It's simple...stop using the "main stream". Not exactly sure why you can't understand that especially since you already know there's too much junk or crap there. Why you so addicted to using the "main stream" and then complaining about the "main stream". Instead, find a blog, forum poster you like to read and then see if the blogger or forum poster is posting on twitter or stocktwits. Next, only follow those individuals. Thus, you won't be able to see messages by others not on your follow list unless you want to via the "main stream" feed. Here's an analogy...you don't like peppers on your pizza. You go to dinner at a friends house and she makes pizza for you. She didn't know you did not like peppers on your you pizza. You can complain to her about the peppers on your pizza or you can take the peppers off and enjoy your pizza. She'll understand without you saying a single word that you don't like peppers when you take them off. Yet, I now realize you may be complaining that you can't get others too pay attention to what you have to say on stocktwits. Thus, too much competition for you because you haven't figure out how to use the other streams except for the "main stream". Use tweetdeck and you can follow stock streams (e.g. $MSFT) of your choice, key word streams of your choice (e.g. Eurozone, stock merger, ipo, Denver Broncos) and have fun. P.S. There is a book called "Twitter for Dummies" for those to learn how to make it useful (seriously). I'm sure there's some helpful tips in that book to help you find that happy spot while using twitter, stocktwits or any other social network. http://www.amazon.ca/Twitter-Dummies-Laura-Fitton/dp/0470479914
Agree with WRB. It's not too hard to filter out what you want to see from twitter or stocktwits... I like the "trader florida" comment.. lol i've seen so much spam from that handle its ridiculous. I like watching the $CL_F Stream . It's a good way to get an idea of what other players are looking at or thinking. As far as "random surprise" I have a couple "breaking news" handles that I follow that have given me a heads up before mainstream media covered the story. THey're out there but don't expect to make a mint off it. Just a neat way to see and share ideas, nothing more. I wouldn't be looking for any big advantage from using it in respect to trading decisions though.
Not saying you couldn't narrow down the field of view to something more useful, I'm saying they allow too much crap on the full stream. Of course I follow certain nicks on twitter. Not many. If you're saying that watching for ANY valuable info that might be posted on the full stream can't be done because of the noise, then you agree with me.
Twitter/Stocktwits are not like a discussion forum (e.g. Elitetrader.com) with moderators. There are no moderators in the way that they have the ability to moderate unless its none trading content (e.g. porn messages posted in the stocktwits stream) and that's why its absolutely critical to make your own personal "follow list" and use the "block list" frequently to only see useful content while blocking content you consider to be crap. For example, there may be 3 - 5 message post per 30 minutes at Elitetrader.com involving trading. In contrast, there may be 500 - 1000 message posts per 30 mins on twitter/stocktwits involving trading. That's why it's specifically setup for YOU to make it useful via the resources they've setup for you to use (if you choose to use those resources) and not for them to make it useful for you via streaming content you think is useful that most likely is not useful to someone else viewing the "main stream". Also, even when good content is posted, the odds of you seeing it in real-time on twitter/stocktwits "main stream" as it is scrolling across your screen aren't very good considering there are 500 - 1000 message posts per 30 mins unless you have your own follow list of those you consider to be sharing useful content that you want to read within your own "personal stream" instead of viewing the "main stream". Further, twitter/stocktwits has sponsors that pay for the privilege to post advertising messages. In addition, many traders and vendors are using those auto message post that post frequent messages throughout the day about a trading topic even while the traders or vendors are away from their computers...most of which is junk (crap). Therefore, if you know enough about twitter/stocktwits...there are ways you can set it up so you don't see that crap even if you are addicted to watching the "main stream" and don't want to spend about an hour setting up your own "personal stream" that delivers useful content that you want to see. P.S. There are 1 - 2 brokers linked to twitter/stocktwits. Traders using those brokers can have their "real trades" (not paper trading) streamed to twitter/stocktwits in real-time. Some do such and those traders have a specific icon next to their name to indicate these are real trades being posted for those trying to use twitter/stocktwits as a signal calling service although not recommended to do such.
Where have you seen that? I've never noticed anything like that on Stocktwits. That would be interesting.
I got banned again on stocktwits for posting too many winners and mocking the AAPL fanboyz Thanks, I always waste too much time there offering winners to ingrates, I never post any winners here anymore.