Twitlimit
Twitlimit [Twit-lim-it] – the number of correspondences on Twitter that one can withstand before it is viewed as stalkerish/creepy. The number is usually only one RT or lol when corresponding with a celebrity/athlete. By number of characters, the Twitlimit is generally 3 or less for celebrities or athletes.
One of the things I really like about Twitter is that an average punk like me can interact with folks that do neat things like play ice hockey or make movies for a living. It’s a big rush when an athlete retweets a post of mine (after I ask them to) to raise money for a charity or something. There are obviously exceptions to the Twitlimit - the whole Todd “The Frige” Fedoruk meeting my son and I (which all started from a Tweet). That day is still one of the coolest things I’ve ever done as a Dad. Recently, my son asked me a few times if I would send Todd a Tweet to come play pond hockey with us.
But here’s the thing, these celebs and athletes are human beings and they have lives of their own. I’ve seen some folks on Twitter bash celebs because they wouldn’t RT something for them or never respond to them. I was reminded of this last night while helping my son get his skates on before his middle school team’s practice.
Ilya Bryzgalov is the starting goaltender for my beloved Philadelphia Flyers. Before some of my son’s practices, Ilya can be seen on the ice with his son decked out in a nearly identical Flyers uniform like his Dad, going through goalie drills out on the ice. I was mindlessly playing some game on my phone and then my son showed up outside the warm snack area where I was sitting motioning for me to come help him with his skates. As I walked out to the bleachers to help my son, Illya and his son came around the corner laughing and high-fiving. Ilya and I looked at each other and rather than ducking my head and allowing them their privacy, I blurted out, “Hey Bryz, you played great last night!”
Bryz sort of nodded and they walked past us. I realized that even though I was trying to give a sincere compliment to this guy, he is just a guy that was enjoying some time with his son away from fans like me. The Flyers lost the game I was referencing, but Bryz did play incredibly well. I am fairly positive what I said was not interpreted as sarcasm. I guess all in all, it was OK and something Bryz is used to – some fans probably don’t always say something positive to him – but I do feel bad that I blurted out seven words that broke that time with father and son. I kinda feel like shit.
Funny/Interesting Links…
- The ultimate guide to shouting during the Super Bowl.
- Weed-and-nudity loving high school teacher fired for Twitter feed full of weed and nudity
- How to express your oppressive, dictatorial love this Valentine’s Day
- Designer turns negative client comments into funny posters
- “Key & Peele” on the incomparable Liam Neeson
- A powerfully motivational speech about following your dreams
- Lost your khakis!
January 31st, 2013 at 10:46 am
Hey – as a public figure they have to expect acknowledgement. Knowing you, it would have been hard to interpret your comment as sarcastic, so any thought as such would be on his part. I think it would have been different if they were out o the ice and you skated over to say it, but as they walk by you seems appropriate. Don’t be so hard on yourself.