Medvedev opposes banning emotions in Twitter

MOSCOW, May 13 (Itar-Tass) -- President Dmitry Medvedev, who is an
active blogger and Internet user, said on Thursday he is against banning
emotions in Twitter although he believes the resource should be used for
serious discussions.
"It is the way Twitter works. Anyone can say whatever he or she likes
in the most juicy phrases to any person - either to Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev or to (US President Barack) Obama," Medvedev told the
Mayak radio station adding "it is a question of culture."
"But I believe it (Twitter) has been created for other purposes. I am
not against emotions. But the resource exists not only to express emotions
but also for serious communications," he added.
The president admitted it was difficult for him to get used to Twitter
slang. "I first thought why don't they ask something of importance? But
the slang is a part of the project," he said but added he did not believe
the slang shall be used in ordinary everyday talk.
"It is a new language code which cannot be ignored. You have to get
used to it. But that does not mean the Internet language should be
introduced into everyday use," Medvedev said and recalled his mother is a
philologist by education and he therefore treasures the norms of the
Russian language.
"However some Internet lexicon has already penetrated into everyday
life," he admitted with a smile, but refused to elaborate.