Jargon

Science exists to provide new answers about our world – or at least ask good questions.  The process of doing this leads to new discoveries or perspectives that demand paragraphs of thought be condensed down into handy new words.  That is the natural process that creates jargon.  There are simply times when one word, no matter how strange, is far easier than many.

When the science or philosophy is being used to develop new systems of thought for people – political, economic, or in communications– the use of jargon creates barriers that separate the class of those “in the know” from the masses.  This is sometimes done very deliberately.  But whatever the motive, jargon creates a barrier to entry that prevents new ideas from being properly democratized.  The more social the field of study the more dangerous and counter-productive this is.

Social Media has this tendency, but it is far from alone.  Many fields of practice and study need a team of dedicated and ruthless translators if they are every going to advance and make vital new connections.

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Social, not Media

The Dubliner was packed to hear Tom Dahill play traditional Irish songs most of the crowd knew the words to sing along to.  Some were up dancing a traditional Ceili to one side.  Inbetween the songs and a chance to chat with my girlfriend Liz I bumped into someone working the Social Media scene. We chatted about the craft of this other scene, the one you’re in now, and the changes filtering through.  The setting may not seem important to my profession as a consultant to small businesses in this art, but it was as critical as the message.

Social Media may be a new and developing internet thang, but what remains important is the social, not the media.  I’ve had several conversations recently about the people, not the technology, and the ideas, not the rules of the game.  There is an evolution in the works and it’s one that is worth discussing more widely.

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Lead the Way?

Here it is.  The day after the election that changed everything.  So what does this new world of Wednesday morning look like?

If you take the long view, as I do, it looks about the same as Tuesday.  Just as surely as everyone pronounced the Republican Party dead two years ago, the conventional wisdom has turned to call the Democrats and President Obama powerless.  These events must all mean something, yes?

No, not really.

Events are one thing, people are another.  Without leadership none of this will matter.

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Feminine Power

With the election of Dilma Rousseff as President of Brazil, the fifth largest nation on earth joins the ranks of those who have had women as leaders.  It’s not a short list.  Nations as diverse as Chile, India, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Germany, and Canada can make this claim as well.  Other major nations, like the USofA, seem to be a long way off before they reach this milestone – but you can never tell.

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Spooky Season

It’s scary season!  The doorbell rings, and it’s another zombie or pumpkinhead or witch begging for something sweet.  No, I’m not talking about Halloween, I’m talking about the scary thing that comes after it – the election.

If you ever doubted our Founding Fathers had a sense of humor, keep in mind how that Election Day is right after Samhain, the Celtic festival when the land of the dead comes the closest to our mortal plain.  Is it possible that they wouldn’t mind votes coming from graveyards?

Like Halloween, an election is nothing if you can’t make fun of it.  Don’t be scared, join in the fun!  There are many ways to do it.

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