Comments on: On social media

By: Eric Melin

Eric Melin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:11:47 +0000

I have the same problem with being a film critic–except I don’t, really. Because people know what they’re getting from me. Your last paragraph summed it up: “there’s no difference between the real-life me, @shaneomack, Shane Life blogger, and the corporate marketer I am. In fact, for anyone to suggest otherwise is insulting.” As long as your reader understands this, you don’t have to worry about a thing. Establish trust. Be honest. I read certain critics because I trust them. Others I think are worried more about the peripheries, so I avoid them. Great post.

By: Whitney

Whitney — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:45:36 +0000

Great post, Shane. While I think a lot can get lost in translation (no pun intended…) online, I love the discussion that Meesha’s post has generated.

In a way, it affirms Spiral16′s niche in the marketplace, but also opens the forum for ethical questions. All I do is monitor what’s being said – not influence the content in any way. :)

P.S. The back of my hair looks really shiny in that pic. Much appreciated!

By: logtar

logtar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:16:51 +0000

I call shenanigans!

I am a real person and try to stay genuine to what I present online, however I don’t think that an online persona can EVER come close to giving you a sense of who a person really is IRL. Sure, you might stay behind what you say online and not have a “moniker” but the real Shane is not someone that can be really know until you have had a chance to either chat or have a longer interaction with clarification of some point.

When we read stuff, our brain will automatically relate what is said with our own experience and what you say could be interpreted in many different ways. I have been both very wrong, and right on about people that I have met through their online persona. However, to call yourself genuine is like calling yourself cool!

Also to call shenanigans again, to be manipulated by webster’s #2b definition is
“to control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one’s own advantage”

I think that for that to happen it has to be unknown… we are all adults, we all have been marketed to, to say that we don’t know this is happening is dumb. I am glad the medium is being used… the BSoMeter has to be dialed to the people you “trust.” (I just cracked myself up.)

That said, Shane very well written!

And I am sure AMC loves all the hits that Meesha is generating! (YOU ARE THEIR TOOL!)

By: wrytir

wrytir — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:37:32 +0000

Shane,

While I enjoy reading your blogs, I have to say this is your best, most relevant post (to me). The comment cited from @PensiveGirl gives voice to this chaos known as SocMed. Be yourself. The web is the web; but modern social media strikes the heart of disingenuousness when it can be corroborated in real life (IRL).

The medium offers amazing possibilities for anonymity and personal reinvention. The survivors, those who can demonstrate being genuine, will enjoy well earned respect, credibility and great success.

By: Patchchord

Patchchord — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:03:00 +0000

Great post, Shane. Social media, in my opinion, is actually a return to a very old marketing environment: the open air market.

A vendor will shout and hawk their apples to anyone within earshot. And if their apples are good enough, people will not only buy them but tell others about how good those apples are as they continue to stroll the market. Dividends are paid to those that can shout the loudest. But true staying power is awarded to those with solid product. Now just substitute “content” or anything else for “apples” and you get the gist.

Something to consider, though: sociologists are starting to identify a cognitive limit for relationships within digital social media that in some ways mirror our offline sociological makeup. Simply put, influence and interactions that contain actual value have their limits.

By: meesha.v

meesha.v — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:11:51 +0000

P.S. I’t not me on the avatar.

By: meesha.v

meesha.v — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:08:28 +0000

I didn’t mean to insult anyone personally, but my opinion about the social media being too easy to manipulate stands. I think it’s only a matter of time before seven people at the Harry Potter park realize that they just saved a corporation potentially millions of dollars for the price of admission and a temporary spike in popularity of whatever they write. If not them, Twitter and Facebook will want a cut. I was satisfied that many people in comments agreed with me to one degree or another. I am sure I wouldn’t get many nods at the social media meeting but I think even there people might appreciate an opposing opinion.

By: (jeff)isageek

(jeff)isageek — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:24:09 +0000

Great post shane and I think you hit all the points well. love the quote you used from that blog post as well. so true!