Why can't Twitter roll out a "quote" button with the new RT method that allows duplicating the tweet text so that you can add a comment to it and resend. It would be similar to the current retweet structure that's currently used but count as an entirely new tweet. It would be like a public @reply.
For the new RT method, how about allowing a user to attach a 140 character comment before hitting send on a RT. That comment to the RT will appear only on the RT section pages. Maybe have a filter on the RT tab to show all "comments" by your network to the Tweet.
Travis Wright
· 2 months ago
a lot of times, I feel like just leaving a comment on their tweet... and the message comes back looking obscure, since there is no continuity with the way Twitter currently does it. Friend Feed has it figured out... unfortunately for twitter... FB owns them.
richrecruiter
· 2 months ago
Here's a novel idea: tweet something original instead of worrying about whether you can comment on a retweet.
DebDrive
· 2 months ago
I often find it necessary to "edit" a tweet that I want to re-tweet in order to add my own username at the front + the 'RT @' characters, and still remain within the 140-character limit. In fact, this is the case more often than not. Eliminating the ability to "edit" will seriously limit my ability to re-tweet.
Ian Fitter
· 2 months ago
I don't see why the current method of retweeting will cease to function as it is simply a string of characters beginning with RT, unless twitter chooses to filter these.
The proper supported Retweet should allow for a reference to the original tweet with the full 140 char available for the comment. Comments are key to retweets otherwise it just becomes a crowd of parrots.
Ben Parr
· 2 months ago
Let the healthy debate on Mashable begin. :)
startabuzz
· 2 months ago
So, Ben. According to your post, this feature will, somehow, carry through to third-party apps, like Seesmic & TweetDeck, right? That'll be a real bite, to be sure. Pete's exactly right about the important role commenting plays in the retweeting process. Like I said before, I champion the idea of streamlining things, so that the process is clearer for those unfamiliar with it. But ... Twitter really needs to think about incorporating the important facets before they go mucking around with things. If they don't, they'll have a firestorm of vitriol on their hands.
mashable
· 2 months ago
To argue against myself for a second, if Twitter were building this feature from scratch, it would make *no sense* to have commenting on retweets - that's what replies are for.
Ultimately, I think it's gonna pan out like this: legacy users can continue using the "RT @" format as long as they like, but many new and existing users will see that the new way is much more streamlined. They'll use @replies when they want to comment on a tweet.
That way everyone will be (kinda) happy and Twitter can make RTing simpler for new users.
startabuzz
· 2 months ago
I agree, to a point, Pete. But when you use an @ mention, the tweet goes only to the target (and those who follow both parties). If you know how to work the system and add a "." or a space to the front, then you can avoid that, but even fewer people know how to do that than know how to use RT.
So, if Twitter were creating something from scratch, some clear delineation could (and likely should) be made. But we're not dealing with a "from scratch" idea. We have something that's evolved and has provided great value to a great many people who use Twitter.
As with all things, we'll all learn to adapt as is necessary. And who knows, the changes may evolve into something better. It just seems to me that eliminating one of the real positives about retweeting is, well, not the smartest play that Twitter could make.
startabuzz
· 2 months ago
Pete, thank you! As I said on Ben's post, I think that some measure of standards is in order, but to remove the ability to comment is to remove one of the main reasons that people use the retweet feature in the first place.
Hugh Briss
· 2 months ago
I'm guessing we can still use the RT the way we have been on third-party apps like TweetDeck, right? If so, what's the big deal? Anyone that is savvy enough to be RTing on a regular basis is probably already using an app anyway, but for the new folks, keeping things simple is important.
Bert DuMars
· 2 months ago
I like this post. I agree that RT comments ad value, context and flavor to tweets. Twitter needs to combine the showing of who RT'd with the actual content. This will improve the real-time searchability of tweets, content and Twitter ids. Hope they come up with a full-featured solution.
Totally agree. RTs won't be the same without comments. Twitter's definitely doing sump'n cool with Project RT but they gotta make room for the comments too. Otherwise, we'll stick to the old way of RTing and all their hard work will be down the drain. Apparently...
Shitij Nigam
· 2 months ago
Er, the fixreplies link is causing my browser(s) to hang again and again. Something wrong with that page?
mashable
· 2 months ago
Seems like disqus can't handle the number of comments on that post and never finishes loading. I've switched out the link while we look into it. Thx for the heads up!
FunDave
· 2 months ago
There was no reason to make a big project out of this, it could have easily been done months ago as a simple automatic retweet feature, just like many other Twitter apps, where the tweet could be modified, or not, and then sent. I smell fish.
Kris Colvin
· 2 months ago
Dave, I don't know if it's "fishy" exactly, but there HAS to be some underlying reason why Twitter is choosing to implement this totally counter to the way virtually every other Twitter client has implemented the feature. If it were an improvement over all our Twitter clients, I would get it. But it seems to have this limitation that is raising flags and issues even before it's launched, so I wonder what that reason is.
Ben, Pete, do either of you know for sure why Twitter nixed editing the RT? I wonder if it's simply to make the coding easier as they track links?
There are so many valid improvements that could be made, such as making sure the link doesn't get lopped off so the RT is pointless, tracking RT'S (which it seems they will do), adding back the mystery characters that seem to vanish once you simply copy a tweet (right now you get less than 140 & have to edit the tweet), seeing who RT's you most, etc. I want to focus on those things in my own product, with or without the RT api. I am not sure of the consequences of not using the api though - I don't want to take away some function Twitter offers in it if we don't use it. It's a bit of a mess!
Shadowbat aka Scotty
· 2 months ago
I imagine nixing editing of RTs is a way to combat fake RTs such as celebrities supposedly endorsing products.
Wesley Williams
· 2 months ago
I don't see the problem with a lack of comments. Just write a new tweet about the subject matter. In fact, this might actually encourage people to use hashtags more so that a discussion can flow from them rather than through RTs.
nrek
· 2 months ago
If you gotta be heard so bad that a comment structure attached to a Tweet is going to ruffle the fabric of your Twitterverse - try a tweet format that's not "RT" based, but link threaded, like so :: %COMMENT% RT @username http://lbit.ly/to_status ... done. Seems simple.
tarathralls
· 2 months ago
I usually RT with an added comment. That's part of the main point of it, isn't it? To deny the user a chance to add their own input is a MAJOR FLAW, and makes me feel almost disrespected and devalued. I bet that Re-Tweeters will develop their own work-around, so they can still have a say. The personal comment within the RT keeps the conversation fresh and alive, gives it depth, and is part and parcel of the whole Twitter experience. I will definitely use the RT feature a good deal less if I am denied the ability to add my own comments.
No doubt, the RT comments add, and can add, immense value to tweets. The question is why should there be a unilateral change? Twitter belongs to millions of loyal users. It is only because of these large number of users that Twitter is what it is today. Why not involve these people as and when some important change is to be made in the way people tweet? In fact, such involvement should be at the initial stage itself, at the stage of idea formation when something is initially thought of, and not at the final stage when the change is about to be introduced or after the change has actually been introduced. Asking whether you like the newly added / changed feature will not do any good. Even if people don't like the feature, the egos of those who unilaterally decided to change things, get hurt and there is resistance to withdrawal of the changed / added features. Why not ask the user community at the beginning itself that we are considering initiating changes in so-and-so manner - what do you think? In fact, with a popular service like Twitter, in one single day, they can perhaps get a million voices expressing their opinions or casting their positive or negative votes.
So, ultimately, it appears that Twitter continues to be the private property of its founders / owners / management, notwithstanding the fact that tens of millions of people have actually made it popular who should have an equal voice in deciding what they want? Without community participation, what use Twitter would be?
Nikolay Kolev
· 2 months ago
Will you agree that Yahoo! Meme has done everything the right way already - comments, retweets (reposts), everything in general. Why doesn't Twitter simply duplicate Meme?
ahawkinson
· 2 months ago
The ability to comment or add context is critical in my view. While I can see a purpose of a retweet being just a pass along without comments at times, in most cases the power is linking to the original tweet while also adding your own context which makes it applicable to your follower base or adds a tiny bit of your own thinking to the equation. Without that added context, it undermines the ability for the full online conversation to unfold in a strongly linked way.
Owen
· 2 months ago
If you want to make a comment you can do it via the reply function. Lets keep the retweet function short and simple; click a retweet button and it simply retweets (Similar to the retweet button which is available on Twibes).
ahawkinson
· 2 months ago
More thoughts on this here - "It's the conversation, stupid" - http://bit.ly/vfE0r. I think Parr and Cashmore have it nailed pretty well.
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· 2 months ago
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Fun Quotes
· 2 months ago
I guess what is going to happen is that new functionality will not allow comments on re-tweets. But you can continue to use RT the way you use now and make comments. It may not include your name in the people who re-tweeted the original tweet though. Or you could post twice - One, using the new feature and second, using RT + your comment. It is extra effort but achieves the purpose.
Kris Colvin
· 2 months ago
This is my worry: that in an effort to workaround the cludgy new system, we will suffer even MORE noise in tweet streams. Not sure if these RT's are going to now be moved into their own section and not in our streams at all, or mixed in as they are now. Maybe this would just result in two RT's in that section.
Ryan Biddulph
· 2 months ago
Having the ability to comment on RTs is what makes twitter so (s)tweet. Adding value, debating, or debunking any tweet or RT is what twitter is about. I am a heavy RT'er so I can't see it any other way. RB
jesseluna
· 2 months ago
Commenting on tweets is still going to be important so people will continue to do that one way or another. If tweets were viewed more as "references" then one could include that and comment on it. Right now it would be like doing a regular tweet then including a link to the actual tweet.
Terrelle Pryor
· 2 months ago
I like the ideal of commenting on retweets although it breaks the general concept of 140 character posts. I don't mind breaking the rules for a really good feature.
Jennifer
· 2 months ago
RT comments are an important part of a twitter conversation. When I see RT comments, it makes me want to be part of the convo. It adds to the twitter experience. We will, as we always do, find a way around it. Great post! Thanks for the information.
Geertje
· 2 months ago
Maybe it's possible to set up a new possibility besides retweet/RT: SORT (Sort Of Re Tweet)
What will happen if Google will deindex twitter for duplicate content?
Kristof
· 2 months ago
I think it will be a mistake if the new RT system doesn't allow adding comments. But just like other instances when Twitter changed a process that users didn't like, they found a work-around. Such as adding a period or space in front of a reply so all your followers could see your message.
In this case, people could prepend the message with (via @username). Not an elegant, quick or succinct method, but one way around the limitation Twitter may impose. Or perhaps a new hashtag will emerge like "#RT".
One other thought. Since we don't know the complete story on how this will work, we also don't know of any possible benefits to the new system. We could be surprised.
Casie
· 2 months ago
I have to say that I don't quite understand what the fuss is about(I'm new so maybe there's more to this that I'm not getting) If you like the new method which I as a newbie do, use it, if you don't like it or want to comment use the old method. Sounds simple to me
durbs15227
· 2 months ago
I'm sure I read in the new Terms and conditions that were released 9-10-2009 a tone of copyright problems involving people modifying tweets from companies as RT's. This is the underlying premise behind not allowing a change to the original message. I believe - copyright infringement of corporate users tweets to change the message.
Taranfx
· 2 months ago
BTW, Mashable's RTs are growing. :)
Stephen
· 2 months ago
I also think that if you are retweeted, then thanking those who have retweeted you is both common courtesy, and engenders good feeling with others!
Jo Couchman
· 2 months ago
I add a comment to nearly every retweet. Usually a non-jargon translation so my clients and followers will understand it. I wouldn't use it as much if I couldn't do this.
All Comments
For the new RT method, how about allowing a user to attach a 140 character comment before hitting send on a RT. That comment to the RT will appear only on the RT section pages. Maybe have a filter on the RT tab to show all "comments" by your network to the Tweet.
The proper supported Retweet should allow for a reference to the original tweet with the full 140 char available for the comment. Comments are key to retweets otherwise it just becomes a crowd of parrots.
Ultimately, I think it's gonna pan out like this: legacy users can continue using the "RT @" format as long as they like, but many new and existing users will see that the new way is much more streamlined. They'll use @replies when they want to comment on a tweet.
That way everyone will be (kinda) happy and Twitter can make RTing simpler for new users.
So, if Twitter were creating something from scratch, some clear delineation could (and likely should) be made. But we're not dealing with a "from scratch" idea. We have something that's evolved and has provided great value to a great many people who use Twitter.
As with all things, we'll all learn to adapt as is necessary. And who knows, the changes may evolve into something better. It just seems to me that eliminating one of the real positives about retweeting is, well, not the smartest play that Twitter could make.
Bert
http://socialmediaecosystem.com
Ben, Pete, do either of you know for sure why Twitter nixed editing the RT? I wonder if it's simply to make the coding easier as they track links?
There are so many valid improvements that could be made, such as making sure the link doesn't get lopped off so the RT is pointless, tracking RT'S (which it seems they will do), adding back the mystery characters that seem to vanish once you simply copy a tweet (right now you get less than 140 & have to edit the tweet), seeing who RT's you most, etc. I want to focus on those things in my own product, with or without the RT api. I am not sure of the consequences of not using the api though - I don't want to take away some function Twitter offers in it if we don't use it. It's a bit of a mess!
So, ultimately, it appears that Twitter continues to be the private property of its founders / owners / management, notwithstanding the fact that tens of millions of people have actually made it popular who should have an equal voice in deciding what they want? Without community participation, what use Twitter would be?
I've used it a couple of times already to make clear I'm not exactly retweeting the post.
Explanation on Urban Dictionary: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=...
In this case, people could prepend the message with (via @username). Not an elegant, quick or succinct method, but one way around the limitation Twitter may impose. Or perhaps a new hashtag will emerge like "#RT".
One other thought. Since we don't know the complete story on how this will work, we also don't know of any possible benefits to the new system. We could be surprised.
If you like the new method which I as a newbie do, use it, if you don't like it or want to comment use the old method. Sounds simple to me