Huddle Up – Huddle.net's Official Collaboration Blog

K is for Knuckles

Posted on 21. Sep, 2009 by Laurika in A-Z Collaboration

K is for Knuckles

Rap over the knuckles to be precise. And yes I know it may be a stretch but the only word that remotely comes close to K in this instance is knuckles.

It frustrates me when I listen to a news reporter or eavesdrop (obviously by accident) on peoples’ conversations in Starbucks. Why? Because as soon as they start talking about social media, or shall I be more specific and say when the conversation goes like this:

“You know those sites? Those Twitter and Spacebook sites? They are very dangerous. People find out all sorts of things about you. Personal things. I will never use them.” And then the person next to them nods with reverence at this insane statement.

I don’t know about you, but at times like these I feel like climbing over my chair and join them on their couch and ask them if they really know what ‘these sites’ are all about? If they can’t even get the names right, how on earth do they expect to understand their value?

I am probably preaching to the converted but it has to be asked. Why are people so fearful of social media?

Is there really something to it? Are you risking your identity like that bank ad where the well dressed older lady goes to see her bank manager and he reads her statement which include a Harley Davidson bike ride and getting a tattoo. I suppose that can happen if you put your bank account number on your Twitter page with the pass code included. Why make it difficult right?

Maybe it is just a fear of the unknown? I don’t have firsthand knowledge, but I can only imagine the conversations at the village tearoom in middle England when the first telephone was introduced.

“Have you heard of this thing called a phone? You can talk to someone in London. That can’t be right.” And then the person’s companion nods their head in reverence and sips on their cup of tea.

I think it is a combination of fear of the unknown and the bad press social media sites get. You’ve seen the headlines: “Girl disappears after meeting man she friended on Facebook.”

I don’t think it is any different from: “Girl disappears after meeting man in bar.”

If you are conscientious and use these sites correctly, they open up a whole new world. You have the chance to stay in touch with friends and family who may live on another continent. You meet people who share your interests, people whom you’d never have met otherwise.

When it comes to doing business I am a perfect example. Without social media my business would not have been such a growing enterprise. I have only met a very small percentage of my clients face to face. Everything is done on sites like Huddle. I make my contacts using LinkedIn and Twitter. I get more business through social media sites than traditional face to face networking events.

That said I don’t believe I’ll give them up just yet, there’s always a place and time to have a good old natter with someone over a glass of wine or an extra hot skinny latte.