(originally posted on my posterous site, which just happens to be located here)

There’s been a real trend lately of companies promising to give away some product if you retweet (read spam) your message all over twitter.  Most giveaways seem to be an iPhone, computer, or related accessory.  Now, keep in mind that rarely are these companies giving away hundreds of these prizes, so the likelihood of winning is pretty small. I can ALMOST understand taking part in these shenanigans for a really expensive item. Almost.  But honestly, when we’re talking about a giveaway that’s worth a whopping $30, is it REALLY worth spamming all your followers to win that?

Sifting and sorting through twitter to find people worth following, and worth my time is challenging enough, but when even THOSE people start spamming my twitter stream and making it even MORE difficult to see the stuff I really want to see? Well, then I get cranky and end up writing posts like this.

The thing that frustrates me most, I think, is that in these instances all I can do is try to ignore that spammy tweet (which is difficult when a bunch of the people you’re following jump on the OMG FREE STUFF bandwagon)… or… I can unfollow that person.  I’d rather not unfollow because I actually find the things they normally say interesting and worth spending some of my time reading, but I have to tell you – it’s getting close for me.

If you’re one of the people taking part in all the retweeting, then God bless you – you do what you need to do. If I snap, however, and start unfollowing because I can’t take it anymore… then I’m just doing what I need to do.