Earlier today I tweeted this question to my followers:
“Would you say what you say on Twitter if it was a Real Life Face to Face Interaction?”
I asked the question because I’d just seen two people tweeting back and forth to one another very aggressively. Knowing both of them I had to wonder if they’d be interacting as they were if they were face to face in the same room being watched by 2500 or so others (the number of their total followers).
The responses to my question were interesting – I’ve included them below. It seems that most people say that they do Tweet the way that they’d speak in real life.
Here are the responses:
xen_yasai: :: Most of it, yes. With some, anonymity is better.
about 3 hours ago
Charles_Cromer: I always speak the same way (with some shortening techniques) on twitter as I do face2face
about 6 hours ago
amvandenhurk: Yes, I would. Why would I act or do things differently? This is an extension of myself.
about 8 hours ago
craigcampbell: Good post. I always wonder if online extroversion, confidence and dogmatic statements transfer to in person interactions.
about 8 hours ago
adamkmiec: I'd be ever more direct. I have to be more neutral on twitter because of space and context or lack there of.
about 9 hours ago
HildyGottlieb: A friend once suggested, “Never say anything in an email that you wouldn't scream in a crowded room.” Wise advice.
about 9 hours ago
allanwhite: Twitter vs. f2f: yes, the same, in fact more so: all body language and tone (even context) is missing. I chose words with care.
about 9 hours ago
jazzjeppe: Probably not. I'd compare twitter with chat/sms, which still is about being “hid” behind a computer screen
about 9 hours ago
bbbozzz: good question. sometimes I find myself counting the characters in sentences I say, to see if they're under 140 characters. 
about 10 hours ago
triangleb2b: no! I would never say retweet, @, or tinyurl in a face to face sitch. 
)
)
about 10 hours ago
ProfOrganizer: If it were a face-to-face interaction, I'd say it…but use many, many, many more words. 
about 10 hours ago
robinelaine: I think so. I'm a little more outgoing on Twitter than in person, but I'm pretty much the same otherwise.
about 10 hours ago
Arcadia1: Would you say what you say on Twitter if it was a Real Life Face to Face Interaction? YUP!
about 10 hours ago
fredhopkins: I would say, hello, my name is Fred and I am a twitterholic.
about 10 hours ago
gpjt: I would say “Um, hello. Nice weather we're having.” But then, I'm British.
about 10 hours ago
Dandeliondayz: Definitely! I guess not everyone does this, though. You never know when you might meet someone personally!
about 10 hours ago
holliejtaylor: MyTwitterMotto-Don't say anything u wouldn't say 2 the World or wouldn't want the World 2 c.Anyway,I can't lie,myCat's watching!
about 10 hours ago
mikehollywood: for some, Twitter is cleansing, exposing flaws/mistakes publicly to 'strangers' is somehow less daunting than telling friends
about 10 hours ago
mkarim: I think the best Twitterers are those who do exactly that, say what they would say out loud, to anyone.
about 10 hours ago
blue_cat_online: Not always, in that somethings are easier to say in text format. Equally I am not sure that RL we would throw out random stuff
about 10 hours ago
JRGriggs: yup, I try to be as real as possible no matter what I am doing.
about 10 hours ago
cjow: yes! Why not? Twitter is all about interactions. An honest one would be being true to who u r
about 10 hours ago
miranda2408: wouldn't need to – the visuals would give your game away!
about 10 hours ago
MsFitUniverse: Yes!Absolutely. Ask my sis!…http://www.NaturalMomsTalkRadio.com/blog and my friend..amanda310
about 10 hours ago
NikkiPilkington: What you see is what you get – I'm not sure whether that's a good strategy or not!
about 10 hours ago
thehrmaven: absolutely. won't put anything in writing that I won't say in person.
about 10 hours ago
crossstitcher: I doubt it – I am pretty shy. I “talk” to people on twitter I'd probably never interact with in real life.
about 10 hours ago
quipsandtips: I'm more careful about my Tweets than my in-person words. In reality, my foot stays in my mouth but at least there's no record!
about 10 hours ago
gsyferd: Personally, I think you should be as genuine on Twitter as you would be in person.
about 10 hours ago
cutieissa: what i say in twitter i can say in a face to face conversation, nothing to edit =)
about 10 hours ago
WestEndNannies: Well..yes. I feel I have to behave as I have my picture tagged to my account including the Company name Don't ya?
Don't ya?
about 10 hours ago
IMovePeople: I think if its actually between 2 peeps. Or rather two people interacting…
about 10 hours ago
MathewButka: I think I am more reserved on Twitter than in face to face due to the recorded tweet factor
about 10 hours ago
steinberg: A lot of what I put on twitter is because there's no one around worth telling it to.
about 10 hours ago
CrystalsQuest: absolutely, although I'd probably take more than 140 chars to say it…
about 10 hours ago
s3v3n0ut: Interesting question. I guess the answer to that might be the answer to are you “you” on twitter or are you playing a character?
about 10 hours ago
realepicurean: Yes because this *is* real life – I'm really typing this now.
about 10 hours ago
SuzeMuse: real life yes. Face to face no. Thank goodness cuz I'm usually in pyjamas when I'm on Twitter.
about 10 hours ago
deniseoberry: I'm amazed at some of the conversations I “overhear” on twitter. Can't remind people often enough that this is a PUBLIC forum.
about 10 hours ago
MikeBusson: Most definitely. I'm no keyboard warrior. If I wouldn't say it to someone's face, I won't say it at all.
about 10 hours ago
LisaMorosky: Yeah, I would. Just in a lot more words! =)
about 10 hours ago
steffanwilliams: Except for saying “at” someone… probably. I'd also leave out links in general speech — at least the http://www bit
about 10 hours ago
jonpederson: Totally. If I couldn't say it to someone's face, then I shouldn't say it at all. I try to live by that.
about 10 hours ago
penachiando: #NOB #NOD #EB #ET … some events for groups of bloggers, twitters… normal interaction… i believe…
about 10 hours ago
arnybo: twitter-conversations differs from face-to-face-talk like conversation on the phone differs from talking through walkietalkie
about 10 hours ago
nickbowditch: its much easier for me F2F because i RARELY talk in 140 characters!
about 10 hours ago
thescottbishop: For the most part i would, yes. But usually in more than 140 characters
about 10 hours ago
kengrantde: so I guess the answer is “yes” – but with more than 140 characters
about 10 hours ago
livinglocurto: Yes, what I write is exactly who I am in person too. I can be very blunt in person… maybe writing it is better sometimes:-)
about 10 hours ago
Schlossy: I would say what I say on twitter, but without the 140 character limit
about 10 hours ago
nimbleassistant: Absolutely…what you say anywhere should be able to stand up to the f2f acid test!
about 10 hours ago
mattmorgan1: Yes I would, but I notice I say things on Facebook that I wouldn't say on Twitter. Are we different to different sets of friends
about 10 hours ago
iandstewart: Except I don't say LOL or FTW in real life. Or draw emoticons! I do say FAIL though.
about 10 hours ago
NinjaInDesign: I try to always only post comments that I would say face-to-face with any stranger.
about 10 hours ago
rommil: Nope, I tend to use sentences longer than 140 characters Seriously – no, it's a diff. medium, diff expectations.
Seriously – no, it's a diff. medium, diff expectations.
about 10 hours ago
kengrantde: my simple rule of thumb – everything I say, write, blog, etc. is something I should feel comfortable with being in the newspaper
about 10 hours ago
johnlacey: — I would like to think so, but I believe I am funnier on Twitter than in quote-unquote “real life.”
about 10 hours ago
adambateson: Not likely, there are no little boxes for the words when you are f2f.
about 10 hours ago
Vicki_Kunkel: Yes, (without the links, of course!) However, I do WRITE differently on Twitter, given the character limitation.
However, I do WRITE differently on Twitter, given the character limitation.
about 10 hours ago
thewebchild: Hey Darren, within context of the relationship, some are obviously more limited that others, but I would say yes.
about 10 hours ago
Jupiter0: Yeah I think so… Unless of course it was ;]
about 10 hours ago
cbiggins: Absolutely. Its part of my personality, I tell you straight up what I think. You don't like it? Don't listen.
about 10 hours ago
DrGourmet: What I say now but with more than 140 characters.
about 10 hours ago
vkoser: My policy is never say anything online you wouldn't say to someone in person.
about 10 hours ago
katetribe: Absolutely. I think it is just a larger social space.
about 10 hours ago
eljefetwisted: pretty much, 'cept I wouldn't be watching a character counter if we were FTF (and I wouldn't abbv. so much)
about 10 hours ago
benbarden: I'm the same on Twitter as I am in person – so yes, I'd say it face to face
about 10 hours ago
iandstewart: Absolutely. Twitter seems to carry most of the humor that gets lost elsewhere over the internet (blog comments, emails, etc.).
about 10 hours ago
angeloys: of course… do you suppose people pretend to be what the are not on Twitter? do you think people are scared to say it in 'RL'
about 10 hours ago
healinggarden: RT Would you say what you say on Twitter if it was a Real Life Face to Face Interaction? Yes, but w/ fewer exclamation points.
about 10 hours ago
thegame87: Absolutley, what I post on Twitter is what i generally say to people around me anyway.
about 10 hours ago
redheadranting: yes, I am constantly embarrassing myself in real life conversations
about 10 hours ago
abhijat: : Yeah I think I would say what I say what I say on twitter if it were face-to-face. Interesting question…
about 10 hours ago
kristyann: Absolutely. No reason to be any less genuine just because its an online interaction. Probly more careful online to avoid miscomm
about 10 hours ago
@hafihz
Yup quite… but maybe the posts with links would be replaced in real life with “some website said” …
@penachiando
I’m only one. In the virtual world and in the real world…
@ScottWilliams
I try to keep it Real in the Twitter World and Real World… “Do You… It’s a statement Not a Question!”
@schertel
To answer the question:
I don’t turn into an altered state of awareness when i tweet, its just the normal me.
Yes of course it is the same. I just have to shorten what i say.
To comment on the post:
Interesting to read others responses. Thanks for sharing and the idea of asking this question.
@aprilgregory
Mostly yes — but, it depends. I’m pretty sure I’d have much more to say. I am alot more social f2f than on twitter.
@yourwebchick
I don’t at all. Twitter makes me “dumb down” and shorten up my vocabulary immensely! Having said that… in person I would very much talk more personally, share more of myself simply because it’s not only being viewed by the 1200 followers as you stated in your article. THE WHOLE WORLD can see what you say…. That’s right folks, even DM’s EVERYTHING you say on Twitter is PUBLIC! Search Google and you’ll see…
I’ve seen those same type of arguments you are speaking about Darren and I doubt very seriously if they would talk that way to each other in person and in front of a crowd of people and then the world a few days later.
There’s nothing I say on Twitter that I wouldn’t say in a face to face conversation but I certainly would say much more in person or in an email or 1 on 1 IM.
@heartofwisdom
Yes, except more than 140 char. Fun answers. Thanks for topic.
@deegospel
Scott, you do keep it real.
I agree with most comments. Many of my followers I personally know, because of the work I’m in and the others I believe I will eventually meet many of them face to face, so when I tweet I’m talking in my voice and being as authentic as I can. Great poll, Darren.
@xen_yasai
As Chris Morin says. I’m pretty honest, but I also take into consideration the whole world sees what I say. I don’t want to hold back, but I rather be safe than sorry.
@dcfemella
The way you see me interacting on Twitter is the way I am in real life.
@trreed
I am more reserved in person, less sarcastic, but basically the same person. Anonymity does not truly exist on the net. people think so, until they get found out. it is best to keep it honest and real.
@SRivera
Some of my tweets because not all of my real friends are interested in web technology, gadgets, social media news etc….
@NeuronOutlaw
Twitter affords me the opportunity to join numerous conversations and say the things I would say if the opportunity arose in person. There are a mullion fascinating subjects!
@wpdude
I would say it, and probably in real time without the three minutes of editing to make it fit into 140 chars
@donchristie
I would say “handshake” Hi what do you think of the wine?
What fruits are you tasting in the wine
@ecomind
I’m agree with Neil here..
Just a little curosity – it’s kind of intresting when you find out you communicate better through Twitter then you do face to face..
Cheers..
@xen_yasai
@Thomas: Anonymity do exist. You just have to know what you are doing and really know the technology behind the internet.
If you search for my real name, combined with cities I’ve lived in you won’t find me.
Of course, you will probably never have 100% anonymity anywhere, but on the other side know one will ever know 100% everything about you either.
So, just because you’re not anonymous doesn’t mean someone else manages to be.
@bloggingmom67
First, I think this post is a great example of crowdsourcing and using Twitter as a reporting tool. So kudos for that.
As for your questions, I would say everything I say on twitter in person. But I’m quite circumspect in what I say. I espouse the belief that I wouldn’t tweet anything that I’d be embarrassed if it showed up somewhere else. (Part of that is I’m tweeting for a newspaper, so I need to keep a professional persona; part is just my own opinion on how to conduct myself.)
In general, I do think people feel more free on the Web to say things they may wish they hadn’t. Stop, take a breath before you click enter, I say.
@yogababecafe
My content might be the same but much much less of it. While I have resisted the 140 character limit at first, it is a good discipline.
@thebenchs
Am juts the same, i tweet what i speak.
@1stAngel
I am exactly the same offline as on. Scary!!
@wynnefield
that would depend on how much alcohol my opponent has consumed before our tweeting began …
@sa1ntc
I am new to twitter and I’m not much of a “poster” but I would post in twitter as what I would say in real life. There is a slight difference though. I would be speaking directly to someone and not stand in a crowded room and say “Weather is good today” to everyone in the room.
@JamesRivers
I always recommend to tweet in a natural tone like you would speaking to others. It resonates best with your followers and audience. Interesting post and question.