Comments on: on becoming more viral in the offline world…

By: Ellee

Ellee — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 00:43:23 +0000

Yes, I would like to make myself more viral too, get others on board as well. Geoff and I have just had a long chat about you, are your ears red? It would be good to know what you think of my blog.
I shall keep trying to get politicians on board — if they dare.

By: john

john — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 20:50:46 +0000

Of course your social capital suffers — it’s based upon the quality of your recommendations and not the amount of effort I have to go to in order to check them out. If I have to make a huge effort, then yes I may be proportionately more pissed off with you, but that doesn’t imply that I will not be pissed off with you if I only have to make a little effort. Bottom line, your recommendation wasted my time (how ever little of it) and did not improve my situation, therefore your social capital has fallen.

By: Hugh MacLeod

Hugh MacLeod — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 17:58:05 +0000

John 0, it’s not what blogs do per se that is the story. the story is about how cheap and easy they are, compared to other alternatives.

By: Hugh MacLeod

Hugh MacLeod — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 17:16:28 +0000

I disagree with John…

By: Roy Blumenthal

Roy Blumenthal — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 02:00:37 +0000

Hi John…
Nah… not true. Your social capital DOESN’T suffer, because the amount of investment it takes to check out someone’s blog is minimal.
In other words, if I suggest a blog to you, and you take a look at it, it’ll take you at most a minute to decide whether or not to keep reading.
Because it’s only a minute or so, you haven’t sunk large amounts of energy finding out about the person you’ve just looked at.
It’s like looking at a trading card. Who cares if you don’t like what you see? You won’t hold that against me.
Blue skies
love
Roy

By: john

john — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 21:39:52 +0000

If you recommend the blog of someone who turns out to be a dud, then your social capital will be affected just as much as in pre blog days.
Moreover, with easier connectivity, the risk of this happening increases and we all know that the “pissed off-ness” of having been given a bad steer will linger than the joy of receiving a good one.
Which leads us back to the age old issue of who’s judgement to value. Blogging hasn’t changed social networking, it’s just mulitplied it.

By: JohnO

JohnO — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 20:55:22 +0000

This is just diffusion theory. The only difference is that technology (blogs) are growing your social network. I don’t understand why blogs are being heralded as an innovation that will change the world. They are only an innovation that increases the volume/momentum of already existing mechanisms.

By: Roy Blumenthal

Roy Blumenthal — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 17:06:12 +0000

Hey Hugh…
Thanks for posting the link, dude. Much appreciated.
Blue skies
love
Roy

By: Hugh MacLeod

Hugh MacLeod — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 17:04:42 +0000

Yes, Ed, life is unfair. Heh.

By: Ed Byrne

Ed Byrne — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 16:35:21 +0000

‘In order words the better you blog the less qualified you have to be’ to get a job!
We all know there a very large element of ‘who you know not what you know’ and the blogosphere does nothing to solve this, in fact it makes it ‘who knows you’.

By: hugh macleod

hugh macleod — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 15:58:11 +0000

John, sure, a book would’ve worked. That is, if Anu had written one. And if the hotshot felt like visiting the bookstore and whipping his credit card out.
A much more complicated (i.e. less viral) process than giving out a link to a blog.

By: Farms

Farms — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 15:42:50 +0000

Hey — don’t forget your regular comment makers ! And try http://www.theengagingbrand.com.…best HR around…waiting for your call Hugh ! Though I think you can teach us a thing or two.… are you going to do us a business card for the site ?

By: Roy Blumenthal

Roy Blumenthal — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 15:26:13 +0000

Hugh... Your spam filter is rather stringent! I'm trying to post a reply to your post, and it's not letting me. Bah!!! Go check out: http://witstrainees.blogspot.com/2006/04/hugh-macleod-on-how-blogging-makes-you.html Blue skies love Roy

By: Roy Blumenthal

Roy Blumenthal — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 15:24:11 +0000

test

By: hugh macleod

hugh macleod — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 14:40:20 +0000

no worries, anu, already fixed.
nice seeing you again yesterday =)