Some Twitter help...

[EM2]

I set up a Twitter account with the idea that I could answer people's railway-related queries.
Firstly, I posted a couple of dozen explanatory tweets and then I followed a number of TOCs. I would read their mentions and if anyone had a query or complaint, I would reply to them with a (hopefully) fairly detailed answer. Example:

Original tweet:

Once again @SouthernRailUK make me late for work how can you not stop at London bridge..This service is such a rip off #WasteOfMoney

My answer:

Services cannot go via London Bridge as there is a problem with signals and it would not be safe.

Unfortunately, a number of people blocked me or reported me for spam, so I got my account suspended! After some discussion with Twitter, I got it re-opened, but now I'm not sure how to carry on with it, or even whether it's worth it.
Any suggestions on how it can still be useful, but without annoying people?

 

[Lrd]

The answer you gave in that example doesn't exactly explain much, if you were to give a more detailed answer then I'm sure they will appreciate your reply, at the moment your just some random person giving what seems to be a generic reply to strangers.

If they are angry at the TOC (or any company) then they will be expecting an answer from them and only them, everyone else is not good enough, even though they may have a decent reply.

I know this reply sounds a little nasty towards you but it honestly isn't meant to, just the only way I can explain it.

 

[Clip]

If im honest here, I wouldnt bother putting yourself out. as lewisrday says - you're just a random twitter account and people out there dont like being told by some random person what is what. If TOCs are using Twitter then let them deal with it, and really people are just there to vent at them anyway.

take a lot of stupid comments in news stories online - when people tell them the facts or put them straight they dont care and will not reply to that comment but carry on posting the same stuff..

 

[DarloRich]

just leave it to the TOC/NR to explain

Use your Twitter account like i do -As a stream of semi libellous comments bordering on the threatening and/or insulting about things that have piqued me!

 

[OxtedL]

You can learn a lot about yourself on twitter.

Most of the time you just learn that other people don't like thinking much.

 

[EM2]

Interesting points all, thanks.
I'm quite liking DarloRich's idea, but responding to some of the more extreme anti-train idiots

 

[Harbon 1]

I set up a Twitter account with the idea that I could answer people's railway-related queries.
Firstly, I posted a couple of dozen explanatory tweets and then I followed a number of TOCs. I would read their mentions and if anyone had a query or complaint, I would reply to them with a (hopefully) fairly detailed answer. Example:

Original tweet:
My answer:

Unfortunately, a number of people blocked me or reported me for spam, so I got my account suspended! After some discussion with Twitter, I got it re-opened, but now I'm not sure how to carry on with it, or even whether it's worth it.
Any suggestions on how it can still be useful, but without annoying people?

I do this all the time, take a look at #southeastern, it's good fun silencing people on that one

 

[EM2]

I've given up on it, too many grumpy buggers