I can’t just leave well enough alone, so I’m going to jump in and stir the pot with both feet (or something):

This article came out last week, featuring the innovators of Vancouver’s Social Media scene. That’s cool – social media is the hot new bandwagon for companies to jump on, and for once I agree that it’s a useful and increasingly important thing. I don’t have an issue with the article, or the people who were featured – but the pictures are driving me crazy.

I know most of those people, whether in passing or in their underwear. They do not look like that! Take Monica (#13), for example – she is gorgeous and warm and personable, yet the pictures do not do her – or any of the others – justice. I mentioned this on Twitter, and the general consensus is that the photographers were going for “rock star aloofness” with the images, and I have a huge problem with that.

It’s SOCIAL Media. The emphasis is on the SOCIAL part. Taking glorified mug shots of people in some downright unattractive photos and saying “here are the key players in Vancouver’s Social Media scene!” is a joke, and does no favours for anyone. The Vancouver SM scene is already seen as cliquish and difficult to break into – god knows I’ve been trying for years and I’m barely above a non-entity – and these images are supposed to convey a sense of welcoming to others? I don’t see these images and think “these are the people I want to know; they can help me turn my business into a buzz word!”; I think “I would hate to meet any of these people in a dark alley”.

I don’t understand why they needed to go for aloof. Was it too much to make these “innovators” look somewhat welcoming? These are the people that others are going to look towards for the next big thing. The photographers managed to make their subjects look downright intimidating, dour and unfriendly. Maybe they were going for edgy – look at these people who are masters of social media but haha they want to punch you in the kidneys – but I just don’t get it. To me, it comes across as a big disservice to everything Social Media is supposed to stand for.

Maybe I’m too old school. Maybe I’m doing Social Media all wrong. Maybe it’s NOT about the people, but the image. To me, Social Media is about sharing information and building relationships, not mass murder and bodies chopped up with a hatchet so they fit into the freezer. But what do I know? I’m not an innovator; I’m just some girl who likes to smile and make friends.

so•cial – adjective

1. pertaining to, devoted to, or characterized by friendly companionship or relations: a social club.
2. seeking or enjoying the companionship of others; friendly; sociable; gregarious.
3. of, pertaining to, connected with, or suited to polite or fashionable society: a social event.
4. living in companionship with others or in a community, rather than in isolation: People are social beings.
5. of or pertaining to human society, esp. as a body divided into classes according to status: social rank.
6. involved in many social activities: We’re so busy working, we have to be a little less social now.

look at me, i'm an innovator!

Today I am .. uncomfortable.

My entire person is out of whack today – I’m grumpy for no discernible reason; my eyes feel like they don’t belong in my head, and there’s a hole in my sweater. I have a lot of things to look forward to, but right now I’m just anxious about everything. All I want to do is go home and hide under the covers with a cat or three. Is that so much to ask?

Ed is going on a business trip tomorrow morning. It’s a short one – he’ll be back Thursday – but I’m kind of excited about the house to myself for a couple of nights. It would be nice to pretend I have nefarious plans for that time, but I really don’t – I envision a lot of naked Pokémon (not a euphemism) and cram crafting for this Friday’s DIY Night at the MOV. Oh yeah. My life is a thrill a minute.

I will revisit the internet when I am in a better frame of mind and/or as soon as something ridiculous happens.