Memeburn: You were one of the first international rugby players world-wide to start actively using social media. How did it begin?
Bob Skinstad: I think my new media interests were piqued when I was working at Saatchi&Saatchi in the UK ! WhenI got back to pro rugby I brought a few things with me.
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MB: Why did you start blogging?
BS: Same sort of reason, except I found a voice that sticks around and has a deeper trace for me- a weekly newspaper column disappears in a day – not so with a blog.
MB: Why did you start Tweeting?
BS: A socially savvy mate of mine introduced me (Seth Rotherham from 2oceansvibe) to the platform and I was hooked immediately.
MB: What order do you check the following? Newspaper, online media, e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, blogs.
BS: First I look at online media, then email, Twitter, blogs , Facebook and lastly newspapers.
MB: Why do you think so many sports stars have taken to Twitter? What does it offer?
BS: Lots of sports stars are also interested in the business and entertainment side of life and Twitter offers a cool sneak peak into a chosen and personal interest stream – you feed the machine that spews out interesting things for you to see and look at.
MB: How has Twitter enhanced your work as a rugby commentator? Give us an example.
BS: Definitely makes it easier for praise and criticism. I get real time feedback if I make a controversial comment now – before I would have to wait for an evaluation from my producer which is always way after the incident.
MB: Has a Tweet ever put you in a compromising position? Tell us details.
BS: Yes – I came back from overseas, and had a few glasses of wine and a sleeping pill, and carried on tweeting after it had hit me — I woke up on the couch with a weird stream of comments back at me and was horrified to find I had been going at it- making no sense at all for at least an hour – luckily no abusive stuff , just senseless mumbo jumbo!
MB: Has Twitter changed the way the way that you work? If so, how?
BS: Only in the way that I now ask questions to Twitter as well as any other searches, as there is often a lot of information out there that you might not find in your own search bubble on Google or answers.com
MB: Have any of your Tweets ever landed up as quotes in the press? Please give an example.
BS: I think so, but can’t remember the actual tweet – it ended up as something in the funnies bit in the sports section of the Sunday Times.
MB: How does a busy guy like you find the time to Tweet?
BS: It’s like checking messages. A Blackberry or iPhone has built in products that make it really easy – I like the sharing aspect, especially if something of significance happens.
MB: What’s the strangest place you’ve tweeted from?
BS: Besides the Loo?
MB: Give us some ideas on great people to follow on Twitter?
BS: Hugh Macleod, Shel Israel, Chris Brogan – Ted.
MB: Why do you think people follow you on Twitter?
BS: It’s like a little broadcast platform so people that follow me can sometimes see what I see, have, do and that is a way of vicarious enjoyment for them – or even just to get rugby updates and opinions.
MB: Do you prefer Facebook or Twitter? Why?
BS: Twitter because it’s more controlled by me – but Facebook is growing on me because of the size of its reach.
MB: Who are your favourite sportsmen or sportswomen to follow on Twitter?
BS: Some of the UK sportsmen and women are really into it – and I follow most of the Boks that tweet, but I like business, social responsibility and innovation tweeters as my bulk interest is in that sphere.
MB: Has Twitter helped you expand your audience, or are your followers generally the same people who watch you on TV?
BS: It has definitely drawn a more eclectic crowd than I thought, but I am sure it’s a large portion of people who were or are interested in rugby and my background in it.
MB: Do you prefer to blog or to tweet? How often do you tweet?
BS: Tweeting is easier, but I often tweet that I have just blogged.
MB: Is there value in following a sports event on Twitter second by second, or do you think it’s better to rather wait and watch it on TV?
BS: I started my tweeting career doing exactly that – and I don’t think there is any value in watching tweets if you have the TV there – but I like having results coming though in my stream – so I tap into scores from other games etc.
