Technology
On (Fake) Steve Buscemi’s Twitter Feed
Sure, Twitter is kind of dull in the hands of most. (See my Twitter feed for an example.) I accept that.
Additionally, lots of ‘celebrities’ (single quote trademarked by Tao Lin, used without permission) have adopted Twitter so as to keep their fans updated on the dull minutiae of their ordinary lives.
See:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I27J39oQUaw
Anyway.
So, some guy was pretending to be Steve Buscemi, and he had a Twitter feed, and two or three times a day he updated with these very funny, very strange statements.
And much like the wonderful fake Christopher Walken feed (now here; see also this), the issue of co-opting a famous identity, of control of identity, has ended the Twitter career of one of the truly interesting things happening on Twitter.
This all happened yesterday. I watched it happen. Apparently, Kirstie Alley (whose Twitter feed is updated by the ACTUAL Kirstie Alley), in a righteous display of “how dare you dupe people into believing that you are a famous person” pique contacted the proper Twitter-related and Buscemi-related authorities and had the account closed.
Sure, see it her way. From a brand perspective, having someone else controlling your identity is an unacceptable variable. Fake Twitter Steve Buscemi could snap at any moment, say something inappropriate, and seriously damage your brand. A faltering brand like the Kirstie Alley brand is sure to understand the implications of a variable having some sort of control over your brand like that. She contends with, and has to deal with, the consequences of her own variables (see “personality,” and “weight fluctuations” re Alley for clarification). So there she is, out there, fighting for someone else’s brand.
(Ironically, the fake Steve Buscemi feed increased my positive feelings about the Steve Buscemi brand immeasurably, while the ending of the Steve Buscemi feed by Alley has furthered lowered my estimation of her brand. See this.
I guess it’s perfectly reasonable to get fake Steve Buscemi’s account shut down from a certain perspective. No crime there. Heck, Buscemi may well have hated the thing. What has happened, though, is that we have replaced something interesting—and I wish I could give you some Steve Buscemi examples, but when Twitter shuts down a feed, they eliminate ALL traces—with this:
“JEEZ some o u peeps on crack..not many just a few…kick yo crack to the curb freeky fridays..ease on the rock…yo crazy fo riz..”
A triumph of the dull. The incredibly dull. (That’s Alley, by the way. ‘Dropping’ it like it’s ‘hot.’ ‘You go, girl.’)(TL TM, used again without permission.)
Whereas, what fake Steve Buscemi (and fake Christopher Walken) were doing was something really interesting. They were producing—and the new Walken feeds continue to produce—is a kind of cross between the zen koan and the persona poem.
It’s constraint writing. The few very good Twitter feeds are. It was the adoption of the persona that made the statements more interesting, not in that they traded on the persona’s fame—though, clearly they did that—but on the persona’s perceived personality.
Sort of questionable, ethically speaking? I suppose. A hell of a lot more interesting than:
“THE HATER SITES ARE BEGINNING TO FLY!! Some peeps really pissedI outed the FAKE Steve Buscemi…nasty threats..oh my!”
Tags: Steve Buscemi, twitter
Yes.
The Brits are infringing upon Tao’s tm. He should sue the queen.
Yes.
The Brits are infringing upon Tao’s tm. He should sue the queen.
Ah, Brian. See, this is likely a good time to also link to the interview we did a number of years ago because it refers to the intersection of the joke and the poem.
Ah, Brian. See, this is likely a good time to also link to the interview we did a number of years ago because it refers to the intersection of the joke and the poem.
Is the poem chicken bucket by jennifer knox funny in a good way to you and Brian?
Paul Madore shared another cool spoof in his Google Reader. Some kid put a fake Alfred Jarre quote on Jarre’s Wikipedia page to show how journalists crib from Wikipedia.
http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/05/06/2237244&from=rss
Paul Madore shared another cool spoof in his Google Reader. Some kid put a fake Alfred Jarre quote on Jarre’s Wikipedia page to show how journalists crib from Wikipedia.
http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/05/06/2237244&from=rss
ok ok, but remember when she was a Vulcan?
ok ok, but remember when she was a Vulcan?
As someone with a ‘brand’ (really dislike talking in this way, I’ll try to keep the gag factor slight), I’d like to say this: I don’t think Alley should police Twitter and ‘manage’ other people’s ‘brands.’ If Buscemi himself wanted it shut down, of course it would be justified.
There a few fake Ken Baumann’s on Facebook, Myspace, etc. I don’t see the benefit in shutting them down. It’s pretty easy to tell the real from the fake; if it wasn’t, though, it still wouldn’t matter. Any sort of noise is generally good noise, especially when it’s harmless, as it often is on Twitter.
Really like this post, Matthew. You’re still my favorite.
As someone with a ‘brand’ (really dislike talking in this way, I’ll try to keep the gag factor slight), I’d like to say this: I don’t think Alley should police Twitter and ‘manage’ other people’s ‘brands.’ If Buscemi himself wanted it shut down, of course it would be justified.
There a few fake Ken Baumann’s on Facebook, Myspace, etc. I don’t see the benefit in shutting them down. It’s pretty easy to tell the real from the fake; if it wasn’t, though, it still wouldn’t matter. Any sort of noise is generally good noise, especially when it’s harmless, as it often is on Twitter.
Really like this post, Matthew. You’re still my favorite.
‘Ken Baumann’ is my favorite brand.
‘Ken Baumann’ is my favorite brand.
I consider Joe Brainard the pioneer of quotation marks (single or double).
Examples:
Andy Warhol’s “paintings” have “presence.” Andy Warhol’s “paintings” have “face.” I like paintings that have “face” and “presence.” I would not like Andy Warhol’s “paintings” if they didn’t have “face” and “presence.”
-ANDY WARHOL: ANDY DO IT
It was coffee time “in” Middleville.
-NANCY
Nancy wanted to be “that” kind of girl. I at “that” age didn’t know what I wanted to be. But I certainly didn’t want to be “that.” Nancy did.
-from I REMEMBER
I consider Joe Brainard the pioneer of quotation marks (single or double).
Examples:
Andy Warhol’s “paintings” have “presence.” Andy Warhol’s “paintings” have “face.” I like paintings that have “face” and “presence.” I would not like Andy Warhol’s “paintings” if they didn’t have “face” and “presence.”
-ANDY WARHOL: ANDY DO IT
It was coffee time “in” Middleville.
-NANCY
Nancy wanted to be “that” kind of girl. I at “that” age didn’t know what I wanted to be. But I certainly didn’t want to be “that.” Nancy did.
-from I REMEMBER
Thanks, Ken. I was hoping you’d respond because of your perspective—unique among the giants—on the subject.
Sorry for locking you into the term “brand” instead of the less soft palate irritating word, but the George Saunders fan in me couldn’t resist.
There is something a little tacky about involving oneself in someone else’s “identity management” like that, isn’t there? Can Buscemi himself not have been aware of it? The feed was mentioned in almost every little article on Twitter that has appeared recently, and always positively. Seems like someone knew and didn’t care.
Thanks, Ken. I was hoping you’d respond because of your perspective—unique among the giants—on the subject.
Sorry for locking you into the term “brand” instead of the less soft palate irritating word, but the George Saunders fan in me couldn’t resist.
There is something a little tacky about involving oneself in someone else’s “identity management” like that, isn’t there? Can Buscemi himself not have been aware of it? The feed was mentioned in almost every little article on Twitter that has appeared recently, and always positively. Seems like someone knew and didn’t care.
I’ll defer to your expertise, Mike.
Everyone please mentally replace my (loving and yet also shit-talky) quotation marks asides with Joe Brainard ones. And instead of “loving and yet also shit-talky,” read them as entirely reverential.
I’ll defer to your expertise, Mike.
Everyone please mentally replace my (loving and yet also shit-talky) quotation marks asides with Joe Brainard ones. And instead of “loving and yet also shit-talky,” read them as entirely reverential.
It’s not at all the use of the word ‘brand’ that gagged me, just referring to myself as one. I’d prefer none at all, but, well, damn: Game’s gotta be played.
Exactly.
It’s not at all the use of the word ‘brand’ that gagged me, just referring to myself as one. I’d prefer none at all, but, well, damn: Game’s gotta be played.
Exactly.
Drank a Pepsi Max. Be somebody!
Drank a Pepsi Max. Be somebody!
I too witnessed the Kirstie Alley meltdown towards the fake Steve Buscemi. So sad that she has no sense of humor (or just lack of experience in the www world that led her believe this was a “crime”) and felt the need to butt in where no harm was being done.
I mean, come on…it’s not anyone really thought it was him. It was just entertaining as hell! He told Oprah off. He told Alley off. He had a lot of fun, with a lot of people and we all (19,000 followers) were loving it!
PS – While Twitter did remove all his posts, I found this one example on the web. http://www.eatmedaily.com/2009/03/fake-steve-buscemi-dines-at-masa-orders-tempura-penguin/
I too witnessed the Kirstie Alley meltdown towards the fake Steve Buscemi. So sad that she has no sense of humor (or just lack of experience in the www world that led her believe this was a “crime”) and felt the need to butt in where no harm was being done.
I mean, come on…it’s not anyone really thought it was him. It was just entertaining as hell! He told Oprah off. He told Alley off. He had a lot of fun, with a lot of people and we all (19,000 followers) were loving it!
PS – While Twitter did remove all his posts, I found this one example on the web. http://www.eatmedaily.com/2009/03/fake-steve-buscemi-dines-at-masa-orders-tempura-penguin/
Thanks, Gwen.
The images “he” uploaded are actually still around.
http://twitpic.com/photos/steve_buscemi
Thanks, Gwen.
The images “he” uploaded are actually still around.
http://twitpic.com/photos/steve_buscemi
I agree – this whole incident was crazy! I knew it wasn’t Steve Buscemi, but who cares? He was funny as hell. I followed Steve but not Kirstie (no interest there whatsoever), so I only saw what he said.
I hope he gets back on with another account – he made my day several times. CWalken is also amazing. These guys are far funnier than any of the “real” celebrities.
KJ
I agree – this whole incident was crazy! I knew it wasn’t Steve Buscemi, but who cares? He was funny as hell. I followed Steve but not Kirstie (no interest there whatsoever), so I only saw what he said.
I hope he gets back on with another account – he made my day several times. CWalken is also amazing. These guys are far funnier than any of the “real” celebrities.
KJ
Man, Kirstie Alley’s a stupid bitch.
http://twitter.com/kirstiealley/status/1742768851
Man, Kirstie Alley’s a stupid bitch.
http://twitter.com/kirstiealley/status/1742768851
The fake Nick Cave is very good and very funny.
The fake Nick Cave is very good and very funny.
I wish there was a fake Nathan Tyree running around saying funny crazy stuff. I’d love them.
I wish there was a fake Nathan Tyree running around saying funny crazy stuff. I’d love them.
I thought it was him, I confess.
I thought it was him, I confess.
Lt. Saavik was her debut role, and it was all downhill from there.
I thought her replacement in The Search for Spock, Robin Curtis, was more believable as a Vulcan anyway.
Lt. Saavik was her debut role, and it was all downhill from there.
I thought her replacement in The Search for Spock, Robin Curtis, was more believable as a Vulcan anyway.
I am the guy who was running fake Steve Buscemi’s twitter. I saved the entire transcript before it got shut down. E-mail me and make reference to this blog if u want a copy. :) I’m going to restart fake Buscemi soon but change the name to Fake Steve Buscemi so it stays! Thanks to all 42,000 of my followers!!!
I am the guy who was running fake Steve Buscemi’s twitter. I saved the entire transcript before it got shut down. E-mail me and make reference to this blog if u want a copy. :) I’m going to restart fake Buscemi soon but change the name to Fake Steve Buscemi so it stays! Thanks to all 42,000 of my followers!!!
I love you
I love you
I thought you were funny as Buscemi….but as http://twitter.com/die_kirstie_die …youre a bit pathetic, acting like a spoilt brat who has had their fave toy taken away….let it go and get back to being amusing :/
I thought you were funny as Buscemi….but as http://twitter.com/die_kirstie_die …youre a bit pathetic, acting like a spoilt brat who has had their fave toy taken away….let it go and get back to being amusing :/
The fake Buscemi was not even funny though. And all he did mostly was promote some band and try to whore other celebrities. I will agree the fake Walken was funny, but he didn’t pretend to be Walken on the creepy level like fake Buscemi did. Fake Buscemi talked about having wine with his wife and shit. It was just pathetic. He was funny once in awhile, but be yourself and be funny.
The fake Buscemi was not even funny though. And all he did mostly was promote some band and try to whore other celebrities. I will agree the fake Walken was funny, but he didn’t pretend to be Walken on the creepy level like fake Buscemi did. Fake Buscemi talked about having wine with his wife and shit. It was just pathetic. He was funny once in awhile, but be yourself and be funny.
I really wish that was the real steve buscemi. I feel empty now.
I really wish that was the real steve buscemi. I feel empty now.
LOVED your twitters. Will definitely follow Fake Steve Buscemi when it becomes available.
LOVED your twitters. Will definitely follow Fake Steve Buscemi when it becomes available.
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