Jacqui Bunting Is The Moron

For a gay old time check out Jacqui Bunting’s article on how Twitter is only for morons. Yet another commentary from the mainstream media bagging this shit out of Twitter. How many times have you read something similar? Or heard similar comments on shows like Good News Week?

Blah blah blah, why don’t you mention something about someone updating their status with what they ate for lunch again. We’ve heard it. Unfortunately you don’t seem to realise Twitter actually has far more uses than that. Of course you’re far too naive to print otherwise. Maybe because concepts like Twitter will see the end of you lot.

Either way, whatever John Smith had for lunch is lot more interesting than The Age’s very own use of Twitter.

And for fuck’s sake, the thing you post is called a tweet, not a twitter.

14 Comments
  • James Duthie
    Posted at August 10, 2009 9:58pm, 10 August Reply

    It's Twitter's fault. They misrepresented themself for ages in the way the sold their service to newbies. The whole 'What are you doing?' never captured how Twitter was actually used. But people who don't Tweet can't possibly know any better. So they took it at face value.

    The new home page goes a long way towards rectifying that problem.

  • SamanthaJade
    Posted at August 10, 2009 10:53pm, 10 August Reply

    Just goes to show how poor her journalistic skills are if she can't even research all the ways twitter is being used. just checking out a couple of dull profiles doesn't count, I'm surprised she doesn't use twitter too keep up to date with internet topics and what other journalists are writing about. idiot.

    Jacqui Bunting is a self absorbed twit who can't see out of her 1950's world.

  • Melissa
    Posted at August 11, 2009 10:19am, 11 August Reply

    It's amazing how many apparently intelligent people just don't get it. And at the end of the day, if you don't get it, and you don't want to (which she obviously doesn't) just don't use it. Simple as that. Of course there's going to be the the people using it for personal use that are updating about their lives etc, that not everyone necessarily cares about, but again at the end of the day, you read the stuff you want to, and you don't read the stuff you dont.

    Twitter as a business tool is fast becoming a very accepted way of marketing/starting conversations and she's just showing her ignorance by not being able to see that.

  • Lachy
    Posted at August 11, 2009 6:51pm, 11 August Reply

    It really frustrates me rubbish like that gets thrown up like Gospel on the old-school media sites. No opportunity to comment or react below, to offer a different opionion or carry on the conversation.

    These same hacks are the ones whingeing that bloggers are a mob of uniformed, unfactual and unaccountable nobodies spreading disinformation. What a load of crap, at least bloggers let the masses moderate their writing.

    And that drivel from Jacqui is just completely contradictory to this. Because that was a narrow minded and clearly misinformed opinion piece that she wrote, based on a skimming of what Twitter and Facebook have to offer. And yet many will probably read it and walk away thinking that's all FB and Twitter have to offer. Talk about abuse of power. But that's what the old media is built on, and they're not about to give it up.

    I'll take blogs any day of the week.

  • Wags
    Posted at August 11, 2009 9:48pm, 11 August Reply

    Here are four "tweets" that might fit Jacqui Bunting's definition of "thoroughly mundane":

    – "Bowl of cereal before collapsing into bed. Set my alarm for 5am and do it all over again!"

    – "Every morning when I wake up, I'm glad I'm not Elle McPherson. Aren't you?"

    – "This week I eat stupendously expensive chocolate, to see if it can cure the world's overeating problems."

    – "We picked up some pork mince and fresh puff pastry from South Melbourne Market."

    Guess where I got those "tweets" from? The print edition of her very own publication, The Sunday Age, 9th August, 2009!

    Time for trad media to accept that Twitter is no different, just different "MEDIA"!

    Yes, Zac… Jacqui Bunting IS a moron.

  • Marigo Raftopoulos
    Posted at August 12, 2009 7:46pm, 12 August Reply

    Poor old Jacqui B. She's trying to save her heritage media job from impending irrelevance. Yes, Jacqui, of course the Earth is flat, of course it is!

  • Anonymous
    Posted at August 13, 2009 2:43pm, 13 August Reply

    OK. Mr anonymous again here – but she does have a point. I'm an art director at one fo the top 5 Aus ad agencies – and yes I agree with you all. HOWEVER – don't you all just think that she might be somewhat right? (In particular, about people with nothing interesting or of any real substance to tweet.)

    I really don't give a fuck what Jenny had for lunch, or what shoes Darren thinks are cool. No, ultimately I don't follow these people, but the fact of the matter is, there is a LARGE percentage of tweets, that are just un-be-fucking-lievably non-advantageous to your day, or any one elses for that matter. In fact, I've often found myself questioning the credibility of young Mr Martin's posts…

    And yes I hate both Ashton Kutcher and Paris.

  • Zac Martin
    Posted at August 13, 2009 2:49pm, 13 August Reply

    @ Anonymous

    Yes, there are people out there who are boring. Just like in real life. But that's not a fair stereotype to apply to the whole of Twitter. Anyone who's using it correctly will know there's a lot more substance and stimulating conversation than what Jenny had for lunch.

    And of course if you don't give a shit, don't follow her.

    If you don't like when I'm posting, then you're more than welcome to stop following me. Tell me Anon, what is your Twitter handle?

  • Anonymous
    Posted at August 13, 2009 3:18pm, 13 August Reply

    @anon…

    I don't really care to get involved any more than my initial comment in your comments section that asks for a comment. But here goes.

    I didn't say I don't like when you post. I just value your comments that refer to your blogging posts etc moreso than your personal insights, seeing as I don't know you personally. Where are we supposed to draw the line between twitter accounts for personal opinion and insight as opposed to twitter accounts you follow thinking you are getting news/industry insights?

    So, in hindsight – the point I was making is that I followed you thinking your twitter account was an offshoot of this blog. What I actually found were more personal insights and self-promotion of other articles on other blogs, than tweets alerting me of new blog posts from P.D.F or actual media insights?

    Dude, love your work ok. In your own words, Just stirring the pot…

  • Zac Martin
    Posted at August 13, 2009 3:30pm, 13 August Reply

    Hah, fucking pot stirrers! ;]

    I see your point, and that's a conscious decision I've made to make my Twitter account much more personal and at times completely random and not at all related to marketing. I think I feel a post about this coming up soon.

    Side bar, stoked someone from a big agency is reading and commented. :]

  • Anonymous
    Posted at August 13, 2009 3:44pm, 13 August Reply

    If I didn't make myself out to be such a wanker I'd tell you my twitter handle, but then also I'd probably contradict half of what I said… I'm a boring person! – Keep up the good reads Zac, I always look forward to a new post from you. In particular, one I can smugly say I might have sparked 😉

    Cheers

    Mr Anon

  • Maurice Saatchi
    Posted at August 13, 2009 11:36pm, 13 August Reply

    "Stoked someone from a big agency is reading and commenting"

    WHY?

  • Zac Martin
    Posted at August 13, 2009 11:49pm, 13 August Reply

    Bhahahaha. Big agencies tend to be a little behind the game when it comes to blogging, or at least from my experience. ;]

  • Anonymous
    Posted at August 14, 2009 9:43am, 14 August Reply

    Mr Anonymous here – I'm bridging the gap – one blog at a time 😉

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