Get out of your echo chamber.
You need to think critically. You need to question. You need to support.
You can’t be blind to criticism. Events like SMAZ are a perfect example of why so many people seem to have absolutely no idea how to get better. Who was the event for? Businesses looking to get INTO social media. Who was a large and loud portion of attendees? The same exact people that attend every other social media seminar in the Valley. Given this, you’d expect raucous discussion, plenty of disagreement and talks of improvement.
But that’s not what happened.
Instead we got blind RTing. A sheep-like acceptance of whatever the speakers decided to talk about. Did they offer plenty of good solutions? Sure, but not a damn person on Twitter that day dared question even a single thing they said. We don’t need cheerleaders, people. We need thinkers. You want to get better? You actually have to disagree once in a while. Sure, it’s scary, but it’s always scary to lead.
Every cheerleader is doing people like Evo Terra, Pam Slim , Jason Baer and Jeff Moriarty a disservice. Hell, they might as well be speaking to their moms at this point for all the positive feedback they get.
Not to say they’re wrong, but what are they saying that’s different? What are they saying that’s new? What are they saying that can be improved on? Is anyone stealing their stuff?
Get off of Twitter and ask questions. Stand up and say something. Be part of the Collaboration Revolution and actually give our community leaders feedback they can use to GET BETTER.
I bet they’ll be glad you did.
Christ, it’s happening everywhere!
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{ 5 comments }
I agree with a bit of the bobblehead issue, but there are some shades of gray here. At SMZ, my talk was deploying internal social media at companies – it wasn't about conversations, branding, authenticity, or any of the other 10,000 foot level topics. It was hard recommendations, value discussions, and use case options. And while I had good feedback from the people who came to mine, 5x more went to Jay's. Don't blame them at all, Jay's a smart hombre, but that's where the interest is at events like SMAZ.
Would challenging Jay in that venue help him, me, or anyone? Not really. So I chose to just present different content. Now a panel/discussion would have been interesting on some topics, but that wasn't the format. A panel can allow the debate to continue on Twitter, but then it is an extension of the format and not a distraction. So in addition to the demand, there needs to be a constructive format to support such debate.
There is also the issue of how sometimes the Phx online crowd chooses to define “debate and discuss”, but I think creating events with other formats that target different groups would help that discussion mature. This isn't a random reply – it's something I've been noodling on for a while which is why I've tried to structure Social Media Club like I have recently. Of course, I'm always open to input on how to make it better!
Cheers!
This part:
“Who was a large and loud portion of attendees? The same exact people that attend every other social media seminar in the Valley.”
… isn't true. At least, it wasn't from my perspective. I looked around the room and saw a lot more faces I didn't know. I commented several times that the crowd at SMAZ wasn't comprised of mostly the usual suspects.
But I'm not at all surprised it *seemed* that way from a distance, and I will have to agree on the “loud” part. It's highly likely that your sample size wasn't representative of the general attendance.
The rest of your post? Sure. I love a good debate. I love to be challenged to give more. I may tell you to shut the hell up or figure it out for yourself, but probably not.
TD is right, we need some balls in SM.
All of the nice squeeky clean uses make it a murtual adoration society. Check out this blog post…TD is not alone in his wish for more assholes on twitter.
http://valleywag.gawker.com/5346947/why-is-ever...
I understand that not offending anyone is considered success, but social discourse requires some debate.
I didn't attend the event, but mostly because I don't really want to be where everyone is now. I want to be where they are going next.
Next time, I should join the illuminating Mr Hurst and get the place rock-n!
TD is right, we need some balls in SM.
All of the nice squeeky clean uses make it a murtual adoration society. Check out this blog post…TD is not alone in his wish for more assholes on twitter.
http://valleywag.gawker.com/5346947/why-is-ever...
I understand that not offending anyone is considered success, but social discourse requires some debate.
I didn't attend the event, but mostly because I don't really want to be where everyone is now. I want to be where they are going next.
Next time, I should join the illuminating Mr Hurst and get the place rock-n!
Ok, that's solid.
There are a few things I see going on in SM.
1. it's narcissism. yes, I know that's the cliche that 'outsiders' use to describe SM, but it's vastly accurate. Most of the FB or Tweets are nothing that even smells like conversation, let alone spark anything besides “Indifferent Liked this post.” The small portion that discuss issues are not that far from this paradigm. Somebody posting as an employee is just typing inner dialog most of the time.
2. Too much damn over-sensitivity. I am SO SICK of sensitivity talk and concern… it's out of control. NOBODY has any right to be un-offended. As I tell many people, I already have a wife, you have no basis in which to offend me. SM needs to grow some skin around those balls long before I can kick them. The only thing I suggest, it that if you DO engage in debate or even heated argument online and publicly, be sure you can say it to my/their face if we meet in the real world, at gangplank, or at a eats place.
I will happily do the time for whatever I have to do to you in order to protect myself/and or family. A threat online to me is as good as to my face. I know I will act accordingly.
3. Most people have no idea how to debate in the first place… not sure what to do about that.
lordy i'm tired….
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