#SocialMedia Week LA- Off to a Not So Social Start
#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @SkoolOfLife
Recently I connected with @jenfriel on twitter and found her site. Little does she know that I actually found her on OkCupid and apparently we’re a 91% match. When I saw what she was up to I was more curious about her twitter profile than her online dating profile (yes I’m as big a geek as you). I thought I’d email her on OKcupid at the risk of ending up as content on her site. (I guess that’s inevitable now.)
One of my friends who I have connected to the social media community here in LA posted an invite to the opening party for social media week here in LA on her Facebook news feed. When I clicked on the link I found out that there was a “secret code” you needed to RSVP. So I decided not to worry about it.
Then I saw another friend post today about it so I clicked on the link again. Apparently there’s still a secret code. OK, so I’m a blogger, podcaster, and Director of social media at my day job. So, it seems that getting on this list should be easy right. Wait a minute. There’s a freaking exclusive list for a social media week party? That’s not very social. It’s not a Hollywood Night Club (even though there’s one called Social). The party is on the roof of the Myspace building. If it’s a capacity issue, well then cap the damn thing off and close it when all is said and done. When I messaged my friend she tells me “oh they’re making it invite only but I can take you as my plus one.” After a momentary, WTF I said “yes, make your plus one.”
Let’s just dissect why this is a disaster on numerous levels.
First: Let’s say that you want to start connecting with people who are attending the event on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Well that’s not going to be possible unless you happened to be on the list. Wait, I can’t get on the damn list since I’m a plus one.
Second: This is pretty damn elitist which isn’t very community centric and doesn’t seem to be in tune with many of the core principles of social media.
Finally: By not giving allowing us to see who is on the list you’re actually kind of screwing them in the process too because then people who might not make it to one of these events won’t get to find about somebody’s business or project.
I have to say I was a bit annoyed by that and when I saw Jen’s post I was relieved. Now that I’ve probably pissed off the entire social media community here in LA I’ll get back to work.
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