Broadcasting Brain

One thing that bugs me about Twitter is that the term followers, the people who elect to see your microblogging updates, sounds like a cross between a group of zombies and a collection of cultish fanatics that you might want to keep at arm’s length. We use other terms like friend, contact, colleague, and buddy to refer to these different kinds of people who pay attention to what you do and say.

Image by toprankonlinemarketing

A lot of people (including both you and me?) like the idea of building up these follower numbers for several reasons. It can come across as being selfish, ego driven, or manipulative. Or, with a more positive spin, maybe you’re just looking for a group of great people to share stuff with. Maybe you feel you’ve got important things to say THAT THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW. Read the rest of this entry »

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Here’s to the men and women who perished or were injured in the horrible attacks seven years ago.

Here’s to the people who tried to help on that terrible day and in the days that followed.

Here’s to the people left behind, still trying to move on and make things better.

Here’s to anyone who recognizes the root problems and tries to tackle them transparently and fairly.

Here’s to you: take this opportunity to do some good today.

Build a bridge, have a conversation, be supportive.

Choose again. (from The Rise of Endymion by Dan Simmons).

EDIT: here are some links to what other people are saying about 9/11 in 2008:

Looking back at 9/11 - Jeff Pulver Blog

Remembering 9/11 online - The Inquisitr

Will 9/11 Ever Feel Normal - Chris Brogan

FriendFeed discussion - Erin Kotechi Vest and others on 9/11

[Remembering] - Seth Godin

Remembering - Doc Searls

9/11 in NYC Remembered - Jer979

9-11-2001 - Michael Fruchter

(from the 5th anniversary of 9/11) Remembering 9/11, Five Years Later - RockinPRGirl (Jenn S.)

09/11/08 - Mark Caserta

Today - Da Goddess

Historical artifact, from Sept. 11, 2001 - 9/11/2001 - Dave Winer (Scripting News)

Flashback: RizzWords 9/11 Episode - Mark Hopkins

September 2001 archives - Steven M. Cohen

Debra Burlingame on 9/11 - as linked by Power Line

9-11 Air Combat Patrol - PenguinSix

A passionate and angry entry at Paisley’s Cool Sites

Honoring Sept 11, 2001 - Today Nothing Has Changed - Furrier.org

Out of the Blue - A Chance To Serve and Learn - Kami Huyse

7 Years Later, The Air Still Thickens - Jonathan Fields

9/11 and Hope - chelpixie

September 11 - Charlie Anzman

Seven years gone - Internet Bard

Another 9/11 - Jeff Jarvis

9/11 - Seven Years On - Sean P. Aune

September 11th - Fred Wilson

The Empty Sky… and the Quiet Network - Tom Watson

EDIT:  post title changed to make more sense….

I’ve been reading some stuff during the past day that, while disturbing me, is provoking some thought.

I’m thinking a lot about poles, extremes, dichotomies, and dilemmas.

Things like:

• Digital (yes/no, 0/1, on/off) vs. analog
• Freedom of speech vs. communication within defined boundaries
• Prejudice vs. respect
• Anger vs. empathy
• Talking vs. listening
• Humor/satire vs. cruelty
• Love vs. hate
• Principles vs. situations
• Groups vs. individuals
• Trolls vs. patriots
• Laws vs. mores
• Inclusion vs. exclusion
• Logic vs. emotion
• Reality vs. illusion
• Surface vs. inside
• Taste vs. bluntness
• And, somewhere, common sense vs. human nature

Do all of the big questions only have two answers? Or are there other solutions?

There is one world and one main public Web that binds it. We all live, work, and play here.

Is there one right, appropriate solution when people publish content that other people find offensive?

I don’t know. But if we judge people solely by what we see, then some might think that I really do have blue skin and a green glowing, exposed brain. My avatar does, I don’t. But that’s what most people see.

I’m not the most community oriented person, but I worry when strong feelings work to separate its members.

Note: these are the writings that have prompted these thoughts:

Adding Fuel To The Fire of Racism

A FriendFeed thread related to the above

Loren Feldman, The New Yorker, and Social Media Evil

FriendFeed thread related to the above

Thinking About The Negatives

Another FriendFeed thread about learning about real life society

Based on the information today processed by the wizards of Analytics…

I would definitely have to say…

These are my favorite 20 cities/towns in the world (excluding my hometown)!

1. London, England
2. Fredericton, NB (CANADA)
3. Chicago
4. New York
5. San Francisco
6. Seattle
7. Austin, TX
8. Edmonton, AB
9. Minneapolis, MN
10. Weston, ON
11. Portland, OR
12. Houston, TX
13. Wembley, England
14. East York, ON
15. Vancouver, BC
16. Washington, DC
17. Brooklyn, NY
18. Sydney, Australia
19. Los Angeles
20. Saint John, NB (CANADA) - highest avg. time on site in the top 20

And lots of other places, including wherever you are, right now.   :) 

My special thanks, though, to those top 20 cities!  Thanks for your support!