Rocketboom creator vows never to sell Twitter account

Rocketboom creator Andrew Baron has seemingly closed the book on the saga of trying to sell his Twitter account on eBay. He now promises to never do so.

(Credit: Twitter)

First it was for sale. Then it wasn't. Then it would be for sale soon. And now, finally--maybe--it will "not ever" be for sale.

This, of course, is Rocketboom creator Andrew Baron's Twitter account. When it was originally for sale last week on eBay, bidding for it had climbed to more than $1,500 before he pulled the plug on the auction.

In an interview last week, he told me that while he had decided to yank the original auction after discovering, he said, that the bidders for his Twitter account were spam marketers, he expected to pursue another avenue for selling the account.

Monday, his Twitter timeline sat static all day with the following message, "This account will be for sale on eBay late today with new terms. I wanted to involve you more in the outcome...Details are forthcoming."

But, maybe because of the effects of bad airline food, he has apparently decided, once and for all, not to sell the account.

"With a lot of offline time last night over the Atlantic Ocean, I decided once and for all not to go through with it," he wrote Tuesday on Twitter. "This was not planned."

So, now, his final word--um, this saga may have to result in a redefinition of the word "final"--Baron has promised not to sell the account now, nor in the future.

"You have my promise, I will not ever sell this acct.," he posted on Tuesday.

Well, bummer. I really had wanted to see what the account was worth. And for sure, people were interested in what he was doing. Over the course of the whole drama, he gained about 500 new followers on Twitter. And maybe that was the point all along--to create publicity and become more visible. I certainly know that I aided with that.

So, it comes to this: We have no idea what identity is worth on Twitter. I thought we'd find out, but alas, Baron's conscience got in the way. Or, at least something did.

And, of course, he may change his mind tomorrow on the subway. So keep your eyes peeled. I, however, am going to do my best to stay away from this from now on.

Unless I don't. I haven't made up my mind.