Charles Barkley’s advice on social media? Don’t participate
At a festival rooted in interactivity basketball legend Charles Barkley’s diatribe against social media jarred for many, but Lee Spencer-Michaelson ponders whether he has a point.
Looking at SXSW the schedule to try and decipher the madness it’s easy to latch onto the bigger nameslike Ryan Gosling, Henry Rollins, RZA, Snoop Dogg (or is it Snoop Lion now?), and big brands like Spotify, Mashable, and Google.
Delving deeper into the schedule, I realise SXSW is not about the big names, but it’s about the breakthrough tier of creative thinkers on the verge of busting onto the big scene.
Who does this attract? Business folk with creative flair, like myself, a copywriter from a digital agency penning for a marketing publication, who are hot on their tails for inspiration or new business relationships, whether that be discovering emerging tech for an ad campaign, a distributor looking for their next must see film, or a music producer looking to sign new artists.
As someone who runs a charity fundraisng agency I can tell you the internet can be a very positive place. Although digital doesn’t yet match F2F or even paper, it’s on the way there and is sure to shine with generational change. At Heartfelt we have a saying.
Not only do I not get it,I wouldn’t want to get it.I don’t participate in many of the things that everyone these days takes for granted you must do.No smartphone, tablet,or even a computer at home No TV.Not on Facebook.Not on LinkedIn.Not on the fast track.Not concerned about it, either.I am not a Luddite.I’m in favour of technology that helps people,such as in medicine.But I’m not a slave to it.I use access computers in public.I know what’s going on in the world:you can’t exactly escape knowing about it if you log on to webmail of any kind.Popular culture and all kinds of useless information are available to anyone who looks at a computer screen.I don’t need more junk in my life, I’ve got plenty of ways to waste time.And I’m not a completer loner,loser,misfit.I’m a sociable,caring,well-liked and mostly well-adjusted person.I just don’t need all that crap!