The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]

You’re well and truly back aren’t you Robert but it is a little ironic that you, the technology king, is writing about the power of conversation on a blog 🙂

I’m not sure if your hypothesis about communication technology contributing to issues such as violent crime (I’m assuming you mean things like street violence rather than bank robbery) is correct, but I also know you’re good at this chaos theory connection stuff and if this suggestion appeared in “The Tipping Point” and the like, we’d all be going mad for it.

i take it robs much better other half wasnt at lunch there then dodds? smartest move campbell has ever made.

i cant be fucking arsed to comment on this post, its too long and ive been living with this project for fucking ages, besides msn lets you say shit youd never say in person which cant be bad except when it is the reason you end up getting divorced.

that bill gates has a lot to fucking answer for

on the subject of conversation progressing, rather than being replaced by a series of things that someone wants to say (the structure of blogging? how often do we revisit the subject of a previous specific blog with new info or ideas?)- LAST NIGHTS CREATIVITY WORKSHOP AT INSEAD…think about how you all expected it to be – then remove the ‘creativity’ and then also remove the ‘work’ – (we obviously weren’t really in a shop). I didn’t learn anything about how to generate ideas, but I did get a fantastic insider view as to how a room full of MBA students ‘brainstorm’. If ever there were a more literal, grab the idea thats right in front of my face, think inside the box (buts its a nice box)’hmmm, not sure of what to suggest so how about we propose outsourcing production to a cheaper country’ – bunch of corporate drones, I have yet to meet them. A visit to the other side of the mirror gents. It absolutely, utterly and completely reaffirmed the necessity of our jobs, otherwise these ‘leaders’ would be making the decisions on their own. And it would be a dark, dark, dark world

cracking idea – why not make it a 3 way (ooo-er), Planners team Vs MBA team Vs Grizzled/been there done it Client team
so it doesn’t look like we are just out to have a pop at the MBAs.
Lets do it.
I can get the guy from last night to pull together the MBA team. Suggestions please for grizzled clients, I guess the Planning team gets selected by the infallible ‘who is tallest’ test.
We can get Marketing to cover it. Get it sponsored by a few key clients (venue, food & drink – trophy) – get the task set by some legendary industry figure, make the ‘brand’ we are helping develop a charity or other NGO and we build in a altruistic aspect – that gives a good reason for the time/effort spent. Make it an annual event. live webcast covering it.etc,etc, etc
we just need a name for it now..

OK Mr McG, I’m definitely up for that – and if Marketing don’t cover it, I know a couple of others who would be interested.

Interms of clients, it might be abit more difficult because whilst MBA and Adpeople all think they’re fucking brilliant, many clients – especially Asian clients – wouldn’t want to put themselves in the position of potentially looking bad infront of others/bosses.

Saying that I reckon MTV or Discovery would be up for it – and they’re very lovely and smart – but we can discuss that once we get things going.

And if the planning/creative team is based on physical height, then you’re going to be the natural leader aren’t you, ha!

If there is interest in this – and it’s not just some stupid ego, hair-brained scheme, lets discuss it next week.

Now Ms Lauren …

Are you demonstrating women’s perceived perception of being able to multi-task 😉

In all seriousness this is not about interupting conversations, because if what you are saying is relevant to the topic then of course that’s fine … I’m talking about how people are getting to a point where they never let a conversation reach a natural point of conclusion because they are always “topic hopping” – as demonstrated by your admission you ‘tab browse’ which is different and yet sort-of similar.

[That doesn’t even make sense does it, haha!]

Of course, how we communicate online is bound to be different because of things like environment and technology [etc] though I believe it’s influence interms of ‘bluntness’, ‘openness’ and ‘superficiality’ [to name but a few] has carried over into the ‘real World’ [so to speak]

This is not all bad of course – for example the fact some people are able to express themselves with more clarity than previous generations is a major positive, but that doesn’t excuse the fact thanks to technology, our abilities to truly connect with people may be less powerful than it once was.

Maybe 🙂

Nice post. I think the point about emoticons being substitutes/shields for real emotions is a very valid one.

Oh, and thanks very much for the birthday wishes – and happy birthday Seb! Hope you have a blinding day.

whatever, i’m already over it 🙂

What about the Holland versus Italy score?

Oh hang on, I’m changing the subject aren’t I.

What about Gordon Brown?

Fuck I’m doing it again.

Oh well, maybe if I throw in a few 🙂 😉 it’ll be OK.

And stop trying to look a sensitive new age guy AGE – we all know you use emotive icons for evil, ha!

Fuck you Dodds 🙂

Hello blog crowd. First of all thanks for the words of warmness, Rob and happy birthday again to Will, the 10th of June, probably the best day throughout the year. Anyway I bookmarked this blog on the Mac I gave to my mum so she can control us a bit. Now she only has to learn proper English.

Second, I am not sure about that communication theory. I think new technologies provide a better environment for conversation which lead to declining old common ways. Years ago I used the phone a lot. And I liked it. for hours I talked to people. But over the years and now more eminent with skype I hate to talk to people on the phone. I really hate phone calls. Because I got used to see peoples’ face during skype calls and like it much more. I see expressions and don’t only follow their tone of voice. Now I can talk on skype for hours. Because I actually do see and hear people.
So I am not sure about that communication overload thing. I think it’s more like an evolution. We change our ways of communicating and how we use tools. Sure I am short on MSN (except I don’t have it) or SMS, because skype is much better.

But you are absolutely right that you filter out people with these tools. I don’t want to talke to anybody I know on skype. So they have my mail and I am not forced to talk to them instantly.

Hence, I don’t think it’s rude. But in a world that’s turning faster and faster with billions of things to see, read and hear we have to extract the real important bits. Because if we would communicate with everyone and see, read or listen to everything that is provided the sheer mass would make all interactions superficial. So it’s not about being rude but about focussing on the good and deep interactions.

Maybe this doesn’t make sense? Or does it? Don’t know.
And thank you Lauren, my Liebchen. Küsschen aus Deutschland.

I know what you’re saying Seb but I think you’re using ‘Seb’s circumstances’ rather than a broader view – but then it could be argued I’m doing something similar, ha!

I’m not decrying the power and benefit of technology to communicate – I am simply saying there is an implication that it can control us [ie: how we communicate] as much as how we can control it.

And the video conference element of SKYPE is brill – without it I’d not be able to see my Mum except when I’m in Blighty – however I bet that you don’t use the video-conference facility on your mobile phone [if you have it] and you wouldn’t be alone because the great ‘selling point’ of 3G just didn’t take off because as much as people like to see the people they care about when chatting, they also like the idea they can choose when that happens rather than be in the hands of other people’s whims.

What the fuck am I talking about? More examples of people not being able to hold down a conversation these days …

And Lauren – remember English isn’t spoken by everyone so “FUCK YOU” [as you so nicely put it] could be a long phrase if written in an alternative language. Maybe.

Sorry, I’m touchy today, probably because I got told by a client that I was “in an unpleasant mood at the moment”. How nice. Bastard.

What if the constant conversation comes from me John – do you still feel the same?

Thought not 🙂

🙂 🙂 🙂

Yes Lauren you spoke in Kraut … and while that doesn’t mean you’re monolinguistic, it also doesn’t mean you are a global communicator 🙂

Mind you it could be worse, I once met a Yank who said he spoke American and English and to this day I am not sure if he was joking.

God I’m pissy today, I’m going home to kick the cat … 🙂

PS: Ironically the client who told me I was unpleasant meant it as a compliment. No, I can’t work out how that works either.

jesus! go home, have a cup of tea.