Let's take a moment to go back in Twitter time. The year is 2009.
There wasn't always a "hard" way to retweet a tweet back then. People could only manually type "RT" or use a third party app that would automatically insert it for them
RT @timoreilly NYT on why Pollan should be "Secretary of Food" not just Sec of Agriculture http://snurl.com/7s568 (via @pahlkadot)
Jenna Wortham ♥
@jennydeluxe
RT @timoreilly NYT on why Pollan should be "Secretary of Food" not just Sec of Agriculture http://snurl.com/7s568 (via @pahlkadot)
/ Via
RT @eflorida: I see RT at the beginning of a post, and I automatically assume it has more value - particularly based on who is retweeting
Robert Scoble
@Scobleizer
RT @eflorida: I see RT at the beginning of a post, and I automatically assume it has more value - particularly based on who is retweeting
/ ViaThe feature took off. However, Twitter realized that there were many disadvantages to doing it, so they released the hard retweet way in early November of the same year.
For those who are curious about our thoughts on the new Retweet feature, check out @ev's blog http://bit.ly/23o4Vm
For those who are curious about our thoughts on the new Retweet feature, check out @ev's blog http://bit.ly/23o4Vm
/ ViaThe citizens of Twitter were obviously outraged at this change
I agree with @MaryHodder the new Twitter retweets is a lame clone of FriendFeed's likes. They really replace Favorites, not RT's.
Robert Scoble
@Scobleizer
I agree with @MaryHodder the new Twitter retweets is a lame clone of FriendFeed's likes. They really replace Favorites, not RT's.
/ ViaTwitter co-founder Evan Williams even had to go so far as defending the new feature in a blog post, citing multiple reasons as to its inferiority which includes attribution confusion, messiness, redundancy and most importantly - trackability. "Which tweets are doing the best" was hard to measure.
But the outrage continued
I hate the new retweet feature like whoa. I know I won't be using it, but how can I prevent other people from doing so?
Heidi N. Moore
@moorehn
I hate the new retweet feature like whoa. I know I won't be using it, but how can I prevent other people from doing so?
/ Via
Hate the new retweets feature. Please RT.
Ezra Klein
@ezraklein
Hate the new retweets feature. Please RT.
/ Via
hmm. the new twitter retweet feature doesn't let me add my own snark. half of my retweets are all about me!!!! #DamnYouTwitter
Baratunde
@baratunde
hmm. the new twitter retweet feature doesn't let me add my own snark. half of my retweets are all about me!!!! #DamnYouTwitter
/ Via
I agree. Commenting was key. RT @Werner new style retweet is confusing, and I can't add context/comment
Shervin Pishevar
@shervin
I agree. Commenting was key. RT @Werner new style retweet is confusing, and I can't add context/comment
/ Via
Don't think I like twitter Beta "Retweet" feature - can't comment on the tweet and I like the RT at the beginning, qualifies it from begin
Jacob Mullins
@jacob
Don't think I like twitter Beta "Retweet" feature - can't comment on the tweet and I like the RT at the beginning, qualifies it from begin
/ Via
I hate the retweet button.
Orli Yakuel d0d5e8dcd9
@Orli
I hate the retweet button.
/ ViaAnd the resistance continues till today
RT @rklau: Tori Amos is 50. O_o MT @RollingStone: Happy 50th birthday, Tori Amos! 1988 cover story: http//t.co/IlyRh5XaCX
Heidi N. Moore
@moorehn
RT @rklau: Tori Amos is 50. O_o MT @RollingStone: Happy 50th birthday, Tori Amos! 1988 cover story: http//t.co/IlyRh5XaCX
/ ViaRT @chefjoseandres: a hot dog is a small plate. A burger too. A roll of sushi also. A taco too. Don’t fight it!
Ezra Klein
@ezraklein
RT @chefjoseandres: a hot dog is a small plate. A burger too. A roll of sushi also. A taco too. Don’t fight it!
/ ViaUnfortunately, it doesn't seem like we can get around or turn off the blue lines — for now. Twitter will win this battle.