The Buzz Bin

Mar
14
2008

When Did We All Become Eagles Fans?

I’m sure most of you have seen the many posts and have probably even discussed the SxSW Sarah Lacy interview with Facebook CEO Zuckerberg by now. Attendees’ barbarian behavior reminds one of an Eagles game, where fans are tried and persecuted by Johnny Law in the stadium (thanks to Jonah for this topic). Yes, raised in Philly, I can see the similarities, but was glad that batteries weren’t used… this time (image by steveso).

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Not familiar with Philly fans?  Here’s a brief taste from the Washington Times:

  • Eagles fans famously blasted Santa Claus with a shower of snowballs at halftime of a game as St. Nick circled helplessly around the field before stadium officials rescued him.
  • In 1999, fans jeered Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin as he lay on the field for 20 minutes, suffering from a neck injury that ended his career.
  • That same year, fans threw D batteries at St. Louis Cardinals outfielder J.D. Drew, who held out for a year after the Phillies drafted him and eventually signed with the Cards instead.
  • Matthew Scott, the only person in the United States to have received a hand transplant, was asked by the Phillies to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the team’s home opener in 1999. The pitch, from his transplanted hand, dribbled over the plate. The fans booed.

This is not a defense of Sarah Lacy. It’s a commentary about our — the social media community’s perception — and how it’s behavior reinforces that perception.

Just to recap what happened, according to Robert Scoble:

Audience members had taken over the interview and Lacy made things worse by trying to argue with them about how well the interview was going. The audience had decided that it wasn’t going well. Later Lacy rubbed it in, by Twittering: “seriously screw all you guys. I did my best to ask a range of things.” She also went on YouTube to try to explain what happened to her from her perspective.

We had turned into assholes. It wasn’t just the back of the room, either. Nor was it just the overflow room. People in the front of the room were yelling out questions. The entire audience erupted for a 26-second applause line when Zuckerberg asked Lacy to ask questions (which confused Lacy, because she was unaware that the audience had been turning against her).

Arrington dubbed it a "witch burning." A similar hijacking behavior pattern broke out at the metrics panel. And it’s hard not to think of last winter’s Gizmodo hijacking incident at CES.

Perception Is Reality

When we talk about the lack of control in communications, we teach our clients that perception is reality. And if that’s the case then the Eagles analogy fits.

viking-thumb As someone who has to constantly explain what social media and blogging is to business people and baby boomers, I am always facing a perception of an unruly horde. People are afraid of us. Not just because we can say and do anything, but because we often fulfill this image. 

Freedom of speech brings great power, in turn delivering responsibility.  Responsibility in social media worlds works like this. Act responsibly (meaning write, report, shoot video, attend conferences in civil fashion) with substance and get rewarded. Act like a barbarian, and well, yeah, your social media buds may slap you on the back. But you won’t rise to the top. You’ll be just another member of the angry mob.

2124133762_ff9f141537 It’s easy to become drunk on unbridled freedom and power.  And unfortunately, because some acted like drunks, we will all be perceived as such. We as an industry acted down to the stereotype (Image by frantz).

Instead of the barrage of heckling at a professional conference, next time just walk out and write the post.  

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by Geoff Livingston | Social Networks |

8 Responses to “When Did We All Become Eagles Fans?”

  • Rich Becker Says:

    March 14th, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    Interesting write up Geoff. I wouldn’t have never known without reading it here.

    I’m glad you’re not defending Lacy. She’s a fine reporter, but if you watch carefully, she lead with a statement, engages the audience first, and reacts to almost every heckle. It could have been anyone taking her approach with any group and possibly ended the same.

    Best,
    Rich

  • Eric Eggertson Says:

    March 14th, 2008 at 8:51 pm

    You lousy bum! Yer writing stinks, and so do you!

  • Geoff Livingston Says:

    March 15th, 2008 at 7:26 am

    Rich: No doubt SxSW and Lacy tried to control the session and that came across clearly.

    Eric: Spoken like a true Philadelphian!

  • Now Is Gone ยป The Bad, The Ugly and The Good Says:

    March 17th, 2008 at 12:10 am

    […] yeah! The prototypical crazy blogger! This meets the general executive perception of a blogger, a member of an unruly horde. People are […]

  • Jason Hargrove Says:

    March 18th, 2008 at 2:11 pm

    // My take

    The energy was meant for Zuckerberg, as there are a lot of fears and excitements surrounding FB. Lacy stood in the way of the mob and their quarry. The organizers should have placed a strong mediator there, or put someone on stage when they saw it spiraling out of control. Hold the mob solely accountable? Or the organizers who really should understand mob mentality? Hmm.

    We’re talking about one of the most passionate and sensitive industries in the world. And relatively inexperienced, in terms of social practice and behavior in business. Arguably, it could be that this sort of openness and accountability is a new standard. That’s what our industry brings to media, why would we expect the heart and soul to be any different in real life?

    // Regarding the comments about Boomers and business

    I struggle with this issue as well. Though I have absolutely no insecurity about perception. Perception is a problem of today, not tomorrow. Asking our industry to change who they are to appease an aging population is backwards. It just ain’t gonna happen. There’s a strong dynamic between Gen X and the boomers that cannot be ignored in this conversation. That dynamic is the very heart of what this industry is founded on. Who’s to say that any of us really care if traditional business looks upon us with scorn? It’s most likely that we actually take pride in that.

    // To future presenters, “Know your audience.”

    This industry is true Revenge of the Nerds. We grew up on this stuff and were subject to second and third class citizens for it. There’s an exuberance and elation that comes with the rising profile. An entire industry of angst-filled rock stars.

    The behavior? Inexcusable, perhaps to some. But to vast others it will be celebrated. No matter how you look at it, it’s understandable. And I think that we can expect to see more of this for some time, whilst we’re all trying to get a handle on where this new world is going.

    So to the media hoping to serve this group moving forward, “Surprise! You’re going to have to change your approach drastically.”

    Jason
    http://www.twitter.com/jasonhargrove

    PS__

    I also don’t think that it’s appropriate to compare throwing snowballs and D-batteries (or any other physical mob violence) to this situation. These audience members are not hooligans. They’re passionate and dedicated professionals who vocally reject the song and dance. They’re blunt and to the point. No time for irrelevance.

    I side with them.

  • Geoff Livingston Says:

    March 18th, 2008 at 2:20 pm

    Thanks for your thoughts, Jason. It’s always good to have a differing opinion.

  • Jason Hargrove Says:

    March 18th, 2008 at 2:58 pm

    And thank you for the post! My contributions are more business psychology than tech side, something I don’t think it talked about enough. Conversations like this will help bridge that perceptual gap you referred to.

  • Things I learned at SXSW 2008 | MindBites the Blog Says:

    March 25th, 2008 at 11:08 am

    […] blog comment to catch up on this. addthis_url = […]

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