This conversation is on-fire in twitter and elsewhere on the web and, without some kind of authoritative response, the rumor could turn into something people just believe without question (though Mac fans will do that anyway, and Windows fans will really deny it no matter what Redmond says).
Decide for yourselves which side of the story is true, or if this is some just corporate legal positioning to avoid a lawsuit from Cupertino, but in the end, I wanted to comment that this is a great way to use your company/team’s blog to openly discuss sensitive and otherwise disastrous Public Relations issues.
You can’t control the conversation, but ignoring it is clearly unhealthy.
Google’s customizable homepage just got social-er. I already use this as a personal dashboard of what’s going on in my world. This will add even more cool stuff:
Social networks are powerful, meaningful tools I have had the opportunity to leverage we ll for personal and professional benefit. Just last week I was trying to find good camping locations and received several good recommendations.
I have also gone overboard at times with my virtual social life by, for example, facebooking when I should be playing with my kids, or being glued to twhirl instead of my work.
It’s time to make some changes to who and why I follow/friend/add people to these networks. In the past, I have allowed LinkedIn to be my most conservative network, but time and life dictates that I need to be much more selective about my other social interactions, too.
So, with a hat tip to Shel, here’s my Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook (“TwinkedInBook”?) follow policy:
As a general rule, I only add/follow people I actually know. That means we have had some meaningful interaction and that your connection aligns with the things I care about.
I welcome conversations. If I have said something you want to comment on, please do, but be real, and open about who you are. I don’t have to follow you to hear you. This is the Internet. @robertmerrill me, and I will find it. If you really need to reach me, um, my full name at gmail dot com is a pretty good starting point.
I get that networking is not just socializing [via @jibberjobber]. I like both, but I am primarilly online for networking in the sense of a professional relationship. I believe networking is about what you give and get. I wont follow you if I don’t think I can meaningfully give to you and/or that I can receive from you appropriately as well. By the way, I still believe the appropriate balance is to GIVE 10x what you RECEIVE in any relationship, but I will not follow you unless you’re providing a relevant, useful and thought-provoking connection.
If I don’t follow you, or just stopped following you, please don’t be offended. Really. It’s not you. It’s me.
I will follow companies when I want announcements or information. I will follow people when I see relevance in what you’re talking about. I will unfollow and/or block both when the conversation becomes you selling something, or regurgitating, or just “@username lol!” -ing all day long.
The things I say are my opinions and beliefs. Yours are your own. Keep that clear and we will get along just fine
I reserve the right to change this or update it at any time, or at no time, for any or no reason.
I spend a lot of time online (sadly) and I have spent a great deal of time (too much time, actually) developing and building online communities… or so I thoug[ht. In fact, I now believe strongly that you should spend as much as 10x the time you spend making online friends in connecting with real-life humans. This might be a good reason why.]
To me, I belive there may be a few requirements that make a difference between just “people you know” and “Community”.
Investment: People in the community feel ownership, likely because something is on the line if they don’t… like property values, their children’s education, social benefits, etc.
Emotional Connection: This means you actually care (or something that approximates human caring). You can notice this when you can’t be a part of the community, you feel like you’ve missed out.
Sacrifice: When someone else in the community needs help, you’re willing to put aside your own self-interest for the benefit of others… because you know they’d do the same for you.
Yeah, I know T-Mobile’s “Life is for Sharing” video is a promotional stunt, but just watching this makes me smile, and I hope it does the same for you:
I noticed a great post from Cary Snowden over at Social Hat about the new Social Media Club Salt Lake (@SMCSLC), and a twinge of jealousy washed over me reading about who was there and the purpose of the group, etc. Why? Well, currently, I am not part of that club, and right now joining something like that is not something I will be getting into.
The event looked great, and from the photos on Cary’s blog, the people I see there are surely some of the right ones to have on any panel about anything social. Way to go guys. Keep up the good work!
Pitiful monologue aside, when you find yourself outside of a group you want to be in, how do you get ‘in’? Here’s a few practical suggestions:
Understand the scope of the group. Are you qualified… or just starstruck?
Look, if it’s the “social media club”, they will likely take anybody who knows how to Twitter and has a blog that’s not about their kittens. But, if it’s the Angels and VC’s club or something, there’s likely a little more to it than showing up.
Find someone who belongs to the group and connect with them. Ask them to coach you about it.
In this case, Cary Snowden is obviously the person I would reach out to because he and I already have developed a relationship, I’ve attended his Crunch Lunch event, and featured him prominently on several of my radio shows. He, of course, would help me know more about the club… and, if anything else, help me know if I was or wasn’t qualified to join.
Ask to join, and pony up anything required.
Attend. Be gracious and open and attentive. Keep your mouth shut a lot (yes, a personal note) until you’ve attended three times.
Personally and generously thank the person who got you connected to the club.
I noticed a great post from Cary Snowden over at Social Hat about the new