The #NoAutoTweet List

Recently Jesse Stay founder of SocialToo started a campaign to try and rid the twittersphere of all automatically generated direct messages. The campaign dubbed #endautodm is an effort to try and alleviate clutter from Tweepeople's inboxes through posting a blacklist of all tweeps who use AutoDM services. The intention is to publicly name those who use such services to allow people to unfollow these AutoDM senders. The main aim of this whole exercise is of course to deter people from using AutoDMs completely.

Now firstly I would like to say that I believe Jesse's intentions are honorable. He seems to be trying to improve Twitter for the greater good of the community. However, I do not believe that a blacklist of all Tweeps who use automatated direct messages is the answer. I believe that it is slightly off target for a number of reasons:

1. It brands all AutoDMs as being worthless, which in my experience is not the case (some have interesting insight, others great links)
   
2. It also labels all users of AutoDMs as not being worthy of following, which is simply not the true.
3. It does not fix the problem of automated messages, as automated @replies are likely to take the place of AutoDMs.
4. Lastly it creates even more questions than answers e.g. Once blacklisted how does one clear thyself? what are the standards of appropriate AutoDM usage? If the community decides who gets on the list, then who decides who comes off it? Are the reports of AutoDMs checked for integrity or can anyone be blacklisted as a "spammer" without any proof of an AutoDM let alone actually spamming activity?(Click here for example)

A much simpler answer:

Rather than a blacklist, simply create a list of people who don't want to receive any automated responses, be it automated direct message, @replies, or possibly even auto follows or unfollows. Call the list #NoAutoTweets

Then get the twitter companions such as Tweetlater and SocialToo etc. to recognize this list and block automated responses sent to anyone who has opted into the list. It will be in the best interest of these twitter companions to uphold such a list for the betterment of their service and the Twitter community.

It solves the problem's listed above in a much smoother and simpler way e.g.

1. It does not brand all AutoDM's or their senders as unworthy of following, it simply blocks their automated tweets.
2. This way there is no "witch hunt" and there is no blacklisting of people who may or may not be "spammers".
3. As the user is the only one with access to their twitter account they have the choice to be placed on the list e.g. opting in could be as simple as messaging the convener (@NoAutoTweets) with the words "on list" and to opt out a message with "off list".
4. It lets everyone decide for themselves, without dictating what is and is not appropriate twitter usage.
   

E.g. @Jesse would prefer never to see an automated message ever again, this way he doesn't have to. Whereas I prefer to be able to view the links that people send via DM and I also like to welcome my new followers and send them useful links via DM. Under the #NoAutoTweets both @Jesse and I have a more enjoyable twitter experience :)

The #NoAutoTweets concept is probably not complete, and I would welcome any feedback that may help move the idea towards a more complete solution.

@SocialSammy "It's all about giving users choice"