Comments on: The Social Web’s A New Way to Roll http://www.thehappyaccident.net/the-social-webs-a-new-way-to-roll/ Greg Pincus talks social media and happy accidents (and sometimes chocolate) Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:20:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Greg Pincus http://www.thehappyaccident.net/the-social-webs-a-new-way-to-roll/comment-page-1/#comment-350 Greg Pincus Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:01:21 +0000 http://www.thehappyaccident.net/?p=1079#comment-350 Rachel - there are definitely some who are emboldened by the once-removed aspect of the online world. Also, anonymity is so much easier online as well. And yes, to some extent miscommunication is easier... though the ability to quickly correct miscommunication is also easier! In a community online, reputation and community action can help with a lot of the above situations, as well, though it takes time to build a strong, connected community (just like offline!). For that matter, it takes time to build up a reputation. But once you do, well, like on Ebay it takes more than one or two people saying you done something bad to change the overall view. Doesn't mean that we individuals don't have to deal with the upsetting/annoying actions, of course, but in many cases there's surprising support. There are definitely tradeoffs, though.... Rachel – there are definitely some who are emboldened by the once-removed aspect of the online world. Also, anonymity is so much easier online as well. And yes, to some extent miscommunication is easier… though the ability to quickly correct miscommunication is also easier!

In a community online, reputation and community action can help with a lot of the above situations, as well, though it takes time to build a strong, connected community (just like offline!). For that matter, it takes time to build up a reputation. But once you do, well, like on Ebay it takes more than one or two people saying you done something bad to change the overall view. Doesn’t mean that we individuals don’t have to deal with the upsetting/annoying actions, of course, but in many cases there’s surprising support.

There are definitely tradeoffs, though….

]]> By: Greg Pincus http://www.thehappyaccident.net/the-social-webs-a-new-way-to-roll/comment-page-1/#comment-349 Greg Pincus Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:32:08 +0000 http://www.thehappyaccident.net/?p=1079#comment-349 Thanks, Terry. I've been thinking about all this area a lot lately and was also happy with the analogy. I do think a lot of people have unnecessary fear of social media because of mis-understanding, not because of what it really is. Mind you, I understand technology as a barrier... but more often than not, I'm finding, it's not the real issue. Thanks, Terry. I’ve been thinking about all this area a lot lately and was also happy with the analogy. I do think a lot of people have unnecessary fear of social media because of mis-understanding, not because of what it really is. Mind you, I understand technology as a barrier… but more often than not, I’m finding, it’s not the real issue.

]]> By: Terry Doherty http://www.thehappyaccident.net/the-social-webs-a-new-way-to-roll/comment-page-1/#comment-348 Terry Doherty Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.thehappyaccident.net/?p=1079#comment-348 That is a great analogy, Greg. Until Hal takes over the world (and I guess even if he does) it still starts and ends with people and relationships. Did I mention I love your analogy? (just coming full circle - It's late, I'm tired, the defenses are weakening). That is a great analogy, Greg. Until Hal takes over the world (and I guess even if he does) it still starts and ends with people and relationships. Did I mention I love your analogy? (just coming full circle – It’s late, I’m tired, the defenses are weakening).

]]> By: Rachel Heston Davis http://www.thehappyaccident.net/the-social-webs-a-new-way-to-roll/comment-page-1/#comment-347 Rachel Heston Davis Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:16:36 +0000 http://www.thehappyaccident.net/?p=1079#comment-347 Thanks for an insightful post! I have to admit, your take on it does make me feel warmer towards the online social media. As part of the generation which did not "grow up with" the Internet until the teen years, the online world can still seem foreign to me--even though I know how to navigate it and use it all the time! But your article has helped me to think of it as just another form of communication, like the telephone and letter, which were so much a part of my childhood interactions. The only thing I find "unfriendly" about it, to use your terms, is the ease with which online conversations can turn nasty. People engaged in online disagreements or misunderstandings often become verbally vicious more quickly than they would in real life, because they feel "protected" by that buffer of the computer screen--even if they're posting comments in an environment where everyone knows who they are. Also, misunderstandings are easier online, where everything is limited to the written word and the reader's interpretation of those words. But I suppose every form of communication has its drawbacks. (The letter and the postage stamp, for instance, were not near as fast as Facebook messages!) The Internet brings us many good opportunities! Rachel Heston Davis Up and Writing www.rachelhestondavis.wordpress.com Thanks for an insightful post! I have to admit, your take on it does make me feel warmer towards the online social media. As part of the generation which did not “grow up with” the Internet until the teen years, the online world can still seem foreign to me–even though I know how to navigate it and use it all the time! But your article has helped me to think of it as just another form of communication, like the telephone and letter, which were so much a part of my childhood interactions.

The only thing I find “unfriendly” about it, to use your terms, is the ease with which online conversations can turn nasty. People engaged in online disagreements or misunderstandings often become verbally vicious more quickly than they would in real life, because they feel “protected” by that buffer of the computer screen–even if they’re posting comments in an environment where everyone knows who they are. Also, misunderstandings are easier online, where everything is limited to the written word and the reader’s interpretation of those words.

But I suppose every form of communication has its drawbacks. (The letter and the postage stamp, for instance, were not near as fast as Facebook messages!) The Internet brings us many good opportunities!

Rachel Heston Davis
Up and Writing
http://www.rachelhestondavis.wordpress.com

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