I've pointed out before that I've never bought an author's book due to Twitter, but that I have stopped buying one author's book as a result of it. Twitter just continues to seem, to me, to be an opportunity for authors and others in the public eye to make asses of themselves, or otherwise do things that are harmful.
Last night, after the Ferguson decision, both Ellen Datlow and Charles Stross tweeted out false, and in my view, inflammatory information. Worse, it was information that could have been checked for veracity pretty easily (I know because I did it when I saw the tweets and thought something was off). I like Stross and would normally buy anything with Datlow as the editor, and now I have to say that my estimation of both of them is lower because they seem, at best, irresponsible.
Is Twitter really a boon to authors? For those with large, active Twitter followings, do you believe it helps? Because for me it does one of two things: 1) keeps me in touch with authors I already know I like and would have bought books from regardless, though the personal contact is nice; and 2) gives me a bad impression of authors I thought, from their writing, were probably intelligent, thoughtful people.
No net gain. A potential net loss.
Last night, after the Ferguson decision, both Ellen Datlow and Charles Stross tweeted out false, and in my view, inflammatory information. Worse, it was information that could have been checked for veracity pretty easily (I know because I did it when I saw the tweets and thought something was off). I like Stross and would normally buy anything with Datlow as the editor, and now I have to say that my estimation of both of them is lower because they seem, at best, irresponsible.
Is Twitter really a boon to authors? For those with large, active Twitter followings, do you believe it helps? Because for me it does one of two things: 1) keeps me in touch with authors I already know I like and would have bought books from regardless, though the personal contact is nice; and 2) gives me a bad impression of authors I thought, from their writing, were probably intelligent, thoughtful people.
No net gain. A potential net loss.