A discussion I had with James today got me thinking about why I value social media, specifically twitter. After thinking about how best to express what we talked about, I realized that our conversation did a pretty good job.
Admittedly, I kind of got on a tangent and dominated the conversation, but I have been thinking about this for a while and had some things I wanted to relate.
James and I edited this slightly before posting it, but only so it makes more sense (hopefully) to those outside of the conversation.
Todd, James [12:30 PM]:
I’m suspicious of twitter.
Taylor, Nathan R [12:31 PM]:
Suspicious how?
As a time waster?
Todd, James [12:31 PM]:
Not so much that…
If I were concerned about that, there’s be lower hanging fruit.
Like uninstalling my RSS feeder.
Taylor, Nathan R [12:32 PM]:
Oh, Right 
So what is your suspicion?
Todd, James [12:33 PM]:
With equally qualified candidates, selection moves to preferences.
Taylor, Nathan R [12:35 PM]:
Connect that for me
Todd, James [12:35 PM]:
Leaving a trail of my opinions and thoughts gives someone more substantiation to reinforce any pre-judgment about me.
Taylor, Nathan R [12:36 PM]:
Ah. Thought that’s where you were going.
I disagree with it as a negative though
I posted a comment to that effect on David Armano’s post here: http://experiencematters.criticalmass.com/2009/01/23/the-age-of-brandividualism/
Todd, James [12:37 PM]:
I think it would be more positive if my opinions were more mainstream.
The Republicans kept touting Our President’s lack of experience as a negative.
Having a clean slate actually had a significant positive impact for him.
Taylor, Nathan R [12:38 PM]:
Having a clean slate helped him create an image of himself that he controlled.
A ‘history’ would not be a self-formed image, but a public perception.
Todd, James [12:39 PM]:
OTOH…
If I ever want to WORK in social media or CONSULT around social media, I’d better full well have an online presence.
We’ve all read about “those guys.” (Here, James was talking about the people who apply for SM positions, but don’t have a blog and have written 4 tweets.)
Taylor, Nathan R [12:43 PM]:
Those guys are like squatters on mining claims in the old west. one day everyone will be there, and social media won’t even be a buzzword
Todd, James [12:43 PM]:
Good point.
Taylor, Nathan R [12:44 PM]:
Some sensitivity will always need to exist around how people perceive themselves, and hence how they portray themselves
Skilled people are those with a well developed self knowledge, and the ability to express it
Ie, communication.
Todd, James [12:45 PM]:
Absolutely true.
Taylor, Nathan R [12:45 PM]:
Look at how all jobs are shifting more and more focus on this as we decentralize everything.
So for me, the possible cons of leaving a personal history that might turn one employer off are far outweighed by the ability to refine how I express what I am about, and possibly create a sense that another employer knows me enough to want to work with me
Todd, James [12:47 PM]:
Agree 100%.
Would feel more comfortable if I had done a little more practice articulating offline prior to jumping in.
However, it would be pretty lame if I designed an online construct of a person rather than me.
I think the crux of it is that I don’t want to be plastic, but I’m (perhaps overly) fearful of too much self-disclosure.
Taylor, Nathan R [12:50 PM]:
The good thing is, your training period is now. as you gain followers you refine the message.
Todd, James [12:50 PM]:
Good point. Because nobody but me looks at old tweets.
Taylor, Nathan R [12:50 PM]:
It’s weird to think we need training in knowing who we are, but we do.
Todd, James [12:50 PM]:
I don’t think that’s weird at all, actually.
Taylor, Nathan R [12:51 PM]:
There’s probably a famous quote out there by Proust or something about ourselves being a reflection of the people around us
I would have always assumed that meant that people shape who we are, but just as much it means that without them we can’t see who we already are.
… to think this conversation happened without beer
Todd, James [12:52 PM]:
Which is actually a shame… Let’s fix that soon.
Is it worth the risk to put yourself, your opinions, your thoughts out there in a competitive world? At the end of the day I don’t really know. I do know that I value the interactions that twitter, facebook, and other social media tools foster.
I value the sense that I learn as much about myself as I learn about others through these conversations. Whether that turns out to have any drawbacks at some point in the future remains to be seen.
Until that point, I will continue to tweet.
