Comments on: Weighing in on the value of connectivity and communications

By: Judy Gombita

Judy Gombita — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:45:48 +0000

Thanks for stopping by, Rob. A couple of things.

1. That wasn’t Atom Egoyan being quoted, it was my interpretation, of both the event and the current environment. The only direct quote I attribute is, ““Technology has become so light that perhaps communications has no weight at all.”

2. Atom was actually very generous about recognizing his U of T film students at the event, including indicating which ones had contributed to the technology, editing or filming of Adoration. Speaking of which, the adoration seems mutual. Atom was himself very involved with the Hart House Film Club as a student at the university (I know because a good friend sat on its board). I am of the opintion that he is most appreciative of the efforts of pros, students and amateurs, alike.

In general, Atom Egoyan is quite accessible, participating as a regular citizen in the community. I’ve sat behind his actor wife and him at TIFF screenings–general public, not industry screenings, seen him at the Art Gallery of Ontario with his son (in the activity room for children) and crossed paths with the pair of them at last year’s Nuit Blanche–also at U of T, in the University College art gallery. Ergo, I think it’s safe to conclude that he draws his inspiration from a variety of places and has regard for the talents of many (whether seasoned pro or blossoming amateur).

By: Film Music

Film Music — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:10:33 +0000

Mr. Egoyan states, “thinking and feeling at moment, rather than an ongoing audit of collected, focused and nuanced research, followed by cognitive and reflective thought.”

Any form of technology that makes film/video projects more accessible to the artist and the viewer is a really good thing.

Will the quality match his episode of “The Twilight Zone” for Australia. Maybe not.

Long live the Kodak film students who son’t win but create pap for the internet! You know, you don’t have to watch it.

By: Kristen Sukalac

Kristen Sukalac — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 08:26:57 +0000

We touched on this topic during the social media session at Eurocomm in February. Judy has hit on exactly the point that was raised there: spur-of-the-moment ill-formed thoughts become permanent, and can come back to haunt both individuals and organizations. Reference was made to the increasing tendency of recruiters to Google potential candidates. As a matter of fact, a lot of the Gen Yers are apparently taking down some of the more wild content from their social media profiles as they move into the workplace and begin to understand the impact that has on their personal image.

The weaknesses are human, but we need to be more sensitive to the permanence of what we do in this space. It’s much easier to prove a passing idiotic, bigoted, etc. comment when it’s made in a written social medium than when it is made at a dinner party, where it would be the question of two people’s competing versions of facts.

By: Judy Gombita

Judy Gombita — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:10:13 +0000

I don’t disagree with you, Martin. But don’t you think the fact that there are so many “lightweight” connection points these days that folks are *more apt* to just say whatever they are thinking, without giving the end result and impact more consideration?

Part of it is also a generational thing, with the hyperconnectivity and sense of community experienced by today’s youth/young adults (i.e., the Millennials)–the peer group the new Egoyan film focuses on, I might add–although I see enough boomers and Gen Xers blurting out indiscreet/questionable/ill-thought-out opinions online in various platforms that I know emotional thinking (or grandstanding) isn’t limited to one generation.

Are you prepared for your (grand)parents, kids, employers or clients to read something in public spaces? If not, don’t write it!

By: Martin

Martin — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:28:42 +0000

RE: “Many people electronically blurt out half-formed impressions and thoughts through e-mail, blog posts, microblogging platforms (such as Twitter) and user-generated short videos, relying more on how they are thinking and feeling at moment, rather than an ongoing audit of collected, focused and nuanced research, followed by cognitive and reflective thought.”

But Judy! This is how most people behave in REAL LIFE anyway!! “Emotional thinking” is a common dysfunction, and prompts people to all kinds of bad behavior: at work, in relationships, in family life, at church, in politics…

Social media would only be special if it were somehow to avoid this basic human psychological pitfall. And if anyone ever doubted that this is a fundamental weaknesses of the human psyche, then social media and the web2.0 age has been the proverbial last straw that has proved them wrong.

It is a technological revolution yes, but pretty conventional in its personality quirks… spreading our most common inter-personal faux pas across a wider canvass… for all the world to see.

By: Toni Muzi Falconi

Toni Muzi Falconi — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:39:57 +0000

I am in entire agreement with you this time Judy.
Well said.
More or less, I implied (more than said) similar things in winding up the recent bruxelles euroblog 2008 conference on social media focussing on the issue of time and the fundamental reflexive nad listening approach to pr and how this needs to cope with the twitterness of the social media conversation.

We have (I have…) yet to learn how to use email appropriately without creating continuos misunderstandings and caos…

Euroblog was a great, exemplary but also very scaring experience.
It seemed to me that the professionals who were there were more concerned about riding the market ‘movida’ surge and hype, than focussing on the consequences…and this, maybe, is why incidents are so frequent (ot is it only because we learn more about them because more individuals are involved and engaged and empowered to make them public?…probably both).

Have a great vacation…