We posted a story last week about Ivy Bean, a woman who at 104 years old had become the worlds oldest Twitterer. We initially heard about the story via The Telegraph, thought it was rather interesting and shared it with you guys, and by the number of retweets, you rather liked it too.
A day or so later, MG Siegler over at TechCrunch noticed The Telegraph’s story climbing up the Digg ladder and wrote a story titled “Did the UK Press Con A 104-Year-Old Woman Into Joining Twitter For Digg Bait?”. OH THE IRONY.
Firstly, you might con a person into giving you their watch, you might even con a person out of their life savings but you don’t con a person to join Twitter. If they did get her to join, I’m certain they would have paid – and most likely rather handsomely.
Secondly, however she joined Twitter, she’s still Tweeting as we speak – in fact, her last Tweet was just 30 minutes ago (at the time of writing).
Thirdly, and probably most significantly, who cares? It was a story which intrigued people, made people smile and did absolutely zero harm to anyone involved. Sadly, that is not the case with other newspaper and blog stories which have of many occasion lead to individuals/company reputations taking a steep dive due to a completely fabricated story. This is clearly not a completely fabricated story.
Who cares about a 104 year old lady, I doubt she can even sing. Tell me more about Susan Boyle.
Did The Next Web just write a story about Tech Crunch just writing a story about another story trying to get on Digg, to get on Digg, to get on Digg?
*Head Explodes*
TechCrunch is always looking at ways to promote themselves! :)
What the Next Web fails to point out is that this whole thing was based a *press release* from Geek Squad. This was a PR stunt by GS, not the Telegraph. Get your facts right.
This isn’t “NEWS”.
If I go out and get a 4 year old to join twitter, package up a nice photo and press release, will you write about it?
I would to love to be a author but not yet well anway whats all this twitter twatter about 4 year olds , story books we are comong up with lots of special idea’s that will come into our minds when we write stories but if you do not focus it all vanishes. Things come into your mind if you write newspapers for example you still have to focus what you are doing , same with a story concentrate!
yours sincerly
Olivia Clarke Head of Book club , Rawtenstall , Lancashire
LANjackal – Luckily you, by contrasts, will be spared any real-world harassment because you are too cowardly to use your own name, even on a mere blog comment. Enjoy obscurity.
Mike, you’re quite right. We didn’t acknowledge it as a press release from Geek Squad, but we did mention the fact that Geek Squad had recommended the service. Irrespective, I completely disagree about the notion that this is one of the most “self-serving, cynical PR stunts” you can remember. You really think its that bad that a company took a photograph of this woman on her new twitter page and tried to get some press coverage out of it? I’ve heard of much much worse, and i haven’t been in the industry as long as you have.
Plus, she hardly got taken advantage of – she’s been in the Daily Mail as the “worlds oldest facebooker” too http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1045158/Meet-Ivy-Bean–worlds-oldest-Facebooker-aged-102.html .
Oh and also, I’d hardly call our 2nd post a tirade. I just pointed out what i guarantee many people thought, that the Techcrunch post was an attempt to generate a unique story off of another and yes, get to the front page of Digg.
There’s really nothing wrong with that except for the fact that if any story was completely fabricated, it was the TC one – and it seems like you’ve acknowledged that.
Oh and also, frankly, our post was intended to be slightly tongue in cheek (as the title might suggest) and so it wasn’t intended to be a personal attack on TechCrunch, MG or anyone related to TC. Not sure if you’ve just gotten out of bed on the wrong side or what, but certainly seems like you’ve taken the story a nudge too personally.
You are very mean to say that Dave , this old lady may be old but she might have a very lovely personality , you cannot emerge that what she thinks can you. Susan Boyle is very good but she has not got a good personality that is what i am going to tell you DAVE….
YOURS SINCERLY
OLIVIA CLARKE HEAD OF BOOK CLUB , RAWTENSTALL , LANCANSHIRE