Too many times, bloggers and podcasters act like their conversations aren’t being heard. I’ve stumbled upon public spats that started because the author posts something on their blog or says something in their podcast about someone else, then when the target leaves a comment on that person’s blog, suddenly, the “attacker” becomes complacent.
I liken this to elementary school when a classmate talks about you behind your back. Only, you’re hiding around the corner and hearing every ugly word that person is spouting off about you.
Here’s a recent blog post that I found by way of Bryan’s blog. Apparently, the blog’s author didn’t take too kindly to the fact that Podcamp New York is considering paying for some of Robert Scoble‘s expenses to attend the event in April. The blogger went as far as to suggest that with all the money Podtech has in their coiffers (Podtech is Robert’s employer), Robert should be able to pay for his own way to New York.
Guess who the very first comment is from? Mr. Scoble himself.
What’s the lesson here kids? Because both blogosphere and podosphere is so tiny, whatever you say “behind someone’s back” will be “overheard” by your target.
Technorati: Robert Scoble, podcamp, podcamp nyc, bryan person, social media
Bryan, thanks for the link to your podcast. I listened and your points are valid. I’ll digest it more and leave my comments on your audio comment line.
Dave, I’m like you. I write as if the person I’m writing about will see my post soon.
Then I wonder – If I’m writing under the assumption that that person will read my posts, am I in essence censoring myself? That I will “play nice” with my posts in an attempt not to piss someone off?
Hmmmm…..
Robert Scoble does what I suspect a lot of us do — “ego surf.” Like Dave suggests, it’s pretty simple to set up a search for your name on blogs, subscribe to that RSS feed, and find out pretty instantly if someone mentions you in a blog or in podcast show notes.
In fact, I recently published a podcast all about ego-surfing:
New Comm Road Episode 19
–Bryan Person
Blog: Bryper.com
Podcast: NewCommRoad.com
I don’t thnk this is tininess of the blogsphere or podosphere (50M+ and 50K+, respectively at least) but speaks to how quickly the tools have become so good. With Technorati, Feedster, Ice Rocket, Google, Podzinger, et al, you don’t have to work very hard to find out what people are saying about you. Since most of these tools are RSS enabled, it’s only smart to subscribe to searches on yourself and/or your company to find the conversation as it occurs.
If you are blogging anything with the idea that it won’t get back to anyone, you’ve got a fundemental flaw in your approach. I try to assume that ANYTHING I say online whether via blog, blog comment, podcast, IM or email could conceivably reach any arbitrary person. If you can’t handle it getting heard by the subject of your discussion, don’t say it. It’s tough to only say things that you are willing to stand behind at all times, but this world is now shaped like a Klein bottle where there is no “behind the back” for anyone.