Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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August 7, 2008

Online Social Conversation: One Listener’s Noise

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:11 am

Doesn’t Mean I Should Listen

A constant conversation weaves through the social media landscape. Folks who participate soon understand that we can’t monitor it all. We’re a box of birds chattering morning until night.

South_American_Flamingos_by_etstrauss

Some folks add wisdom. Some folks mostly listen. Some folks are entertaining. Some are self-serving or ridiculous. Some just say “hi.”

Most of us seem to care whether our words add information, entertainment, or support.

Yet, some folks use the conversation to make remarks at another’s expense. The long-term wisdom of that I’ll never understand.

Call me crazy, but I don’t need unnecessary, unverified negative news and ranting. I guess one listener’s signal is another listerner’s noise.

We always have the choice to to say, “Thank you and good bye!” as we walk away.

What sort of noise are you filtering out these days?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
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16 Comments to “Online Social Conversation: One Listener’s Noise”

  1. August 7th, 2008 at 7:27 am
    Karin H. said

    Hi Liz

    I try to filter out the constant noise of ‘all is doom and gloom this year’.
    It doesn’t always work and then I notice I get grumpy which translates into grumpiness in my messages (online, face to face, phone) and I become part of the doom and gloom.

    Not good! The I take a deep breath, look at what we do establish and smile again. Which brings a smile to all my messages again ;-)

    Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

  2. August 7th, 2008 at 7:38 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Karin,
    That “doom and gloom” thread can be powerful . . . and it sure does spread. It has a pernicious way of sliding into what we say too. It’s hard to see the when you’re eyes have decided that it’s not there and never coming again.

    Yeah, sometimes I have to shake it off, too.

  3. August 7th, 2008 at 7:54 am
    Karin H. said

    My dear mentor reminded me recently of how to filter the doom and gloom noise the best way:

    tell the pessimists how wrong they can be – just goes to prove ‘keep at it – nibble nibble nibble – build trust and rapport, and eventually they will buy

    Of course he’s right ;-)

    Karin H (I’ll get another cup of coffee now)

  4. August 7th, 2008 at 7:59 am
    Colonel Tribune said

    It’s quite important to be able to filter out the noise, but it’s even more important to be able to navigate through it to pick out the nuggets of useful information.

    Just yesterday, one of my Twitter followers posted a news tip, which was then passed along to me. Our newsroom followed up on the tip, and we broke a the story, which became quite popular on our site.

  5. August 7th, 2008 at 8:15 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi!
    Of course, we have to take a minute to remind ourselves of that first. :)

  6. August 7th, 2008 at 10:10 am
    SpaceAgeSage said

    I guess the doom and gloom doesn’t bother me so much as the manic-panic way it is presented. It would be one thing if they had Eeyore doing the news, but the newscasters all seem to be more like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland.

  7. August 7th, 2008 at 10:30 am
    Robert Hruzek said

    Great reminder of our utter need for filters on the information streams we tap into every day. It’s way too easy to start “chasing” stuff, and that only leads to frustration as we get lured away from our own paths.

    I enjoy seeing (and occasionally participating in) the repartee, the information bits, the simple “howdy’s”, but the last thing I need is to let it rule my life…

  8. August 7th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
    Ribeezie said

    Who was it that said, “You are the company you keep.”?

    I believe this statement to have a lot of truth in it. For that reason, I filter out the noise that’s negative… I’m a “the-glass-is-half-full” kinda guy and though I’m motivated most of the time and have some positive energy to throw around, I keep away from negative vibes… It’s unnecessary and unproductive. We don’t need that in our lives…

  9. August 7th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
    Karen Swim said

    Liz, I don’t stop listening easily. I tend to be pretty forgiving and flexible but when every conversation is an attack or negative comment, well enough! I don’t mind the occasional rant, because that’s life & venting is healthy but personal attacks,name calling and persistent negativity, forget it. My life and space are far too precious for that.

  10. August 7th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Colonel Trib!
    What a great example of cutting through the noise! Talk about giving Twitter some meaning.

    Thanks for the visit!

  11. August 7th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Sage,
    You got a point there . . . I’ve pretty much cut the news out of my life — that had a lot to do with the decision to do so. :)

  12. August 7th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Robert!
    Are you saying that you could live without another 450 ways to get your blog to load faster? :)

  13. August 7th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Ribeezie,
    Negative thoughts and negative conversation actually release negative chemicals in our brains . . . not for me either. :)

  14. August 7th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Karen,
    I hear you only too well. We all have our moments (sometimes longer) that we need to release frustration, but some folks seem thrive on causing it. They’re welcome to be gone as far as I’m concerned. :)

  15. August 8th, 2008 at 1:27 am
    Linda Sherman said

    Here Here for filtering out negativity! One of the things that came up in the Open Comment we did here on trolls was that some forums encourage commentors that “flame” each other. Why is this interesting or entertaining? I’ll pass. I’ll also pass on snarky blogs. Some of those are very popular. I guess some comedians that are sarcastic and offensive are also attractive to their audiences.

    Might be that my snarkless blog will be seen as dull to some. But snarkless it shall be.

    By the way, Liz, thanks for taking a look at the poem my 81 year old Dad left as a comment on my blog. It was very special for us.

  16. August 8th, 2008 at 6:44 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Linda!
    A turn of a phrase can be clever, but I’ve never been able to enjoy those that come at someone’s else expense. I always figure it’ll be my turn (or the turn of someone I care about) next. I’m with you about snarky. It seems a waste of talent and often it seems too easy. Nice and funny is often harder. :)

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