[Air-l] A verb for using social networking sites
John Veitch
jsveitch at ate.co.nz
Sun Jun 17 02:10:27 PDT 2007
richard.ling at telenor.com wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> This is interesting. The use of these social networking sites has been
> around for a couple of years now and actually they have become quite
> popular. However, this has not resulted in a verb describing their use.
In business circles the terms "linking" or “contacting” and "connecting"
are commonly used.
Linking is especially the terminology of LinkedIn but it's also a term I
commonly use of Xing, Ryze, Soflow, Viadeo, Facebook and MySpace.
On Ryze there is a term for successful use of Ryze and for wishing
others success as members of Ryze. It's obvious of course: Ryzing.
The real question is: "What value do these connections have?"
The best answer is: "none at all if they are not used, and sadly that's
the fate of most connections, they are simply neglected, and they have
potential value, but no real value."
On the other hand if you show even minimal interest in who these people
are you learn a great deal about the world. Basic geography for
instance, you get a feel for both how big and how small the world is.
You learn about various cities, size, climate, festivals. You learn what
people do for a living. You learn that these other people have ideas and
opinions like your own, sometimes very like your own despite different
culture, country and perhaps religious creed. And then just when you
think "this person and me share the same wave, they hatch an opinion
that seems to come from somewhere completely different."
I've learned that people with huge accomplishment in the real world, are
human, are real, can be wonderful mentors, can have both brilliant
insight, and be downright foolish.
I've learned to have more confidence in myself and my own viewpoint,
even if I'm exploring the edges of my own knowing. You don't need to be
right, or to be the expert, but it does help if you offer what you have,
and if you try to use what you are given.
John
--
"John Stephen Veitch"
http://www.ate.co.nz/
Should we be talking?
By all means Google me.
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