I attended the Churchill Club's "Blogging and Social Networking: Who Cares" panel last night in Palo Alto. I don't have time for the full skinny now (nor do I intend to spew pages of notes, but over the weekend I'll gather just a few highlights and share). Can't wait - here's an audioblog via Eric Rice.
The thing I wanted to say now was that I haven't been attending many events the last few months because I already know everything...ok, I'm just working a lot of hours and the LAST thing I want to do in the evening (if I'm not still working or blogging) is hear a one-dimensional talking head. Normally, it's not a big deal and I almost always get something of value from even "boring" speakers and panels. I'm an event junkie most times. But I just can't drag myself out lately.
I am SO glad I attended last night - mostly due to the invitation of new friends whom have a cool new start-up - because it was very engaging and you can ount on Marc Canter for a few laughs. Typically, a panel with eight panelists doesn't work. But there was a lot of good-natured bantering back and forth. I had a good time - if I learned anything that would be a bonus.
Jason Calacanis, Weblogs Inc., said the unfiltered transparent voices of bloggers is what makes them so compelling. And Charlene Li, Forrester Research, says that before "social software" the Web had started veering into being a cold and sterile place.
Well, the difference in this panel from many others where the participants are on guard and as a result sterile is that the panelists were authentic, transparent and unfiltered on stage and that's what made it a great experience.
Transparency may become the best thing to happened in our life time... after all the insanity of Enron, the war, and dotcom ponzi schemes, the world could use some truth.
and you know, the truth shall make your free.
Posted by: Jason McCabe Calacanis | Jun 20, 2004 at 04:24 AM