Unfollow. Filter notifications. Mute. Twitter has several tools that allow you to control your experience on the microblogging site. It helps you eliminate the noise and enjoy content only from people you want to be reading about or want to follow. And it gives you everything you need to express yourself. But some people misuse the platform to express thoughts, opinions and ideas that, in retrospect, may be better said in smaller circles (offline).
Some of what The Quartering has posted on Twitter qualify as “better left unsaid.”
Who is the Quartering?
The Quartering (or TheQuartering) is one of many rising celebs borne out of the internet. He’s a popular gaming commentator with a YouTube series that leans to the right. Some of his comments include an opinion about feminists producing game reviews in a way that works for their ideology, directing Twitter followers to insult women cosplayers and, in reference to the Black Lives Matter protests, tweeting “all lives matter.”
Offline, The Quartering is Jeremy Hambly, a Milwaukee, WI resident with about a million subscribers on YouTube and over a hundred thousand followers on Twitter. Although Hambly covers the gaming industry and comics in his YouTube channel, his content isn’t limited to pop culture. He comments on many issues that inspire heated discussions and colorful commentary. In some cases, TheQuartering tweets have compelled violent reaction — most notably the Gen Con 2018.
While sitting with a few people outside Tin Roof tavern, Hambly was approached by a man who was later identified as Matt Loter. Loter reportedly asked if he was Jeremy, to which TheQuartering responded “yes.” Loter then proceeded to hit him on the head a few times. Hambly, naturally, ran inside the bar and Loter fleed.
A big brouhaha ensued over the incident, with Hambly accusing the convention and the bar not calling the cops. The popular gaming commentator’s followers tweeted messages in the same vein.
So why did someone just whale on Hambly?
It seems the attack stemmed from TheQuartering’s tweet on Gen Con 2018 inviting Anita Sarkeesian, a video blogger and host of web series “Feminist Frequency.”
Loter is reportedly a fan of Sarkeesian, and posted a challenge on his Twitter account, which has been protected and disabled.
Controversial tweets like this one can still be viewed if Wayback Machine crawled the Twitter page at the time it was posted or if people were able to archive certain tweets.
Since the controversy, Loter has reportedly been fired from his teaching job at a university.
Why Was Jeremy Hambly Banned on MTG?
TheQuartering’s posts, including a now deleted video, about Christine Sprankle are much more incendiary than his tweet about Sarkeesian.
The ban can be traced back to a video Hambly uploaded on YouTube on June 2017, titled “Playset of Beta White Knghts Prevent Rape of MTG Cosplayer @cspranklerun.” The video, which can still be accessed on Internet Archive, was reportedly prompted in response to Sprankle calling out harassment on Twitter. It was over a comment she made regarding a sexual tweet about her on Facebook.
Jeremy Hambly accused Sprankle as a “crying for patron dollars professional cosplayer” in the video. The YouTube commentator then went over every photo of Sprankle, making obscene comments. He then encouraged his followers to let the cosplayer know on Twitter that she’s unattractive and unsexual. Sprankle was subsequently harassed, and she punctuated the online bullying by quitting MTG in November of that year.
The Quartering was then banned for life from MTG in December.
So what can you take from this controversy?
How NOT to Tweet
It doesn’t matter if you’re a content creator, making a living on social media platforms or an entrepreneur, engaging with consumers on Twitter. Twitter engagement is best done with carefully crafted, thoughtful tweets. You don’t want to hastily post something you’ll eventually tweak or remove from your page because people will find deleted tweets.
Yes, even if you were to edit a tweet, it could still be archived and pulled for future use — whatever the purpose.
You’ll want to start your Twitter presence with good content strategy. Many tips on tweeting, particularly for brands, will always include strategy because it informs your posts and allows you to meet goals. From reaching a wider audience to promoting new products or services, your Twitter content needs direction to succeed.
And practice the following:
- Avoid negativity – ideally, there’s no place for negativity on social media. If you’re tweeting as a brand, you’ll want to cultivate the positive, so your followers will be inspired.
- Check your facts – in a world when “alternative fact” has become part of conversations, you’ll want to make sure your content shares or posts what is factual.
- Share but also engage – leave room for dialogue with your followers as you share content. Find a good balance, and you’ll see engagement improve.
- Leave the competition alone – use your Twitter account to build connections instead of destroying competitors. It’s a better approach even when you’re being attacked because audiences respond to the high-minded.
Basically, if you’re compelled to not say anything nice about a person, a situation or anything going on in the world, hold that tweeting finger. And think before you tweet because toxic content on social media never leads to anything good.
