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8 tweets,
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I've had a couple of viral moments here. The first (the bride story, for those of you who've been here awhile) is apparently being pushed all over FB again by a couple of sites that shamelessly thieve screenshots rather than embedding tweets. They remove context and go for drama.
That thread is on mute and has been since they started allowing threads to be muted (which was *after* that went viral, IIRC). I don't see replies.
I will share the thread here. The thread includes a one-year-later update.
I will share the thread here. The thread includes a one-year-later update.
Honestly, I know it might surprise folks, but I really hated that it went viral. (The maps going viral thing just brought out pedants. The bride story had people calling me a liar while simultaneously attempting to doxx my friend.)
I had reporters (from legit magazines!) in my DMs trying to get an interview with us. My entire goal was to make the shit die down as quickly as fucking possible and *protect my friend.* Granting interviews would not have done that.
People enjoy reading the drama like it's their own personal soap opera, but this was my friend's life that fell apart around her. She was angry and devastated.
People who've eagerly clambered for more, demanding updates, have forgotten there were real people involved.
People who've eagerly clambered for more, demanding updates, have forgotten there were real people involved.
There was a lot of good that came out of it, eventually. But the way we sometimes treat others online as a source of entertainment concerns me.
I wonder how much money @22Words has made off my friend's shittiest day, with screenshots of a selection of my tweets and lots of ads.
I wonder how much money @22Words has made off my friend's shittiest day, with screenshots of a selection of my tweets and lots of ads.
Anyway. I had a *considerate* tweet about the story to me (no demands for updates, just kind words) and it really struck me how out of the norm it was.
Most folks demand an update. (Those folks get muted, btw.)
Most folks demand an update. (Those folks get muted, btw.)
BTW: weird levels of viral: the map thread had 7mil+ views, I think. The bride story, on the other hand, had a LOT fewer but made the front page of a NZ newspaper's website. Weird shit. Different sorts of viral.
(Also weird: seeing friends share the story w/o knowing it was me.)
(Also weird: seeing friends share the story w/o knowing it was me.)
