Stephen Fry quits Twitter over “aggression and unkindness”
Twitter seems to be having a few problems holding on to its celebrity Tweeters of late. Lily Allen and Miley Cyrus have both quit recently, and Stephen Fry may be about to add his name to this list of Twitter quitters. The problem is that getting up close and personal with fans isn’t always a positive experience.
Stephen Fry has been one of the many celebrities to embrace Twitter over the last couple of years. Fry is certainly the most popular and influential British celebrity on the social networking site and has even managed to increase the use of Twitter thanks to consistently mentioning it the site and his use of it on TV shows and interviews.
However, he may be quitting the site after having a little run-in with one of his followers.
Stephen Fry usually elicits purely positive responses thanks to being one of the nicest, most intelligent people on Earth. But one of his followers known on the site as @brumplum was slightly negative about Fry’s tweets and it has caused a hugely controversial debate with terms such as “cyberbullying” being bandied about.
@brumplum tweeted, “I understand Stephen Fry’s tweets but, much as I admire and adore the chap, they are a bit . . . boring . . . (sorry Stephen).” Fry’s response to this was, “whereas yours are so fascinating I can barely contain my fluids,” and “You’ve convinced me. I’m obviously not good enough. I retire from Twitter henceforward. Bye everyone.”
A couple of hours later he added, “Think I may have to give up on Twitter. Too much aggression and unkindness around. Pity. Well, it’s been fun,” before adding, “Well maybe I’ll see how I feel in a few days. Very low and depressed at the moment and any drop of meanness makes it so much worse. Sorry.”
Fry is a well-known sufferer of bipolar disorder aka manic depression, and is clearly not in a good place right now. It seems that this negative comment over his input on Twitter has worsened his mood and made him contemplate quitting the site altogether. Which for a man with over 900,000 followers, is big news.
However, I think the person who made the original comment to Fry is taking far too much flak. All he did was suggest that some of Fry’s tweets have been a little boring. He wasn’t vicious, didn’t slander him in any way, and wasn’t partaking in anything as bad as cyberbullying. I hope Fry doesn’t leave Twitter but I also hope @brumplum isn’t hounded from the site by Fry’s other followers, some of whom have been particularly vicious with their vitriolic comments towards him.
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October 31st, 2009
i am on twitter and i don’t blame these people for quitting. these kids talk about miley being a bad role model but the same kids are cursing people out, writing mean stuff to people they don’t even know do the same parents know what they are doing. i swear i have never saw so much hate in my entire life. my parents raised me with respect and if i have nothing nice to say shut my mouth.
October 31st, 2009
You’d think a comedian would have thicker skin, but even when you know you’re funny, sometimes one harsh comment hurts. Still, it’s kinda funny how sensitive people are in social media. Need to grow some ego calluses.
October 31st, 2009
Hey Brian Carter:
Try re-reading the part about “Fry is a well-known sufferer of bipolar disorder aka manic depression, and is clearly not in a good place right now.”
And then STFU about “thicker skin” and “ego calluses.”
November 1st, 2009
I hope you realize how funny that is… :-) I have thick enough skin to ignore your negativity, bud. Bipolar doesn’t mean a person can’t be medicated and learn how to deal with criticism better.
November 1st, 2009
Seems to me that Mr. Fry’s problem, here, is less Borderline Personality Disorder and more like “doesn’t know when to put down his cellphone and do something else” disorder. Call it bipolarism or manic-depression or whatever, the fact remains that he’s bright guy and well aware of his own propensity to overreact. Nobody is forcing the guy to tweet, much less to broadcast adolescent threats to permanently absent himself from the discussion, over a simple fit of pique.
‘Course, taking a Twitter break (tweet-stinence?) is easier said than done. Its a heady experience, thinking that strangers actually enjoy reading about your every thought, reaction, or utterance. Its human nature to see oneself as a better-than-average member of society, with valuable contributions to offer should anyone care to listen. Plus, after 20-odd years of performing, there’s little doubt Mr. Fry simultaneously enjoys public attention (when its the right kind) and finds it problematic (when its the other kind)…pretty typical of celebrities, in general.
Its even more typical of relatively minor, local heroes – however charming – like Mr. Fry, when they are accustomed to the insular, comfortable fan base of Great Britain. Sure, he’s something of a big deal over there but that’s no guarantee of the reaction he’ll receive, elsewhere. And, bipolar or not, Fry is intelligent enough to predict and appreciate the downside of his (now) worldwide exposure. That’s all the more important for someone whose rather droll humor – and precious persona – don’t translate well in many cultures & broadcast media. Ask (the late) Peter Cook; a personal story in which there are parallels aplenty.
Anyway, Fry has now renounced his previous threat, blaming his ‘moods’. We’re told he will seek sunshine to heal his bruised ego and he has expressed appreciation for our understanding. See. Stephen – that wasn’t so hard, now, was it? :)
November 6th, 2009
So being a celeb and pushing the card of “oh he’s bipolar’ poor rich, privileged, idle Steve, gives him the right to crunch the underdog under his expensive shoes soles? I don’t think so and some of you are so delusional you should quit online life you can’t take the heat right away.
The fact is, taleneted and spirited as he is, Fry is a spoilt star used to be adored and pampered without contrast.
I used to love him much more before this silly even. I don’t “tweet” and a celeb in RL can be a perfect rookie and a n00b online, like Mr. fry proved to be.
He’s wearing himself off like an old xerox toner now, overxposing himself over this idiot horde magnet, ie, “twitter”.