Comments on: Sourcing the crowd at SMB Ottawa

By: Scott Lansing

Scott Lansing — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:36:02 +0000

I often wonder about Twitter etiquette during live conferences and events. Granted I don’t have the means to Tweet from my phone (too expensive for the time being and don’t have my iPhone yet), it’s a great way to monitor live commentary. Hopefully people are mature and respectful enough to remain civil with their Tweets, especially if the feed is projected for all to see, as I would think great spontaneous discussions could stem from this live commentary.

If microblogging during an event at which you’re attending is becoming more of a norm, is text messaging allowed as well? I personally think it’s rude for people to text during meetings, presentations or classes, as it detracts their attention from the subject at hand, but I don’t feel this way about Tweeting during the same events, even though it’s difficult to tell the two apart from across the room.

By: Mike Spear

Mike Spear — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:44:49 +0000

I just came ot of our Board meeting where I was asked to present on our social media investments. We are a non-profit with a Facebook application ( give a gene all of you ! ), blog, and twitter regularly. No one on our Board uses any of those tools yet they are well educated and technology savvy scientists, researchers and politicians.
Bu they get where it fits in the scheme of things. They certainly want to make sure that we don’t fall into an either/or category of our outreach and awareness activites and that one compliments the other but overall they ‘get it’.
I couldn’t aks for a more supportive Board who even ask if I’m still having fun.
And yes …. I twittered some comments during the Board meeting !

By: melgallant

melgallant — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:35:55 +0000

Hi Mike – thanks for your comment. You point out something that is also echoed in Joe Boughner’s post following SMB (he links to his post just above your comment.)

Thing is. We in this space do get a little myopic and forget there are conferences where Twitter is not displayed on a screen for all to ooh and awe over.

I see social media as a way to augment face-to-face communication. Not replace it. But if we do act exclusionary and ignore the frustration of those not a part of our online conversations, then we deserve the criticism we (and the tools) receive from the so-called “non-converted.”

Thanks to you and Joe for pointing out what we need to be reminded of.

By: Mike Spear

Mike Spear — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:56:38 +0000

“Most conferences project the Twitter stream on a screen. ”
Bob where the heck do you all go to conferences? I have never been to one where it is projected onto the screen and I’ve been putting on a lot of miles lately.
I’ve also been following many of these discussion, blogs and tweets, and was at the conf in Toronto that got Joseph into the ‘Twitterequette mode.
Could it be that the Twitter ’till you drop practice at conferences is more of a social media conference thing ?
At a meeting of scientists and journalists in Washington D.C. – no Twitter. At a subsequent genetics seminar in the D.C. Press Club – no Twitter. At the recent annual meeting of Beef Producers in Calgary – no Twitter. At the Social Media conference in Toronto – lots of Twitter , none on the screen. Ditto for the one in Calgary. The Genomics conference in Vancouver – no Twitter. Last MESH in Toronto – lots of Twitter, none on the screen.
Problem is that the social media hookah pipe we often share together kinda clouds what the rest of the world is doing.
If we believe that a roomful of separate ‘conversations’ is better than a single focused and ongoing interplay of ideas then Twitter away.
But I think it would be a treat if authentic conversation turned out to be among a group of people making eye contact, watching body language, giving people the floor when needed, and exchanging ideas while laughing and maybe even crying together.

By: Reflections on SMBOttawa 5 : 42 Points on a Double Word Score

Reflections on SMBOttawa 5 : 42 Points on a Double Word Score — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:38:50 +0000

[...] than recap the most recent Social Media Breakfast Ottawa from memory, I will just point you to Mel Gallant’s great post and stick instead with my take-away thoughts based on what was [...]

By: Bloggeries

Bloggeries — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:45:28 +0000

Great recap Mel!

I really liked the style of today’s breakfast. I also don’t think it’s rude to tweet while at a conference. It helps give info to people who can’t make the event for any number of reasons. (Cost, family, health, weather, bus strike etc…)

If I was a speaker and people were tweeting it I’d be happy since it’s expanding the reach of my words which ultimately I’m interested in or I wouldn’t be speaking in the first place.

I’d rather someone tweeting in the audience then straight day dreaming or doodling a “things to do list” on the pads.

I also think in today’s world whatever you do will offend someone. So as long as you live by your values you’re good to go.

See you in January if not sooner,
Rob

By: David Leonhardt

David Leonhardt — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:35:58 +0000

Thanks to the bus strike, the city was nearly blockaded. But I caught the tail end of the discussions. It was quite invigorating.

By: Gilbane and SMBOttawa — amanda.ca by Amanda Shiga

Gilbane and SMBOttawa — amanda.ca by Amanda Shiga — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:10:27 +0000

[...] This morning’s Social Media Breakfast was well-attended, despite the OC Transpo bus strike, bad weather, and the fact that the speaker (Bryan Person) was stranded in Boston. The organizers rallied and pulled together an excellent session with Joseph Thornley recapping social media in 2008 and some great audience discussion. As always, lots of friendly schmoozing with the Ottawa community. Mel Gallant’s recap is here. [...]

By: melgallant

melgallant — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:47:54 +0000

Hey Amy, you raise some great questions.

I think b/c much of the social web is self-policing, there is an expectation to act a certain way (ie. contribute value, be authentic, etc.) You certainly don’t have to but I think it helps build your credibility.

It actually took me a while to find “my voice” on Twitter. When I joined a year ago, I didn’t really know the etiquette for site or how to contribute value. So I followed others (literally and figuratively) to sort it out for myself. Communicating online doesn’t have to be that much different from communicating in person, but it’s how you do it (maybe this is the technology learning curve that is required.)

For example, there is a way to do and say things on Twitter. It took me forever how to figure out what hashtags are all about. Now that I understand how to use them, I can follow and join in on deeper conversations, etc. So yes, I think it is “somewhat about the technology.”

But it still comes down to your ability to connect with others in meaningful ways. It’s those interpersonal skills that help the most. My two cents.

By: Recap: Social Media Breakfast Ottawa 5t

Recap: Social Media Breakfast Ottawa 5t — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:37:26 +0000

[...] Sourcing the crowd at SMB Ottawa [...]