Comments on: Making the Virtual Self Real http://www.annezelenka.com/2007/02/making-the-virtual-self-real a blog about the connected age Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:28:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Martin Kenny http://www.annezelenka.com/2007/02/making-the-virtual-self-real#comment-914 Martin Kenny Sun, 11 Feb 2007 11:55:25 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2007/02/making-the-virtual-self-real#comment-914 Reading this, I couldn't help but be reminded, how, as a teenager in the 70's and early-80's, I'd be ringing around the BigCos trying to locate this-or-that piece of computer or electronic componentry. Invariably the person answering the phone would ask "and where are you from?" -- there'd be a bit of a pause, and I'd blurt out "Er..., I'm an individual!" Come to think of it, it would probably still happen today, except that most of my interactions are on the web, now. I guess I'd still have the same answer. I don't want to be defined by where I work, but by what I'm interested in -- or "what I'm excited about", as <a href="http://simonwillison.net/2005/Mar/18/quotes/" rel="nofollow">Simon Willison would say</a>). Reading this, I couldn’t help but be reminded, how, as a teenager in the 70’s and early-80’s, I’d be ringing around the BigCos trying to locate this-or-that piece of computer or electronic componentry. Invariably the person answering the phone would ask “and where are you from?” — there’d be a bit of a pause, and I’d blurt out “Er…, I’m an individual!”

Come to think of it, it would probably still happen today, except that most of my interactions are on the web, now. I guess I’d still have the same answer. I don’t want to be defined by where I work, but by what I’m interested in — or “what I’m excited about”, as Simon Willison would say).

]]> By: ryan http://www.annezelenka.com/2007/02/making-the-virtual-self-real#comment-913 ryan Sat, 10 Feb 2007 19:40:04 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2007/02/making-the-virtual-self-real#comment-913 Ah, your entry has a hidden assumption: that ideas from Gartner or Forrester are worthwhile to begin with! Like the "analysis" on the itunes music store indicating that the sales were slowing down - see http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/12/0357223 which refers to an article in the oh-so-full of it register, which refers to a study by... Forrester! Which was WAY off. Apple released a statement a week later indicating that no, sales were in fact continuing to grow. Here are some more links: the author's blog entry arguing people should not trash him because the press went out of control on his study: http://blogs.forrester.com/devicesmedia/2006/12/itunes_sales_ar.html and his original blog entry outlining the highlights from the research article: http://blogs.forrester.com/devicesmedia/2006/12/is_20_itunes_pe.html The main problem with his study - the sample size was WAY too small, and may suffer from a self-selection or bias problem. Essentially Forrester gets credit card data from "random" americans and then he did an analysis on which households bought itunes music. I don't think there was any serious stats work in the report at all. This is what goes for research at these companies apparently. So, I don't think they represent a really good stick to measure yourself against. PS: I have my WOW shirts and my jeans ready for any conference. Ah, your entry has a hidden assumption: that ideas from Gartner or Forrester are worthwhile to begin with!

Like the “analysis” on the itunes music store indicating that the sales were slowing down - see http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/12/0357223

which refers to an article in the oh-so-full of it register, which refers to a study by… Forrester! Which was WAY off. Apple released a statement a week later indicating that no, sales were in fact continuing to grow.

Here are some more links:
the author’s blog entry arguing people should not trash him because the press went out of control on his study:
http://blogs.forrester.com/devicesmedia/2006/12/itunes_sales_ar.html

and his original blog entry outlining the highlights from the research article:
http://blogs.forrester.com/devicesmedia/2006/12/is_20_itunes_pe.html

The main problem with his study - the sample size was WAY too small, and may suffer from a self-selection or bias problem. Essentially Forrester gets credit card data from “random” americans and then he did an analysis on which households bought itunes music. I don’t think there was any serious stats work in the report at all.

This is what goes for research at these companies apparently. So, I don’t think they represent a really good stick to measure yourself against.

PS: I have my WOW shirts and my jeans ready for any conference.

]]> By: Anne http://www.annezelenka.com/2007/02/making-the-virtual-self-real#comment-912 Anne Fri, 09 Feb 2007 23:55:07 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2007/02/making-the-virtual-self-real#comment-912 Virginia - I'm about words too, and that's probably why I moved onto the web. Now, I feel most comfortable with people who've read my words first and then meet me in person. I feel more real that way. Funny, because someone who didn't like to write might feel the opposite--like having to introduce themselves through writing would obscure their authenticity. "Using the Internet to spread words around has given me a new life." I feel exactly the same... and thus the name of my blog "Anne 2.0." Being able to be me on the web is like a new and improved version of me. Or maybe the me I always was but that I never had a way of expressing before. Virginia - I’m about words too, and that’s probably why I moved onto the web. Now, I feel most comfortable with people who’ve read my words first and then meet me in person. I feel more real that way. Funny, because someone who didn’t like to write might feel the opposite–like having to introduce themselves through writing would obscure their authenticity.

“Using the Internet to spread words around has given me a new life.” I feel exactly the same… and thus the name of my blog “Anne 2.0.” Being able to be me on the web is like a new and improved version of me. Or maybe the me I always was but that I never had a way of expressing before.

]]> By: Craig's Rantings... http://www.annezelenka.com/2007/02/making-the-virtual-self-real#comment-911 Craig's Rantings... Fri, 09 Feb 2007 20:41:17 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2007/02/making-the-virtual-self-real#comment-911 <strong>Virtual Me</strong> I was just reading this post from Anne and it got me thinking about myself and who I am. Many probably don't know but since July 2005 when I started at SAP I became a virtual worker, I actually have a desk and I think there's even a phone on it in... Virtual Me

I was just reading this post from Anne and it got me thinking about myself and who I am.

Many probably don’t know but since July 2005 when I started at SAP I became a virtual worker, I actually have a desk and I think there’s even a phone on it in…

]]> By: Virginia http://www.annezelenka.com/2007/02/making-the-virtual-self-real#comment-910 Virginia Fri, 09 Feb 2007 18:01:40 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2007/02/making-the-virtual-self-real#comment-910 Wow, Anne, I so understand what you are talking about. I often feel the me made of electrcal impulses transmitted through the ether is more real than the physical me. It's almost as if I didn't become a real person until I became an Internet person. I'm a writer, so it's always been about the words for me. The words represent themselves, but the words also express what I consider to be the essential me. Using the Internet to spread words around has given me a new life. Wow, Anne, I so understand what you are talking about. I often feel the me made of electrcal impulses transmitted through the ether is more real than the physical me. It’s almost as if I didn’t become a real person until I became an Internet person.

I’m a writer, so it’s always been about the words for me. The words represent themselves, but the words also express what I consider to be the essential me. Using the Internet to spread words around has given me a new life.

]]> By: Anne http://www.annezelenka.com/2007/02/making-the-virtual-self-real#comment-908 Anne Fri, 09 Feb 2007 14:08:35 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2007/02/making-the-virtual-self-real#comment-908 Hey James, thanks for all the advice/thoughts--I know I can wear what I want, go to what I want, say what I want when people ask me "where did you come from?"--part of the issue is my own internalization of what's appropriate/not, which is mainly why I wrote this. To argue with myself. Happy to argue with you about it too though ;) I suppose if I met with the VCs funding GigaOM there'd be some sort of assumption that someone was above me in the hierarchy... which is one reason why I like the arrangement I have. I probably won't ever meet those VCs. It's easier to meet people as an equal if you're not solely associated with that organization, you become like a node in a network rather than a box in a hierarchy. That's a benefit of being a bridge. Because I play multiple roles across more than one organization, it's impossible pin me down into one place in a particular organizational structure. That's the way I like it. So when I say I don't DO hierarchies it's not to say there aren't hierarchies around me and sometimes I have to engage with those hierarchies too--there's money and information and other good stuff flowing through those pyramids! Your narrative for me is exactly the one I use and it's true. Feels weird to say it out loud though sometimes. Mommyblogging, or momblogging as I prefer, is not exactly the most respected activity on the web these days. Not quite down there with doing porno sites or creating bot-farms to spam everyone, but it doesn't get the respect that tech and political blogging gets. Hey James, thanks for all the advice/thoughts–I know I can wear what I want, go to what I want, say what I want when people ask me “where did you come from?”–part of the issue is my own internalization of what’s appropriate/not, which is mainly why I wrote this. To argue with myself. Happy to argue with you about it too though ;)
I suppose if I met with the VCs funding GigaOM there’d be some sort of assumption that someone was above me in the hierarchy… which is one reason why I like the arrangement I have. I probably won’t ever meet those VCs. It’s easier to meet people as an equal if you’re not solely associated with that organization, you become like a node in a network rather than a box in a hierarchy. That’s a benefit of being a bridge. Because I play multiple roles across more than one organization, it’s impossible pin me down into one place in a particular organizational structure. That’s the way I like it.

So when I say I don’t DO hierarchies it’s not to say there aren’t hierarchies around me and sometimes I have to engage with those hierarchies too–there’s money and information and other good stuff flowing through those pyramids!

Your narrative for me is exactly the one I use and it’s true. Feels weird to say it out loud though sometimes. Mommyblogging, or momblogging as I prefer, is not exactly the most respected activity on the web these days. Not quite down there with doing porno sites or creating bot-farms to spam everyone, but it doesn’t get the respect that tech and political blogging gets.

]]> By: James Governor http://www.annezelenka.com/2007/02/making-the-virtual-self-real#comment-909 James Governor Fri, 09 Feb 2007 12:12:10 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2007/02/making-the-virtual-self-real#comment-909 Wear jeans and skip scheduled dinners, if it makes you feel more comfortable. Jeans are fine. Of course there are jeans, and jeans, but a smart pair is just fine. I often wear a dark pear of jeans and a dark sweater. some people might think that's scruffy but then I don't really care about that. Its probably just part of my rep. For a speaking gig I like to try and be smart, or not, in order to "suit" what the audience is wearing. but for a conference I feel far less pressure. Did people really ask you what your job title was as a matter of course? Perhaps we should get some mini-org charts made... ;-) Its funny because I have a narrative for you that works well, imho. I explain when asked how you were a little burned out on tech after doing the classic Oracle thing (who wasn't burned out in 2000?) but were re-energised by finding like minds through mommy blogging which pulled you into looking at the tools that enabled rich community creation, folks i have talked to come away impressed and wanting to talk to you. Now you're a RedMonk associate and WWD editor. That makes you a bridging person - and therefore extremely valuable. the last seven years weren't dead space, they were, as you say, flesh and blood. Your experiences define you. And I know you know that Sun people value opinions that are not Gartner and Forresters. RedMonk probably had more time with Jonathan than other firms. That should tell you something. We're not exactly the most heavily-buttoned up outfit out there. I personally dislike the khaki and blue shirt uniform (though it pulled me in for a bit) and would rather our men stood out a bit. I would rather we stood out! I think geography is a great thing to talk to. Its something that brings people together. Oh you're from Denver! Oh I love Hawaii you know that place... etc. At least you know where you're from. When people ask me I am always not sure if they mean where where you born, where did you grow up, where do you live now, etc. RedMonk is pretty low on artifice. We're off the charts when it comes to analyst firm authenticity. Hopefully with time you'll come to feel the same way. Have you done any big meetings with Om and his investors, say? I would be a touch surprised if you're absolute peers in all contexts. Wear jeans and skip scheduled dinners, if it makes you feel more comfortable. Jeans are fine. Of course there are jeans, and jeans, but a smart pair is just fine. I often wear a dark pear of jeans and a dark sweater. some people might think that’s scruffy but then I don’t really care about that. Its probably just part of my rep.

For a speaking gig I like to try and be smart, or not, in order to “suit” what the audience is wearing. but for a conference I feel far less pressure.

Did people really ask you what your job title was as a matter of course? Perhaps we should get some mini-org charts made… ;-)
Its funny because I have a narrative for you that works well, imho. I explain when asked how you were a little burned out on tech after doing the classic Oracle thing (who wasn’t burned out in 2000?) but were re-energised by finding like minds through mommy blogging which pulled you into looking at the tools that enabled rich community creation, folks i have talked to come away impressed and wanting to talk to you. Now you’re a RedMonk associate and WWD editor. That makes you a bridging person - and therefore extremely valuable.

the last seven years weren’t dead space, they were, as you say, flesh and blood. Your experiences define you.

And I know you know that Sun people value opinions that are not Gartner and Forresters. RedMonk probably had more time with Jonathan than other firms. That should tell you something. We’re not exactly the most heavily-buttoned up outfit out there.

I personally dislike the khaki and blue shirt uniform (though it pulled me in for a bit) and would rather our men stood out a bit.

I would rather we stood out!

I think geography is a great thing to talk to. Its something that brings people together. Oh you’re from Denver! Oh I love Hawaii you know that place… etc.

At least you know where you’re from. When people ask me I am always not sure if they mean where where you born, where did you grow up, where do you live now, etc.

RedMonk is pretty low on artifice. We’re off the charts when it comes to analyst firm authenticity. Hopefully with time you’ll come to feel the same way.

Have you done any big meetings with Om and his investors, say? I would be a touch surprised if you’re absolute peers in all contexts.

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