The Negative Gets Amplified

I've been reading both Jeff Jarvis and Alan Meckler for a while now. Jeff gets a boatload of traffic, comments and readers. Alan gets a bit. Jeff is one of the most prodigious and respected bloggers. Justifiably, so. And Alan is CEO of Jupiter Media.  I am not exactly impressed with Alan's blog. It is cool that he is a CEO and blogs. But, Alan employs a few analyst bloggers that are far more insightful than he is. Anyways, they both are doing pretty well. In different ways.

I didn't expect to be a link in the chain from Alan to Jeff. But, that is what happened today.

I linked to this post where Alan calls out some business people for not honoring a hand shake agreement.  (Jeff picked it up.) Obviously, I am not one to shy away from calling people out. But, lately, with the pulpit that I have now, I have been shying away more and more. It isn't because I am afraid of the consequences. I really don't have much to lose. It is because I am not sure where it gets any of us. (In fact, I think it can make some people look like bigger assholes idiots themselves for calling people out.) And I'd rather be known for the innovative things that I am involved with. Not the inciteful barbs I throw. 

But, one thing is for sure: The negative gets amplified a lot faster than the positive.

So... just so you know: YOU SUCK! AND I LOVE YOU.

Update: Related by Scoble:

That takes me to another thing I've been thinking about lately. The Internet citizens often like tearing someone or something down rather than propping up stuff. I have done that in the past and I'm sorry about doing it.

Me too! I'll still tear things down. But, it'll be people that can handle it. And only when they deserve it. I think I've been a champion of propping things up for a long time. But, will strive to focus on that more.

Comments

[Sooz]

"... I am not sure where it gets any of us. (In fact, I think it can make some people look like bigger idiots themselves for calling people out.) And I'd rather be known for the innovative things that I am involved with. Not the inciteful barbs I throw."

I've been thinking about this notion a *lot* lately. Use your powers for good not evil. :)