Web-tegrity

January 16, 2009

An open letter to the World Wide Web:

Today I received an e-mail informing me that Microsoft and AOL are performing an e-mail beta test in which they will track everyone I forward the e-mail to, and give me, and anyone and everyone who forwards it, thousands of dollars in return.

And of course, I’m expected to believe that Microsoft would actually perform the world’s most expensive marketing campaign, leaving it bankrupt, because the e-mail says an attorney said it’s true and that both USA Today and Goodmorning America reported on it. On top of that, the landlord of someone’s brother has a kid who’s bus driver’s dog watcher showed them the actual check they received from Microsoft… so it must be true!

An older snopes.com report on such scams states:

“E-mail tracing programs do not exist. Any ‘get something free’ come-on or ‘help a sick kid’ appeal which specifies an invisible program is keeping track of who received an e-mail and who it was then sent to is a hoax. Any such note. No exceptions.”

Please, for all that is holy, do not forward these types of chain e-mails, or anything that in any way resembles it, to anyone…ever. Doing so simply makes you a participant and proponent of these ridiculous and intellectually insulting scams. Even if you are gullible enough to think that it might just be real, please, before you open up your entire list of e-mails to spam your friends and family, do a quick google search. When you do this, it’ll usually take less than a minute (thanks to snopes.com among others) to have the “get rich quick” scheme of the day exposed as a scam. The greatest benefit to you is that after humbly taking a smack in the face by Captain Obvious, you can save your internet reputation, or as I like to call it web-tegrity, and your friends won’t be so quick to delete your e-mails without opening them.

Another piece of web-etiquette…

If you actually have an e-mail that needs to be sent to many recipients, please, use the “blind copy” (bcc) feature. Your contacts may not want everyone else you sent the e-mail to to have their e-mail address to use for their own agenda.

I myself have enjoyed some of the jokes or political satire I’ve received from those who know me well enough to have an idea of what I will appreciate. I just invite people to put more thought and consideration before they push the “send” button. But as far as I am concerned, in no circumstance whatsoever should an e-mail be sent promising that I’ll either get something (including the dream I wished for while scrolling) if I forward it, or that either I or my loved ones will have bad luck for 10 years or have our arms severed off by a crazed ninja if we don’t.

3 Comments | Internet Issues | Permalink
Posted by W. Garrett Myler

Blogging & Empathetic Listening

December 1, 2008

I recently finished reading Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it focused on recognizing and living in accordance to the “basic principles of effective living”. I agree with Covey when he states that “people can only experience true success and enduring happiness as they learn and integrate these principles into their basic character.”

As I read, I was able to learn a lot about myself, including weaknesses I’d like to work on. I learned that I am very “left-brained” and tend to focus on logic, reason, facts, and my analysis of those facts, and that I need to work on practicing empathy and seeking to understand the differing paradigms through which others experience and view the world, and to appreciate those differences and utilize them to expand my own understanding and paradigm.

I feel these weaknesses have been particularly highlighted and magnified through blogging, which in hindsight is somewhat embarrassing. I recognize that often my response to comments have been defensive and even combative at times. What readers of my blog don’t know is that in the process of moderating comments, I have received multiple hateful and offensive comments from faceless (anonymous) individuals who choose to make personal attacks instead of addressing points and issues. While I recognize that such behavior can be expected by publicizing my bold and opinionated personality, and feel that I have relatively tough skin, I feel that I have allowed those attacks to negatively affect my attitude and response. I do not share this to justify my weaknesses by any means, but rather wish to provide additional understanding and insight that I hope will help make forgiveness easier for those who I may have offended.

Below are some of Covey’s comments on “empathetic listening” and seeking first to understand, then to be understood, that I found particularly insightful and helpful:

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. They’re either speaking or preparing to speak.”

“That’s the case with so many of us. We’re filled with our own rightness, our own autobiography. We want to be understood. Our conversations become collective monologues, and we never really understand what’s going on inside another human being.”

“The essence of empathetic listening is not that you agree with someone; it’s that you fully, deeply, understand that person, emotionally as well as intellectually.”

“When you listen with empathy to another person, you give that person psychological air. And after that vital need is met, you can then focus on influencing or problem solving.”

2 Comments | Internet Issues, Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by W. Garrett Myler

Managing Your Personal Brand & Online Presence

May 22, 2008

Yesterday I attended an “emerging leaders” workshop at which we discussed personal branding. Toward the end of the meeting, as we spoke about the image you portray and the message you send through what you publish about yourself online, I had an epiphany.

I was concerned about how to balance what I post online for my friends to see versus what I would want a client or work associate to see. The seminar presenter, Tora Brown, posed a question to me that hit me like a ton of bricks, “How does the videos and pictures you post online for your friends to see benefit you?” As I let this question percolate in my brain, I realized that the potential damage of clients and colleagues seeing silly pictures or video of me online is much greater than any benefit I receive from putting them on the web.

In fact, I can’t think of any real benefit from publishing such things online! The only thing I can think of that motivates the posting of endless pictures of last weekends party or whatever activity you deem post-worthy, is the narcissistic desire to reflect on how cool you are, or how interesting your life is, and to show that to others. If anyone can think of any other reason to post more than a handful of pictures to provide a snapshot of who you are, one that you’re comfortable for everyone in the world to see, I would love to hear them. Mind you, don’t waste my time with, “because it’s fun” or “because I can”…I’m looking for good reasons and benefits.

One thing I think people often forget when they portray themselves online is that the internet is non-differential toward setting or circumstance. In other words, while some things may be appropriate in some settings, the same thing may not be in a different setting. The people who know you from all different settings and circumstances (work, church, school, social, etc.) go online and see whatever you’ve posted in the context of the setting in which they know you. For example, a client for which I’m trying to list their 20 million dollar property will see the same goofy video I posted for my long time buddy to enjoy.

Also it’s important to remember that people introduce others into their life in bite-size pieces. That is the natural progression of any relationship. Therefore, a long time colleague or client who has gotten to know you on a more personal level, can appreciate and handle seeing a silly posting of yourself, and still take you seriously and trust that you can do the job. In contrast, a recently met potential client or employer who is still trying to feel you out, will likely make a judgment (fair or not) from what they see online after googling your name.

For the many reasons listed above, I recently went through my online content and purged many pointless, and potentially harmful, videos and pictures. Please realize I still recognize there are many benefits to being on Facebook or having a YouTube account…I just feel there is also a risk often not recognized by us Y generation kids. I recommend everyone review what they’ve posted online and reflect on if you’re prepared for everyone in the world to see it.

11 Comments | Internet Issues | Permalink
Posted by W. Garrett Myler

Facebook as a Business Tool

May 21, 2008

Originally posted on the “Southern California Technology Entrepreneur” blog I currently manage for the i3 Advanced Technology Incubator…

If you still view Facebook as another Myspace: a teen’s internet playground used merely to post pictures of last weekend’s party, you may want to take a closer look at the power and capabilities of social networking sites. Last January, Facebook established its legitimacy and credibility by teaming up with ABC News to sponsor New Hampshire’s presidential debates.
With more people taking Facebook seriously, more and more businesses are using Facebook for marketing and for what Standford professor BJ Fogg calls “mass interpersonal persuasion”. In a recent Fast Company article, Fogg explains why Facebook is “the most powerful thing ever invented.”
Fogg believes, “the social networking platform is revolutionary because it takes the dynamics of one-to-one persuasion and scales it up to millions.” For this reason Fogg states that Facebook has emerged as “the most effective persuasive technology ever”.
Fogg explains how Facebook can be used in identifying your market and adapting to your customers:
“You have a lot more visibility now into who’s using your service and why, and you can see how it gets socially shared. You don’t have to pre-define your market right out of the gate. As long as you watch what’s going on, you can adjust and go with what’s working. …It’s continuing to improve products and experiences based not on guesses, not on consultants, not on checklists, but on real data and real usage. That’s very exciting, and it’s only going to get easier.”
Companies are also finding other creative uses for Facebook. Inc.com recently published an article which described how “more recruiters are relying on Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media sites to fill job openings”. The article sites that “in a recent survey of 115 human resource managers at small technology firms nationwide, 64 percent said they’re tapping into online social networking to find job candidates”.
Along with other innovative companies, the i3 Advanced Technology Incubator has recently extended it’s online presence via Facebook by hosting the Los Angeles Technology Entrepreneur group. In reference to balancing wise and thoughtful decisions with being innovative, i3′s Director Doug Howe notes, “when you’re on the cutting edge, it’s important to remember which way the blade is facing!”

Leave a Comment » | business, Internet Issues | Permalink
Posted by W. Garrett Myler

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