The New Twitter Lists!

by Marinka on November 1, 2009

Last week I got on Twitter and was greeted with an announcement that I could set up Twitter lists to better manage the people that I follow.  At first I became excited that I could manage them to perform menial labor tasks for me, but apparently, I could just organize them into lists by labeling them.

As Twitter explained:

Lists are timelines you build yourself, consisting of friends, family, co-workers, sports teams, you name it.

And then I was informed that I’m on several lists, including “people I’ve met“, “faves” and “would fuck“.
Now, personally, I am much too lazy to make any kind of a list, but even if I weren’t, here’s a thought that haunts me:  OTHER PEOPLE CAN SEE MY LIST!
So that pretty much would limit my list title choices to “People I love” and “People I adore”.

Because I’m thinking that the other kinds of lists wouldn’t be that popular.

Like:

1. People I follow back because I’m afraid that if I don’t, they will snap and kill us all, especially me.
2. People who will get sued by Ambien for infringing on their patent.

3. Horoscope Hores.

4. Cuntest Tweeters

5. Yes, please link me to every new post you write.

6. Hooked on Phonics Tweets, Now With Typos!

7. Retweeters Anonymous. One Day We Will All Learn To Properly Use @

8.Profound Quotes Tweets, Now With Poison Pill!

What list categories are you holding off on?

One year ago ...

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{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }

Dave November 1, 2009 at 11:36 am

Brilliant!

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Avitable November 1, 2009 at 11:37 am

I think I might have to make a list for that “Cuntiest Tweeters” one, especially now that I figured out that you can add people who you don’t follow to lists!

The lists idea really is a bad one because it gives one more chance for someone to get feelings hurt or feel special, which is precisely why I assigned mine randomly.
.-= Avitable´s last blog ..Dear trick or treaters =-.

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Marinka November 1, 2009 at 12:38 pm

Randomly? Well, this certainly explains why I haven’t received your pre-coital flowers. And why my Paypal account hasn’t been credit with $10.

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Avitable November 1, 2009 at 3:30 pm

Pre-coital flowers? I usually just toss a rose onto the bed as I leave.
.-= Avitable´s last blog ..Dear trick or treaters =-.

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tena November 1, 2009 at 11:42 am

very clever. I agree that I was slightly worried about my ‘lists’ too but then I realized that the people that I think are the most dangerous, I block. I tried to put a list of people that should possibly consider a restraining order against me, but it wouldn’t fit- please don’t block me. I think you’re a riot.
.-= tena´s last blog ..I’m blaming my current crazy on Halloween =-.

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Sarah November 1, 2009 at 11:47 am

I’m down for #7. I have a few suggested members for that list!
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..Long beautiful hair! =-.

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magpie November 1, 2009 at 11:48 am

People I don’t want to read but don’t want to unfollow – a mild subset of your #1.

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Deb on the Rocks
Twitter:
November 1, 2009 at 12:10 pm

Exactly! My Tweetdeck has columns for Trainwrecks, Simple Minds, Whiners, and I Guess They Think They’re Funny?
.-= Deb on the Rocks´s last blog ..Deb vs. Deb: Cage Fight with a Neil Diamond Soundtrack =-.

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IzzyMom
Twitter:
November 1, 2009 at 12:23 pm

Those are lists I hope I never end up on. But if I do? Please don’t tell me 😉
.-= IzzyMom´s last blog ..What Kind of an Idiot Thinks This is Okay? =-.

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Dave Pool November 1, 2009 at 12:25 pm

Deb, based on your TweetDeck lists, I think I’ll follow you. I expect you’ll be consistently, astonishingly funny…profoundly deep in your thinking…and utter not a word of complaint or criticism. Looking forward to it.

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Marinka November 1, 2009 at 12:39 pm

I follow Deb and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

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IzzyMom
Twitter:
November 1, 2009 at 12:22 pm

I have lists but they’re in my head where they can’t be scrutinized. I don’t intend to ever share said lists because of the potential shitstorms that could result. As for making an actual list of any kind, I’d have to figure out how to cure laziness first and well, I’m too lazy to do that anytime soon.
.-= IzzyMom´s last blog ..What Kind of an Idiot Thinks This is Okay? =-.

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ShelleyDelayne November 1, 2009 at 12:24 pm

Wow. I am apparently missing something about Twitter. Of course, I don’t have that many people I follow, but I only follow people whose tweets I enjoy. I have started using lists to organize by interests, so when someone I know starts using Twitter and feels lost, I can send them a list of people they share an interest with (tango, performing arts, design, etc.) and it’s a lot easier than sending names one at a time. I have one “private” list for friends & family, but other than that, I love sharing my new lists!!

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Stimey
Twitter:
November 1, 2009 at 12:24 pm

I’m not sold on the whole list thing because I think it is just a public way to form cliques. My thinking on this is not at all influenced by the fact that I am not on a “would fuck” list. 🙁
.-= Stimey´s last blog ..We Interrupt This Halloween to Bring You the Greatest Compliment Ever =-.

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Marinka November 1, 2009 at 12:40 pm

I’m not sure, but I think some people shy away from placing domestic animal avatars on the “would fuck” list. But definitely not everyone, so don’t lose hope!

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migoi November 1, 2009 at 12:27 pm

I’ve been using Tweetdeck for a while and it does what the new Twitter lists do..allows sorting. The difference is no one knows which list I’ve put them under in Tweetdeck. I have:

People – these are Twitter accounts with real people that I have had conversations with. I @ reply them, then @ reply back.

News – those accounts that are primarily news sources, both corporate and blog-type.

Business – those accounts attached to business entities. Mostly local to my area but some national accounts. This list has proved somewhat profitable. I’ve won pizza, concert tickets, and various discounts or freebies from local restaurants answering trivia questions and entering contests from accounts in this column.

Griffins – those accounts that I follow but can’t quite stereotype to one of the other columns. This is the column that accounts usually go into first and periodic reviews inspire moving to another column or an unfollow.

If the Twitter lists worked on the mobile site, I would probably build a list of the folks I most want to read tweets from so I could readily see just them when on my phone.

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anymommy November 1, 2009 at 12:45 pm

I may never get over the fact that I ended up on @avitables “would marry” list now. Or maybe you should never get over it. Hmmmm.

Seriously, I agree with some of the other commenters that it’s yet another vaguely uncomfortable on-line classification process. On the other hand, it makes me feel so happy to show up on someone’s “love you” list. I have alcohol for when I show up on the “annoying mommybloggers” or “not that interesting” list. I’d kind of like to be on Deb’s trainwrecks list.

Not being serious, this was hilarious – as always.
.-= anymommy´s last blog ..10/31/09 =-.

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Heather, Queen of Shake Shake November 1, 2009 at 2:05 pm

I got excited because I wasn’t on a certain someone’s “would fuck” list BUT am on a certain someone’s “would marry” list. I surely thought this meant I had class and traits worthy of a lifetime.

Now I see it’s just random selection. I’m off to start a list called “Fuck You Too”.
.-= Heather, Queen of Shake Shake´s last blog ..If You Read This, You May Want To Cut Me. But Don’t, Because I’m Cursed. =-.

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Avitable November 1, 2009 at 3:38 pm

Oh, well, it was random EXCEPT for you, Heather. For you, it was all about your class and marriageable traits.
.-= Avitable´s last blog ..Dear trick or treaters =-.

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vodkamom November 1, 2009 at 3:48 pm

I don’t even want to KNOW what list I’M on.

someone shit list I’m sure.

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Janie November 1, 2009 at 9:11 pm

I’m probably on the shit list with Vodka Mom. Dammit.

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Suzy
Twitter:
November 1, 2009 at 9:26 pm

I hate Halloween, as do a lot of L.A. actors. Since we have to dress up for our jobs, the idea of doing it ‘for fun’ is just horrifying. We call Halloween “Dress Rehearsal.”
.-= Suzy´s last blog ..It’s Everybody Can Bite Me Friday! I Mean Saturday! =-.

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abdpbt November 2, 2009 at 2:44 pm

Avitable’s list is random? So he doesn’t want to kill sweetney? Disappointing.
.-= abdpbt´s last blog ..18 Funny Tweets Made By People Other Than Myself. Because If Twitter Is Going To Rip Off My Lists, Then I’m Going To Rip Off Their Favorites =-.

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Momo Fali
Twitter:
November 2, 2009 at 6:11 pm

Shit. Can Ambien sue me?

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Issa
Twitter:
November 4, 2009 at 3:58 pm

I am so tempted to make a new list called asshats who won’t follow me back. But then I’d possibly need to add myself to that list, since I’ve become that asshat.
.-= Issa´s last blog ..We might be pack rats. *maybe* =-.

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Amy @ The Bitchin' Wives Club
Twitter:
November 5, 2009 at 6:24 am

I made a slew of lists in my typical “oh! it’s new, shiny and I must do it immediately!” slapdash way of doing things…. Probably pissed off some people or hurt them, maybe made someone’s moment (I hope that these aren’t a day’s worth of happiness), and most importantly, amused myself for 20 minutes.

I do have to say that there is one list out there that kinda pisses me off… the “People who List Me” lists. I’d rather NOT be on your list than be on your pity list. Gah.

Your lists are hilarious. And Deb’s are fantastic… I am going to so some rearranging on tweetdeck to make room for some of those columns. 😉

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Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah November 18, 2009 at 10:26 pm

Cuntest tweeters?

I think I just found my new favorite word. I also know who I would put on that list.
.-= Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah´s last blog ..Like Mother, Like Daughter =-.

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