Comments on: The social web is starting to feel like high school http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/12/30/the-social-web-is-starting-to-feel-like-high-school/ Marketing. Social Media. Humanity. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:23:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/12/30/the-social-web-is-starting-to-feel-like-high-school/#comment-2250 Mark Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:14:20 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1642#comment-2250 @Kacy You are right and i have thought about this a lot in the context of this blog too. Certainly I have enjoyed creating a community of people who support each other, but i don't want it to be a group of sycophants who are afraid of dissent. I realize some of that is unavoidable but in the end the most rewarding aspect of the {grow} is the debate and diversity of opinion shared in the conment section. Thanks so much for taking the time to share, Kacy! @Kacy You are right and i have thought about this a lot in the context of this blog too. Certainly I have enjoyed creating a community of people who support each other, but i don’t want it to be a group of sycophants who are afraid of dissent. I realize some of that is unavoidable but in the end the most rewarding aspect of the {grow} is the debate and diversity of opinion shared in the conment section. Thanks so much for taking the time to share, Kacy!

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/12/30/the-social-web-is-starting-to-feel-like-high-school/#comment-2249 Mark Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:09:42 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1642#comment-2249 @Traci -- Wow. Thanks for the great insights. I've written about these "rules" quite a bit. Another article you might enjoy is here: http://businessesgrow.com/2009/10/28/five-social-media-myths-that-must-stop-now/ This article is about the social media "myths" that have been perpetuated. @Traci — Wow. Thanks for the great insights. I’ve written about these “rules” quite a bit. Another article you might enjoy is here:
http://businessesgrow.com/2009/10/28/five-social-media-myths-that-must-stop-now/

This article is about the social media “myths” that have been perpetuated.

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]]> By: Kacy Maxwell http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/12/30/the-social-web-is-starting-to-feel-like-high-school/#comment-2245 Kacy Maxwell Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:15:09 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1642#comment-2245 You make some really great points. I do think a lot of this has to do with the nature of blogs and social media in general. Almost all blogs, even those that are taken to be journalistic, have a personal aspect to them. There is usually some part of the author that shines through in their posts. It’s that part that makes the blog unique and interesting to others. Your blog for instance. While it is used for business, your personal biases and opinions come through from time to time. Which I like—that’s why I read. But that is where it gets sticky. I think this quality in social media is what allows people to create stronger attachments to content. While they may have been initially been drawn to a blogger because of their take on Google’s privacy policy, they stick around because when they commented on the post, the author both responded and thanked them for their contribution. That happens enough times, and they become connected to the blogger—to the content. They begin to believe everything that person says with very little objective analysis. But then someone comes along and says one of the blogger’s ideas could be wrong and they become personally affected. They see it not as a commentary on the content, but the person behind the content. Multiply this effect times a hundred when it comes to these superblogger celebrities. In a medium that is so young, people are still really trying to get their grounding and feel comfortable with their knowledge of the environment. If you question their foundation (ie. these superbloggers), you need to expect to receive repercussions from their faithful. Keep up the good work Mark. You make some really great points. I do think a lot of this has to do with the nature of blogs and social media in general. Almost all blogs, even those that are taken to be journalistic, have a personal aspect to them. There is usually some part of the author that shines through in their posts. It’s that part that makes the blog unique and interesting to others. Your blog for instance. While it is used for business, your personal biases and opinions come through from time to time. Which I like—that’s why I read.

But that is where it gets sticky. I think this quality in social media is what allows people to create stronger attachments to content. While they may have been initially been drawn to a blogger because of their take on Google’s privacy policy, they stick around because when they commented on the post, the author both responded and thanked them for their contribution. That happens enough times, and they become connected to the blogger—to the content. They begin to believe everything that person says with very little objective analysis.

But then someone comes along and says one of the blogger’s ideas could be wrong and they become personally affected. They see it not as a commentary on the content, but the person behind the content. Multiply this effect times a hundred when it comes to these superblogger celebrities. In a medium that is so young, people are still really trying to get their grounding and feel comfortable with their knowledge of the environment. If you question their foundation (ie. these superbloggers), you need to expect to receive repercussions from their faithful.

Keep up the good work Mark.

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]]> By: traci browne http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/12/30/the-social-web-is-starting-to-feel-like-high-school/#comment-2243 traci browne Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:24:11 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1642#comment-2243 Hi Mark, Very interesting and something I've been thinking a lot about this past week. I've also noticed a lot of so called SM rules (things not cool) that have caused people to shut themselves out from bigger better things. Recently I had a conversation with a couple people (one around 23 the other early 30s) who were completely turned off by someone at a conference because they said he was "selling himself" too much. Social Media has created a large group who say self-promtion is "not allowed ever". I talked to the same person but had a completely different take (so did a friend also in her 40s). We saw him as passionate about a topic. Yes he wrote a book and mentioned it several times at the conference but we clearly saw he was not selling a book. He was selling a passion and found writing a book to be a way to do it. He wasn't making any money on the book that was clear. I feel sorry for those in Social Media who so rigidly follow the "don't ever pitch yourself" mantra in social media. Don't turn people off too quickly because you don't like the first words out of their mouth. You could be missing out on some great ideas and conversations. These two people wrote off this person quickly, as it turned out they and their career could benefit greatly by listening to what he had to say. It reminds me of the whole, "don't ever do what's not cool" thing in High School. Hi Mark,

Very interesting and something I’ve been thinking a lot about this past week. I’ve also noticed a lot of so called SM rules (things not cool) that have caused people to shut themselves out from bigger better things.

Recently I had a conversation with a couple people (one around 23 the other early 30s) who were completely turned off by someone at a conference because they said he was “selling himself” too much. Social Media has created a large group who say self-promtion is “not allowed ever”.

I talked to the same person but had a completely different take (so did a friend also in her 40s). We saw him as passionate about a topic. Yes he wrote a book and mentioned it several times at the conference but we clearly saw he was not selling a book. He was selling a passion and found writing a book to be a way to do it. He wasn’t making any money on the book that was clear.

I feel sorry for those in Social Media who so rigidly follow the “don’t ever pitch yourself” mantra in social media. Don’t turn people off too quickly because you don’t like the first words out of their mouth. You could be missing out on some great ideas and conversations. These two people wrote off this person quickly, as it turned out they and their career could benefit greatly by listening to what he had to say.

It reminds me of the whole, “don’t ever do what’s not cool” thing in High School.

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]]> By: links for 2010-01-07 | Joanna Geary http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/12/30/the-social-web-is-starting-to-feel-like-high-school/#comment-1766 links for 2010-01-07 | Joanna Geary Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:02:56 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1642#comment-1766 [...] The social web is starting to feel like high school The social web mantra of “authenticity” and “transparency” is a load of crap. Nobody is truly authentic. Nobody is truly transparent. Nor should you be! However, there is an urgent need for civility, tolerance and honesty in this space. (tags: twitter socialmedia socialnetworking) [...] [...] The social web is starting to feel like high school The social web mantra of “authenticity” and “transparency” is a load of crap. Nobody is truly authentic. Nobody is truly transparent. Nor should you be! However, there is an urgent need for civility, tolerance and honesty in this space. (tags: twitter socialmedia socialnetworking) [...]

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]]> By: links for 2010-01-07 « Sarah Hartley http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/12/30/the-social-web-is-starting-to-feel-like-high-school/#comment-1764 links for 2010-01-07 « Sarah Hartley Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:03:43 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1642#comment-1764 [...] The social web is starting to feel like high school | {grow} The petty politics of every day relationships are exacerbated on the social web because we are making very limited assessments of people based on their written words. People seem quicker to judge, and harsher in their reactions without thinking about the real live human beings behind those little icons. I’ve been guilty too. (tags: socialmedia socialnetworking twitter) [...] [...] The social web is starting to feel like high school | {grow} The petty politics of every day relationships are exacerbated on the social web because we are making very limited assessments of people based on their written words. People seem quicker to judge, and harsher in their reactions without thinking about the real live human beings behind those little icons. I’ve been guilty too. (tags: socialmedia socialnetworking twitter) [...]

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]]> By: Roger Pence http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/12/30/the-social-web-is-starting-to-feel-like-high-school/#comment-1714 Roger Pence Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:33:55 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1642#comment-1714 You just barely scratched the surface. I find the clique-quotient of social media to be as high as anything I experienced in high school. The diff is that with social media, at least you know what the cool kids are thinking--in high school we had to guess. You just barely scratched the surface. I find the clique-quotient of social media to be as high as anything I experienced in high school. The diff is that with social media, at least you know what the cool kids are thinking–in high school we had to guess.

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/12/30/the-social-web-is-starting-to-feel-like-high-school/#comment-1669 Mark Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:14:39 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1642#comment-1669 @Teresa I agree with you completely. In the end we can only do our own little part to create some value in the world. You just did that for me and I thank you! Appreciate the clarification. @Teresa I agree with you completely. In the end we can only do our own little part to create some value in the world. You just did that for me and I thank you! Appreciate the clarification.

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]]> By: Teresa Basich http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/12/30/the-social-web-is-starting-to-feel-like-high-school/#comment-1668 Teresa Basich Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:08:58 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1642#comment-1668 Mark -- I don't personally experience much of this, but I have to admit I don't have very optimistic or positive views of humanity. Historically, we haven't treated each other very nicely, and modern society is incredibly competitive. I mean, our economy wouldn't be in the mess it's in if we (collectively) had behaved like responsible, moral adults. You have to admit there are probably a few people online you chat with more than others; you've got supporters and detractors. And you've probably heard about people competing in a business setting with one another in unethical or seemingly illogical ways. And I'm sure you've seen personal dislike between colleagues in a professional setting. That's what I'm getting at. You've obviously observed some of this as you gave a bulleted list of examples in this post. I'm not speaking in personal terms. I've had a crazy year, but it's been great and I've been treated incredibly well by the people who support me. I've also had some hate and immaturity tossed my way, but that's life. My intention wasn't to sound like I've been stepped on because that's absolutely not the case. I just think, as a whole, humanity naturally leans toward immaturity and cattiness before altruism and respectfulness, and I'm not surprised by seeing that fact seep into the online social space. Hopefully that helped clarify my point. Mark — I don’t personally experience much of this, but I have to admit I don’t have very optimistic or positive views of humanity. Historically, we haven’t treated each other very nicely, and modern society is incredibly competitive. I mean, our economy wouldn’t be in the mess it’s in if we (collectively) had behaved like responsible, moral adults.

You have to admit there are probably a few people online you chat with more than others; you’ve got supporters and detractors. And you’ve probably heard about people competing in a business setting with one another in unethical or seemingly illogical ways. And I’m sure you’ve seen personal dislike between colleagues in a professional setting. That’s what I’m getting at. You’ve obviously observed some of this as you gave a bulleted list of examples in this post.

I’m not speaking in personal terms. I’ve had a crazy year, but it’s been great and I’ve been treated incredibly well by the people who support me. I’ve also had some hate and immaturity tossed my way, but that’s life.

My intention wasn’t to sound like I’ve been stepped on because that’s absolutely not the case. I just think, as a whole, humanity naturally leans toward immaturity and cattiness before altruism and respectfulness, and I’m not surprised by seeing that fact seep into the online social space.

Hopefully that helped clarify my point.

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/12/30/the-social-web-is-starting-to-feel-like-high-school/#comment-1659 Mark Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:23:03 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1642#comment-1659 @ Teresa I have read your comment several times and can't get my head around it, especially: "We are all constantly stepping on one another to get ahead, forming cliques, and behaving like children no matter what age, no matter what setting." This is so far from my reality i don't know how to respond to it. In both my personal and professional life, I experience positive, healthy, supportive, mature adult relationships. Don't know what else to say other than i hope things change and get better for you. It sounds like hell to me. @ Teresa I have read your comment several times and can’t get my head around it, especially: “We are all constantly stepping on one another to get ahead, forming cliques, and behaving like children no matter what age, no matter what setting.”

This is so far from my reality i don’t know how to respond to it. In both my personal and professional life, I experience positive, healthy, supportive, mature adult relationships. Don’t know what else to say other than i hope things change and get better for you. It sounds like hell to me.

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