Is it better to be original or to echo
social media May 30th. 2008, 2:30amThis week I’ve been trying to do something different here at Broadcasting Brain – I’ve been focusing more on creating original content vs. joining the echo chamber. Or, to put it another way, I’ve been trying to create conversations instead of following them. It’s been interesting to compare the two weeks.
Last week was a lot of fun because I was feeding off some other conversations from guys like Alexander van Elsas and Colin Walker, among others.
This week, I’ve been trying to go my own way. Trying to start my own conversation threads. Trying to move away from the ongoing conversations and talk about what other people aren’t talking about. I think there’s been some good conversations here this week.
Which is better? I really don’t know. Some would say that it’s always better to blaze trails down different paths. However, I think I’ve really come to appreciate the value of echoing.
Echoing makes you feel less alone and more like you belong to something bigger. It makes you feel like you are a part of a larger conversation. It allows you to take a concept and make it more interesting. That’s one of the great things that’s been happening on FriendFeed – new and better conversations. Sharing. A sense of community, even.
If you’re lucky, you can start new conversations when you strike out on your own. Sometimes you won’t. It’s a lot like planting seeds. Some will grow, some won’t. Some will be dwarfs, some will become giants. You don’t always know.
I think you need to try both: to join in conversations and to start your own. Sometimes it’s hard to strike out in a different direction, but many people value new thoughts and new ideas.
It’s easy to echo other people or to climb on to the latest conversation train in social media. Some people think it’s the wrong thing to do. However, if you can add your own good ideas and make an honest attempt to analyze part of the conversation, then there’s nothing at all wrong with doing that.
We have to make our own choices about the conversations that we’ll start or join. However, either alternative is perfectly acceptable if your intent is good and if your contribution is thoughtful and heartfelt.
There is no right choice; any discussion choice can be the right one at any given time. Make the choice, commit to it, and make the best of it.
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May 30th, 2008 at 2:49 am
It is difficult to find that balance of original and echo but if you can it can be the most rewarding. You readership may not go up as quickly as compared to strictly going the echo route but I think that is a fair trade off for self-statisfaction.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:13 am
I think well worthwhile to provoke different and new discussions. Certainly your posts over the last couple of days have been great for provoking new thoughts. I think it’s all too easy (and we all succumb to a greater or lesser extent, because it’s how humans interact) to become part of the echo chamber. Social networking as a method of communication makes it really easy to do so.
One thing about moving in an original direction, starting a new conversation. With the development of the likes of FriendFeed and the general fragmentation of discussion, it can sometimes feel like that conversation isn’t happening. You have what you feel is an interesting or controversial topic, and your blog sits there with no comments.
Discovered, and utilised, yacktrack.com yesterday. Was amazed to discover how much discussion had occurred about some of my blog posts away from my blog.
Check out Two Great Apps That Help Your Network from Robin Cannon
May 30th, 2008 at 5:33 am
@Steven - yes, the potential for readership growth from echoing is seductive, no question.
@Robin - good point about YackTrack. I’ve tried it once, should do so again (hi Rob Diana!)
May 30th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Mark,
I was working through this same idea a couple of days ago. You can check out my lengthy thoughts at http://tillingthesoil.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/communicating-with-integrity-part-4/
The jist, though, is that we should make sure that what we are saying adds value. We have social tagging if we just want to point people to what others are saying. There’s no point in posting a blog saying go here, here, and here. We have to be adding something (of value) to the conversation. Otherwise, we’re just contributing noise to the system.
Check out Communicating with Integrity - Part 6 from Ryan
May 30th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
@Ryan - cool, I’ll check out your post, thanks.
May 31st, 2008 at 4:21 am
[...] Is it better to be original or to echo :: Broadcasting Brain - a really good thoughtful post by Mark on the value of being a part of the echo chamber and still trying to be original. [...]
June 13th, 2008 at 7:18 am
I do strive to avoid the “echo chamber,” but I also feel that originality can also be simply bringing your own unique perspective or, as others have said, adding value to an existing topic. Sometimes, YOUR spin on an issue can be more central - or at least more interesting - than the issue itself.
Check out Tuesdays Are Twos Days from Rob O.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:24 am
@Rob O - that’s true, and bringing a unique perspective to a conversation helps you to avoid the “echo chamber” effect.