Posted on 04/02/2016 9:47:25 AM PDT by Kaslin
In a recent interview, Donald Trump was asked about his polarizing tweets and retweets. He was also asked if he would be a reckless president sending such tweets as a reaction to disagreements with World leaders. In his response he asserted that many people get outraged and question his tweets as a result of jealousy.
Admittedly, Trump’s answer was underwhelming. He ventured into the number of followers he has on Twitter and suggested that many of his critics only have 50 followers.
But the bigger question here is what role will Twitter (and other social sites) play in culture, foreign relations and political races? Do we believe it's a bad idea to react to foreign affairs or political debate through tweets, retweets and posts?
My view is that Twitter and Facebook are the new ‘Fireside Chats.’ Radio was the original social media, so when Franklin D. Roosevelt started his radio fireside chats, it likely seemed just as bizarre as Trump’s Twitter fetish.
Arguably, each one of Donald Trump's tweets is read by tens of millions of people. It's not just the six million people who follow him, it's the millions, collectively, that follow his followers. Twitter brings new meaning to six-degrees of separation.
In a Trump White House, it’s imaginable that a lot of events would play out in real time on Twitter. The upside to this, is that it allows Twitter (and other social sites) to be a huge extension of the President’s bully pulpit. This may be very positive, in that, it allows someone like Trump to control the narrative/context and diminish the power of the traditional media.
If there's a dispute with a foreign-leader or a negotiation with evil countries like Iran or North Korea, social media could certainly be powerful. Social media reach creates leverage over enemies and competition. The more clever it is used the more support/followers you can garner.
Businesses across America have already deployed these tactics to sell their products and thwart customer service nightmares.
Many traditional political advisors, feel that it's not presidential to air your dirty laundry on Twitter. This may be true with a traditional thought process, but we must accept that we are in an age where Twitter, Facebook and other social media forces are not only relevant, they are very effective. Donald Trump’s success, thus far, proves this point.
What is acting ‘presidential’ anyway? Is that the part where you listen to 25 year-old political science majors rattle off the research on what you are supposed to believe today to attract the most votes? How has that been working for us? Wait! Don’t answer. The answer is obvious: Not well. The best liar should not win if we want to have the brightest future.
The complication is that many people have a different perception of what a tweet, retweet, or like means on twitter. Last week, political enthusiasts spent the entire week debating Donald Trump’s unflattering retweet of Heidi Cruz next to Melania Trump. If it weren’t so sad, our resulting hysteria would be funny.
The amount of coverage dedicated to Trump-retweets in the past nine months is astonishing; I believe this happens for two reasons. First, many people don't understand the meaning of a retweet. Second, most people see Twitter and Facebook as an extension of their communications instead of being a completely different form/style of communication.
I’ve written extensively on the topic of retweets. A retweet is best translated as “look at this” or “tell me what you think.” I frequently retweet things for which I vehemently disagree, in order to see what reaction or comments they generate. It helps me gain a perspective for my writing or my shows. It’s enlightening to me and a form of entertainment. I submit Donald Trump retweets for the same purpose.
Regardless of what Someone retweets, it should never be construed as an endorsement or rebuke, of their actual feelings, unless they specifically add a quote to the tweet saying as much.
Social media sites are an extension of artistic or personal expression. Posts are not meant to be taken literally - they are more of a extension of people’s thoughts and current state of mind (which changes throughout each day). What I find amazing, is that we judge people for their social media comments without considering their perspective. In other words, in to take someone’s tweets and retweets literally, you would have to review days worth of material, cumulatively, to develop a fair perspective (and would heavily weight their original comments, not their likes or retweets).
The next time someone retweet’s a post, don’t assume that’s their official position. And, don’t be so offended by what’s said in 140 characters or less. Instead, listen to them on the radio, watch them at length on television or, if you are so privileged, talk to them in person. Otherwise, you may be mislead into believing something that’s simply not true. Or worse, you may develop raging hate for a candidate, who said nothing, but simply clicked on the retweet button.
Trump has 7.394 million Twitter followers. Over 4 times the circulation of the New York Times.
Regardless of what Someone retweets, it should never be construed as an endorsement or rebuke, of their actual feelings, unless they specifically add a quote to the tweet saying as much.
That's disingenuous as hell. Sure, there are times people retweet things to start discussions, or maybe because they disagree with it. But usually, if that's the case, they'll add a comment, or send it under a critical hashtag.
But this appears to be some backdoor defense of Trump retweeting that picture of the two wives, as if Trump perhaps really was sending if to show how mean some people were or something. That's absolute complete b.s. Some retweet, if not accompanied by a comment of some type, speak for themselves.
O has seventy two million followers. I think O is active on Tweeter but I don’t know how to use tweeter.
His first presidential tweet will no doubt be . . . Vladimir Putin is so gay!
It wouldn’t have made any difference if Trump had put “very bad” or “really inappropriate” or ... he would still have been heavily criticized. It’s the way of politics.
Twitter is limited to 140 characters, so it is near impossible to add context in a single tweet. Retweets is how you share with your friends, it can be things you like or hate or wonder about.
Imagine if FR posts were limited to 140 characters ... sometimes posters are totally misunderstood even though they write very lengthy, detailed opinions.
I find it humorous that Obama and the Democrats were lauded for their masterful use of Twitter and other social media. We were told that it showed how modern and hip they were.
Then comes Trump, who has made great use of the platform (not that I always agree with his style). Now we are told that Twitter is bad, juvenile, or lame.
I agree with Trump that there is an element of jealousy that the “old guy” is a master of Twitter and social media in general.
“That’s absolute complete b.s. Some retweet, if not accompanied by a comment of some type, speak for themselves. “
Better to have your superpac send it out so you have plausible deniability...
“I’ve written extensively on the topic of retweets.”
Nuff said.
“But this appears to be some backdoor defense of Trump retweeting that picture of the two wives”
So much sexism. People just *assume* that Trump was saying, “This woman is prettier than this one.”
It’s clear to me that he was saying, “This woman is a much nicer person than this one.”
But you can't line the bottom of your birdcage with a Twitter.
Some day, all of the Trump sycophants are going to owe all of us a big apology for throwing away this election, for destroying our party, and for giving this arrogant buffoon a platform. They’ll owe it, but much like the Perot supporters who gave us Slick Willie, they won’t have the decency to give it.
“I agree with Trump that there is an element of jealousy that the “old guy” is a master of Twitter and social media in general.”
I think Trump uses Twitter for all it’s worth...which isn’t much. But he uses it and in essence gives his detractors the one fingered salute. It’s a brash, quippy medium and is trashy fun.
“Sophisticated Trump” can be found in a multitude of sit-down interviews. That’s where I solidified my support for him. He is very consistent in his core message.
Those that use Twitter to assess ANYONE probably surface-skim through their whole lives.
This seems to be some backdoor insult of Trump.
Take note that no matter how many insults are posted Cruz will never be President. If that is your goal/hope then maybe you should reconsider the attacks, since they are wasted effort.
I’m hoping for:
Obama Executive Orders are rescinded as a result of EXTweet 0001
Eight thousand are under investigation as employees of the Clinton Foundation EXTweet 0002
Lois Lerner has been jailed as a flight risk after determining she is a material witness EXTweet 003
If we don’t elect Trump, one day you’ll wake up and discover
there’s a Mosque on every block, with their followers using the streets for their prayers - keeping you trapped inside. Will you then owe us all an apology?
You don’t get it, do you? The man has ZERO chance of being elected. Zip, zilch, nada! He entered the race with no real belief he would even get this far, and now that he’s here he seems more intent on blowing up his chances than on doing what it will take to unify a country into voting for him.
Yogi Bear once said: No one goes to that restaurant anymore, it’s too crowded.
Washington Post said people don’t like Trump anymore - that’s why he’ll have one hundred million Americans voting for him.
I agree with your points on Twitter, and Trump. Wanted to add that I am not a Twitter user, nor Facebook or any of the others.
Haha, executive tweets, I like that!
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