If I had a blog I would write about all kinds of things.
I would write about the possibilities. The good things. About the ways we can use the interwebs for social good.
If I had a blog I would write about being a part time working mum. About “balancing” work and life - time with my husband, raising three young boys and enjoying life. I would write about the things I cook. Everyday moments. The ways we use the web everyday. The journey.
Here’s a list of some ways you can begin to explore social media- or 13 tips for getting your social media mojo back
A bit of background: In my last post I wrote about Keri Smith’s book “How To Be An Explorer Of The World.” I also suggested you read some of her tips and consider how they might also apply to your conversations, even those on Twitter. This is my attempt at providing some tips (based on Keri Smith’s list) on looking beyond the tools and discovering the amazing conversations, people and their ideas through social media.
1. Always be looking. (Notice the ground beneath your feet.)
Don’t just broadcast or consume information. Pause and notice the things people are saying around you and take time to nurture relationships. There are some wonderful people out there.
2. Consider everything alive and animate. Notice the many ways your connections express themselves. Enjoy being part of living, breathing and sometimes even abstract conversations. Animate your own conversations, blog posts and tweets through photos, music and video.
4. Alter your course often.
In a recent post about the need to connect with all kinds of people, Stacey Monk from Epic Change wrotehow societal change is“created by musicians, politicians, journalists, technologists and so many others”. Michele Martin has written some interesting thoughts about cultural connections and online homophily. Do you alter your course to discover and explore new conversations?
5. Observe for long durations (and short ones).
You can learn a lot, just by listening. Which conversations really grab you, inspire and motivate you?
6. Notice the stories going on around you. Be amazed by the stories around you. Practice childlike fascination. If you pay attention you’ll notice some wonderful stories going on around you.
7. Notice patterns. Make connections.
Explore individual conversations, and notice patterns. Incredible things can happen when a group of people connect the dots.
8. Document your findings (field notes) in a variety of ways. Take your observations one step further by interacting (commenting), sharing (eg a tweet or shared bookmark) or write a blog post to capture and explore those moments of inspiration.
9. Incorporate indeterminacy.
Keri Smith explains this concept in an interview with About Creativity. When you use social media, be ready to let your ideas take on a life of their own. Other people will interpret your idea in new ways, drawing upon different influences to express themselves. Embrace the unseen and prepare for the unexpected. Join in a collaborative creative blogging project or group Flickr challenge.
10. Observe movement. Social media perpetuates a moving, creative dialogue. A song, leads to a mashup, leads to another mashup.Interpretation becomes open and serendipitous.
11. Create a personal dialogue with your environment. Talk to it. Interact. Engage. Explore.Share your ideas. Be brave.
Image by FD
12. Trace things back to their origins. If you appreciate a photo in a blog post, go to the original Flickr image, see if the creator has a blog, or a Twitter account where you can connect with them. Share your appreciation. If you enjoy a quote, find the original source. If you’re inspired by a mashup, search for others.
13. Use all of the senses in your investigations.
Look (at imagery, fonts, avatars, white space).
Listen (to a tone of voice, a concept, a podcast).
Touch (interact – online and face to face through conferences, Tweetups or even just for coffee!)
Taste (savour the moment, take time to pay attention and notice the details).
Smell (distinguish different approaches).
I’d be interested to hear what you think. How do you explore social media?
Hello! It’s lovely to see you. Really, it is. But it’s OK with me if you don’t want to look like your face.
Maybe you want to appear upside-down for a change. Or perhaps your 3 year old told you that his crazy scribble with googly eyes looks just like you. If you want to look like a cartoon character, a sunrise, a monkey or a polkadot, that’s OK with me too.
The thing is, when you change your face, I get to see another side of you. I’m won’t get upset or feel like I can’t find you any more if you do. Because hopefully, I’ll recognise your voice through our conversations and the value that you always add to my day.
Of course, sometimes it’s helpful to see your face, like just before a TweetUp, or if you’re inviting me to be involved with some kind of project. Sharing your smiling face can be a friendly and genuine gesture. And besides, your face is beautiful.
But, I just wanted to say, it’s OK with me – if at times you feel so inclined- you don’t look like your face
Social Media isn’t just about getting the most Twitter followers, Facebook friends or enhancing your online reputation. Social Media also provides a way toexpress, create and give.
Around the world, individuals used their creativity to express something that mattered to them, including topics such as Healthcare, Hope and Green Spaces. They submitted their images to a Flickr Group, and the images were displayed as part of a digital wall show at Horse Bazaar over the weekend.
Eileen Clegg graciously created a mural to shout out for Creativity and explains her message on video
She says,
“The more we can express ourselves and what is authentic about us, we are sharing with others to add to (this) collective knowledge…
..” so the more we can define ourselves, our creative selves, what we are interested in, our knowledge – then it makes it easier for other people to find us as well, so we can work together..
When we use visuals to express ourselves we are saying: ‘this is a picture of what I am thinking right now’ we are not passing judgment on the world or trying to tell it like it is. We are saying ‘this is what I see right now’
And that’s the best part about creativity – it’s completely individual, nobody can argue with it – and it’s always wonderful.”
Shahin Shafaei reminded people of the importance of creativity and expression in our day to day lives, by sharing his experience of nearly two years in isolation at an Australian detention centre.
Although the event (unfortunately) didn’t raise a stack of funds, being part of this project and event was personally fulfilling. Eileen and Shahin spoke from the heart. A number of individuals around the world took a few minutes to use social media for positive change, and a small bunch of people braved the rain to come along to the SOS09 event. Even the decor of the venue represented the importance of people, history and culture in a technical and creative context.
Saturday evening I left the event knowing that people around the planet had made a difference, however small, and that each of us had experienced something good through our individual contributions to this project against poverty.
Have you been part of a creative project that made a difference? How important is authenticity and “speaking from the heart” to you?
If you would like to thank the people who contributed to this project AND make a difference to a group of women living in poverty right now, you can make a donation or purchase some quality greeting cards or wall art (all proceeds go towards this Opportunity International project in the Philippines. Thank you for your kind support.)
” A paralysed man using only his brain waves has been able to manipulate a virtual Internet character, Japanese researchers said Monday, calling it a world first. The 41-year-old patient used his imagination to make his character take a walk and chat to another virtual person on the popular Second Life website. “… “In the experiment, he wore headgear with three electrodes monitoring brain waves related to his hands and legs. Even though he cannot move his legs, he imagined that his character was walking. He was then able to have a conversation with the other character using an attached microphone, said the researchers at Japan’s Keio University. It is the first time a paralysis patient has succeeded in meeting a person and having a conversation in an Internet virtual world, they added.”
I’ve been persevering with the 52 weeks project, taking a self portrait every week. Well, not quite every week. For one, I need to set aside the time. Also it does feel terribly narcissistic; I don’t think it’s too healthy to spend too long focusing on yourself and I try to step outside of myself for the portraits (note: not easy – too tempting to edit the pics!!) However it’s been a good discipline – and having one subject to photograph does create a unique challenge. I’m almost half way. It’s that point on a project where you tend to lose a bit of steam. It’s also the point where you can break through to remarkable new ideas if you press on. So I’m setting aside a few minutes each week (when I can find it) amongst the busyness of raising a family, spending time with my husband, my community and enjoying my work. It doesn’t just encourage me to improve my photography and creative eye; it helps me to observe moments in time, the seasons, the environment and the world around me – just waiting to be noticed and captured.
MADaboutART’s HIV and empowerment programme for children and young people uses art-based and narrative therapy interventions and experiential learning to build knowledge, skills and confidence. We have established a purpose-built arts and education centre at our base in Nekkies, a township outside Knysna in the Western Cape of South Africa where we run after-schools MAD clubs where children aged 10 upwards can learn about HIV and AIDS and how to protect themselves in a fun and safe environment. We also undertake outreach work with affected and vulnerable populations, both directly and by training teachers and youth workers. We collaborate with libraries and art galleries to create HIV art competitions and community awareness exhibitions. We have just begun our first programme with pre-school children.
The world wide web has been spun inside out. Here we find ourselves caught up in this online flight of fancy; flexing our creative fingertips to detail personal portraits, alive in pixels; shifting to the global drumbeat of new content creation.
Expression resides in a new place. Communication is no longer about pushing out content, it resembles the interaction of a collected expression, thoughts and dreams; moments captured through a mesh of online activity spur further thought and imagination.
Welcome to the collective dimension; an opportunity to share, exchange and co-create. A place where you can express yourself, build upon your ideas and discover grander dreams
wonderchatter