Comments on: Metro’s Twitter Goes Bilingual

By: Metro Metro Still Tweeting Tweeting | Los Angeles Metblogs

Metro Metro Still Tweeting Tweeting | Los Angeles Metblogs — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:46:04 +0000

[...] already pointed out that Metro is using Twitter to update in both English and Spanish on the same account, and how much [...]

By: David Markland

David Markland — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:08:28 +0000

Huh? Negative and anti-Spanish perspective? How so?
I’m subscribed to a large number of tweets, many entirely useless, and I regularly delete subscriptions because I find them annoying. Personally, I don’t care if Metro double posts because I don’t receive the messages via text… just online. But for those who receive via text at .10 a pop… or hear their phone buzz each time they get a new tweet… I don’t see any logic whatsoever in having a single Twitter stream sending out tweets in multiple languages. There is zero need on any level.

By: EL CHAVO!

EL CHAVO! — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 07:41:49 +0000

DM,
Your serious explanation seems silly. I’m on Jason Burn’s tweet stream and he’s had around 40 tweets since Dec 30, including wise nuggets like "I miss Christmas", "I love my mechanic. I just wish I could understand his English", "Taco Bell. Do not judge me." and "Hello refill." I know I can unsub at any moment, but the non-stop stuff is part of the purpose no? For him to get his panties in a bundle because the Metro people translated the tweet to the language of more than half the people in this city, is kinda retarded. Maybe they should have multiple tweet accounts but this kind of approach seems to come from a negative and anti-Spanish perspective, not at all construcive.

Spanish speakers are a majority in Los Angeles, get used to it.

By: David Markland

David Markland — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:57:06 +0000

You’re mostly correct, Browne. Twitter is full of pointless messages that often times make no sense.

But you only subscribe to the accounts you want to keep up with – so if you don’t want to read what someone has to say, just don’t subscribe to their feed.

But, practically speaking (and in all seriousness), since you can choose which Twitter feeds get sent to your cell phone as a text message, it does make sense to have a seperate feed for Espanol. It would be annoying for your phone to buzz with duplicate messages, and for people without unlimited texting plans, also cost an extra dime or so per message received. Since setting up additional accounts and sending tweets are free (unless sent by phone, in which case your carrier may charge), having a separate account would simply make sense and also be more cost effective.

By: browne

browne — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:21:14 +0000

Doesn’t having a twitter account scream that you want to be annoyed by pointless messages? Isn’t that all people do on Twitter is send stupid messages half of which no one reads and a quarter of which make no sense?

Twitter is the emperor has no clothes most pointless technology of the late aughts.

So what I’m saying is what’s one more pointless message in a sea of pointless "I saw a really interesting blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…"

Who cares? If Spanish hurts your eyes then press a button.

Browne

By: David Markland

David Markland — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:45:41 +0000

Are you people suggesting "separate but equal" Twitter accounts? Racists.

By: kermalou

kermalou — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:22:38 +0000

i think that they should have a second twitter spanish account.

i for one dont care to have double the spam.

By: frazgo

frazgo — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:04:00 +0000

I don’t twitter. I’m pretty boring so twitter is pointless. Though I do watch what the rest of you do via here or facebook. Its sorta 2nd hand stalking.