Category Archives: ideas

ideas, Quality, Relationship

Best Practices for Commenting – Say What You Mean

epicfailToo often we come across badly informed opinions or just sloppy writing in what we are reading on the Internet. The most obvious choice is to move on quickly to our next destination/blog post.

But what if we were to say exactly what we  are thinking?

For example that a blog post is incorrect or badly written and cite the relevant sources to back up our information. A critical comment can be ten times as valuable as a general “oh this is interesting” or not commenting at all when you think it is poor.

Comments  speak volumes about us all in a positive way be them positive or negative in meaning.

Below is a slightly adapted take on what I wrote to a group that  I am member of that discusses social media.

There is a balance to be struck in my view. Obviously I do not expect anyone to push something that they do not like or agree with. With commenting you can always express that point of view you if  you think it is not very good etc. Hence why I prefer comments rather than social bookmarking. (digg, delicious,  Stumble Upon)

Social bookmarking is a one way action but it fundamentally express the middle road. In the sense you can not vote downwards. Maybe blogs should implement that sort of tool. If we are voting and it is not having any noticeable effect on our thoughts than maybe it is better to make a comment.

Honest criticism and voting does give a meaning to what we are doing in this medium.

If one is too busy  to do it, than does it really matter if you read it all?

I also run a company, study law and have a Son. If  I am going to do something, I am going to make sure it has an effect.

Ask a Question, ideas

Small Elections – Making them Effective

2 Comments

Should societies be allowed to represent institutions when they hold ineffective elections with a low turn out?

I presume the point of any society is to represent its members and their area of interest on a wider scale. (this idea is  open to debate) . If  members feel that elections are a more a popularity contest and by this a mean that by influencing the vote and winning the competition it will make them more popular. It makes a mockery of the society and its stated aims.  A lot more could be done to insure that fair elections are held in small societies and committees.

int_00_elections-day

A considerable amount of time is taken by  people standing to prepare speeches and ideas and they should be judged on their contribution to the societies and the ideas that they put forward. If they feel that the process was a ineffective and due to a number of predetermined votes that have been decided before and are able to shift the balance of the outcome these elections. The society will never attract the best calibre of candidates.

If people come there purely to vote on the basis of agreement than on what each candidate can offer. The ultimate result is  that people that can make a considerable contribution end up feeling short changed and mistrust the process which creates a negative and  ineffective society.

Something that I would like to see implemented across all societies but for certain in smaller societies is block voting clause in the constitution to safe guard against this practise.

For a example a team of 8 people that have block voted in election from a total of 27 votes. Could insure that 5 members of that particular team that may be  standing gain a place on the committee . If one mathematically breaks this down it shows that they achieved a guaranteed 25 percent of the vote. by this practise. Which is an unfair advantaged for any other candidate standing not adopting such a practise.

This link explains that theory on a bigger scale

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plurality_at_large

Constitutions of societies could also be changed so that if one considers the elections to be unfair they have some sort of readdress, ultimately decided by the current exec or an independent panel. For example, If the ballot papers were named and there appears 8 papers with the exact same voting pattern it should be easily identifiable as weather some thing is amiss considering the current election factors.  With out doing something about block voting, societies will never engage and represent all the people they are suppose to. It is important for it to be seen to be fair and just and give people the idea that are being represented by a democratic process and want to get involved in the societies activities.

Another idea is to raise the minimum percentage number that needs to be present at an election before it is binding. With out at least 40 percent of the members voting. Is it representative?

The last idea is to invoke active and non active member voting rights. Where members only gain voting rights provided that you have been present at a number of the society’s events as a whole.

ideas

Well Done Mr Obama

Mr Obama has done very well to get his stimulus package through both legislative houses in America. Bill Clinton in comparison failed in 1993 to get mere 16 billion through. There is lot at stake at the moment not only the economic recovery but also the integrity on a political leader to deliver on his promise.

Mr Obama methods could not be more contrasting to the out going republican administration who pursued a policy that America could dictate it’s terms to the world. With American debt spiralling out of control Mr Obama has realised that this is no longer case. It is sad reflection that would think that table banging politics could ever work. Mr Obama’s policy of bipartisan is still currently being subject to spoilt child tactics of the republicans. Who if they can not get there way take their ball and refuse to play.

He is on the right track. Better to engage although more costly and time consuming and win the battle of minds. There is only so much one can do. Without general consent it has no credibility. The key is how does one engage all parties. Choosing your method is critical, than again if it does not work you can always try another one. Cleary Mr Obama’s methode has worked.

ideas, Quality

Ted – Inspired Talks by The World’s Greatest Thinkers and Doers

1 Comment

I know that it has been around for a while. For the last couple of weeks I have been watching more and more videos that they have put up on UTube. I figured that it was worth a mention here as it was innovative and still quite new. Some of these great speakers that Ted promote are talking about everything from science to environment to blogging and are interesting quality video posts. They can match the BBC at its most interesting. Each web episode is about 20 to 30 minutes and is usual sponsored by a major blue chip company like BMW. It is interesting that such episodes to do with walking and the environment are sponsored by a potential causes of the damages such as car manufactures. May be it is there way of positive branding. Not that BMW needs to do positive branding as their cars are considered to be the best. I guess all in all it works. Highly recommend having a peek at the catalogue.

http://www.ted.com

Here is a taster about Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor, when she had an opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: One morning, she realized she was having a massive stroke.

ideas

When plan A doesn’t work, what than?

Just came across this on the Prospectus website, which caught my attention. So they must be doing something right.

http://www.prospects.ac.uk Prospect is a career website for university graduates.

“It was Albert Einstein, himself no stranger to the occasional crazy concept, who claimed that insanity was doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Whilst this isn’t exactly the sort of definition you’d expect a mental health professional to agree with, it’s certainly true that continually banging your head against a wall and expecting anything other than a headache seems a little daft. That’s why if you find yourself in the position where several months after graduation you are still trying to get your Plan A to work it might be time to accept that you could do with a Plan B.”

This philosopher can be applied to business. My own philosopher is to say yes untill you are too busy to say yes anymore. Thoughts.

business, development, E-Commerce, ideas, money, Relationship

Content Is No Longer King, It Is Who You Know Offline

3 Comments

I have been thinking for a while how to differentiate ones self from the super competitive internet market. The closely held maxim that content is king deserves to be re-examined.

I have recently been doing a lot of research and study into Law. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the amount of information on the internet relating the subject is more than sufficient. In this academic study where there is little commercial interest and expertise in generating Law content, I found the internet has more than enough sources.

My bet is that if you created a website which is well written and has truly informative content, you may have already missed the boat. This is purely in regards to search engine traffic and becoming an authoritative source on the internet.

Go any to any search engine and type in these words; blogging, How to blog, biz development, I would be very surprised if any blogger came on the first page except possibly A listers, or a blog that has been around for some considerable time.

There is no hard or fast solution here, first it is important to get to the facts.

It is no longer possible with millions of pages being created on the internet for Google to index yours at the top.

We must ask ourselves some questions:

If a tree falls in a forest with no one to hear it, does it make a sound?

My own suggestion is that we possibly have to start moving to a more local applied use of blogging and use of information on the internet.

For example, small offline groups/communities in your particular area brought online by people they know. It is so much more interesting when you have met the person. You may than be able to gauge your audience and ultimately interact much better. So in my case it would a sales/business development that I would find and bring it online. Connecting to local people.

Thoughts?