Marketing Roadmaps

Politics/Policy

Who’s on top?

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Why is it that even in the middle of a media revolution, we can’t resist the temptation to create an aristocracy? Benevolent, but an elite nonetheless.

Following hot on the heels of blogebrity (which apparently started as part of a contest), we have the AO/Technorati Open Media 100.

I agree with Fred from A VC, who says: Take me off your lists please:

"Open Media?  Then let’s make it open. Let’s keep the desire to rank and create clubs in check guys."

Unfortunately, I don’t think we are going to get our wish.

It is human nature to congregate with people of like mind. Social groups (cliques) form. Once the group has solidified, it is hard to break into it. Not impossible, but the formed unit tends to resist interlopers.

In nature, order and structure are a requirement for smooth operation of the unit. Someone has to be in charge of defending the territory etc. etc. 

In human society, however, social groups are formed for reasons other than defense and self preservation. The group may initially apply order and structure to itself to make the group more manageable. You know, to blow up society, even anarchists need a leader 🙂

It starts with the member list and a definition of the membership requirements. But, sooner rather than later, it becomes clear that "membership has its privileges." Status. Respect. Wealth. Before you know it, the group, which may *think* it is open to all comers, starts to fear dilution of the membership value, and as a result, begins to defend its exclusivity. It may be subtle. It may even be sub-conscious. But make no mistake… it is there.

This is bad enough when the group is a formal group. But when it is an informal group — a clique versus an organization — it can be downright insidious. Because informal groups aren’t going to have rules in the same way a club or association might. So there’s no way for those on the outside to EVER get on the inside where all those great connections can be found. 

Do I think this has happened in the blogosphere? No. Not yet. But the signs are there, and it would be a shame if we didn’t resist.

Captain Picard did, and so can we.

Deep Throat, blogging tips, asking for the order (and lions and tigers and bears, oh my)

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As expected, I am really busy this week with the Revenue Roundtable and client work (hurrah), plus trying to jam everything in by COB Thursday as Friday is the Scottish Terrier Club of New England Specialty Show, and I will be there all day.

However, I do have a few things to share before I race off to prepare for a new prospect meeting tomorrow.

First, the big reveal of Deep Throat. I came of political age during Watergate. I think my first adult non-fiction book was All the President’s Men and I definitely remember going to see the movie on a hot summer day in whatever year it was. It is hard to believe that all that took place more than 30 years ago…. when it still colors so much of what we feel about politics, regardless of what we believe or how we vote.

For my part, I am glad that Mark Felt, and his family, didn’t wait until after his death. For whatever reason, and however it came about, I’m glad Felt will get the accolades due him while he lives. If his family benefits, that’s great. He did a courageous thing, whatever his personal reasons were, and he deserves to get the praise in life. He’ll certainly be criticized as well — I can see the revisionist wagons circling.

So often, we wait to honor great men and women until after their deaths. I for one am pleased when the subject of the praise actually gets to hear it themselves. I remember a few years ago, here in our town, the local chamber of commerce had an event to honor an elderly civic leader who had done a tremendous amount for the town and the area. Literally put us on the map.

As my husband and I were waiting in the long line to greet the man and his wife, it crossed my mind that the whole event was a bit like a wake, except in this case, the man who actually KNEW everybody was still alive, and could enjoy the love of his community. I thought it was wonderful, and wished that we as a society were better at thanking our elders in life, not just honoring them in death.

Wakes and funerals serve an important religious and grieving function. But they aren’t really for the person who has died. So… moral of the story: take time to thank and honor people today.

Thank you, Mr. Felt.

This story will be all over the blogosphere and the media today, tomorrow, the next day, but do read Dan Gillmor’s post, Deep Throat: America owes Gratitude.

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Now a few little housekeeping things, items that caught my interest over the last week. If I had more time, I’d write more about them, but the clock is ticking…..

Standing Out from the Blogging Crowd, an item on BusinessWeek’s Blogspotting, linked to tips for better blog writing from Robin Good.

Jim Logan on the importance of asking for the order.

Scottie Claiborne on links that drive search engine rankings (seen originally on Micro Persuasion). I need to get serious about promoting this blog … one of these days.

GOP on FEC: Regulate Blogs?

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From Marketing VOX today, Republicans on FEC: Blogs May Be Regulated

I fully support the need for campaign finance reform — the whole situation has become just nuts. But it is a slippery slope (of BS) when you say, as GOP Commissioner Smith did to Cnet:

"We’re talking about any decision by an individual to put a link on their home page, set up a blog, send out mass emails, any kind of activity that can be done on the Internet." 

In other words, even if you aren’t actually raising or donating money, the actions you take on your blog might be considered a contribution.

That’s crap, and pretty ridiculous, given this little thing we have called here in the USA called the First Amendment to the Constitution. It will be interesting to see if the GOP really pushes this issue or not…