Sighing out loud

Trying to advocate all the opportunities in new media can be a real hazzle. Because more often than not you’re greeted with scepticism, platitudes and downright nastiness.

My guess is that it’s because the people throwing these utterances are feeling threatened, and they try to defend their positions by striking a blow well south of the waist line. In some ways maybe understandable but still something that makes me sigh out loud for all the opportunity being lost.

I’m not the only one sighing. Media commentator Jeff Jarvis is too. In fact he’s compiling a list of things that makes him sigh, when he hears them. And I wanted to add my own two cents to that.

The one that gets to me the most is: “Well, I think reading blogs is a waste of time, and you just confirmed that thats true”. I’ve had that a couple of times on other sites, and I get pissed every time. Not because I take personal offense, but because I struggle to get to grips with people being so completely ignorant about the change going on around them that the only response they know is to try and get personal.

But the most important one is where people say: “Conversation is overrated. People have nothing clever to say. We (the media) know best anyway”. That is not only a stupid argument. It’s lethal. Lethal to whoever pays that persons wages. Because it shows that that particular person is really a part of the problem - not the solution.

In fact the only argument that makes me sigh and still hold some credit with me is the one saying: “The only thing the internet is good at is killing business model.” I think it’s THE most important challenge for all of us working with new media. We really have to come up with business models that work and doesn’t depend overly on advertising.

Because if we can do that there’s every chance that new media will start to prosper in earnest. And with prosperity comes a willingness to bet and invest in things costing money. And heavy investing in stuff that would not be feasible by todays lack of business models would do a lot to get the sceptics converted. Plus of course produce some better sites and services.

Vad NU! is a consultancy company owned by Mads Kristensen and specialized in helping clients take advantage of the business opportunities created by new media. Click to learn how I can help you and your company.