For me, an interesting component of this will be the political world in ten or fifteen years. Right now, what some have termed the "freak show" of politics has favored candidates with little documented history. The last two presidents elected -- George W. Bush and Barack Obama -- beat candidates with a long paper trail of Senate votes or public actions.
It will be fascinating to see the first person to run for President with 100,000 tweets in his or her history. Reporters and opposition researchers will be combing through that trove to try and find ambiguities, "flip-flops" or just thoughts taken out of context from years and years past.
Can you imagine the 1968 tweet from Bush: "just threw back my 25th beer tonight. what a town midland is." And then 2002 from Obama: "Wow, what a sermon today in church. Wright got a little heated about 9/11. The anger is understandable."
I haven't spent enough time thinking about it to have a prediction, but it's going to be way different. Either things will change, or that arena will favor the introvert.
JLM
· 4 months ago
Seems kind of unfair to actually know something profound about a person running for President. I prefer the brain dead logic of a guy having attended a church for 20 years and NEVER having heard an untoward word. Much more believable. That's ancient history. It's what we do with it that is important now.
aaronklein
· 4 months ago
I agree in general, but I guess my point is that regardless of your point of view of either president, it's easy to make comments that have little context in 140 characters. 100,000 tweets would be a gold mine for trying to find comments that (seem to) offend one group or another.
Going to be interesting...
kidmercury
· 4 months ago
IMHO the more things change, the more they stay the same. being a great politican has always required strong communication skills, and the internet will only make that more important. television required politicans have a sort of visual charisma -- jfk, obama, and actors like ronald reagan and schwarzenegger -- and i think this will become more important as well. the internet makes it harder to fake things over a long period of time, though, which i think might be the biggest difference of all.
aaronklein
· 4 months ago
This is certainly true. I would add accessible and real.
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
You can't be a introverted politician. Or I should say there are very few
aaronklein
· 4 months ago
I completely agree. My only point was that the process for the last two presidents we elected has favored a lack of documented extroversion. :)
Nick Giglia
· 4 months ago
I've wrestled with this ever since finally making the jump and buying a smartphone. Having Foursquare and Twitter at your fingertips makes it so easy to lifecast - and we continue to push the envelope (as an example, a few years ago, relatives of mine were horrified that Big Brother was watching them - through Google Maps).
There is so much power in tools such as Foursquare that allow you to show your patterns, provide suggestions to friends, and have almost impromptu social gatherings just by "checking-in" (and I'm with you; I usually "check-in" to a place before actually walking in so I do not appear rude). I think the one issue we will have to face is the need to avoid "over-sharing" - Twitter, as we know, is a broadcast medium in social network's clothing, and as web extroversion continues it could be harder and harder to sift through the noise to information we would find valuable.
By the way - I would immediately tweet a perfect golf shot, too.
farhanlalji
· 4 months ago
I prefer to think of it as sharing rather than streaming. Experiences are meant to be shared. I'm living in a place where the only people I know are through either my or my wife's work - we're in Switzerland, all our friends are in either London, Canada or the US. Sharing our experiences make it easier for our friends to follow along. You can't be with everyone always, but everyone can always be with you.
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
I like that last line. I'm gonna reblog it on fredwilson.vc later
dherman76
· 4 months ago
Congrats Tiger.
I wrestle with this as well for myself. There are many moments where I think about pulling out Twitter/Facebook/etc but then re-think and "enjoy" the moment myself. Also, there is a part of me that thinks that I'm boasting and bragging most of the time. I have no idea what is right or wrong or unaccepted or accepted - but it's certainly a fascinating time.
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
yeah, my friend Mark Pincus commented on the golf tweet on facebook that he hopes to "someday have a life like fred's". i know what mark is saying and i know what you are saying. it's a balance like everything in life.
Miles Lennon
· 4 months ago
It's incredibly voyeuristic to watch life streams about extraordinary people doing extraordinary things. Especially things that you can't imagine or relate to. That's not a new phenomenon. We've been trying to do it by watching TV, listening to radio and reading newspapers for a century. It's only now that we really have the means and technology to really experience what others do.
JLM
· 4 months ago
Perfectly right! Now, however, we are able to do it in real time. I remember watching American tanks firing while crossing a bridge in Baghdad and thinking --- wow, this is some real sh!t! In WWII, it would have taken the President of the US about 2 weeks to see a similar picture.
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
Great insight Miles
Josh Skolnick
· 4 months ago
I think this is a key thing to understand—the psychology of what people want or what desire is fulfilled when they talk (online) about doing something they like.
When I see a Facebook post saying "I had a bad day for reason X," I think it's more clear. The person wants some support.
When I see a Facebook post saying "Great wine. Great cheese. Great friends," part of what they want is for friends to say "oooh I'm jealous" or "sounds amazing." I think a lot of this is about people wanting affirmation that what they like is what others like. Collectively liking things is a huge part of what all of this social networking is about.
For most people I talk to, there's something that rubs them the wrong way about this "like fishing," and also something weird about publicly complaining about your day.
The main problem is, these tweets and updates are being sent to an unfiltered group of people.
I think a good innovation in Facebook and in Twitter (or in a new service altogether) would be making it easier to send messages by group. I might want "golf buddies" to know I hit a great shot, I might want "foodies" to know that I ate at a great restaurant and I might want "progressives" to know that I loved a Krugman article. I might want people who live in Boston to hear my complaint about Boston traffic, because they would really relate, but for California friends, it's just doesn't feel personal enough. Most people have varied friends, and varied levels of relationship, and so the messages that we currently send feel impersonal—and at times, they seem like "like fishing" "TMI" "oversharing" or even arrogance.
I know that personalization of information is something many companies are working on, but having easier access to these kinds of narrow, targeted lists would really go a long way to making me smile, instead of groan, when I see most personal Facebook or Twitter posts.
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
You are suggesting that the filtering is done on the send side and most people are approaching it from the receive side.
I'm not sure what approach will turn out to be best
But we all know that filtering is needed
Vladimir Vukicevic
· 4 months ago
I've been thinking about this topic a lot lately - in particular for what it means for our society. Do you believe you've become more extroverted due to new technology or is the technology just a new outlet for something that already existed within - i.e. has technology changed your personality?
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
it's always been there but technology has pulled it out for sure
Daniel Zarick
· 4 months ago
I think that is the best way to put it. Most of us extroverts have always been more apt to talking about experiences and things that happen in our lives, but we usually forget throughout the day. The change came when we were able to update our lives immediately.
I visited Europe this past January, and instead of calling/text my family individually and directly, I updated Twitter and let all of them follow me there as well. But the true value has come from friends of mine that have told me months later that they also followed my travels, and my grandparents, and people I have never met as well.
Either way, I would have normally just sent a text to a friend, but now I send a single text to many friends and non-friends alike.
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
Oooh. I like that last paragraph. Might reblog it at fredwilson.vc
Daniel Zarick
· 4 months ago
Thank you. I would be honored if you did.
ShanaC
· 4 months ago
In part due to internal changes, and in part due to the web, I'm more apt to be more extroverted. There are a few psychologists who ae noting the trend of more tech + more extroversion in a narcissistic way. It is definitely a field that needs to be watched. I am not sure how much I want to live in a purely narcissistic society, and I know that the same technology can curb that behavior, if steps are taken
Vladimir Vukicevic
· 4 months ago
It's definitely a slippery slope. I can see how the Internet can quickly heighten narcissistic tendencies in people - e.g. giving people the false sense of grandeur.
Mark Essel
· 4 months ago
It became easier to share with many folks at once. Broadcast like communication fits in with our regular activities. I never knew how much I would appreciate sharing info until I started writing online and got my first comment. Then I recognized how groovy it can be to loosely connect to many hundreds or more people instantly.
pruett
· 4 months ago
"life-streaming" is an outrageous concept for many people to grasp. i believe that as it continues to mature, technology continues to improve, individuals continue to adopt, and businesses continue to add value to the platform, "life-streaming" will become a very important part of society. it'll be very interesting to see exactly how it will mature, but it's hard to deny it's implications on society as well as the value it CAN bring to the general public.
bob struble
· 4 months ago
i liked your eagle putt tweet but i would have a hard timing tweeting that as a ceo. followers would ask why i wasnt working.
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
not if you are on vacation. everyone is allowed some time off.
bob struble
· 4 months ago
you'd like to think but you'd be surprised what people expect.
myamartino
· 4 months ago
One of the effects of this extroverted openness should be to break down those unfair expectations. The more you see CEOs honestly posting about their vacations, the easier it will be to think "well, everyone deserves some time off... even the guy I'm paying to run my company." In the end, we'll have a better picture of what a CEO's life actually looks like, and "people's" expectations will shift.
We've all (even those of us in the facebook generation) gotten very used to having multiple faces for different crowds. That's supported a lot of misconceptions about groups of people - like that executives shouldn't take a break. Openness helps eliminate those misconceptions, and the elimination of the misconceptions should drive more openness. Why keep your golf outing a secret if no one's expecting you to be at your desk all the time?
ShanaC
· 4 months ago
It will definitely cause some shifts in what we consider proper roles to be. It feels a bit like the go-go 60s, we don't know what the shifts are, or the backlash, but they are coming.
JLM
· 4 months ago
When CEOs start worrying about what others are thinking, they stop leading, they stop being CEOs. It will be very difficult to develop a wide appreciation for CEOs among the folks, concentrate on just snowing the Board!
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
Well I for one expect you to take some off and enjoy yourself
Ken
· 4 months ago
I have no problem with people sharing personal info like golf scores and their mayoral authority over a coffee shop, but there are plenty of people who cross the line. Did you this article by Emily Gould in the NYT Magazine last year? http://bit.ly/FB9Is That kind of oversharing hurts a lot of people, and I think the impulsivity that comes w/ mobile technology can be damaging. Am I way off base?
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
you are right. there's a line you can't cross. and its a bit different for everyone. Bob's point about CEO tweeting a golf shot is instructive
rcaccappolo
· 4 months ago
I thought about this topic when I read Brooks' NYT editorial back in early July (http://bit.ly/A4oIk). The concept he discusses is the "demise of the code of dignity" - how self-promotion and broadcasting of one's talents, skills, experiences, perspectives has chipped away at a code of behavior that was once held in high esteem, admired and even required by those who were put in certain roles and positions. It is rare to find an online extrovert that can retain their dignity - I think you are one of the few who have demonstrated the ability to achieve this balancing act, Fred - and your consistency to this end is a major reason why you have built - and retained - a large and loyal audience.
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
Well thanks Rich. If I can do it, anyone can. You just have to follow certain ground rules
I'm an alum of one of the first five or so universities to get on-board Facebook, so life-streaming has been manufactured into the daily fabric of my life. While I've struggled with the certain level of narcissism it takes to publicly announce what I'm doing, where I'm going, (or how I'm golfing), I fully embrace social media with Twitter, Tumblr, FourSquare, Facebook etc.
This statement puts it nicely though - "The fact is that if you are out and about and see something or do something special, you want to share it." - and people who life-stream the 'right way' seem to get this. Unfortunately, there are many who share the mundane/inane moments of their lives, or worse, only use social media as a soap-box to gripe.
To put it simply, I much prefer to hear about your birdies than your bogies.
Also... happy birthday!
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
Or triples. Which is what happened on nine (of course)
Mark Essel
· 4 months ago
I too can't help but share, whether it's moments of glory, or an interesting thought experiment. Some folks don't have this type of sharing imbedded in their DNA and you can't blame them. I've been caught too many types reading or typing away on my phone by my fiancé while we wait for dinner. She used to complain, until I got her hooked on the iPhone. Now she shows me cool new apps. And I still make sure to "unplug" and spend quality time with loved ones and friends.
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
You gotta unplug. Its key to staying sane
Emeri Gent [Em]
· 4 months ago
We all come to this world with our different ways, that is what makes it special. My biggest single problem I have not overcome is that I cannot stand other people telling me what to do, but then we learn what is and what isn't important in relationship in accordance to the life footprint we leave behind and also the one we walk towards. (isn't that that too a part of the beauty of golf or a memorable morning moment. . ?)
Our past footprints are a journey of growth, but if our footprints are missing an intelligent step, then we adjust, and we learn how to find joy. Either way from this fair way (snapped as a picture or imagined, public or private) we are better off for it, because we have made a worthwhile presumption that life is intelligent in both its errors and it's emerging wisdom. (Conclusion: for if a little white ball or an emerging blue sea can move us this way, then then whatever follows itself becomes the stuff of a meaningful life, and that to me is a personal freedom of choice, nothing less and nothing more).
[Em]
egoboss
· 4 months ago
My 49th birthday a few days ago wasn't quite as profound (but was lovely, thanks to my long suffering wife) but I echo those sentiments, Fred.
For too many people, the world - society - has sadly become a fragmented, greedy and cynical place. These social tools help us correct that balance. Who knows what it might all lead to ...
Less 'meme', more 'usus' ;-)
Craig Plunkett
· 4 months ago
I was channeling my golf purist Dad at the time, perhaps somebody can come up with a Bug configuration you can leave in your golf bag to allow you to tweet a shot-by-shot geotagged live round via the course's wi-fi net instead of using the phone!
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
I don't want that. I enjoyed getting chastised by your golf purist dad voice. It led to this post
gregory
· 4 months ago
When the person who put wifi on the Hampton Jitney tells you your tweeting at inappropriate times, you'd better pay attention!
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
I did chuckle at the irony of that
Craig Plunkett
· 4 months ago
Yes, I have been called the grim reaper of vacation days, especially on Fire Island. Broadband is like booze, you have to know when to put the bottle down.
Chris H
· 4 months ago
"Sharing" - hmmm.
When a person posts something, I guess it's been shared, in a way. Further I don't dispute that "sharing" can add to the quality of life for both the sharer and the sharee.
But, and this is maybe just for me, the quality of that sharing is significantly lower fidelity than the "old fashioned" way of sharing something - by experiencing it together in the real world.
Recently, my son and I went going to play nine ourselves. We ended up at the wrong course (GPS issues) and found a gem of a place (Kings Mountain Country Club - Kings Mountain, NC) where there featured both picturesque golf holes and practically zero cell coverage.
Into the cup holders went our unusable devices (his, too). Time slowed down. Conversation ebbed and flowed in an uninterrupted, unhurried manner. And while I don't have real time posts to prove it, a great couple hours were, truly, shared.
I'm like you, Fred. I like to post, share, express, etc and I spend too much time doing so every day. But I worry that this social mediafied generation may learn to lack an appreciation of deeper sharing. They already exhibit reduced interest in deeper dives on the issues of the day and great works of history and literature in favor of shorter bursts and real time gratification.
Technology has made my life richer and better. I hope it's future progress doesn't make our world shallower. Much of the beauty in life comes from depth of engagement and 140 characters just doesn't feed that bulldog...
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
Its a valid concern. We all need to make sure and get the next generation places where there isn't cell coverage for a few hours of quality time. A boat is often a
isfan
· 4 months ago
Bottom line is that sharing special moments with others makes those moments even more special and connects you with those your share with even more. Rather than disconnecting you with the environment you're in, as some may think, it actually connects you deeper to what you are experiencing and those virtually with you.
Nothing wrong with that. All good. Keep sharing.
isfan
· 4 months ago
Bottom line is that sharing special moments with others makes those moments even more special and connects you with those your share with even more. Rather than disconnecting you with the environment you're in, as some may think, it actually connects you deeper to what you are experiencing and those virtually with you.
Nothing wrong with that. All good. Keep sharing.
Shawn Hickman
· 4 months ago
Now that I have started life streaming, I don't think I could ever not do it. I know most people don't care about the things that I share, but there are a few that do, and that's I care about. Sharing if fun:)
Ryan Singer
· 4 months ago
I agree totally about life streaming, but think it's good to separate life from work somewhat (ie. via facebook and twitter.) We use twitter for random shout outs to the world and facebook for family and friends. My wife and I decided last night to disconnect our twitter feed from facebook so we seem like normal people to the facebook crowd of people who know us on a face to face level.. there's always the inquisitive friend who'se going to follow you everywhere because they love you and that's ok! tweet! happy birthday to you and me!
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
I might disconnet my twitter feed from FB but only when I can figure out how to run it through my fan page
timraleigh
· 4 months ago
It's interesting that Linkedin is rarely if ever mentioned in this context (life stream). I often wonder if it's not becoming a "digital ghetto". Not allowing me to update my Linkedin status with Twitter is a huge mistake.
Ryan Singer
· 4 months ago
hmm. Now that you mention it, that's no easy task. I'm running into the same problem trying to do that for our restaurant fanpage. I tweeted you once about it when you mentioned you were an investor at your restaurant. check it out. www.watermarcrestaurant.com
mattblumberg
· 4 months ago
My thought is that the tweeting (even the thought of it) reduced the likelihood of sinking the eagle putt. See if that changes your mind! :-)
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
I tweeted after I missed the putt on the way to the ninth tee
codycarroll
· 4 months ago
I find it interesting that in the ‘real’ world I am quite the introvert. Whereas, online I am cautious to over exert my voice. Maybe it’s a gen X trait. Maybe it’s because I subconsciously (sometimes consciously) judge the appropriateness of my commenting.
I agree with some commenters that one interesting element of this is the societal implications. Are we becoming more extraverted or introverted ‘connecting’ through all of this technology? I was getting my hair cut the other day and saw two kids (each under 10) staring at screens as opposed to playing together. I think I have become at the same time more and less extroverted through these new channels. It’s a good idea to be deliberate and intentional about your online and offline interactions.
Oh, and nice shot ;)
jer979
· 4 months ago
Not only that, but the value of what you get in return (not $, but social connection) makes it worth it.
I made a casual mention of a book I wanted to read the other day on my blog and the next day, a friend brought it by saying "I had it, saw you wanted to read it, so here you go."
In the final analysis, hopefully, every man negotiates true peace with himself and what works for one does not have to be accepted or approved or embraced by another. Do what floats your boat.
I have found the greatest indulgence and luxury to be in the places I like, doing the things I like to do alone or with folks I love. I am a extremely extroverted person but I find I love my own company these days more than may be healthy! LOL
I have a hammock between two trees at a modestly ratty boathouse which provides more pleasure (and recharges my batteries) than any Ritz Carlton --- but hey, that's my brand of craziness. Once when I hit a really good lick, I spent the night sleeping looking at the stars, smoking a Cuban and wondering how the hell had this good fortune ever happened to me! Still don't know the answer!
What really happened out there on that golf course? You hit a great shot? Nahhhh!
You made a memory with your son which will be a landmark for two lifetimes! That was a damn good investment! Calculate that IRR and tweet that!
PS --- go take the Dave Pelz short game course and you will make those putts!
Happy Birthday --- you are an original. Enjoy it!
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
Great comment JLM. That is an amazing memory
ShanaC
· 4 months ago
Lovely Photo. Paty of wants to be in the photo, part of me wants to experience the photo, and that's the conundrum of both good art and life streaming
Rohan Jayasekera
· 4 months ago
For those of us who aren't naturally extraverted, it's also a less intimidating way to share things.
And now that things move faster than in earlier times, reading a person's lifestream is a quick way to get to know something about that person.
Daniel Ha
· 4 months ago
I remember the golf pointers you gave me when you stopped by a little while back. Still haven't gotten a chance to go out and apply them... better be soon though before this weather disappears for another year.
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
Hit it with your hips, not your arms and keep youir lower body still
Ryan Graves
· 4 months ago
Fred, First off, nice shot, I'm sure that was a great little belated b-day gift.
Second, I want you to help me figure out how to explain 'our' little extroversion issue to close friends and family. Many of my friends aren't "Twitter people" so I often get the nickname web guy, or twitter guy, which I'm fine with, but there has to be a better way of explaining the value of sharing both business/personal thoughts/events on web. I often justify it by saying, "I've met a lot of really great people" or "influential people" that I wouldn't have otherwise met, but that still doesn't usually convince them.
I'd like to come up with a better way to measure the value that I'm getting. Social media has taught us that you can't just measure value with dollars, so let's work together to come up with a system of measurement on the value of openness, transparency, and extroversion on the web.
I'll be working on a blog post, let me know what you think... Cheers, Ryan
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
I don't think I can do it in a comment. But its about being present in the medium we all are using these days
saieva
· 4 months ago
I've gotten to a point in my life where I find that I am compelled to write and I think that is a common phenomenon (at least if measured by the number of books in the bookstore). My email communications have become more expressive, my business communications more professional and analytical, and I allocate time to write. I feel that social media unintentionally fosters that type intellectual development when it's viewed in the right way.
I have found personal value from using social media tools (Twitter, Facebook, blogging, etc). Passing thoughts, which in the past I may have mentally acknowledged and sometimes forgotten about, are more meaningful and take-on more significance when transferred into written words; Twitter is a great format for this situation. My experience using Facebook is similar, however, I am tending to be more personal in my writing there because I'm connected to friends and family.
My Twitter timelines and Facebook newsfeeds are also a historical record and sometimes I like to review/re-read what happened in the past. Although I have "friends" and "followers" I have a somewhat introverted and personal experience from using these tools.
gwong
· 4 months ago
Fred. you are very brave. Pioneers generally are.
I have not come across you until I started using Twitter (a yr after I created the a/c in 08) as I never read any blogs (was a not so entrepreneurial corporate telecom guy)..
It is a balancing act, but really depends on who the writer is, their work and their likely extravert lifestream's impact might have on their job/common perception of them.
I have just started to be cautiously opened on twitter & facebook (doing pretting much same thing) but update on my works/tribulations/challenges and people I meet around the world. It has given more transparency and in some ways helps when to establish contacts with some key guys and vice versa.
However, I am also dreading that it might become a 'chore' and my life might be too 'opened' up, professionally (I try to keep all family stuff private, unless for specific friends/industry colleagues after many years, y. very old school)..
My gut feel is that brave pioneers like you at the top of the profession is the exception, rather than the norm. but thankfully with likes of twitter etc. we can filter the normal/mundane out comparatively easily to find some limited Gems..
keep up the good work and sharing of insights, role model for some of us, but sadly I still have NO time as an entrepreneur to share insights via original blog posts.. .. yet.
Belated happy birthday. (e.g. another example, I try to keep my birthday private also!)
@GarethWong
scottythebody
· 4 months ago
I also like to think of it as a diary or journal with varying audiences (I have plenty of "only you can see this" stuff in addition to all of the public data). Several times recently I have enjoyed going back in time using my Twitter stream, Flickr stream or blog.
As an expat, "life streaming" really helps me stay closer with those I am very far away from physically. My whole family, with the exception of my dad who has never even logged into a computer, is on Facebook now and I love seeing what they are up to.
What I would like to see solved, though, is how we can keep this data for the long term. It's odd that the generations who generate the most data are likely the generations for whom their data will be the most ephemeral.
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
I love seeing the pictures of your little girl from time to time on tumblr and we really barely know each other. Ambient intimacy is pretty cool
Sandy
· 4 months ago
It's so ironic that I was reading the WSJ article, "Not so fast": http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240529702... then got distracted by my Blackberry, which led me to my laptop, then to your post, now to leaving a comment...
Going back to my coffee and newspaper now, leaving the electronics in the other room.
fredwilson
· 4 months ago
I like to be distracted as it often leads to things I would otherwise not see or read
Sandy
· 4 months ago
It's so ironic that I was reading this WSJ article, Not So Fast:
when I was distracted by my Blackberry, which led me to my laptop, then got me reading all my emails, which lead me to your post, that I had to comment on, which didn't go thru the first time.
Going back to my cold cup of coffee and newspaper and leaving the electronics in the other room.
Cmt1965
· 4 months ago
Through a series of links on Twitter via my brother -plunkman I came upon your article and lovely picture- Having just returned 2 weeks ago from a week long trip to Montauk your picture truly brought me back there and made me smile.... So thank you from one of those 30,000 some odd people you thought wouldn't care how your golf game went. I am glad it was satisfying excursion for you.
Aruni
· 4 months ago
I didn't 'get' twitter until I was sitting in a Duran Duran concert a year and a half ago and for the first time I wanted to tell the world how cool it was.
I've observed that I have become more open myself. I still keep appropriate things private or share them only with my close friends and family but there are things that happen or things you learn that to me just scream to be shared.
All Comments
It will be fascinating to see the first person to run for President with 100,000 tweets in his or her history. Reporters and opposition researchers will be combing through that trove to try and find ambiguities, "flip-flops" or just thoughts taken out of context from years and years past.
Can you imagine the 1968 tweet from Bush: "just threw back my 25th beer tonight. what a town midland is." And then 2002 from Obama: "Wow, what a sermon today in church. Wright got a little heated about 9/11. The anger is understandable."
I haven't spent enough time thinking about it to have a prediction, but it's going to be way different. Either things will change, or that arena will favor the introvert.
Going to be interesting...
There is so much power in tools such as Foursquare that allow you to show your patterns, provide suggestions to friends, and have almost impromptu social gatherings just by "checking-in" (and I'm with you; I usually "check-in" to a place before actually walking in so I do not appear rude). I think the one issue we will have to face is the need to avoid "over-sharing" - Twitter, as we know, is a broadcast medium in social network's clothing, and as web extroversion continues it could be harder and harder to sift through the noise to information we would find valuable.
By the way - I would immediately tweet a perfect golf shot, too.
I wrestle with this as well for myself. There are many moments where I think about pulling out Twitter/Facebook/etc but then re-think and "enjoy" the moment myself. Also, there is a part of me that thinks that I'm boasting and bragging most of the time. I have no idea what is right or wrong or unaccepted or accepted - but it's certainly a fascinating time.
When I see a Facebook post saying "I had a bad day for reason X," I think it's more clear. The person wants some support.
When I see a Facebook post saying "Great wine. Great cheese. Great friends," part of what they want is for friends to say "oooh I'm jealous" or "sounds amazing." I think a lot of this is about people wanting affirmation that what they like is what others like. Collectively liking things is a huge part of what all of this social networking is about.
For most people I talk to, there's something that rubs them the wrong way about this "like fishing," and also something weird about publicly complaining about your day.
The main problem is, these tweets and updates are being sent to an unfiltered group of people.
I think a good innovation in Facebook and in Twitter (or in a new service altogether) would be making it easier to send messages by group. I might want "golf buddies" to know I hit a great shot, I might want "foodies" to know that I ate at a great restaurant and I might want "progressives" to know that I loved a Krugman article. I might want people who live in Boston to hear my complaint about Boston traffic, because they would really relate, but for California friends, it's just doesn't feel personal enough. Most people have varied friends, and varied levels of relationship, and so the messages that we currently send feel impersonal—and at times, they seem like "like fishing" "TMI" "oversharing" or even arrogance.
I know that personalization of information is something many companies are working on, but having easier access to these kinds of narrow, targeted lists would really go a long way to making me smile, instead of groan, when I see most personal Facebook or Twitter posts.
I'm not sure what approach will turn out to be best
But we all know that filtering is needed
I visited Europe this past January, and instead of calling/text my family individually and directly, I updated Twitter and let all of them follow me there as well. But the true value has come from friends of mine that have told me months later that they also followed my travels, and my grandparents, and people I have never met as well.
Either way, I would have normally just sent a text to a friend, but now I send a single text to many friends and non-friends alike.
I never knew how much I would appreciate sharing info until I started writing online and got my first comment. Then I recognized how groovy it can be to loosely connect to many hundreds or more people instantly.
We've all (even those of us in the facebook generation) gotten very used to having multiple faces for different crowds. That's supported a lot of misconceptions about groups of people - like that executives shouldn't take a break. Openness helps eliminate those misconceptions, and the elimination of the misconceptions should drive more openness. Why keep your golf outing a secret if no one's expecting you to be at your desk all the time?
This statement puts it nicely though - "The fact is that if you are out and about and see something or do something special, you want to share it." - and people who life-stream the 'right way' seem to get this. Unfortunately, there are many who share the mundane/inane moments of their lives, or worse, only use social media as a soap-box to gripe.
To put it simply, I much prefer to hear about your birdies than your bogies.
Also... happy birthday!
Our past footprints are a journey of growth, but if our footprints are missing an intelligent step, then we adjust, and we learn how to find joy. Either way from this fair way (snapped as a picture or imagined, public or private) we are better off for it, because we have made a worthwhile presumption that life is intelligent in both its errors and it's emerging wisdom. (Conclusion: for if a little white ball or an emerging blue sea can move us this way, then then whatever follows itself becomes the stuff of a meaningful life, and that to me is a personal freedom of choice, nothing less and nothing more).
[Em]
For too many people, the world - society - has sadly become a fragmented, greedy and cynical place. These social tools help us correct that balance. Who knows what it might all lead to ...
Less 'meme', more 'usus' ;-)
When a person posts something, I guess it's been shared, in a way. Further I don't dispute that "sharing" can add to the quality of life for both the sharer and the sharee.
But, and this is maybe just for me, the quality of that sharing is significantly lower fidelity than the "old fashioned" way of sharing something - by experiencing it together in the real world.
Recently, my son and I went going to play nine ourselves. We ended up at the wrong course (GPS issues) and found a gem of a place (Kings Mountain Country Club - Kings Mountain, NC) where there featured both picturesque golf holes and practically zero cell coverage.
Into the cup holders went our unusable devices (his, too). Time slowed down. Conversation ebbed and flowed in an uninterrupted, unhurried manner. And while I don't have real time posts to prove it, a great couple hours were, truly, shared.
I'm like you, Fred. I like to post, share, express, etc and I spend too much time doing so every day. But I worry that this social mediafied generation may learn to lack an appreciation of deeper sharing. They already exhibit reduced interest in deeper dives on the issues of the day and great works of history and literature in favor of shorter bursts and real time gratification.
Technology has made my life richer and better. I hope it's future progress doesn't make our world shallower. Much of the beauty in life comes from depth of engagement and 140 characters just doesn't feed that bulldog...
Nothing wrong with that. All good. Keep sharing.
Nothing wrong with that. All good. Keep sharing.
I agree with some commenters that one interesting element of this is the societal implications. Are we becoming more extraverted or introverted ‘connecting’ through all of this technology? I was getting my hair cut the other day and saw two kids (each under 10) staring at screens as opposed to playing together. I think I have become at the same time more and less extroverted through these new channels. It’s a good idea to be deliberate and intentional about your online and offline interactions.
Oh, and nice shot ;)
I made a casual mention of a book I wanted to read the other day on my blog and the next day, a friend brought it by saying "I had it, saw you wanted to read it, so here you go."
I blogged on it.
http://jer979.blogspot.com/2009/08/value-of-sha...
How cool is that?
Congrats on the great shot and happy birthday!
I have found the greatest indulgence and luxury to be in the places I like, doing the things I like to do alone or with folks I love. I am a extremely extroverted person but I find I love my own company these days more than may be healthy! LOL
I have a hammock between two trees at a modestly ratty boathouse which provides more pleasure (and recharges my batteries) than any Ritz Carlton --- but hey, that's my brand of craziness. Once when I hit a really good lick, I spent the night sleeping looking at the stars, smoking a Cuban and wondering how the hell had this good fortune ever happened to me! Still don't know the answer!
What really happened out there on that golf course? You hit a great shot? Nahhhh!
You made a memory with your son which will be a landmark for two lifetimes! That was a damn good investment! Calculate that IRR and tweet that!
PS --- go take the Dave Pelz short game course and you will make those putts!
Happy Birthday --- you are an original. Enjoy it!
And now that things move faster than in earlier times, reading a person's lifestream is a quick way to get to know something about that person.
First off, nice shot, I'm sure that was a great little belated b-day gift.
Second, I want you to help me figure out how to explain 'our' little extroversion issue to close friends and family. Many of my friends aren't "Twitter people" so I often get the nickname web guy, or twitter guy, which I'm fine with, but there has to be a better way of explaining the value of sharing both business/personal thoughts/events on web. I often justify it by saying, "I've met a lot of really great people" or "influential people" that I wouldn't have otherwise met, but that still doesn't usually convince them.
I'd like to come up with a better way to measure the value that I'm getting. Social media has taught us that you can't just measure value with dollars, so let's work together to come up with a system of measurement on the value of openness, transparency, and extroversion on the web.
I'll be working on a blog post, let me know what you think...
Cheers,
Ryan
I have found personal value from using social media tools (Twitter, Facebook, blogging, etc). Passing thoughts, which in the past I may have mentally acknowledged and sometimes forgotten about, are more meaningful and take-on more significance when transferred into written words; Twitter is a great format for this situation. My experience using Facebook is similar, however, I am tending to be more personal in my writing there because I'm connected to friends and family.
My Twitter timelines and Facebook newsfeeds are also a historical record and sometimes I like to review/re-read what happened in the past. Although I have "friends" and "followers" I have a somewhat introverted and personal experience from using these tools.
Pioneers generally are.
I have not come across you until I started using Twitter (a yr after I created the a/c in 08) as I never read any blogs (was a not so entrepreneurial corporate telecom guy)..
It is a balancing act, but really depends on who the writer is, their work and their likely extravert lifestream's impact might have on their job/common perception of them.
I have just started to be cautiously opened on twitter & facebook (doing pretting much same thing) but update on my works/tribulations/challenges and people I meet around the world. It has given more transparency and in some ways helps when to establish contacts with some key guys and vice versa.
However, I am also dreading that it might become a 'chore' and my life might be too 'opened' up, professionally (I try to keep all family stuff private, unless for specific friends/industry colleagues after many years, y. very old school)..
My gut feel is that brave pioneers like you at the top of the profession is the exception, rather than the norm. but thankfully with likes of twitter etc. we can filter the normal/mundane out comparatively easily to find some limited Gems..
keep up the good work and sharing of insights, role model for some of us, but sadly I still have NO time as an entrepreneur to share insights via original blog posts.. .. yet.
Belated happy birthday. (e.g. another example, I try to keep my birthday private also!)
@GarethWong
As an expat, "life streaming" really helps me stay closer with those I am very far away from physically. My whole family, with the exception of my dad who has never even logged into a computer, is on Facebook now and I love seeing what they are up to.
What I would like to see solved, though, is how we can keep this data for the long term. It's odd that the generations who generate the most data are likely the generations for whom their data will be the most ephemeral.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240529702...
then got distracted by my Blackberry, which led me to my laptop, then to your post, now to leaving a comment...
Going back to my coffee and newspaper now, leaving the electronics in the other room.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240529702...
when I was distracted by my Blackberry, which led me to my laptop, then got me reading all my emails, which lead me to your post, that I had to comment on, which didn't go thru the first time.
Going back to my cold cup of coffee and newspaper and leaving the electronics in the other room.
I've observed that I have become more open myself. I still keep appropriate things private or share them only with my close friends and family but there are things that happen or things you learn that to me just scream to be shared.