It is no surprise that I have been thinking a lot about the scale of our social networks and connections, the velocity with which news and media travel and the impact this has on our relationships both 'offline' and online. There are lots of articles (the backlash begins) on how all these tools actually detract from relationships and are time sucks etc etc. But what the pundits/writers fail to recognize is what is going on underneath all this activity and the flexibility of all these tools enables people to put their own stamp on how they choose to use them.
One size does not fit all
My friend and former colleague Anil once said it best; "blogs don't get people fired, people get people fired'. This was in response to the flurry of articles about the dangers of blogging as a result of the few few people who had gotten themselves fired because of what they wrote on their blogs. The same holds true for social networks, social media, blogs, wikis, videoblogging, liveblogging, microblogging, shoutcasting, yadda yadda yadda.
It is not the tools but how you choose to use them
This week's Picnic cross-media event (it is SO much more than a conference) in Amsterdam is a wonderful case study in how all these networks collide and how social media tools at its core can serve to enhance (not detract) relationships and community. Alas, I could attend this year's event due to prior commitments, but I got to watch from afar.
I particularly love the photo booth and the community's fast response to the catastrophe in Myanmar (everyone wore red t-shirts as a sign of solidarity).
Originally uploaded by Guido van Nispen.
Kudos to Guido and the team for organizing what looks --from afar--to have been another highly successful event. Marked in 'pen' on next year's calendar.
How sorely we need this inspiration and visionary guidance. You are a great spokesperson for Social Media Revolution.
I am so happy you said it's not the tool necessarily, but how you use it and how you customize it.
When I hear people say Twitter or blogs are trivial and narcissistically vain, I laugh. Like their telephone conversations and email are 100% profound?!! LOL
Let the Luddites and Anti-Cluetrainers sneer and rant about oligarchy, hierarchy, and patriarchal domination system values of "controlling and staying on message".
Their "we"-oriented features-based arrogant fluff is irrelevant to what customers seek and need. PR and Marketing without blogging and microblogging is so 1950 and pointless.
Find the socnets you like and can customize, then keep at it, ignoring trolls and naysayers, perfecting your social media connectivity and online community sharing skills.
It's about sharing and caring, not hype and tripe.
:6)
Posted by: vaspers the grate aka steven e. streight on the bleeping edge of Web 2.0 trash talk | October 12, 2007 at 08:03 AM
I love that line - it is about sharing and caring. Yes - I am out there educating the big guys on what it really means and takes to do this stuff. What I am learning is that there are al ot of corporate passionate smart people who are unfortunately hampered by the organizational sturcutre currently in place - working to help knock down some of these silos!! Thanks for posting -- I am honored to be refered to as 'inspirational" - what more could a girl want! [other than her own pony..;)]
Posted by: deb schultz | October 13, 2007 at 09:20 PM