# Tweets and long messages **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 14, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tweets-and-long-messages/855642 "2020-06-14T01:57:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tweets-and-long-messages/855642/1 "2020-06-14T01:57:55Z")
Hey writers! I am seeing a lot of dozen to two dozen tweet long missives out there. Now, i am sure your message is important. But if it takes more than a couple tweets, Twitter is _not_ the way to get your message out there. Trying to read a four page article, spread over dozens of tweets is a chore and annoying . Try a blog, a op-ed, or even (dare I say it?) a message board. Look, opinions are important, but choose the right medium. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2020, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tweets-and-long-messages/855642/2 "2020-06-14T06:12:57Z")
All those lengthy tweet threads do seem to be contrary to the whole idea of Twitter. It certainly seems to be an end-run around both the letter and the spirit of the 280-character (originally 140-character) limit of tweets. Agree with OP, if you have an essay the size of War And Peace to publish, Twitter was never really the platform meant for you. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2020, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tweets-and-long-messages/855642/3 "2020-06-14T06:19:11Z")
1/ Or, let me put it this way… ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2020, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tweets-and-long-messages/855642/4 "2020-06-14T06:20:17Z")
2/ All those lengthy tweet threads do seem to be contrary to the whole idea of Twitter. It certainly seems to be an end-run around… ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2020, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tweets-and-long-messages/855642/5 "2020-06-14T06:21:19Z")
3/ both the letter and the spirit of the 280-character (originally 140-character) limit of tweets. Agree with OP, … ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2020, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tweets-and-long-messages/855642/6 "2020-06-14T06:22:26Z")
4/ if you have an essay the size of War And Peace to publish, Twitter was never really the platform meant for you. /end ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2020, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tweets-and-long-messages/855642/7 "2020-06-14T08:21:08Z")
I’ve never liked Twitter because of the shortness requirement. Some complex ideas can’t be explained in such a short period. I think Twitter contributes to the short attention span and ‘gotcha’ culture we now have. On the other hand, when I do look at Twitter I actually appreciate the long missives broken up, actually. It requires people to put a single argument/point in each post, which I guess is the point of Twitter. Makes it easier to read those long complex arguments in bitesize chunks. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk