When I first started exploring this thing we call social media nearly 
three years ago, I don’t think that there was a day that went by that I didn’t learn something new from the opinions of folks just like you or me around the web. I was thrilled to see people debating issues in the open and getting to answers through constructive conversations.
Flip forward to 2011 and for some reason I keep repeating a rhyme I learned in my grandmother’s Jersey City kitchen:
Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep, and can’t tell where to find them; Leave them alone, and they’ll come home, wagging their tails behind them.
You probably remember the prose and some of the other verses about some lost sheep. If someone knows how to get in touch with Bo Peep, I can fill her in on where her sheep are congregating – on social media.
In the closing months of 2010 and early term of the New Year, the space that was once a beacon of originality of thoughts in action into action has become bland. While there are still meaningful conversations and thoughts to be had, it is more difficult to see them in streams of information flooded with retweets, blog posts and event and other hashtags merely rehashing the verbatim of the speaker de jour. This often mindless and blind behavior would surely have helped Bo Peep keep an eye on her flock.
Now this is not a shot across the bow to the speakers as I am sure the content is awesome, especially when you hear it for the first time, but rather the folks who follow them as if they were gods and their words gospel. These folks are often the first to jump on someone else in the community at large who questions the thinking of the golden calves or their blind allegiance about an idea that was blogged, tweeted or shared with something like “X speaks on all kinds of panels and has tens of thousands of readers/followers/retweets so I think they know more than you.”
People can improve the way they utilize the space by doing one simple thing – thinking.
By that I don’t mean thinking about whether or not to click send, post, Tweet, etc., but rather adding your own two cents to something. If a conference speaker gives a great sound bite or two, take a second to digest it. How can it apply to you or your business? If you are going to blog about it, give some insight as to how it inspired you and if you Tweet it or share on Facebook, give some context as to why it’s important. The same holds true for sharing articles, insight you see is what makes social media social, otherwise it’s just link sharing. I for one will be more likely if I see an enticing lead in than a simple link share.
On the other hand, if you disagree with something that you heard at an event, read on a blog or saw Tweeted, make your case. You might have the answer that is more applicable to the subject or an angle that the author or speaker had not considered and may agree with. Nothing starts a better conversation than two educated and different view points on a topic.
The world is your oyster and the ball is in your court. All it takes is thinking for yourself and offering a unique voice. If you’re not up for it, I won’t tell Bo Peep where you’re hiding.
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Jeff I couldn’t agree more however their are some folks that are not sheep but you have to dig to find them. They usually aren’t making so much noise on social networks and promoting themselves constantly because they are too busy creating and working. Unfortunately the loudest voice seems to be heard by the masses. The part that is the most unfortunate is that many great companies out there may never work with any of these gems because they can’t spot the difference.
@lulula I completely agree with you and actually have a lot of folks that I talk to on a regular basis through a variety of networks that get it and are of a similar mindset. The mob mentality is what gets me. Look at last week when Quora finally tipped the scales and hit some mass. How many posts have you seen on how it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread?
There is a certain amount of confidence required for original thinking, via tweet, blog, comment, etc., knowing that one could be discredited, ridiculed or at the least, ignored. And there’s the laziness factor – it *is* easy to nod and agree with an established thought. Still not an excuse. Great post Jeff.
@TracyLMurray It is a shame because for the most part folks have just become way too lazy. Independent thoughts are something that is needed, even from the golden folks 🙂
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