How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Twitter
Some of you may have noticed I’ve started Tweeting.
The main reason is that I’d got tired of people telling me they followed me and having to tell them that I wasn’t actually on Twitter and they were following an impersonator.
For a long time, I thought maybe I could live with having people masquerading as me in the Twittersphere.
If I wasn’t going to Tweet as me, it seemed reasonable that someone else might fill the position.
But then I then I started wondering who they might they actually be talking to? A spotty teenager in Bridport? A psychopath with a smuggled smartphone in Rampton Hospital? A hyper-intelligent shark?
It wasn’t even necessarily that the non-me mes were doing a particularly bad job of being me.
@LouisThx (more than 16,000 followers) was providing basically accurate bare-bones information: I’ve got a show on tonight… I used to live in San Jose…and so on.
@theroux_docs (the big boy on the block imposter-wise, with about 100,000 followers) was also plugging the shows (thanks, feller) and his tweets were passably funny, eg. “Why do Pringles claim “once you pop you can’t stop yet they have resealable lids?”” and “Are you the same person who started reading this tweet?”
Though maybe his jokes, like his online persona, were nicked.
He also had a weird habit of tweeting open-ended questions, eg. “What are your goals in life?”
One impersonator, titled @louistherouxg69, had a habit of Capitalizing All His Words (not even just the nouns, which might be understandable if his first language was German).
Eg, from May this year: “Hi Milly!, Thank You Very Much For Your Support I am Very glad You Like Watching Them! Very More To Come! All The Best Louis 
”
As of writing, @louistherouxg69 had a little over 6000 followers, so not a vast number, but still worrying if they really are following him in good faith, not as a joke, and believe I would write: “The Alan Titchmarsh Show Is The Best Hour Of Telly, Apart My Own Hour Long Documentaries!!!”
A few weeks ago, I logged into a Twitter account I’d opened a year or two ago but done nothing with. Since many of the plausible variations of my name were taken, for reasons I don’t fully remember I’d settled on the Twitter handle “@loubot2000”.
Initially I was in the weird position of having to prove I was me and not an impersonator myself, like the main character in a Philip K. Dick short story.
As a philosophical conundrum: If someone tweets to ask “How do I know it’s the real you”, what can you say?
Clearly it wasn’t helping that I had a ludicrous Twitter handle and a Fatbooth photograph for my profile pic.
I threw the question back out to the Twitter community and was advised to Tweet a photo of myself holding a card with my @loubot2000 handle written on it. This I duly did.
I also contacted the Twitter authorities who have now helped me reclaim the name @LouisTheroux and given me a blue tick to verify that it is in fact me.
I’ve been Tweeting regularly for about three weeks now.
I’m still figuring a lot of stuff out but I’ve started to get what’s good about Twitter.
I was able to post an online appreciation of Jimmy Savile when he died and Tweet a link to it.
I live-Tweeted when one of my shows went out, in a kind real-time version of text-only DVD commentary.
I had an enjoyable brain-storm of great documentaries while waiting for a plane in Phoenix, Arizona.
I’ve also enjoyed tossing bits of mental flotsam into the cyber-void and seeing what kind of splash it makes. Thoughts on Bob Dylan and his live show. The demonization of mime artists. Weird meals I happen to be eating. And so on.
Where this will all lead, I’ve no way of knowing.
Last Saturday night, half drunk, I began Tweeting and realized I was, in a metaphorical way, in danger of standing naked at the window in front of thousands of people.
I worry about Tweeting impulsively or making a joke that will be misconstrued and landing myself in hot water.
I also worry that I am creating a paper trail of opinions that will in some way end up backfiring on me, as I’m accused of bias and refused access in the future by potential contributors in the world of, say, Nascar, because they find a Tweet in which I make a tasteless joke about, say, Dale Earnhardt (not that I would, I promise).
As of this morning, I’m up to around 30,000 followers.
I’m not all about numbers but there is something oddly pleasing about watching the increase, like watching the donation thermometer to up on a Blue Peter Appeal, even though I’m still second fiddle to @theroux_docs who still has a whopping 98,000.
In fact there is part of me that enjoys the paradox of someone being better than me at being me. If he starts making TV shows too then I’ll be in trouble.
You could post a picture of yourself wearing a cycle helmet – as further evidence of the fact that you are you and have a healthy respect for road safety.
John Cleese is fabulous on twitter ! If it’s the real one…. I’ve never commented on a famous person’s blog before and my natural wit and excellent use of the English language seems to have suddenly vanished! Er, that’s it. I wonder if you publish all your comments?
Louis…like you i opened up an account a couple of years back and have only recenty started tweeting regularly.. I find a great tool for documenting my own interests, and also the development of what is your social footprint, i see as being one of the most important undertakings that you can do. Because it is a brave new world and the socialogical outcomes are very little understood at this point. As something to leave to a member of your family or a loved one as a source of information as to what type of person you are/were will i think be invaluable in the future. I wish i had a social footprint of my now deceased relatives / friends. Just to understand what made them tick.
How do we know this is the real Louis Theroux website?
I like twitter for the anonymity. I can use it that way without having to worry about current or future employers finding anything out about me. At the same time, I use it as if it was my own name, and never say anything I wouldn’t without the right to be anonymous. It’s also fun making stuff up about myself. My twitter occupation is fluffer for example!
Really enjoying getting in touch with Louis Theroux, and on a whole new level. I am not one to twitter or do the social network thing, but oddly I too have recently activated an account I never had used years ago.
And just like rachelradiostar, I too have good command of the English language but my wit has also failed, leaving all the funny quips and humour to you Louis. Really going to enjoy your twittering.
Great photo of that morsal that was passed off to you as fish’n'chips haha, and the thoughts before Bob Dylan’s gig, found that a great play on words.
Proud to be one of your new 30,000+ and for however long you twitter for, it’s gonna be a ball to follow ya on it!
I liked your thoughts too juliancooper.
I doesn’t sound like you’ve stopped worrying at all. But then it really wouldn’t be you without a little neuroticism.
You and Jon Ronson should do some counselling together – you seem to have the same issues.
Erm…mein führer you can tweet?
hi louis, i also never went near twittland, wouldn t touch social sites with a barge pole etc, however after being caught up in a blog called morrisseysworld i ventured on to the twit scene, i m now in the usa watching the real morrissey on tour, i have to say though be warned, twitter becomes addictive, there are a few of us and we have all become twitter whores, i find myself logging on, talking to people that i would never even say hi to if i passed them in the street..do you know what i wouldn t turn the clock back though..have fun
…Louis, i’ve been trying to oust them for a while last year, sent a couple of rude messages, asked a few pertinent questions, tried bombing a couple of hashtags, but it’s impossible to actually make an impression if they don’t reply! Ah well, glad to hear your around now to set the record straight.
I knew it wasn’t you, because we went to school together. Actually, we went to school together twice, as it were (TH/W). You should guess who i ‘am’ from that. Been meaning to get in touch for some time, but never quite knew how. Anyway, drop us a line if you wish, love to y’all,
r…x
Louis your shows are my favourite on TV. Me and my mate Dave and my brothers always look forward to them.
Extremeness at its best.
Thanks for the great viewing… only wish it was on more.. and maybe could we have a vote for a subject in the near future?
That could be fun.
Regards,
Dan.
Comments above – hilarious! I too started to wonder if this was a legit site.
Been on twitter for about a week. Added you Louis last night. I too still learning. Things I love about twitter
-commenting real time on terrible shows like The Voice AU
- reading comments by politicians and public during Parliament Question Time
-fantastic question and answer sessions with Dr Karl Kruszelnicki who knows everything about everything.
-being able to hold a conversation with a famous Tv personality, or singer.
Things I hate about twitter-
-still finding it hard to see if someone answered me or not. hard to follow conversations
I heard it said aptly recently, that once upon a time we had to write a letter to the editor to have our opinions heard, and now, we can say it directly to the famous persons face, good or bad thing? Good for us, bad for all you famous people out there
No I think it is an amazing marketing tool. I come from a marketing career in shopping centres which is very old fashioned, and now as a stay at home mum am seeing the benefits of facebook, twitter, pinterest (my latest obsession), blogging etc. These are things I was not in touch with because I was too busy working and now that I am out in the real world I realise that this is the only media that counts, social media is the best, fastest and easiest way to get your message out to the whole world.
Hey – social media might eliminate the need for journos entirely because we can get the info straight from the source, and then give our opinion straight back to the source! Love it! (sorry pro-journos)