Some are circulating calls not to include usernames of Tweeters in Iran when we are ReTweeting their news. I disagree. Not only is this suicidal for the credibility of anything we are writing, allowing more room for misinformation and propaganda, but also I fail to see how this protects the Iranian bloggers’ security. If the Tweets are out in the cyberspace already, and if they can be found on the #iranelection stream, then what’s the point of hiding the username of the original tweeter?!! How are we protecting his/her security?!
Say a Tweeter saw Muhammad Ahmad, who’s a student activist he knows throwing a molotov cocktail at the police. The Tweeter wants to tweet this news: “A student is throwing molotov cocktail #iranelection.” Now that I can understand. You are protecting the demonstrators identity. But if the tweet is out there, then what’s the point of not mentioning the original username “RT @Tweeter: A student is throwing molotov cocktail #iranelection”?
There has been debate about this in the blogosphere recently, and I want to stress again that I’m for everyone working hard to source their tweets, whether by mentioning the username of the original tweeter or include links.
Please take time to read this posting by the Traveller Within.
I totally agree with you and with the Traveller Within, it’s a ridiculous debate. Some people are trying to pass off as being more caring for the Iranian people, and more “expert” in new media; they end up sounding hysterical … and they are wrong.
Not only do they seemingly not understand the concept of Twitter, let alone that of “reporting,” but they also do not understand that disinformation is just as dangerous and detrimental to the well-being of the people they claim they’re trying to protect.
Very honoured! :)
Uh, yeah. And if you’re publishing to Twitter, your username is public anyway.
One other thing: Let’s not forget we’re relying on dicey Twits because the government has imposed a news embargo on local reporters, kicked all the foreign journalists out, and is making it dangerous for Iranians to let foreign outlets know what’s going on.
But it does sound like it’s out of control. Heard someone was saying Iran had brought ‘in 5,000 Hamas Arabs from Lebanon’ on Twitter. Uhh, hello? I don’t need this noise. That’s why I still don’t use it.
Twitter is a distraction. The election, the protests, and the crackdown are the issue.
Speaking of, you should see this:
Video is unverified, but looks pretty f-ing authentic to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrdRwOlmIxI
But you gotta wonder who they guy is using his mobile to film instead of calling a f-ing ambulance (though in his defence, I don’t suppose one would come if this really was taken in the midst of the s-t).