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Post by thewordiebirdie on Mar 10, 2013 15:32:02 GMT -5
Wow, I'm definitely calling on your expertise should we ever be ready to go to cons with MSCSI!
My brother is a massive anime and manga fan, he'll love this when I show him
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andie
Cat People
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Post by andie on Mar 10, 2013 15:36:03 GMT -5
Hi Andie! I think the best thing about social media and the online community is that you can co-ordinate people on a project such as this with minimal overheads - there's no way that we could have done what we've done 5 years ago. I'm reading Here Comes Everyone by Clay Shirky at the moment, and he's talking about how social media provides a platform for people to co-ordinate themselves on, and it reduces the need for infrastructure or institutional dynamics. So basically, without social media, Will would have had to hire us all, organise us all, and build a structured way of us communicating about the project in an efficient way. You can watch the TEDtalk based on this book here: www.ted.com/talks/clay_shirky_on_institutions_versus_collaboration.htmlI find all of this really fascinating, especially about working together online. I was only thinking the other day about how difficult it was to share a photo with the forum I was on in the early 2000s. Scanners... half hour uploads... etc Do you think that there is anything that has been missed out on though, without something like weekly face-to-face meetings? |
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Post by Beth on Mar 10, 2013 15:41:15 GMT -5
What personal influences do you bring to the project? Which artists do you most admire, and whose work inspires you most?I'm not involved in the artistic side of the project at all, so I'm not sure how much this will apply to me, but I love Neil Gaiman's storytelling and I adore Dave McKean's artwork. I've always admired writers who can take me away to another world. Ray Bradbury does that for me, especially in Dandelion Win - he totally transports me to 1920s Illinois and does so in a way that makes me nostalgic for a place and time I've never even been to. I'm also a huge fan of Dali - I saw his Archaeological Reminiscence of Milet's Angelus in the flesh a few years ago was an incredible experience.
Question to all: What do you see as the biggest challenges in keeping up with social media technology and trends? What are the biggest advantages of it?Good questions! The biggest challenges are keeping people engaged, I think. With Facebook especially there's the danger that some posts won't be visible to all members and so that causes problems in trying to get the word out. There's also the inevitable problem in that not everyone is on social media, so how can we engage with the fans who like, or might like, MSCSI but aren't on Twitter or Facebook? Despite all that though there are obviously benefits. It's a lot easier to engage with Cat on Twitter than on forums, for example, because tweets have to be short and sweet, and you can take a quick look at Twitter at most times during the day. On a forum it takes longer to read and reply, so while you might have more depth in the interactions they are much more time-consuming. |
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Post by thewordiebirdie on Mar 10, 2013 15:41:36 GMT -5
Well, we have very regular (and very lengthy) group emails, which I prefer to the face-to-face meetings I have to conduct at work, because there's no danger of someone getting spoken over and not heard - everyone reads and comments, everyone takes a turn.
But I would love to have actually met the people I'm working with. Maybe some day in the future we'll all meet up to do a convention together.
If you're interested in this topic, you should definitely watch the TEDtalks Clay Shirky has done, they're fascinating.
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Post by Beth on Mar 10, 2013 15:48:39 GMT -5
Do you think that there is anything that has been missed out on though, without something like weekly face-to-face meetings? I think perhaps the only thing we've missed out on is knowing each others' quirks so it's easier to pick up on tone of voice, etc. Coming into the team when Will, Suze, Sarah, Lindsay and Riv are well established at working together sometimes makes me think 'who am I to come in and say I'd do it this way or should we do it that way?' and I can get a bit anxious about that.* If I'd met all the team in person it would probably allay those worries to some extent because I'd be able to read the emails knowing their voices, etc. *Not to say that I've ever felt like Will or the rest of the team think that - it's more my innate worries about things like that that makes me wonder that, not anything they've said. |
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andie
Cat People
Posts: 13
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Post by andie on Mar 10, 2013 15:58:13 GMT -5
Good questions! The biggest challenges are keeping people engaged, I think. With Facebook especially there's the danger that some posts won't be visible to all members and so that causes problems in trying to get the word out. There's also the inevitable problem in that not everyone is on social media, so how can we engage with the fans who like, or might like, MSCSI but aren't on Twitter or Facebook? Despite all that though there are obviously benefits. It's a lot easier to engage with Cat on Twitter than on forums, for example, because tweets have to be short and sweet, and you can take a quick look at Twitter at most times during the day. On a forum it takes longer to read and reply, so while you might have more depth in the interactions they are much more time-consuming. I suppose it could in a way be compared to being multi-lingual, maybe? Like you know there are potential readers out there, but there are so many things to consider before you can reach them all. That's actually a really obvious thing to say now I'm reading it back... but I wonder if there is something more complex in it? At least with languages they're a relatively stable thing to translate. Good points about Twitter vs forums. I think the reason I use it so much more for aca things is that it doesn't take so long to catch up and contribute. It definitely feels more immediate when you're communicating with someone. But then sometimes it feels like your words are just vanishing off into the ether... Well, we have very regular (and very lengthy) group emails, which I prefer to the face-to-face meetings I have to conduct at work, because there's no danger of someone getting spoken over and not heard - everyone reads and comments, everyone takes a turn. But I would love to have actually met the people I'm working with. Maybe some day in the future we'll all meet up to do a convention together. If you're interested in this topic, you should definitely watch the TEDtalks Clay Shirky has done, they're fascinating. Good point. Sometimes it can be easier to make oneself heard in the textual rather than verbal. And it's also nice to be able to re-read other people's input, and taking time to think through your own. I've book marked the link for future watching, thanks! |
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Post by thewordiebirdie on Mar 10, 2013 16:00:12 GMT -5
I remember thinking the same thing when I started talking in the group emails - these 3 people had been working on this project for 15 months, who was I to think I knew any better?
Yeah, not being able to gauge each other's tone is something I struggle with as well, but I assume it stems from personal insecurities and if there were an actual issue, I'd hear about it pretty quickly.
It's been funny the last two Sundays not having to manage a busy Twitterfeed, group email and timed Facebook posts - it feels like I'm lazily part-timing it to only have two tabs open, or that there isn't enough fan engagement and I have failed the group, somehow. Very silly, I know
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Post by Beth on Mar 10, 2013 16:18:59 GMT -5
I suppose it could in a way be compared to being multi-lingual, maybe? Like you know there are potential readers out there, but there are so many things to consider before you can reach them all. That's actually a really obvious thing to say now I'm reading it back... but I wonder if there is something more complex in it? At least with languages they're a relatively stable thing to translate. That's a useful analogy in some ways I think. Lots of things to say to lots of people, and questions on how we can actually engage as many as we want to. But there's also what we need to consider to engage with people who can't speak a language, and how we're only speaking in a few languages when there are others out there who might be fluent in more. If any of that made sense! lol Not silly, or at least you're not alone in your silliness. I feel like that too, quite often actually! |
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Post by lucy on Mar 10, 2013 16:20:55 GMT -5
Well, we have very regular (and very lengthy) group emails, which I prefer to the face-to-face meetings I have to conduct at work, because there's no danger of someone getting spoken over and not heard - everyone reads and comments, everyone takes a turn. But I would love to have actually met the people I'm working with. Maybe some day in the future we'll all meet up to do a convention together. If you're interested in this topic, you should definitely watch the TEDtalks Clay Shirky has done, they're fascinating. I agree, it would be so great to meet one day! I find the email system fine. As Bethan pointed out, you do miss out on tone and things like that, but generally it is absolutely fine. I prefer that to arranging actual face to face meetings, since the team has different schedules and time zones during the day. With emails, it is easier then to fit this mode of communication around our schedules. I'd love to watch those clay shirkey TED talks, I'll make sure I do! I really enjoy watching TED talks. |
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Post by lucy on Mar 10, 2013 16:26:21 GMT -5
[ Good points about Twitter vs forums. I think the reason I use it so much more for aca things is that it doesn't take so long to catch up and contribute. It definitely feels more immediate when you're communicating with someone. But then sometimes it feels like your words are just vanishing off into the ether... This is very true! I have felt this also. i love twitter, but having this forum is also wonderful. I can go back and see what I've written more solidly, I feel, and it just seems more preserved in a way. That's why i think having a mixture of these platforms is so useful and rewarding  |
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Post by Beth on Mar 10, 2013 16:29:52 GMT -5
Right, my dear darling Cat People, I'm signing off as I have to be up at 6 in the morning *sadface* I'll catch up with any other questions tomorrow though.
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Post by thewordiebirdie on Mar 10, 2013 16:29:58 GMT -5
I love TEDtalks. They fill the hole left by the lectures I used to be able to attend. I absolutely urgently urge all of you to watch this one: www.ted.com/talks/sugata_mitra_build_a_school_in_the_cloud.htmlIt's just incredible what that man is working on, and the potential impact of the project. I have one last question to the group, before I have to shuffle off to bed: what are you looking forward to in the future of MSCSI, apart from the obvious answer of ISSUE 2? |
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Post by Beth on Mar 10, 2013 16:32:00 GMT -5
I have one last question to the group, before I have to shuffle off to bed: what are you looking forward to in the future of MSCSI, apart from the obvious answer of ISSUE 2? Issue 2 aside (which I can't wait for!) I'm really looking forward to more people discovering MSCSI and hearing about how it's changing/helping them. I'm looking forward to more discussions on the forum, which I've been loving so far, and I'm also looking forward to the MSCSI shop  |
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Post by thewordiebirdie on Mar 10, 2013 16:39:10 GMT -5
I look forward to the MSCSI shop too  I can't wait to be able to have a few issues to chew over, and really start picking it apart from a fan perspective, and then from an academic perspective, with everyone in the forum. I want to be able to look at the Mind Maps and just appreciate the layering of it and the subtlety. I can't look at them at the moment, because they're just too much of a tease! And I can't wait to meet some of the other characters Will has been mentioning in the assorted interviews [he's a terror for dropping hints about stuff like that ]. |
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Post by lucy on Mar 10, 2013 16:41:04 GMT -5
I love TEDtalks. They fill the hole left by the lectures I used to be able to attend. I absolutely urgently urge all of you to watch this one: www.ted.com/talks/sugata_mitra_build_a_school_in_the_cloud.htmlIt's just incredible what that man is working on, and the potential impact of the project. I have one last question to the group, before I have to shuffle off to bed: what are you looking forward to in the future of MSCSI, apart from the obvious answer of ISSUE 2? I'm thinking of starting a thread about TED talks, as I'd love to have more recommendations of them, and recommend ones i've seen! Brilliant, thanks for that one you've given the link to, I'll be sure to watch that Also, in the future of MSCSI, I'm looking forward to seeing more people come across the project and hearing about their reactions. plus, I'd love to see more fan art in particular and tribute videos. The future is looking so promising for MSCSI, I can't wait for it all to unfold!! Goodnight everyone, I've really enjoyed this evening |
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