Twitter is weird

[kitewithfish]

So, I was previously *aware* that on Twitter, companies just sometimes run searches for their name and respond to private conversations where no one has summoned them using their @twitterhandle, but it just happened to me for the first time. And I felt unexpected gross about it!

I was replying to a particular podcast where I wasn't getting the descriptions of their podcast with the episode. I could see it on the preview, but it wouldn't be there in full text. Since what I could see was "TRIGGER WARNING: " I figured I would let them know about the technical issue on Twitter.  I mentioned my podcast app in passing, to let them know what the issue was.

THE PODCAST APP'S TWITTER SHOWED UP IN THE COMMENTS TO TELL ME TO UPDATE AND REBOOT MY PHONE.

Like. No. No, you don't get to be damn Voldemort, you don't get to be Bloody Mary in the mirror - leave me well enough alone! I did not summon thee, foul fiend! This Twitter convo is not for you!

The worse part of this, is that I then proceeded up update the app and reboot my phone and the description problem completely went away. So I took a screenshot of the app's tweet responses, deleted the tweets to the podcast (who clearly were not having a technically issue) and went to complain to the podcast app's Twitter account about the interaction. 

And they were like, "Just trying to help!"  No. No, you get to help if I ASK for your help. You don't get to butt in without an invitation, even if your advice is useful and works. 

I AM AWARE  that this is a thing - that I am being ungracious! That this plays into an existing Cultural Thing in my region of the US where you don't talk to strangers in person! and you don't bother them! and you don't butt in to fix their problems even when you can do it easily because it's *insulting* to imply that you know better than them! 

Let me misuse your product in peace, you invasive weirdoes. 

UPDATE: [2 hours later] I have just blocked the Twitter account for the weird offputting podcast app, and blocked the strange White Knight who rode in with a Rick and Morty avatar to defend the weird practice. 

Remember, children, the best time to block an asshole is 20 years ago. The next best time is today. 

Comments

[obstinatecondolement]

This happened to me today too! I was idly hoping I hadn't missed the FedEx delivery and all of a sudden the FedEx account is in my replies asking me to DM my name, address, phone number and tracking number like??? It felt a lot like someone trying to dox me but it did seem to be legitimate. But I really feel weird about this being A Thing.

[kitewithfish]

Exactly! Like this is not about you, BrandX. And then some dude wandered into the comments and was like, "USERS LIKE THIS, WHY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING ON TWITTER, A PLATFORM FOR TALKING ABOUT THINGS" and now I have blocked two things in one day and I am feeling very Accomplished.

I have only ever tweeted at FedEx to complain that they don't educate their drivers about not parking in bike lanes.... Did not get any impact.

[obstinatecondolement]

It's vexing as hell! I used to have a priv, so I'm really not used to how public Twitter can be 😖

[yourlibrarian]

I only use Twitter as a reading account but I remember being astonished some years ago that people would be contacting companies through social media instead of directly by email, and even sharing information about their accounts in public.

Now when the point is to make public an unfair transaction or unaddressed problem, it can be great for signal boosting and there will often be some kind of response (even if it's more a PR move than an actually helpful issue).

However companies contribute to this when they don't make public an email (or phone) where people can contact them with issues. Like hell I'm going to use some other platform to discuss my business with you. Act like a real company with a real customer service unit.

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

I was having a devill trying to find a contact method to a provider such that by the time I did, I'd been so worn out with customer service following scripts not meant for the issue.

I need to use the communication method and let them know how Poorly Served the procedures resulted. (I'm not naming any names on the employees. Given churn they probably aren't still there or even known where they were if they're in other positions.)

[tropicsbear]

This has happened to me twice and it weirded me out both times. And it's also hella frustrating that they're willing to suddenly yoink into your conversations but when you're trying to contact them through proper channels to complain or ask for help, it takes 10 years before anything happens 😕