If you set up a Twitter account and you protect your tweets...

[policywonk]

... it means that people you follow can't easily follow you back.

Just FYI.

Fairly sure I've just been added by an MNer, and I usually follow people back, but can't do so in this instance cos of the protected thing - well I can but it involves sending a request off, which means I'm less likely to do it cos I'm lazy

I do realise that this is a fairly dull and pointless OP, but just thought I'd post in case the MNer in question is out there...

don't see the point in protecting them, seems a little uptight

Is it just one click Len? You might be right, I've not done it. The combo of having to send off a special request - combined with, as you say, not knowing what people are posting about - just sets up a hurdle.

If the MNer in question sees this she'll almost certainly unfollow me now for being a whiny bint anyway

Yes, protected accounts kind of feel like an arm around your exam paper to me.

I think you just have to grit your teeth, fathom how much info you're happy sharing with the world in general, and go for it.

I don't think that I am following you yet, PC. Are you the same name?

I'd never send off a special request, PW, because to me it's the equivalent of a 'do not disturb' sign on a door.

I'd just have a crisis of confidence about being wanted in that little circle and creep away, I'm afraid.

I have sent a request a few times. It is a bit nerve wracking waiting to be 'approved'

is it me?

what's your tweet name mme? i'm following a strange german man who i felt sorry for now not so sure why?

"don't see the point in protecting them, seems a little uptight" I protect mine because I tweet about stuff I wouldn't want certain people to read.

I always think it's a bit odd on a social networking site, where the whole point is to follow lots of random people, to protect your own updates!

One advantage of being a follwer and a followee, as it were, is that you can direct message someone, which means it's not visible to anyone else.

(Which I can now do to you, PW, as you're following me back!)

I am mmelindor as mmelindt was already taken.

Btw, does anyone use TweetDeck? I cannot get it to open properly. I am getting the wee box coming up to say that a message has come in but cannot open the programme properly.

MmeLindt - I'm my RL name on there - will see if I can find you
IK - no not you - this was today. I thought I was following you but haven't seen anything from you for ages so maybe not...
Len, I've found Twitter most useful for connecting with people I don't already know - have some odd semi-friendships now based entirely around 140-character messages!

I use Tweetdeck - it's mostly much better than actual Twitter, especially as it also puts my Facebook news feed on there.

what is tweetdeck?

i message you directly today wonkster
abotu GB in my aerobics class

RIGHT WONK
i am following you
i am glued to your everyword, if you dont find my ramblings about the cat interstign .. fine but i might set him upon you on twitter.... oh yes, he tweets.

( well someone does, as him!)

'i message you directly today wonkster' - no you never (or I didn't receive it anyway). I would DEFINITELY remember a message about GB in an aerobics class.

Oh God I wasn't following you either In my defence I'd unfollowed BIWI by mistake as well. Did I mention that my mouse is making a bid for autonomy?

Anyway have sent you a request (ironically given the rest of the thread)

For my work account, which I use for shameless self-promotion (well, of my dept and work) we stalk Tweet lots of university applicants, all under 18. They often protect their tweets and quite rightly. And I think it is clear why IK does, no? But the rest of us... Bit mad.

I have two Twitter accounts though - one for the Tweets I don't want work to see (Wilf), and one for the dept. I don't have MYSELF yet - still too attached to vague and utterly transparent sense of anonymity!

Good. Must inform onebat.

A bit. I find him disarmingly sexy, as does onebat who seemed convinced I was him for some considerable time.

I like some of his writing. And he is uncompromisingly intelligent, which makes him a fully paid up Wanker.