What's with using the @ symbol when replying to somebody? I saw it for the first time on Twitter, but have seen it springing up in more and more places, even..gasp! Shock! Horror! On my blog.
I'm not mad, I'm not criticising, I'm just curious. Doesn't that symbol mean 'at'? Aren't you saying, "At Ben, yes blah blah.."
Please explain.
Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)
Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)
8 comments:
Yep - blame Twitter. That's where it started. The world's a twitter with @.
Indeed. I think it's kinda cool. But then again, I am kinda dorky.
Cool or not, it still doesn't make sense to adress someone with 'at'.
It would make as much sense to adress someone with a % or a $.
oh, modern life, you frustrate me so.
Yes, people do this to me on facebook and I think 'why oh why?' (I am yet to join twitter, and facebook was here first without the silly @, so they can stay out of it I say).
it is so that people know who you're replying too - they might not have seen the original tweet.
I get that, but why that particular symbol?
Yes, and do you really gain anything from saying "@Ben" rather than simply "Ben" - people would still know who you were responding to. Anyhoo, I really don't care, I just think it's a bit geeky.
I think it can make the tone more conversation like. If you read "@Ben" as though it were there eyes staring at Ben in a conversation, it allows you to write in a more coversation styled tone.
When you are in a group conversation it is very rare that you address the person with their name every time you speak to them.
Eg.
"@Ben: Whatever ya reckon, Loser!"
compared to
"Ben I think that is an awfully daft thing to say"
I like it.
But then again, I'm like Georgina.
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