Blog Mentality: The Internet Made Me Do It!

Time for a trip down memory lane. Remember when you were a kid, and you’d argue with your parents about something – wanting a Nintendo gaming system, perhaps. You’d scream, “But all my friends have one!” And your mom would calmly reply, “Well if all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?” Well, apparently the lesson didn’t stick because when it comes to our internet habits, we’re all jumping off bridges. What’s worse, we’re doing it because perfect strangers tell us to do so.

The theme of this week’s readings had to do with the “conversations” we have every day through the internet with people we may or may not know. I put quotation marks around the word because of course, we’re not sitting down for a nice chat with a friend. Instead, we deal with dozens of digital interactions that dictate what to wear, which book to read, and where to travel. The ad industry has termed this “conversational marketing” and it’s all the rage because not only does it allow you to connect with others and compare notes on the latest and greatest thing to wear/do/eat, it often puts you in direct contact with your favorite (or not so favorite) companies. I’m not opposed to the concept; as a matter of fact, I’m relieved when I find that 347 others have given the computer I’m about to buy a 4.5 star rating. But then there’s a slight itch at the back of my mind as I wonder, “Why only 4.5 stars? Why not 5?” Cue scrolling through reviews, blurry vision, repetitive stress disorder until finally, you come upon the killjoy who gave your beloved computer a 1 star rating. He claims the computer was defective, but how do you really know? He could be telling the truth. Or he could be a Mac Guy trying to bash the poor PC…

But such is the nature of the internet beast. With so much information coming at you, there has to be a way to filter through all the muck. And so we depend on reviews, star ratings, internet forums, and spiffy looking banner ads. Things can take an ugly turn, however, when the subject under scrutiny is not a product or service, but rather another human being. I recently read an article about a student at Lewis & Clark University who was accused of rape via Facebook. Whether true or not, the allegations were publicly aired on a social networking site that has the potential to make or break one’s reputation. This raises all kinds of questions about privacy, accuracy, and reliability when dealing with internet-derived information. So take everything with a grain of salt, don’t be a lemming, and if you must be, wear a parachute…

In Search of Social Power

I’m a 2nd year at AU hoping to graduate by May 2009. That’ll be roughly 3 years spent in grad school. And though that doesn’t really qualify as “forever,” I have to admit that I really can’t wait to graduate. I suppose it’s because I have this vision of graduating and immediately acquiring a job in (hopefully) a great city that’s not DC. Which is why the article about Lois Weisberg particularly struck a nerve. We’ve all heard the expression, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” but this article hit the message home. After reading about the extent of Weisberg’s social power, [1] I couldn’t help thinking, “But I don’t know anyone!” Of course that’s an exaggeration, but reading about Weisberg’s life really shed light on the importance of networking. As a full time grad student who hasn’t worked in 2 years, any social capital [2] I’ve accrued has occurred through the wonder that is Facebook (and even that required years of persuasion from friends and family to join). Of course, social capital means much more than posting notes to someone’s “wall.” As I see it, it’s about fostering personal and professional relationships in a contradictory manner – calculated but effortless, aggressive while charismatic.

I’ve always loathed networking events. Somehow, the idea of getting to know people just for the sake of personal gain reeks of something between desperation and superficiality. But then there are people like Weisberg or the numerous other individuals cited in the article who have an amazing ability (a gift, really) in getting to know people. What’s key, however, is that whether they foster a deep lasting relationship or remain mere acquaintances, they are able to remain genuine either way. The note about the “strengths of weak ties” [3] was particularly poignant – our instinct would tell us that close friends are our best bet in getting ahead in life, but it turns out that it’s the weak ties that matter. Although the logic presented in the article makes sense, it’s hard for me to accept on a personal level. I avoid small-talk whenever possible, and positively cringe at the often meaningless exchange of business cards that takes place at conferences. Yet, both of these practices are probably step one in “Networking for Dummies.” Considering the importance and power of social/informal networks, it’s amazing to think that this is the first (and likely only) class I’ve had on social networking and business. I know that I’ll never become a Lois Weisberg (I refuse to drink coffee or smoke, and I look forward to a good night’s rest), but I hope the next 6 weeks of discussion, lecture, lab, and reading continue to change my perception of networking. And who knows, I may only wince the next time a perfect stranger asks for my business card…

[1] http://www.gladwell.com/1999/1999_01_11_a_weisberg.htm (section 5)
[2] http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/saguaro/primer.htm
[3] http://www.gladwell.com/1999/1999_01_11_a_weisberg.htm (section 6)

Comic from: http://baldgeek.wordpress.com/2007/07/11/comic-meditation-on-social-networking/

Blog Post, Take 1

Hello All,

I'm a student blogging for a graduate course at American University. Won't say much today, but in the spirit of academic integrity, just wanted to confirm that all future posts will be mine and mine alone.