Alan Gutierrez

Originally, I posted this in the comments of another blog, but want it as a point of reference.

How does someone engage with the industry about (one specific example of) real world use of social networking, without being overwhelmed by the Web 2.0 nonsense?

I’ve been teaching people how to use blogging to tell stories about their recovery in New Orleans. Stories and information sharing. People who’ve taken interest in my project in the industry have this horrifying attitude:

I couldn’t help but notice that you’ve created a user base, you obviously have not heard of the transformative power of (tagging / rss / podcasting / ajax). Have you told your user base about the exciting new startup datataggr.tv? You enter in all you contact information, the contact information of everyone you know, and then you (tag it/syndicate it/podcast it/jax off to it). It empowers your user base to be empowered.

Seeing as how there is no cost to me to have you deploy, endorse, or provide technical support for datataggr.tv, there must be no cost to you to do the same.

I’m sure that if you set people in front of datataggr.tv they will gladly spend hours exploring the user interface, divulging personal secrets, and that they will forgo their recovery planning meetings, coffee klatches, lunches, church services, mardi gras krewe parties, jazz concerts, and second line parades so that they can build their social network.

I can’t tell you how many times someone sends me a link to a startup website and says, hey bonehead, you need to sign people up to this one. Extra groan for each instance of the word empower.

I’ve got a nonprofit with a mission and it’s not to provide startups with beta-testers.

I know that some of these startups end up getting sold on eBay, with Dukes of Hazzard lunch boxes. How can someone seriously suggest that I direct people to pour their post-K recovery stories into the latest Web 2.0 information orifice?

I flog Flickr and WordPress. I’m thrilled when someone who attends a workshop actually starts to post entries in their new recovery journal, or neighborhood newsletter, (not a blog, it’s a FUD word).

I’ve answered my own question. It’s that stupid long tail again.