people of the blogosphere...

A powerful global conversation is well underway, all because the Internet allows us to share relevant knowledge with blinding speed. But unimaginative people threaten to turn an inviting virtual cafe into a snarky high school cafeteria.



We all love conversations. Online, we get to communicate in language that is natural, open, honest, direct, funny and often shocking. Alas, many participants seem to have "adopted" an irascible persona and abandoned the voice they use in real space, in the hopes of attaining cerebral hipster status online.

What happened to natural, open and honest?

While the human voice can be unmistakably genuine, if lacking in integrity it can also be extremely annoying. When adult bloggers sound like MySpace teenagers and substitute insolence for wit, you know we've got issues.

People are replacing direct with arrogant, funny with cruel, and shocking with plain ol' bad taste. Why? Because when the voices aren't real, the lines we shouldn't cross get fuzzy. Whether fueled by anonymity, physical separation, or an attempt to emulate the professional curmudgeons at Gawker Media, an online voice that you wouldn't use to another person's face is simply contrived. 

So let's take a step back, and simplify things:

Conversations involve voices that are natural, open and honest.

Period.

If you only have time for one clue this year, this is the one to get...

this is not a simulation or video game or fantasy adventure
we're real human beings--and nobody likes a caustic poseur
so let's deal with it

the stop snark manifesto

12 Principles of Snark Recovery

  1. Online conversations occur between actual people.

  2. Don't speak to people online in a voice you wouldn�t use in person.

  3. If you are sarcastic and cynical in real life, more power to you. You're being honest and consistent when you bring that voice online. Pretending to be earnest and sweet would be dishonest, unnatural and contrived.

  4. Speaking in a sarcastic, cynical voice online that you wouldn�t use in real life is worse. It's dishonest, unnatural, contrived... and you're just not that good at it.

  5. Snarky does not equal witty. You're either a witty person or you're not. When you *position* yourself as snarky, it gets old quick--no matter what you might have to say.

  6. Your audience is often laughing. At you, not with you.

  7. Snark subverts substance.

  8. Having a sense of humor does not mean being a jerk. Rather, it still requires big values, a little humility, straight talk, and a genuine point of view.

  9. When everyone's snarky, no one stands out. Do you consider your voice distinctive?

  10. Business blogging? Snarky doesn't sell.

  11. This isn't about censorship or political correctness � it�s about honesty. You can be a crotchety Hell's Angel with a Charlie Manson mouth for all we care... as long as you're real.

  12. We link to others who engage in conversation with honest voices, but many out there remain in desperate need of a clue. We're still watching (for now), but we're not holding our breath. There are plenty of other interesting people joining the conversation every day.

    13. If you feel similarly (or even if you don't), feel free to comment.
     
     
     With respectful attribution to The Cluetrain Manifesto. In instances where original text from that masterpiece has been lifted and blended into my drivel, the intent is only to emphasize the original point.
     
    Copyright 2006 Copyblogger. Some rights reserved.