Tracking down social media authors

[Ambrosia7177]

Okay, some questions from an old-timer who knows lots about computers, but has NO CLUE about social media...

I am a cub reporter, and thinking of turning to the "dark side" so that I can do better reporting.

Some questions...

YouTube
1.) If I see a video on YouTube that I like, how can I get in touch with that person?

2.) Is there a way to email/PM someone on YouTube?


Twitter
3.) Is there a way to get in touch with someone directly (in private) on Twitter?

Can I do so without a twitter account?


Facebook
4.) Is there a way to get in touch with someone directly (in private) on Facebook if you do NOT have an account?

(I think Facebook is the "dirtiest" of social media...)


Thanks.

 

[yaxomoxay]

1.) If I see a video on YouTube that I like, how can I get in touch with that person?
Use the PM feature.

2.) Is there a way to email/PM someone on YouTube?
Yes, their PM feature.

3.) Is there a way to get in touch with someone directly (in private) on Twitter?
Yes, use their PM feature.

Can I do so without a twitter account?
You would have to know how to contact them (email, physical address etc.)

4.) Is there a way to get in touch with someone directly (in private) on Facebook if you do NOT have an account?
No.

My recommendation is to search for these type of questions on youtube, usually some how to video will pop up.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

1.) If I see a video on YouTube that I like, how can I get in touch with that person?
Use the PM feature.

2.) Is there a way to email/PM someone on YouTube?
Yes, their PM feature.

3.) Is there a way to get in touch with someone directly (in private) on Twitter?
Yes, use their PM feature.

Similar to MacRumors, can people turn off the PM feature on YouTube/Twitter/Facebook or is there always a way to contact them directly (and privately) if I have an account on a given platform?

 

[yaxomoxay]

Similar to MacRumors, can people turn off the PM feature on YouTube/Twitter/Facebook or is there always a way to contact them directly (and privately) if I have an account on a given platform?

If they turn it off it means that they don't want to be contacted that way, a wish that should be respected. If the person/group is fairly famous you can do some online research and find ways to contact them.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

If they turn it off it means that they don't want to be contacted that way, a wish that should be respected. If the person/group is fairly famous you can do some online research and find ways to contact them.

But it sounds like most people on YouTube/Twitter would be reachable, right?

And, of course, I could send a public message to contact them, but that is sorta like using a bullhorn to tell someone at a public event, "Hey, can we talk later?"

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

But it sounds like most people on YouTube/Twitter would be reachable, right?

And, of course, I could send a public message to contact them, but that is sorta like using a bullhorn to tell someone at a public event, "Hey, can we talk later?"

I don't know that 'most' is the correct assumption here. Even more so than with your email thread, if I get an unsolicited message on YouTube or Twitter, it's getting trashed immediately, but that's just me.
On those platforms, there isn't really an option for a 'public message' besides leaving a comment (YouTube) or replying to to tweet. You're then relying on the person reading your response.

That being said, I do the social media for several orgs and we never receive any messages besides spam through our social media accounts, though we do get comments/tweet replies etc.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

I don't know that 'most' is the correct assumption here. Even more so than with your email thread, if I get an unsolicited message on YouTube or Twitter, it's getting trashed immediately, but that's just me.
On those platforms, there isn't really an option for a 'public message' besides leaving a comment (YouTube) or replying to to tweet. You're then relying on the person reading your response.

That being said, I do the social media for several orgs and we never receive any messages besides spam through our social media accounts, though we do get comments/tweet replies etc.

Does anyone other than me realize how DYSFUNCTIONAL the human race has become when it comes to communication?

8 billion people all on a desert island...

So, you are saying that if I found some really good content on social media - most likely Twitter or YouTube or maybe Instagram (?), then there is a very good chance that i would have no way of "connecting" with the original poster/author, huh?

That is so screwed up...

People go onto social media so they can talk on a bullhorn for the whole world to see/hear, and yet they don't want any feedback?

That's like picking up the hone, calling someone, and just talking for hours even after the listener has hung up or went to bed.

Is that really how warped people have become?

Since people completely blew up my approach to being social and trying to communicate with my fellow citizens about important topics via EMAIL, I figured maybe I should reconsider social media.

But now apparently it has the same traps and snares as email does.

Apparently people just want to talk, but nobody wants to listen anymore, huh?

 

[jonblatho]

Does anyone other than me realize how DYSFUNCTIONAL the human race has become when it comes to communication?

8 billion people all on a desert island...

So, you are saying that if I found some really good content on social media - most likely Twitter or YouTube or maybe Instagram (?), then there is a very good chance that i would have no way of "connecting" with the original poster/author, huh?

That is so screwed up...

People go onto social media so they can talk on a bullhorn for the whole world to see/hear, and yet they don't want any feedback?

That's like picking up the hone, calling someone, and just talking for hours even after the listener has hung up or went to bed.

Is that really how warped people have become?

Since people completely blew up my approach to being social and trying to communicate with my fellow citizens about important topics via EMAIL, I figured maybe I should reconsider social media.

But now apparently it has the same traps and snares as email does.

Apparently people just want to talk, but nobody wants to listen anymore, huh?

Users mostly have control over how much private feedback they get; for example, on Twitter, you can choose to allow or disallow DMs from people whom you don’t follow. Usually, the default settings are pretty restrictive because people at large can’t be trusted to not abuse the ability to freely and immediately message someone privately.

I’m a meteorologist, and some of my (especially women) peers working in broadcast get nightmarish comments on their appearance (rude and/or creepy), and sometimes outright harassment, on their public posts. What they receive privately, if someone manages to track down their personal account, is assuredly worse, sometimes ranging into physical and/or sexual threats. Many peers working in highly public meteorology jobs have set their names on their personal social media accounts such that their “last name” is another name to avoid/inhibit such harassment.

I don’t know the exact purpose(s) for which you seek to contact someone privately, but yes, creeps have ruined it for even the most pure purposes.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

You’re missing the point.

I want to talk to people I know.
I engage with you because we both choose to be members of this forum.
I sometimes engage with brands or businesses by commenting on social media, but that is typically to enter a contest, or to specifically shout out great service.
It seems like you are hoping to start conversations with people via social media (in addition to email) and the majority of people here are MR are telling you it’s an upwards battle because of so many spam messages.

If you can build interesting content (through your blog, website, mailing list which people choose to sign up for, etc) you will start to have more of these conversations. But your unsolicited messages may be ignored and you’re taking it really personally.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Users mostly have control over how much private feedback they get; for example, on Twitter, you can choose to allow or disallow DMs from people whom you don’t follow. Usually, the default settings are pretty restrictive because people at large can’t be trusted to not abuse the ability to freely and immediately message someone privately.

I’m a meteorologist, and some of my (especially women) peers working in broadcast get nightmarish comments on their appearance (rude and/or creepy), and sometimes outright harassment, on their public posts. What they receive privately, if someone manages to track down their personal account, is assuredly worse, sometimes ranging into physical and/or sexual threats. Many peers working in highly public meteorology jobs have set their names on their personal social media accounts such that their “last name” is another name to avoid/inhibit such harassment.

Thank you for sharing your experiences.

I am sorry to hear that you and your colleagues have had to endure so much. (Like life as a meteorologist isn't tough enough, right?)

I don’t know the exact purpose(s) for which you seek to contact someone privately, but yes, creeps have ruined it for even the most pure purposes.

Well, in a larger sense it is this...

I am trying to start a business, and a good portion of that will be "original" reporting - even though I am not formally trained as a journalist.

I have already learned the HARD WAY, that my innocent attempts to share "original content" about COVID-19 failed miserably. (And thanks to the Internet lynch mob, I had lots of people rub my face in it!)

Ironically, in that thread about my failures, at least a handful of people said I should go the social media route. And with everything going on in the world, I have indeed found some really neat things on YouTube.

So the motivation for this thread was merely to better understand how to reach out to people whose content I admire.

Maybe I want to thank them, or ask a question, OR see if they would be open to an interview?

So I am trying to learn notonly the "mechanics" of social media, buut also the "psychology".

Personally, Facebook disgusts me.

But I can see the positive side of YouTube, and maybe even Twitter and Instagram - if I really understand what is?!

For the most part, I reject the modern world, BUT I am always eager to learn new things, and try my best to adapt to how the world is changing - like it or not?!

HTH.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Instagram is owned by Facebook

 

[Ambrosia7177]

You’re missing the point.

I want to talk to people I know.

But here we go again down the rabbit-hole of circular logic.

IF you went through life ONLY talking to people that you KNOW, then you would never know anyone!!

Following that logic to the extreme, that means no more waving at strangers, or gabbing in the checkout line - when we used to have those! - or talking n the park or meeting someone in a social scene, etc.

Apparently the Internet community has created their own lockdown of total and complete social isolation?!

Hare dare you talk to me if I don't know you?! The nerve!!

Really? is that how people go through life these days?

Personally, I LOVE talking with stranegrs on and offline, and I find some of my best experiecnes in lufe when I am interacting with total strangers...

Sorry the rest of you are missing out on such a God-given gift, i.e. fellowship with your fellow human-beings!!

I engage with you because we both choose to be members of this forum.

But you don't know me.

And you often join my threads even though I never solicited your opinions. (Of course, I don't have a stick up my apple like so many people do, so I am GLAD you come out of the woodowrk to share your thoughts with me. thank you!)

I sometimes engage with brands or businesses by commenting on social media, but that is typically to enter a contest, or to specifically shout out great service.
It seems like you are hoping to start conversations with people via social media (in addition to email) and the majority of people here are MR are telling you it’s an upwards battle because of so many spam messages.

And I have accepted that - bitterly - as far as email goes.

But a hint... Is it not called "SOCIAL media"? Hmmmm?

Are people so narcisstic that they want the whole world to knwo what they think, BUT they don't give a flip about what others think in return? (God, of that doesn't describe Trump, then what does?!)

If I reach out to people on something like YouTube or Twitter, the goal would be to speak with them to probably ask for an interview. How else do "real" journalists track down people in 2020?

If I end up creating my own YouTube channel, or God-forbid a twter account, then if people reach out to me, I will be happy to respond - and hopefully promote my content/ideas/business.

But that is my END GOAL...

How in the world do I get in touch with all of these peopel so I can interview them??

(Since I am not the NY Times/Washington Post/Wall Street Journal, I don't have the clout to make people trip over each other to be interviewed by me!)

If you can build interesting content (through your blog, website, mailing list which people choose to sign up for, etc) you will start to have more of these conversations. But your unsolicited messages may be ignored and you’re taking it really personally.

And I am building a website with interesting content, and I hope to have my own follwers soon, but that still doesn't help solve my other problem of, "How can I start tracking down really smart/inetresting/unique/heart-warming people, and "connect" with them, mostly with the hopes of getting an interview so I can help them and myself as well?

Sounds like email is out. Strike 1!

Things aren't sounding too good for (un)social media... Strike 2?

And, yes, I am tacking it personally that people no longer want to speak to one another like they have for the last 20,000 years!!

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Context is key here. In my neighbourhood, we sometimes get 'notes' left in our mailboxes that appear to be handwritten messages on notepaper. They're offers to buy our houses (I rent...) for cash, and while the original was likely written by hand in ink, they are obvious photocopies.
My point (if I have one) is that there are ways on social media to send the messages that you want to send, and there's no harm in doing so. But again, context is key: a direct/private message to another individual, or business, is typically more likely to be ignored because so many of us receive spam this way.
If you want to have these conversations, engage with the individual/business publicly, at least at first. (By leaving a comment or replying to a tweet, etc.) If they respond to you publicly, it's a good indication that they're willing to continue the conversation. If not, they're either not interested, or are too busy to read your comment, in which case a private message is far more likely to be ignored.

Another note from a technical standpoint: on my Twitter account, I have a setting to disable private messages from anyone I don't follow. If someone has that enabled, you would get a warning that you can't message them until you follow them (and if their account is private, they would need to approve your request first).
On Facebook and Instagram, if someone I'm not following sends me a message, it goes to a special 'message requests' folder where I can accept or decline the message. Private messages often get lost this way (though it sounds like you won't be using these platforms).
Most importantly, read this for YouTube.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Does anyone other than me realize how DYSFUNCTIONAL the human race has become when it comes to communication?

8 billion people all on a desert island...

So, you are saying that if I found some really good content on social media - most likely Twitter or YouTube or maybe Instagram (?), then there is a very good chance that i would have no way of "connecting" with the original poster/author, huh?

That is so screwed up...

People go onto social media so they can talk on a bullhorn for the whole world to see/hear, and yet they don't want any feedback?

That's like picking up the hone, calling someone, and just talking for hours even after the listener has hung up or went to bed.

Is that really how warped people have become?

Since people completely blew up my approach to being social and trying to communicate with my fellow citizens about important topics via EMAIL, I figured maybe I should reconsider social media.

But now apparently it has the same traps and snares as email does.

Apparently people just want to talk, but nobody wants to listen anymore, huh?

Look - I am no fan of social media - but again, you're missing the point.

The point of Social Media is not communication. Social Media is Content. Read it again: Content.
Great - or controversial - content is what wins people in the world of social media.
So, again, if you really want to disseminate information the best way is to create good content. Make a presentation on YouTube, become good at Twitter, etc... and the feedback will mostly be immediate. If you want to be heard, you have to do the same thing that people used to do before social media: become good at it, work hard for it, and be able to disseminate it in a smart way. However, without content, there's nothing.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Apparently the Internet community has created their own lockdown of total and complete social isolation?!

Hare dare you talk to me if I don't know you?! The nerve

Scenario 1. Imagine yourself; you're walking down Main Street, you want to do some shopping, you want to eat a nice chocolate and vanilla ice cream. It's a beautiful day, the sun is shining bright in the skies. Suddenly, a man stops you. "Hey man! I've seen you somewhere... can I tell you about my new project?". You're a nice guy, so you listen for a few minutes, then say "thank you it was informative," and leave. You take five steps, and another man stops you. "Sir! Sir! I have seen you somewhere... can I tell you about this amazing project?". You're really a nice guy, so you listen but hope that the guy hurries up... the ice cream parlor will close down in five minutes. The man quickly wraps up, you still got time. You take four steps, and a lady stops you. "Hey sir! I think we've met before, I follow what you write... can I tell you about this thing that you'll find interesting?". You calculate that you won't reach the ice cream parlor, but it's ok. It's just a tasty ice cream. Five minutes later, the lady stops, and you go your own way. Four steps later, an elderly man stops you. "Hey man!"... you know the drill, and this routine goes on for a while, until you look at your watch, and it's midnight, you have to go to the restroom, you're hungry, tired, and have not been able to even reach your car which is half a mile away. You look in front of you, and you see a thousand more people waiting for you, they truly want to tell you something.

Scenario 2. Imagine yourself; you're home, you're working intensively on your research. Data, numbers, events, history, all your notes on the desk, you're focused in a way that would make Bobby Fischer and Boris Spasski some rookies. The phone rings. Your focus leaves, but it's ok, it might be important. You answer, a guy you never met says "hey, I've seen your work, let me tell you about this," and he goes on for ten minutes. Finally you go back to your work, and twenty minutes later you're into deep work mode, fully focused again; you'd beat Deep Blue. The phone rings again, oh well. You answer, same routine. Again, you go back to your work; getting focused again is a bit harder, as research suggests the attention residue is somewhat of a challenge. But you do it. You're focused, you're ready to write down the punchline... the phone rings again. "Sorry sir, you don't know me, but you might find this interesting..."

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Scenario 1. Imagine yourself; you're walking down Main Street, you want to do some shopping, you want to eat a nice chocolate and vanilla ice cream. It's a beautiful day, the sun is shining bright in the skies. Suddenly, a man stops you. "Hey man! I've seen you somewhere... can I tell you about my new project?". You're a nice guy, so you listen for a few minutes, then say "thank you it was informative," and leave. You take five steps, and another man stops you. "Sir! Sir! I have seen you somewhere... can I tell you about this amazing project?". You're really a nice guy, so you listen but hope that the guy hurries up... the ice cream parlor will close down in five minutes. The man quickly wraps up, you still got time. You take four steps, and a lady stops you. "Hey sir! I think we've met before, I follow what you write... can I tell you about this thing that you'll find interesting?". You calculate that you won't reach the ice cream parlor, but it's ok. It's just a tasty ice cream. Five minutes later, the lady stops, and you go your own way. Four steps later, an elderly man stops you. "Hey man!"... you know the drill, and this routine goes on for a while, until you look at your watch, and it's midnight, you have to go to the restroom, you're hungry, tired, and have not been able to even reach your car which is half a mile a way. You look in front of you, and you see a thousand more people waiting for you, they truly want to tell you something.

Scenario 2. Imagine yourself; you're home, you're working intensively on your research. Data, numbers, events, history, all your notes on the desk, you're focused in a way that would make Bobby Fischer and Boris Spasski some rookies. The phone rings. Your focus leaves, but it's ok, it might be important. You answer, a guy you never met said "hey, I've seen your work, let me tell you about this," and he goes on for ten minutes. Finally you go back to your work, and twenty minutes later you're into deep work mode, fully focused again; you'd beat Deep Blue. The phone rings again, oh well. You answer, same routine. Again, you go back to your work; getting focused again is a bit harder, as research suggests the attention residue is somewhat of a challenge. But you do it. You're focused, you're ready to write down the punchline... the phone rings again. "Sorry sir, you don't know me, but you might find this interesting..."

These read like Philip K Dick short stories.

 

[yaxomoxay]

These read like Philip K Dick short stories.

Wow! Blushing here

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Context is key here. In my neighbourhood, we sometimes get 'notes' left in our mailboxes that appear to be handwritten messages on notepaper. They're offers to buy our houses (I rent...) for cash, and while the original was likely written by hand in ink, they are obvious photocopies.

My point (if I have one) is that there are ways on social media to send the messages that you want to send, and there's no harm in doing so. But again, context is key: a direct/private message to another individual, or business, is typically more likely to be ignored because so many of us receive spam this way.

Very sad, but okay.

If you want to have these conversations, engage with the individual/business publicly, at least at first. (By leaving a comment or replying to a tweet, etc.) If they respond to you publicly, it's a good indication that they're willing to continue the conversation. If not, they're either not interested, or are too busy to read your comment, in which case a private message is far more likely to be ignored.

Makes sense.

Another note from a technical standpoint: on my Twitter account, I have a setting to disable private messages from anyone I don't follow. If someone has that enabled, you would get a warning that you can't message them until you follow them (and if their account is private, they would need to approve your request first).

What is the logic of that? If I follow you, then why is it now okay to PM you?

On Facebook and Instagram, if someone I'm not following sends me a message, it goes to a special 'message requests' folder where I can accept or decline the message. Private messages often get lost this way (though it sounds like you won't be using these platforms).

I cannot see myself stooping to use Facebook...

Most importantly, read this for YouTube.

It says, As of July 9, 2018, the ability to send, receive, or read private messages in Creator Studio is no longer available.

What is "Creator Studio"?


Then it says,
Business Inquiry Emails
You can still receive and send email messages to fellow users on the platform using Business Inquiry Emails (visible on Desktop only) when provided by the channel owner on the “About” tab of their channel.

Is that some type of special "business" accoun that they or you need?

And realistically, do you think that anyone has one of those? I woul suspect not.

Thanks for the thoughts!

(See, I'm not so bad, even though I am a "stranger" to you... Or wait a minute... Maybe YOU are the "stranger"?)

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Scenario 1. Imagine yourself; you're walking down Main Street, you want to do some shopping, you want to eat a nice chocolate and vanilla ice cream. It's a beautiful day, the sun is shining bright in the skies. Suddenly, a man stops you. "Hey man! I've seen you somewhere... can I tell you about my new project?". You're a nice guy, so you listen for a few minutes, then say "thank you it was informative," and leave. You take five steps, and another man stops you. "Sir! Sir! I have seen you somewhere... can I tell you about this amazing project?". You're really a nice guy, so you listen but hope that the guy hurries up... the ice cream parlor will close down in five minutes. The man quickly wraps up, you still got time. You take four steps, and a lady stops you. "Hey sir! I think we've met before, I follow what you write... can I tell you about this thing that you'll find interesting?". You calculate that you won't reach the ice cream parlor, but it's ok. It's just a tasty ice cream. Five minutes later, the lady stops, and you go your own way. Four steps later, an elderly man stops you. "Hey man!"... you know the drill, and this routine goes on for a while, until you look at your watch, and it's midnight, you have to go to the restroom, you're hungry, tired, and have not been able to even reach your car which is half a mile away. You look in front of you, and you see a thousand more people waiting for you, they truly want to tell you something.

Scenario 2. Imagine yourself; you're home, you're working intensively on your research. Data, numbers, events, history, all your notes on the desk, you're focused in a way that would make Bobby Fischer and Boris Spasski some rookies. The phone rings. Your focus leaves, but it's ok, it might be important. You answer, a guy you never met says "hey, I've seen your work, let me tell you about this," and he goes on for ten minutes. Finally you go back to your work, and twenty minutes later you're into deep work mode, fully focused again; you'd beat Deep Blue. The phone rings again, oh well. You answer, same routine. Again, you go back to your work; getting focused again is a bit harder, as research suggests the attention residue is somewhat of a challenge. But you do it. You're focused, you're ready to write down the punchline... the phone rings again. "Sorry sir, you don't know me, but you might find this interesting..."

Brilliant post.

And, on top of that, frankly, as a woman, you are even less likely to welcome an approach (a cold approach) from a stranger unless they already have someone to vouch for them, someone from your network or reference group (personal, hobbies, friends, or professional or work related), or something - such as an interesting blog - to recommend them.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Very sad, but okay.




Makes sense.




What is the logic of that? If I follow you, then why is it now okay to PM you?




I cannot see myself stooping to use Facebook...





It says, As of July 9, 2018, the ability to send, receive, or read private messages in Creator Studio is no longer available.

What is "Creator Studio"?


Then it says,
Business Inquiry Emails
You can still receive and send email messages to fellow users on the platform using Business Inquiry Emails (visible on Desktop only) when provided by the channel owner on the “About” tab of their channel.

Is that some type of special "business" accoun that they or you need?

And realistically, do you think that anyone has one of those? I woul suspect not.

Thanks for the thoughts!

(See, I'm not so bad, even though I am a "stranger" to you... Or wait a minute... Maybe YOU are the "stranger"?)

Re Twitter, it's just to reduce unsolicited messages, particularly if your Twitter is public.

Creator studio is where you organize your videos. I don't know about the rest of it, but my understanding was that private messaging isn't really an option on YouTube unless the account activates the business email feature, and then ostensibly you're just emailing each other.
Here's an interesting, but old, Reddit post, with some questions similar to yours.

 

[yaxomoxay]

And, on top of that, frankly, as a woman, you are even less likely to welcome an approach (a cold approach) from a stranger unless they already have someone to vouch for them, someone from your network or reference group (personal, hobbies, friends, or work related), or something - such as an interesting blog - to recommend them.

Very good point!

 

[konqerror]

1.) If I see a video on YouTube that I like, how can I get in touch with that person?
Use the PM feature.

YouTube's PM feature was removed last year

Heads Up - We’re removing the ability to message directly on YouTube after September 18 - YouTube Community

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Look - I am no fan of social media - but again, you're missing the point.

The point of Social Media is not communication. Social Media is Content. Read it again: Content.
Great - or controversial - content is what wins people in the world of social media.
So, again, if you really want to disseminate information the best way is to create good content. Make a presentation on YouTube, become good at Twitter, etc... and the feedback will mostly be immediate. If you want to be heard, you have to do the same thing that people used to do before social media: become good at it, work hard for it, and be able to disseminate it in a smart way. However, without content, there's nothing.

All very good points, but need I remind you in my previous e-mail failure, the issue was NOT "great content"!!!

The issue was (most likely) that nobody ever even read my e-mail, because if they did, I'm pretty sure I would have gotten some kind words OR requests for more "great content".

So contacting people in my same space - who put their business e-mail addresses on their public websites - did not go as planned. (Their loss!)

HERE, I am trying to figure out not how to "spam" people, but rather to connect with people - mostly for the purpose of requesting an interview about THEIR "great content".

Again, in the past 10,000 some odd years, if you saw someone that had what you wanted/liked (e.g. a nice cave, a nice cave women!!, a juicy brontosaurus burger, etc), you would (carefully) appraoch them, introduce yourself, and then if the moment seemed "right", compliment them on whatever it is that you admire.

Because man (and wo-man) are ego driven, usually it doesn't take more than a word or too before people are talking your leg off about how great they are and their content/whatever is.

So since most of the human race - which electricity and Internet - wastes their time online and social media, I guess THAT is how I need to find people.

And I am trying to humble myself, and considering how I might use social media to reach out to people to discuss THEIR "great content" - and without becoming the world's largest hypocrite - and so I came to MacRumors seeking knowledge!!


So @Mr_Brightside_@ makes it sound like there is a wa to reach out to people directly - because it would be so awkward to Tweet, "Hey, loved your content. Can I request an *exclusive* interview with you? (Please all 20,000 million of the rest of you, please disregard!!)"

Being a social media virgin, I just don't know. (And I'm not going to bow down and join social media if it won't help me accomplish what I want, so I am asking first!)

 

[yaxomoxay]

The issue was (most likely) that nobody ever even read my e-mail, because if they did, I'm pretty sure I would have gotten some kind words OR requests for more "great content".

If you sent them to government agencies as you said, the read/skimmed them.

So contacting people in my same space - who put their business e-mail addresses on their public websites - did not go as planned. (Their loss!)

Maybe because they receive 10,000 emails a day (from your point of view it's "just an email"), or maybe they didn't find what you wrote interesting enough to start a conversation. But I don't want to get back to the topic of the other thread.

HERE, I am trying to figure out not how to "spam" people, but rather to connect with people - mostly for the purpose of requesting an interview about THEIR "great content".

I don't know who you want to contact, but as an avid follower of podcasts and blogs, I can tell you for sure that most of those that are somewhat successful (not talking about people with as many followers as Ben Shapiro or Joe Rogan) receive a gazillion of requests for "interview" or contact a week. They clearly say that what they look for before answering is content - and how big your channel is. They usually have a brand to defend, and they are not going to water it down by interviewing with someone that doesn't even own a social media account (that would be possible if you were already famous, see Cal Newport among others). They also don't have much time available. I remember that one of my favorite podcasters posted a picture of his scheduled interviews, they are planned months in advance because they are all busy. Heck, Ryan Michler - the owner of The Order of Man, a podcast with probably 100K listeners a week - is asking his users for help in convincing other podcasters to appear on his show. Like any job, it's very competitive.

Again, in the past 10,000 some odd years, if you saw someone that had what you wanted/liked (e.g. a nice cave, a nice cave women!!, a juicy brontosaurus burger, etc), you would (carefully) appraoch them, introduce yourself, and then if the moment seemed "right", compliment them on whatever it is that you admire.

That's absolutely false. People have always been protective of their time, resources, and space, and this is more true the more powerful the person you're looking for is. Not everyone got the pleasure to talk to Marcus Aurelius, or Luis XIV. Not everyone could enter into the Oval Office. Not everyone can go and talk to Cronkite. Yes, there are cases in which people are able to bypass the system of networks, but this is more the exception rather than the rule (on this, I highly recommend Niall Ferguson's "The Square and the Tower" - or at least watch one of his lectures about it). Heck, history is even full of "not my family/race/color/religion so if you even get close I'll kill you" events).

So since most of the human race - which electricity and Internet - wastes their time online and social media, I guess THAT is how I need to find people.

Do you have content or not? So publish it, update it, follow it, advertise it, for God's sake.

And I am trying to humble myself, and considering how I might use social media to reach out to people to discuss THEIR "great content" - and without becoming the world's largest hypocrite - and so I came to MacRumors seeking knowledge!!

Most of those people work hard to get where they are, and this includes mid-sized social media "influencers". You want to reach them? Build a name for yourself. It's doable.

And I'm not going to bow down and join social media if it won't help me accomplish what I want, so I am asking first!)

So, you don't want to follow the rules of the game, but you expect others to bow to your request?

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Scenario 1. Imagine yourself; you're walking down Main Street, you want to do some shopping, you want to eat a nice chocolate and vanilla ice cream. It's a beautiful day, the sun is shining bright in the skies. Suddenly, a man stops you. "Hey man! I've seen you somewhere... can I tell you about my new project?". You're a nice guy, so you listen for a few minutes, then say "thank you it was informative," and leave. You take five steps, and another man stops you. "Sir! Sir! I have seen you somewhere... can I tell you about this amazing project?". You're really a nice guy, so you listen but hope that the guy hurries up... the ice cream parlor will close down in five minutes. The man quickly wraps up, you still got time. You take four steps, and a lady stops you. "Hey sir! I think we've met before, I follow what you write... can I tell you about this thing that you'll find interesting?". You calculate that you won't reach the ice cream parlor, but it's ok. It's just a tasty ice cream. Five minutes later, the lady stops, and you go your own way. Four steps later, an elderly man stops you. "Hey man!"... you know the drill, and this routine goes on for a while, until you look at your watch, and it's midnight, you have to go to the restroom, you're hungry, tired, and have not been able to even reach your car which is half a mile away. You look in front of you, and you see a thousand more people waiting for you, they truly want to tell you something.

First off, I do listen to you - bloody club and all...

Since you took time to make a nice (teaching) example for me, let's do a deeper dive...

It's a beautiful day, the sun is shining bright in the skies. Suddenly, a man stops you. "Hey man! I've seen you somewhere... can I tell you about my new project?"

I would say, "No, I'm going to get an ice cream cone..." And then I might add, "But, you can talk while I do so," or maybe, "I'd like to hear about that, but I'm busy now, can you call me later?"

It's still a win-win scenario, it just takes a little more thinking that 95% of most people wouldn't do, because 95% of people are only focused on themselves and ICE CREAM!!

Also, your analogy, while it makes a point, isn't exactly what I did.

In my case, you were going for ice cream on yoru nice sunny day, and I knew your job was to protect the public AND that you were likely pretty dismayed at this whole pandemic, and so I said, "Hey, here is some information that you might find helpful to protect yourself and your staff/office/school/church/family/friends/etc..."

Furthermore, you were eating your ice cream on a nice sunny day in your office and I either caleld/emailed/faxed/showed up because well, you are a business and you advertised your contact details!!

I see your point...

But do you see mine?

*still listening attentively*

Scenario 2. Imagine yourself; you're home, you're working intensively on your research. Data, numbers, events, history, all your notes on the desk, you're focused in a way that would make Bobby Fischer and Boris Spasski some rookies. The phone rings. Your focus leaves, but it's ok, it might be important. You answer, a guy you never met says "hey, I've seen your work, let me tell you about this," and he goes on for ten minutes. Finally you go back to your work, and twenty minutes later you're into deep work mode, fully focused again; you'd beat Deep Blue. The phone rings again, oh well. You answer, same routine. Again, you go back to your work; getting focused again is a bit harder, as research suggests the attention residue is somewhat of a challenge. But you do it. You're focused, you're ready to write down the punchline... the phone rings again. "Sorry sir, you don't know me, but you might find this interesting..."

I see your point, except...

In your example, you are a private citizen, at home, and you are getting cold calls.

In my case, I contacted elected/public figures/professionals, at work, ether via their website or publically listed work email addresses.

Why would you have a public office or public website or public email address if you didn't want people to contact you?

Because the county made you do it?

Because your boss made you do it?

Because God made you do it?

Could be!

I do see your point...

But do you see mine?


Also, I had wanted to bring this up in my previous thread...

In my opinion, if you get crank phone calls all day, or annoying faxes, or spam, then you DESERVE IT!!

Let's take a look at my *personal* email inbox...

Excluding 8 e-mails that I received from the president of a local club checking in on the board members, and people responding in an email thread, I have received NO EMAILS in the last 7 days!!

Let me repeat...

Not only have I NOT gotten hundreds, or thousands, of spam email messages in the last week, I haven't gotten hardly anything?!

For God's sake, I wish I knew where the spammers worked, so I could contact them and get a little attention here!

Even my business e-mail inbox is nearly empty. There, the only "spam" I get is from the online magaznes I subscribed too - but once I opted-out from vendor emails, all I get is an email once a day with a newsletter or weekly magazine.

So there, I get maybe 3-5 "spam" emails a week - big deal.

If you get dozens or hundreds or thousands of spam emails at home or work then you are most likely bringing it upon yourself. (Or, you have crap for spam filters.)

Obviously spam is an issue for most people, but again, if you are an elected official or run a business, and you are getting upset because people - even strangers - contact you, then I think you're missing the point.

It sounds like you are old eough to remember/get this, but back in the 1950s, 60s, 70s and into the 80s, the way you greeted anyone - of course we didn't have email back them - was, "Helo, how may I help you?

Now people spend 20+ hours per week posting on social media, and a lot of those people busting tehir buuts to tell the world what they ate for lunch, and yet another person (me) reaches out with a little tidbit of advice to try and help save lives, and it's worthy of capital punishment?

Perception is reality.

Indeed.

But perception also is NOT logical most of the time.

Either way, my goal for this thread is not to lament about my email failings, but to learn IF and HOW I might use social media to connect with thers, mostly for the purpose or requesting interviews, because nothing makes "great content" than listening to other people and then writing about it, right?!

Your turn...
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These read like Philip K Dick short stories.

Maybe the "Ghost of Philip K Dick" is with us now?! 😮