How Not to Be a Dick Using Tumblr’s Ask Function
Tumblr is an odd little monkey because it’s the most social blogging platform out there, but it barely gives you any tools for directly communicating with other users or even figuring out who they are. The built in links are “archive,” “mobile,” “ask” and “RSS,” with no link to email, Twitter, Facebook or About necessary. Some people add a “reply” function to their posts, so you can comment, but many opt out, causing people to reblog the post so they can add their angry rant/ “yes, this person is ME” response. This limited functionality means that your only option for expressing appreciation, getting the info to stalk someone further or just plain pestering someone is using the “ask” function. As a result, what should be a Formspring-like Q&A game can often be misused by sycophantic fashion bloggers or bullies whose marriage with internet anonymity can cause teenage girls to cry into their quinoa salads. Because of the current “Ask” link, a lot of people’s entire Tumblr feeds consist of them self-assuredly denying criticism and posting lots and lots “gracious” thank you’s to compliments about how pretty, smart and good at blogging noir GIFs they are. Here’s a couple ground rules for avoiding letting the “Ask” function cause everyone to unfollow you. Respond to compliments privately. Don’t be an anonymous bully. You don’t have to answer every question. The Q&A posts on Tumblr are the most annoying. It’s just a fact of life. Use them sparingly until Tumblr finally integrates more social features.
Someone likes your Lookbook.nu pictures? Neat! Despite how lovely and well-shod they think you are, your feed does not care about how much praise you are showered with on a regular basis. In fact, it’s almost never interesting at all. Tumblr added a private response link – use it.
While you might want to comment, “I just stalked you for an hour and all I could figure out about who you are is that you’re an obnoxious hipster prick,” anonymously on someone’s “Ask” portal, remember that they can look up your IP address. If they see you’re on their site for 2 hours every day, you’re going to seem a bit pathetic.
People are dying to know your thoughts on the show 24, your advice on how to better use a Moleskine notebook or “make it” in the journalism world. You feel like you’re finally living out your dream of being interviewed on E! news. Keep in mind that this too is often boring to read, and can make you look pedantic.
