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After Domain Squatting, Twitter Squatting
carusoj writes "Squatting on domain names is nothing new, but Twitter has created a new opportunity for squatters, in the form of Twitter IDs. Writes Richard Stiennon: 'Is there evidence of Twitter squatting (squitting?) Let's check. Yup, every single-letter TwitID is taken ... How about common words? Garage, wow, war, warcraft, Crisco, Coke, Pepsi, Nike, and Chevrolet are all taken. My guess is that Twitter squatters have grabbed all of these in the hopes that they will be worth selling in the not too distant future. Of course the legitimate holders of brands can sue for them and Twitter can just turn them over if asked. But, because the investment and risk for the squatter is zero, you are going to see the rapid evaporation of available Twitter IDs.'"
So this is pretty much like every other social networking site where you have to pick a username?
Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
Don't some sites implement an IP log to combat multi-account users? I've seen used extensively in games like Tribal Wars & Ikariam which are just browser based games because the implications are severe. They will ban you. You would think that Twitter would be able to spot accounts being created on the same IP. If the squatter uses an onion router or Tor to start the account, one would think those IP ranges would be easy to spot & block also.
... but if you're that worried about that kind of account squatting, why not? Also, this would eliminate people who might be spamming with twitter or using multiple accounts to game twitter. I don't know if those are serious problems but I would be surprised if they weren't.
Yes, it is sacrificing a simple hands off policy for a complicated enforced one
My work here is dung.
How many sock puppets does that guy need?!?!
I think one of the tags for this story says it all... "whocares"
Give a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day. But light a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.
I heard that Twitter squatted around 100 kazillion accounts on Slashdot including some with prime numbers. If we don't watch out all prime numbers are going to be taken!
Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power lost.
Fuck.
Sorry, that's taken already.
Some mornings it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints to get out of bed.
this is why my entire retirement plan consists of the thousands of facebook and myspace accounts that I have created.
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
Why is twitter squatting squitting and not twatting?
What's pretty funny, is that this is the same on Slashdot. For instance I tried a few car brands and these all exist and have extremely low UIDs:
http://slashdot.org/~mercedes
http://slashdot.org/~ferrari
http://slashdot.org/~ford
http://slashdot.org/~fiat
But also :-)
http://slashdot.org/~tefal
http://slashdot.org/~aga
http://slashdot.org/~farber
exists so we have a few happy chef-cooks here as well
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to use the term "twatter" or "twating" which I find much more hilarious than "squitting"
Chrysler recently announced they were on Twitter, but the name was ChryslerCom or something like that. Squatters beat them to their own name. That's the problem with unique usernames, though. I mean, say your name (because your parents are insensitive clods) actually *is* Chevy... Should you be prevented from being "Chevy" online because a car company holds a trademark on that name? Is it really fair for the courts to just take something away from you and give it to a rich corporation?
Nothing to see here. Move along.
How is this comparable to domain name squatting? Is a Twitter ID really as important as a domain name?
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What a wonderful "study." Check a bunch of names that you randomly presume would be desirable, find they are taken, and then assume their use isn't legit.
I'm trying to find a way to tie my hatred of the very concept of twitter in to this but I can't, so I'll just make it a seperate statement.
Whale
I love how TFA suggests you go out and shot-gun register anything associated with your brand.
in short.. he's saying you should fight squatting by squatting it first.
Gotta love that.
----- The internet has given everyone the ability to have their voice heard equally as loud.. even if they shouldn't be
Twitter has problems with downtime. Aas the number of users has grown (approximately exponentially, until approaching saturation), so has downtime.
In 2011, twitter downtime will surpass 365 days per year.
This is the 3rd piece of viral marketing from the Twitter jerks in as many days.
Twitter jerks, we all know you are desperate. But understand this: your train has sailed. We know you are desperate to be bought out by some large company like Myspace was. It is NOT going to happen for you. The credit crunch makes that certain. Plus your crappy site never stays up more than 24 hours in a row. It's time to give up. Or at least SHUT UP, and stop spamming this site with marketing crap disguised as articles.
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Maybe yours is next?
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/4/23/
Relax. Have a muffin. Enjoy the show. --Slick, Sept 13th, 2007.