When to Quote a Tweet Jerk
Twitter is for screaming. I go to Twitter to scream, yell at me and read slightly different variations and jokes about what we all scream about that day. It is not relaxing, but it has a laxative effect at times. In terms of Twitter catharsis, nothing beats a well-crafted tweet with a quote.
Quoting a tweet – Retweeting someone else’s tweet with your own little opinion or comment – can be harmless, hilarious, downright violent, or very reckless. Unless you’re doing it as a guy in charge , supportive tweets with quotes are mostly welcome, and there is usually nothing wrong with tweeting a brand, person, or major retailer and adding your little joke. But I’m not here to talk about it. I’m here to talk about how to use the power of a quote tweet to defeat your enemies through public shame.
As a woman with a chaotic online presence, I am sometimes yelled at, usually – but not always – by men. I am also treated condescendingly, objectively and vaguely annoyed. Not every example of any of the above deserves a Twitter quote. Sometimes it’s enough to ignore. My Twitter Quote Rules, which I sometimes ignore, is nothing more than a vague guide to help you determine if you should quote someone on Twitter or tweet a screenshot instead (like a coward).
Does this person really deserve it?
Before you decide to quote a tweet, ask yourself if this person is really a jerk. Are they trying to upset and / or humiliate you (or a friend), or are they acting a little inappropriate and awkward? Are they condescending or are they explaining things in a strange and unnatural way? Depending on how many followers you have, you invite online discussion and encourage public ridicule. Some people deserve it and some don’t, so take the time and think about who you are dealing with.
If I quote every tweet that annoys me slightly, I’ll never get anywhere. Most people get annoyed at some point, and a slightly agitated comment or a weird inconsistent comment doesn’t need to be tweeted. I tend to save them for the true sexists and idiots or the president (look I’m superfluous). Also, I try not to look for people who can be publicly ridiculed. Unless a random person with 12 followers spills weird shit on anyone, Twitter quotes are not only a waste of my time, but give them the attention they crave. But if anyone takes the time to @ me and then takes this opportunity to make me feel bad, I will probably quote from their tweet. I realize it could also give them the attention they crave, but I never said I was completely consistent. (In the case of the tweet with the quote above, the person in question responded to my friend in a truly insane way , and I couldn’t let that happen.)
Will it draw unwanted attention to you ?
Some people are lightning rods with rabid fans, and tagging or tweeting them can turn you into a villain. For example, every time I tweet about Tim Allen , they call me a communist.
I don’t even need to mark it. I’m just kidding that Tim Allen is a junkie or not funny, and before you know it, my mentions are full of those wearing red hats telling me to ” look after the bachelor .”
It’s mostly fun, but it’s a good reminder to check the online popularity of the person you’re trying to drag. If they have a lot more followers than you, you might want to take a screenshot and put a few stars in their name for good measure (if you name them). Fans can get really scared, and angry fans can (unfortunately) lead to stalking or (in some extreme cases) doxing. If you ever feel a real threat, do not quote tweets, block or report, and warn the authorities if necessary.
It will be funny?
Twitter is a dark place, so I try to add an element of humor to even the craziest tweets and replies I get. If I cannot make a joke or the offense is too tiring, I will ignore it, block it and report it if necessary. Dark humorous content is one thing, but tired, bland, mildly offensive content is just a bummer, and there are enough bumps that upset everyone.