Christopher S. Penn's Awaken Your Superhero - Latest Comments in What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

tdhurst — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:10:46 -0000

Yes, it's about being so freaking awesome they don't matter anymore. :)

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

Christopher S. Penn — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:36:56 -0000

A tough question. Ultimately, though, what does help is that said group can't stop or prevent you from becoming powerful in your own right, which would be my preferred choice of action. If someone else stops you from commenting, bugger them, and focus your energy on building your own stuff to compete with them and ideally, eat their lunch.

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

tdhurst — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:02:45 -0000

I have, but what good is it talking if a) no one talks back and b) the flattening of the world using social media has only allowed a new popular class of "elites" to rule the internet?

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

Christopher S. Penn — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:59:57 -0000

Ouch! I hope you blogged about it on your own site.

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

tdhurst — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:57:44 -0000

Some people don't even allow that, however. I've been silently banned by Brian Clark and Copyblogger for disagreeing with him and that's a shame.

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

jlbraaten — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:54:03 -0000

I see what you're saying here. People like people they're like. I love it when you get Internet "nobodies" that post excellent case studies that disprove the experts. Ultimately numbers and ROI define success, not just gurus.

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

ruthdabu — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:33:18 -0000

Everyone loves to be a superhero, but not everyone has the proper mindset to be one. It is important to have a free mind so you can be your best.

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

gwalter — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:48:16 -0000

I thrive on dissent, but what I find, is most people don't have the courage to stand up to me and tell me I'm wrong. bummer.

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

jennifer_taylor — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:09:00 -0000

I like it, though I found myself wanting to resist agreeing with you - grin. There is always a risk with honest feedback, thus I tread gently - "hmmm, you're asking, but let me give you an option to opt out - I tend to be candid" - I love honesty, delivered respectfully...because again, back to that inflated ego....its just my perspective unless we're talking mathmatical equation or historical fact.

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

jaybaer — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:09:03 -0000

Absolutely agree, Chris. I see it as the ability to curate our own world via RSS, etc. The power of "mainstream" media to set the tone is vanishing. I read a great editorial by the editor of my small-town newspaper yesterday, and he talked about how the health care debate is the death knell for newspaper influence. Even though EVERY major news outlet has come straight out and said the "death panel" concept is nonsense, it won't die because it's being fanned by non-traditional sources.

I wrote a post about this trend a few weeks ago called "Why Blogs Will Kill Dissent" http://www.convinceandconve...

Great post. Thanks for taking the position that everything we do in social media isn't a net positive. We need more of that contrarian thinking.

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

Lisa KW — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:52:53 -0000

Thanks for sharing. Sometimes I feel like Twitter is too kumbaya for me to really speak my mind. (Guess that's what my husband is there for ... hee hee.)

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

Christopher S. Penn — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:58:25 -0000

Not at all, madame. But when I'm wrong, I expect you to call me on it.

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

Lindsey — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:52:41 -0000

Good post and great points - although is it bad if I agree with you ;)

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

Christopher S. Penn — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:52:37 -0000

Bit of both, I think.

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

Guido Stein — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:51:22 -0000

good point penn. I think that feedback, both positive and constructive must be fostered. Some of my favorite podcasts deal with this issue in there own special way. For example, Buzz Out Loud ha a section of the show they call "well actually" which allows people to correct or disagree with the show content. I think this is a great way to create some balance.

Is this an issue of yes men or not giving the open opportunity to have some dissent?

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

Christopher S. Penn — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:48:47 -0000

Rather like the writer's memento mori, eh?

Re: What if no one tells you that you're wrong?

kcarruthers — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:47:11 -0000

Your post reminds of me the Roman custom during triumphs - the man being celebrated would have a slave up behind him on the chariot continuously saying "memento homo" or "remember you are mortal". Perhaps we need the modern social media equivalent? Hubris is worth guarding against! (OK so I'm mixing Greek & Roman ideas, but it makes sense ;)