryckR/people-i-could-die-for). And you’re right that for just about anyone, it would mean a lot more to be listed on such a list than on an automatically generated one that uses an algorithm to find and sort people. Unique and heartfelt lists like the ones you mentioned are special because they can only be created manually- they are “algorithmless”. But, a la MasterCard style, for everything else there’s Formulists
-Natalie (from Formulists)
@Natalie Michelson Hey Natalie,
) I do agree with you for the point you made, and I am happy to know that you know that Normal, non-automated list are far better than generated ones.
Thank you for taking the time and reading my post about @formulists. (My IP isn’t blocked yet right
hey love the : a la MasterCard style, for everything else there’s Formulists
The personal touch is always better! I so very agree. The only thing good about these robotic list maker apps is how easy they are to make. When I think of how long it takes to make a Twitter list I start to envy the wankers who just slap it all together and could care less. Haha.
I keep two to three of my lists open always on my Tweetdeck to keep track of my favorite people. It’s very helpful for me. I also change up which ones I open. Keeps things exciting.
And as you are “cool and exciting” you’ll understand *grin*
Formulists and its “You Have Not Followed Me Back” is one of the stupidest things I’ve seen on Twitter in awhile. It’s rude and that person is guaranteed to never get followed.
When I first read this I did it so fast (since I knew I’d be coming back to focus and comment) that I wasn’t sure what your stance was. So my first read was kind of like a Formulists Cold and Distant and Lazy, yes? But Barryck, I also don’t like the ephemeral listing that “conversationalist” does. I think it’s anti-social. Putting you on, kicking you off. It’s also annoying. How can you do it man, how can ya do it. Waaaaa…
I like this post. The comments too! Everyone in them is on my lists!
And I love being in your tags. ha… that’s groovy!
You are for sure “Real Butter Not Margarine”
Barryck! Verrrry interesting perspective on Formulists and I agree with many points. May I respectfully offer another angle? I do not use Formulists. So far, I am with you on the joys of being listed “organically” and feeling all happy that someone thought me worthy of a listing
Conversely, I love to bestow the “gift” of listing someone, to definitely try to keep track of them and stay connected in an ever frenetic stream.
xoxoxo G
However, comma, I DO see some benefits of automation. Time is precious. Time is a limited commodity. I have thought how nice it would be to perhaps have a system to help me categorize and list some people that would be of interest to me….yes, even people my friends are talking to. See, if I like THEM and find them interesting, then it is highly likely I will also share an appreciation for the other people they connect with. What say you, you ever-so-listable-friend?
@Kathy Meyer, @Anita Nelson, @Christina @CtKscribe Kingston, @Gina SuuperG Stark: Beautiful Ladies, Am so humbled and honored to host you in my blog. Now I love my post more.
On a serious note, I’d say that we all agree with the fact that non-automated lists have their pros & cons. Keeping track of different side of tweeters is good, but no commitment to what what we need to keep track of is sad.
Your Host Barryck
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