Fine Print

Marketing Vox has a post with the headline saying that “social techies rule ‘new social order’” according to neuroscientists. That geek you bullied at school? He’s leading the pack now. Forget the lunch money you stole from him … he sold his start-up to Google for $35 million.

The article quotes a neuroscientist: “The people in the next generation who are really going to have the edge are the ones who master the technological skills and also face-to-face skills. They will know when the best response to an e-mail or Instant Message is to talk rather than sit and continue to e-mail.”

I like that answer. It relates to yesterday’s post [StumbledUpon by someone, excellent spike, thanks!] about distinguishing the people you connect to online. You may feel very familiar with them via the blog posts you read every day, or the tweets you reply to and monitor, but would you take the time to set up a face-to-face meeting with them, at your expense? Watch their facial reactions during your conversation instead of using a smiley emoticon? Shake their hand instead of poking them?

Noticing a spat on Twitter today between two marketing people, I wondered if they would throw those insults in person? Some people seem to disconnect from their real-life personas when behind a keyboard and computer screen. It’s similar to the mild-mannered person who becomes a horn-blowing, middle-finger-popping, nose-picking raving lunatic once they get behind the wheel of a car. Don’t forget the glass is transparent; we can see you!

Understandably, some do need anonymity to protect their interests, jobs or — in some cases — wellbeing, but I don’t have time for those who do it just for the sake of abusing and insulting others in a community. There’s a lot of value, knowledge and respect in social media, but also a lot of snarkiness. Time to out the bullies.

~ John Carson, Senior Digital Media Specialist, GCI Canada