I'm not going to finish your book because you didn't tweet me back
The following is an exchange I had with a (partial) reader of my book, #HowToBeBlack. I discuss it further in my podcast. Episode here: http://soundcloud.com/baratunde/baratundecast-im-not-going-to
@baratunde I tweeted you saying I liked your book. No acknowledgement. Makes it hard for me to keep reading the book, brother. What a snob!
@RobertEHayes but you're serious about not wanting to finish my book because i didn't acknowledge your tweet?- @baratunde I said it makes it hard. I have a stack of things I want to read. I may shuffle you to the back of the bus.
- @RobertEHayes so i assume you'll make your decision based on whether or not those other authors write you back then?
- @RobertEHayes look i'm glad you liked the (beginning of the) book, but your decision making is confusing. i never saw your tweet!
- @baratunde No brother, but you & the book play up social media which is good. But what's the point; all I expected was one word: thanks.
- @RobertEHayes u underestimate exactly what my inbox/streams look like. and you sound vindictive saying you won't read b/c i didn't tweet
- @RobertEHayes you've assumed i intentionally ignored u rather than the reality which is i CAN'T acknowledge EVERY message and actually live
- @RobertEHayes the fact is i never saw your tweet, but you didn't allow for that, instead tying your reading decision to your assumptions
- @RobertEHayes i really am glad you liked the start of the book, but i find it disappointing that b/c i didn't say thanks you won't finish
- @RobertEHayes i've got hundreds of folks reaching out, which is great, but physically impossible to connect with ALL of them ALL the time
- @RobertEHayes i would hope for more understanding from you rather than "I'm not gonna read your book cause you didn't tweet me"
- @RobertEHayes comes off as petty. and now congrats cause i've tweeted you more than ANYONE all week. #stayblack
- @baratunde Vindictive? No & I have no interest in what your in box looks like. You did not address my point re social media and publishing.
- @baratunde The start of the book no, I was 1/2 finished and I complimented you on a fine metaphor. I write too; from writer to writer.
- @baratunde By hash tagging me to #stayblack did you not refute the central premise of your work? See, I read way past the beginning.
- @baratunde Publishing now is all about selling using social media so I realistically expected a note, rapport with your readers, etc.
- So I've more than explained myself in my 25 minute podcast on this exchange but for those who have a life and don't want to dedicate all that time, here's the main point. The point of "social media" isn't for every author to be in constant contact with every reader. That's an extreme world full of extreme selfishness. That's what I found most offensive about the expectations Robert laid out: that if I didn't communicate with HIM specifically, I was somehow being a hypocrite or "doing it wrong." No. If I spent the amount of time required to communicate with everyone who reached out to me, I'd never have time to write books that they could then halfway read because I didn't tweet them back. Look at that, I just blew your minds. In conclusion, I only read half of Moby Dick. The author was a dick and didn't telegram me back! Doesn't he know that's how the post-mortem telegram economy works!!??If you enjoyed this exchange, imagine what it's like to hear me talk it out aloud via technology called "audio." Now watch your imagination come to life by subscribing to my podcast: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/baratunde/id504190330
iTunes - Podcasts - baratunde by Baratunde ThurstonDownload past episodes or subscribe to future episodes for free from baratunde by Baratunde Thurston on the iTunes Store.
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- Scott PoradFor some reason, this whole exchange reminded me of that story, The Hotel Guest and The Bar of Soap. http://www.snopes.com/humor/letters/soap.asp2012-10-23T18:15:50.311Z
- Scott PoradFor some reason, this whole exchange reminded me of that story, The Hotel Guest and The Bar of Soap. http://www.snopes.com/humor/letters/soap.asp2012-10-23T18:15:50.311Z
