I've been accused of being a sissy!
Two posts ago, I raised the question of whether or not blogs would ever find a home in corporate America.
A fabulous discussion erupted, with more than 40 people weighing in with their opinions. At the end, as it was winding down, I commented about how much I enjoyed the discussion, and agreed with what people were saying.
I got this e-mail from a 'fan':
'Bedwetter!! Sissy pants!! Waffling little wuss boy! How can you 'agree with everyone' when there were different opinions out there, you afraid-to-take-a-stand loser?'
I want to go on the record as saying I've never been afraid to take a stand. It's just that I was able to see the common arguments in the debate.
1. First, everyone agreed that blogs are a wonderful piece of technology that could serve many different purposes inside an organization. If anyone would have said, 'Blogs will never work inside any organization,' I would have taken a stand on their stupid heads and stomped them into the ground with their own stupidity . . . because blogs are already being used to great purpose in some companies, like IBM.
2. Second, everyone agreed that blogs are just another tool, another channel, and that we have to find the right place to use them. Blog Champion Shel Holtz is the first one to say that blogs need to be a part of a bigger strategy—and that you shouldn't try to do one just because you think the technology is cool.
3. Third, everyone agreed that at some organizations, they will probably never take hold. The culture will just never allow it.
4. Fourth, everyone agreed that if you have the right executive, an executive blog could work. Am I wrong about this? Is there someone out there saying that if you get a CEO who is personable and charismatic, who is willing to commit to a blog, and can write it in his own voice and deal with the interaction, that it wouldn't be a good thing? Of course not! My point is that those CEOs are hard to come by, and I don't think anyone would disagree with that.
To me, the whole debate wasn't black and white. It wasn't us versus them. It was a good discussion about blogs inside organizations.
So I am not, for the record, a bedwetting, sissified, waffling little loser. Am I?
Comments (16)
I'll take a guess that this e-mail was from someone that knows you Steve. I can’t believe that one could throw so many accurate descriptions of you around from reading a little blog posting.
Posted by Andy | June 22, 2005 11:47 AM
Posted on June 22, 2005 11:47
Et tu, Andy?
Posted by steve c. | June 22, 2005 12:06 PM
Posted on June 22, 2005 12:06
As wacko and unbalanced as you are, Steve, I have a hell of a lot more respect for you than for an anonymous sissy-critic. I'll take my chances on the unbalanced wacko who reveals his name.
Posted by Robert J Holland | June 23, 2005 11:39 AM
Posted on June 23, 2005 11:39
Well, Steve, no one can say that you don't affect people. :-) Even the negative responses mean that people are reading what you had to say, and it turn, reading what others had to say. One can only hope that your heckler picked up more from the whole thread than "steve is waffling wussy boy" - so in that respect, you've done your job.
Have a great day!
Posted by Rebecca, Julie's friend | June 23, 2005 12:39 PM
Posted on June 23, 2005 12:39
DATE: 06/22/2005 03:62:7P PM
I'm sorry Steve:-(
I just have this vague recollection of being beat up by a “Brute” while my arm was broken in a sling. Hmm, I wonder who that was?
Posted by Andy | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 06/22/2005 11:11:8P PM
you're still not taking much of a stand
Posted by a fan | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 06/22/2005 19:02:6P PM
Steve,
You may be a sissy, but you are also one hell of a communicator who knows his @#$E ! Sure, anyone can through around derogatory words. Part of a communicator’s job I think is to provoke thought and discussion about a subject. And that is what you did. I personally found the Web blog conversation fascinating. Taking a stand isn’t everything, is it? Look what happened to Custer.
Posted by Mark | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 06/22/2005 20:14:5P PM
And I suppose "a fan" is taking a stand? The sissy-boy/girl loser commie pinko won't even reveal his/her name! :-D
Posted by Robert J Holland | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 06/23/2005 32:35:1P PM
What is your running obsession with sexual orientation, girly men, Neverland and toilets? Is this a frat house blog?
Dare I reveal the questions you actually ask once you've had a few drinks...
Posted by Charles Pizzo | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 06/23/2005 39:03:6P PM
Nice to see you have a position on internal blogging and that you can take a joke. Shameless promo; We provide tools/services - Ideascape - so organizations can blog internally. Eventually, fear and greed will drive most business to adopt social software. Thanks for sharing you thoughts!
Jim Wilde
www.advancinginsights.com/mybiz/blog
Posted by jim wilde | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 06/23/2005 73:12:4A PM
Robert . . . you leave my "a fan" alone. Many of the people who read this blog and my other columns are rightfully ashamed to acknowledge me in any way for fear of losing all credibility within their organizations, so we need to respect their privacy.
Steve
Posted by steve c. | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 06/24/2005 29:93:9P PM
I'll bet "a fan" is a smarmy frat boy. :-)
Posted by Robert J Holland | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 06/24/2005 73:15:6A PM
Chuckie P:
Call me immature, call me unprofessional, call me stupid, call me bald and fat. . . . but do NOT call me a frat boy. I hate frat boys. My greatest memories of college in Northern Illinois University was when I was tending bar and I got to throw the smarmy little rich spoiled frat boys out on their asses.
Apologize, please, or I will have my second contact your second to set up the time and place for a duel.
And more importantly . . . Jim: Could you e-mail me directly? I'd love to talk about the services you provide, and hear about how some of your clients are using internal blogging.
I'm at steve@crescenzocommunications.com
Posted by steve c. | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 06/24/2005 81:54:7A PM
Hmm...smarmy frat boy. this has a vaguely familiar ring to it. Now if I could just remember where I heard it before.....
Posted by Craig Jolley | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 06/28/2005 08:20:0P PM
I just wanna know what Steve's been asking Charles after a few drinks. Dammit, how'd I miss all the fun in Vegas? Oh, I remember... my pursuit of Fat Elvis.... sigh...
Posted by Joan in Alaska | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 06/30/2005 63:64:1A PM
Maybe he really meant wafflewetting....
Regardless, I still enjoy reading your work Steve, and besides, his e-mail allowed the discussion to continue (albeit with a slightly different twist)
Posted by Mike C. | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31