January « 2009 « ToughSledding

25 Things? I’ll give you 25 things, you little sh*@!

January 29, 2009

It’s been a pretty serious three weeks on ToughSledding, but it’s almost Friday and definitely time to lighten up. Got tagged with the “25 Things” meme on Facebook today. And while I don’t do memes, I’m sure willing to make fun of them. Here’s what I posted, 25 “random things about me.”

’25 Things’ from an angry old geezer…

It was only a matter of time before someone punished me for all the smart-ass crap I’ve posted on Facebook. Jeff G – you’ll be sorry you tagged me on this!

1. I blog for no apparent reason. So please visit the site and tell me how great I am, OK? Like most bloggers, I’m needy.

2. Teaching requires more time, energy and dedication than anything I ever did in the “real world.” I’d do it for free if I didn’t have to buy beer and ammunition.

3. I’m gonna beat the snot out of the next 50something who says, “When I retire I’d like to get a job like yours – you know one that’s less demanding.” Idiot.

4. One of my hobbies is killing God’s creatures to feed my family and friends. Once you’ve had my venison you’ll never support PETA – never.

5. I can field dress a whitetail in the time it takes most people to brush their teeth. Read the rest of this entry »

27 Comments | Public Relations | Tagged: "25 Things", bourbon, Facebook, Steelers | Permalink
Posted by Bill Sledzik

Parting Words from Brian Connolly

January 28, 2009

In the end, says Brian, “none of this stuff really matters.” Here’s one final minute with Strumpette’s co-creator. Run time (:54)

That concludes our series with Brian Connolly. Watch this space next week for details of other interviews from the Sledzik-Curran Social Media Project.

Comments Off | Public Relations | Tagged: Amanda Chapel, Blogs, Brian Connolly, PR, PR Education, Public Relations, Sledzik-Curran Social Media Project, Social Media | Permalink
Posted by Bill Sledzik

6 Fallacies of Social Media

January 28, 2009

Late post this morning, but I took advantage of this major snow storm to run some errands. With most folks still cowering in their homes, the stores and the barbershop were pretty much empty. Thanks for being snow chickens, and thank you Subaru Outback.

Meantime, Andy tells me today’s video has finally decided to load onto the ever-tempermental YouTube.

* * *

In preparation for our interview, I asked Brian Connolly what topics he might like to address. His “6 Fallacies of Social Media” is one of the outcomes. We’d planned to run 6 individual clips, but then decided it worked better as a package. It’s the longest segment of the series. Run time (6:43)

Thursday – Strumpette: A Self Analysis (Final Segment)

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Posted by Bill Sledzik

Brian Connolly on the ‘Cluetrain Wreck’

January 26, 2009

Socializing of property — be it real or intellectual — leads to bankrupting of the value chain. More insights from Strumpette co-creator Brian Connolly, as he takes on one of social media’s most respected works, The Cluetrain Manifesto. Run time (1:59)

Sorry to those who showed up earlier. YouTube sometimes throws a curve ball. It did this morning.

Links to information on people mentioned in this post:

Fred Wilson and “freemium economics”

Alan Patrick and “broadstuff”

Wednesday: The 6 Fallacies of Social Media

1 Comment | Public Relations | Permalink
Posted by Bill Sledzik

Brian Connolly: Do social media devalue expertise?

January 26, 2009

Strumpette’s Brian Connolly comments on the value of media expertise to help consumers find value. “We need those independent systems.”

Tuesday – The Cluetrain Wreck

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Posted by Bill Sledzik

Strumpette series: The final week

January 25, 2009

What were you thinking?

That’s a question I’ve fielded quite a few times since launching our video series with Strumpette’s Brian Connolly.

How could you offer a forum to something so — so unsocial media? One person even called her/him/it “evil.”

I answered their question in the comments of this post, but since I’m not sure anyone reads blogs or comments much these days, let me recap it:

The Strumpette interviews featuring Brian Connolly grew from simple academic curiosity. I followed the blog in its heyday, and I found it an engaging sideshow in the circus of social media. And yes, I even came to its defense at times.

So when Brian agreed to do the series, my partner and I jumped in the car and lit out for Chicago. We produced a series that we consider serious inquiry into a bona fide Web 2.0 phenomenon. Apparently, you found it interesting, since my traffic (meager as it is) on days when Brian appeared rose about 150%.

What’s next? We’re wrapping the series a week early by combining 6 short clips into one. We decided that Brian’s “Six Fallacies of Social Media” simply work better as a single piece. Run time is about 8 minutes.

So here’s the week in preview:

Jan 26: Do Social Media Devalue Expertise?
Jan 27: The Great Cluetrain Wreck
Jan 28: The 6 Fallacies of Social Media
Jan 29: Strumpette – A Self Analysis

The Sledzik-Curran Social Media Project continues in the weeks ahead as we post interview clips from prominent bloggers Jason Falls, Phil Gomes and Kevin Dugan. Yeah, our series had a Midwestern slant, but gas was nearly $4 a gallon when we shot this stuff, and Kent State wasn’t covering the tab!

We’re hoping other educators and students will benefit from the upcoming interviews, which were designed as educational tools. Details next week.

Not all SM critics are as nasty as Amanda

A lot of folks hated the Amanda Chapel character because of her nasty disposition. But not all social-media satirists take such a slash-and-burn approach. One example is the cartoonist known as Guhmshoo, who says he laughs with the leaders of SM, not at them. Perhaps that’s why so many prominent bloggers have linked to Guhmshoo’s site and RT his posts on Twitter.

Hmmm. They haven’t done that with the Strumpette series here, but I promise not to pout.