{{myquote|Libertarianism is the faith that individuals pursuing the better will succeed over Experts dictating the Best.}}
Archives for August 2009
Show me, don’t tell me
Posted on August 28, 2009 Written by
I recently spoke at the NIOA Training Conference in Nashville, on the subject of how Public Information Officers can use social media tools to make their jobs easier.
I have been hesitant in the past about sharing my slides, not because I am selfish, but because I use a lot of animation in my Powerpoint presentations, and the online services don’t always render them well.
But I found authorSTREAM, a service that does what I want it to do.
Personally, if you’re going to have animation in a slide, it needs to serve a purpose. If it doesn’t, it’s a distraction.
Keen Observations
Posted on August 25, 2009 Written by
The following is cross-posted at the Social South website – please comment there.
“One of these things is not like the other.”
If you remember the song from Sesame Street, feel free to sing, sing along.
Looking back on the lineup from the inaugural Social South, it was clear that one of the presentations was different along every apparent axis.
Andrew Keen views social media and the internet through the lens of history, not through the filter of futuritic optimism. One could argue he’s the dystopian, and not the utopian. In tone, manner of speech, lack of a slide-deck and even the all-black outfit Keen delivered the address that seemed most out of place. Some would describe it as anything but Social, and certainly not Southern.
Contrast this with the optimism, glee and hope that filled the room as Esra’a Al Shafei shared the divine mission of Mideast Youth — using technology and social media to wrest control away from the powerful who discriminate, intimidate and persecute in the name of religious purity.
Some would say they didn’t belong at the same event. I disagree.
Al Shafei — in a very direct manner — proved Keen correct.
- The Internet is a disruptive force.
- The technologies of new media are destroying culture.
- The newly-empowered are negating societies.
The bolded and underlined words are emphasized because they are in present perfect tense, and are beyond dispute. The words in italics are extremely negative words, but they shouldn’t be read in a negative light. Re-read them, with new modifiers attached:
- The Internet is a disruptive force against tyranny.
- The technologies of new media are destroying corrupt culture.
- The newly-empowered are negating oppressive societies.
Now those effects aren’t so awful-sounding. In fact, if Andrew Keen were wrong about the Internet and culture, the Esra’a Al Shafei’s of the world would be either dead, imprisoned, or enduring quietly in the silence of a burka.
Keen’s observations should be seen as simply that: observations. The nature of the words he chose are decidedly negative, but the phenomenon is a-moral. It will tear away at all heirarchies (some will push back.) It will eat away at all cultures (with no guarantee of a replacement.)
It will allow each and every one of us to choose our tribe. In essence, we are starting to do this now. We surround ourselves with the news and information that fits our pre-existing worldview and slant. Neighbors-in-name-only will see the same events through lenses so disparate they can never agree on any factual assertion.
We will continue – like Keen observed about Robert Scoble – surrounding ourselves with people just like ourselves. We will never be alone, but with every other face a virtual Narcissus, we will be extremely lonely.
Unless we recognize the ill effects, and choose to venture out into the world of the unsure, where serendipity rules.
It’s not easy being green Keen.
SEC Media Policy Explained In Video
Posted on August 19, 2009 Written by
From my friend Jamey Tucker at WKRN in Nashville. Follow him on Twitter.
SEC Draws Line at Commercial Competitors
Posted on August 18, 2009 Written by
I just got my hands on the SEC’s new Social Media Guidelines for fans at sporting events, and I believe the new language is clearer and ought to placate the fan base.
Specifically, you’ll find two paragraphs that more clearly delineate what the conference would deem a “threat to commercial interests and contracts:”
No Bearer may produce or disseminate in any form a “real-time” description or transmission of the Event (i) for commercial or business use, or (ii) in any manner that constitutes, or is intended to provide or is promoted or marketed as, a substitute for radio, television or video coverage of such Event. Personal messages and updates of scores or other brief descriptions of the competition throughout the Event are acceptable. If the SEC deems that a Bearer is producing a commercial or real-time description of the Event, the SEC reserves the right to pursue all available remedies against the Bearer.
Absent the prior written permission of the Southeastern Conference, game action videos of the Event may not be taken by Bearer. Photos of the Event may be taken by Bearer and distributed solely for personal use (and such photographs shall not be licensed, used, or sold commercially, or used for any commercial or business purpose).
The first paragraph explicitly mentions the intent of the publisher. So a Tweet from the stand that says “Touchdown LSU! 24-14!” would be perfectly fine… but an account that specifically tries to build audience for the purpose of replicating play-by-play would be out-of-bounds. (It’s not inconceivable that someone could create a closed Twitter account, and sell access subscriptions to other users.)
The second paragraph answer the question about friends who take pictures of each other at the games, and clearly mentions “personal use.” Such pictures could not be sold.
Here is the policy in full, and here is the short version that will appear on the backs of tickets.
Obviously, you could not fit the full language in the summary, but here is a sentence that might be problematic in the short term:
Additional terms and conditions governing use of this ticket are posted on the website of
the SEC (www.secsports.com) and are incorporated herein by reference. By using this ticket,
user agrees to be bound by such terms and conditions.
Additional terms and conditions governing use of this ticket are posted on the website of the SEC (www.secsports.com) and are incorporated herein by reference. By using this ticket, user agrees to be bound by such terms and conditions.
I spoke with a source in the commissioners office, and recommended the use of a URL that is not the main page; instead linking directly to the policy page. This could be done with a “/policy” or something of the sort appended to the link. I was told this would be too late for football season, but could easily be implemented for SEC basketball tickets and beyond.
It’s good to know the league is listening. Maybe the other conferences are too.
Spell it out for me
Posted on August 18, 2009 Written by
From Twitter:
As tempting as it might be to click on what I’m most certain is an “adult-dating” site, you have to wonder about how successful “Laci Casey” will be with a screen name that phoenetically reads “Do-w-your-herpes.”
Not to be outdone, the irrepessible SkateHank followed up with this gem of marketing:
Why thank you! When I think of sex, feminine names such as “Hank” and activities such as “Skateboarding” come to mind.
Actually, given my predilection for wordplay, the first thing that came to mind was the anagram HateSkank.
SEC to Clarify the Social Media Guidelines
Posted on August 17, 2009 Written by
The Southeastern Conference is getting a beating over the Social Media guidelines for fans, which seemed to ban even the use of Twitter during sports events.
I just spoke with a media representative for the SEC, and believe me — they have heard every one of you.
They are working now on a clarification to the policy and hope to release it within the next 24-48 hours, but the gist of it is this:
- Twitter will not be banned.
- The issue isn’t text, but video.
- The SEC needs to protect its broadcast partners (CBS and ESPN) and those with rights to online video.
This makes sense, and certainly is a more reasonable restriction.
What isn’t entirely clear is whether the approach will be one of preventative measures (disallowing phones, highly unlikely) or ex-post-facto actions like takedown notices to various sites that host the videos. We’ll see when the clarifications are released.
UPDATE: Follow @secsportsupdate on Twitter – I’m fairly certain they will share the link there first.