Things on my mind…

August 13, 2007 By

Today Buzz took me over to see Steve Ball (he runs the audio and other media teams at Microsoft). Steve let me hold his new daughter. You can see her in this Kyte video that I shot with my Nokia N95 (which is why the video is a bit small and blurry).

Holding someone who is 19 days old is a cathartic experience. She is especially precious. I looked at her and asked myself “how am I making her world better?”

Then I thought about Maryam and Patrick, my son and partner in all things geeky, and Milan, our new son who’ll be here real soon. I haven’t been the best parent I could be. The best husband I could be.

Tonight I looked over my Twitters and blogs. They are angry. Confrontational. Disturbed. Hurt. Dismayed.

Those are not words to describe someone in a state of mind to improve the world. Part of it is so many people are making stuff up about me and/or my employer without any care as to my feelings or the truth that I’ve got to get some distance. Over the weekend a variety of people said I had quit my job. Then another “A-list” blogger said I had been fired. Neither are true. Much of what I read over on that Silicon Valley gossip site lately isn’t true and they have demonstrated over and over that they really don’t care about the truth. It really depresses me cause I thought blogging would be a tool for humans to get smarter, not stupider. Depression isn’t fun.

So, I’m going to try something else for a while.

Add to that the fact that I’ve learned more by having a conversation with an IBM lawyer for 30 minutes than I’ve learned from the average blog lately. Heck, I look at TechMeme and see articles about Glam. A copy of Digg. Instructions for leaking your own TV show on the Net.

Glam?!? Bubble?

This isn’t what gets me excited. In our book Naked Conversations I wrote that a good blog is “authoritative and passionate.” Truth is that when I looked at Steve Ball’s baby I realized I’ve been neither. I’d rather go hang out with someone who is building something interesting.

I’ll be back blogging when I can add value again. My video show at http://www.scobleshow.com will go on (I have a ton of great videos coming this week) and I might do a Kyte video or two since I’m doing R&D there for PodTech. I’ve been having a ball with videos in both places lately and you’ve probably noticed that the quality of the videos is going up. I can’t wait for you to see the vid I filmed with Marc Canter at Gnomedex.

Anyway, have a great week and while I’m not blogging I’d love it if you left some ideas on things you’d like me to learn for when I get back.

Filed Under: 1
← Older Comments
Newer Comments →
  • http://www.beercosoftware.com/ Chris

    “Go up to the local Best Buy or anywhere else that your potential clients hang out and walk around on the property all day shoving your flyers in people’s faces. You’ll be asked to leave. If you don’t, you’ll be arrested. That’s what I said, and it’s a fact. There is no “retraction” that would “remedy” that fact.”

    My clients aren’t normally best buy shoppers. Your comparison is not accurate, and your implications and statements are false. Your assertions following your claim are based on an original false claim which make them just as or more invalid.
    Now you persist these claims. I will have no choice but to seek remedy. I am no longer discussing this with you.

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com Chris

    “Go up to the local Best Buy or anywhere else that your potential clients hang out and walk around on the property all day shoving your flyers in people’s faces. You’ll be asked to leave. If you don’t, you’ll be arrested. That’s what I said, and it’s a fact. There is no “retraction” that would “remedy” that fact.”

    My clients aren’t normally best buy shoppers. Your comparison is not accurate, and your implications and statements are false. Your assertions following your claim are based on an original false claim which make them just as or more invalid.
    Now you persist these claims. I will have no choice but to seek remedy. I am no longer discussing this with you.

  • Steve Elbows

    My thoughts on this Chris character are that he engages in multiple things which are not good for blogs:

    Blatantly using Scoble’s comments to advertise his business, shameful.

    Threatening legal ramifications when others criticise him, pathetic.

    If this ever came to court and I was the judge, Id say your own words have potentially lost you more business than anybody elses criticism of you, I would run a mile rather than deal with someone like you.

  • Steve Elbows

    My thoughts on this Chris character are that he engages in multiple things which are not good for blogs:

    Blatantly using Scoble’s comments to advertise his business, shameful.

    Threatening legal ramifications when others criticise him, pathetic.

    If this ever came to court and I was the judge, Id say your own words have potentially lost you more business than anybody elses criticism of you, I would run a mile rather than deal with someone like you.

  • Pingback: Ungeek It » Blog Archive » Friday - Five Great Posts

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com/ Chris

    Steve, Criticism and false statements are not the same thing.

    Point: “Bob tried to sell me a car”

    Criticism: “I felt Bob was annoying”
    Libel: “Bob did something worthy of being carried off by the police, Bob committed a crime.”

    I for one do not mix one with the other. Happy mile run.

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com Chris

    Steve, Criticism and false statements are not the same thing.

    Point: “Bob tried to sell me a car”

    Criticism: “I felt Bob was annoying”
    Libel: “Bob did something worthy of being carried off by the police, Bob committed a crime.”

    I for one do not mix one with the other. Happy mile run.

  • http://www.themash.tv/ danielmcvicar

    Hi Robert
    I just got back from backpacking in the Yosemite Wilderness. Unplugging is healthy. I learned not to get disheartened by the bears…they only want food, or sweetsmelling things. I didn’t take any attacks personally.

    I wish you and your family all the best, and enjoy your pause.
    D

  • http://www.themash.tv danielmcvicar

    Hi Robert
    I just got back from backpacking in the Yosemite Wilderness. Unplugging is healthy. I learned not to get disheartened by the bears…they only want food, or sweetsmelling things. I didn’t take any attacks personally.

    I wish you and your family all the best, and enjoy your pause.
    D

  • Greg E (Vista Master)

    I go through these same periods of “what is the point” – now, more frequently than ever. Not in as stark of a way as it was for you this time around, but basically the same. And then I think about it for a while – here is the reason – and I mean this earnestly: Every little thing we do does make a difference. Every day when I start my browser, I see what you are thinking for that day. More often than not, you inspire me to look at something new or at something differently.

    Except, I have let you down. It is all take and I don’t give back to you – to let you know that maybe you did have an impact. I have forgotten (thank you for reminding me) that this IS a two way street. Words that we say can hurt, but words that we don’t say can hurt even more!

    So, I would like to make a pact with you – and others who blog – Please continue to communicate and I will tell you more often how your comments have impacted me… and I will always remember that I should consider that words, even on a blog, can hurt!

    Greg

  • Greg E (Vista Master)

    I go through these same periods of “what is the point” – now, more frequently than ever. Not in as stark of a way as it was for you this time around, but basically the same. And then I think about it for a while – here is the reason – and I mean this earnestly: Every little thing we do does make a difference. Every day when I start my browser, I see what you are thinking for that day. More often than not, you inspire me to look at something new or at something differently.

    Except, I have let you down. It is all take and I don’t give back to you – to let you know that maybe you did have an impact. I have forgotten (thank you for reminding me) that this IS a two way street. Words that we say can hurt, but words that we don’t say can hurt even more!

    So, I would like to make a pact with you – and others who blog – Please continue to communicate and I will tell you more often how your comments have impacted me… and I will always remember that I should consider that words, even on a blog, can hurt!

    Greg

  • Sean

    Chris,

    Here’s a defamatory statement for you: Your software is embedded with spyware!

    Now what are you gonna do? I dare you to do something!

    Stop being a little pussy and realize that your marketing strategy needs to change.

  • Sean

    Chris,

    Here’s a defamatory statement for you: Your software is embedded with spyware!

    Now what are you gonna do? I dare you to do something!

    Stop being a little pussy and realize that your marketing strategy needs to change.

  • http://lofistl.com/ bill streeter

    Robert,

    I believe that blogs and better communication/colaboration can make people smarter. But you have to remember that when human beings are involved a lot of stupid stuff is gonna happen on the way to becoming smarter. It’s the way it is. Sometimes it’s good to remember that.

    Take care of yourself.

  • http://lofistl.com bill streeter

    Robert,

    I believe that blogs and better communication/colaboration can make people smarter. But you have to remember that when human beings are involved a lot of stupid stuff is gonna happen on the way to becoming smarter. It’s the way it is. Sometimes it’s good to remember that.

    Take care of yourself.

  • http://dawnkey.wordpress.com/ Dawn D.

    @159 Yeah, I’m not concerned about Chris’ threats. I didn’t libel him. Lawyers and judges are smart; they’ll be able to follow my argument. If he’s silly enough to see an attorney about suing me, she will either laugh him out of her office or smile to herself that she has a good pigeon on the line.

    But I DID badly go against my own good advice and didn’t stay professional in my original comments. Still, I do think this points to something that is deserving of discussion.

    Personalities aside, if any blog has a shameless perpetual huckster, or a tiresome troll who won’t shut up, etc., at what point, if any, is it okay for the audience to declare that enough is enough?

    What’s a blogger’s responsibility to his general audience? Does one person’s good trump the overall good? For example, is protecting one person’s financial desires more important that protecting the experience of the overall audience?

    More broadly, does a blogger and his or her audience have to put up with bad behavior in the name of free speech or under threat of being sued?

    Is there such a thing as “rights of the whole” when it comes to a blogger’s audience???

    I personally don’t think that an individual’s right to freedom of expression trumps all reason and common decency. Like I said, nobody is required to give anybody else a platform to spew whatever he or she wishes.

    In the real world, people remove themselves from such people until the offender is speaking to a wall. But with blogs, we’re all captured in the same space and if we want to follow the discussion, we’re forced to wade through the mounting crap.

    Of course, we have the right to walk away ourselves and let the basest of people win. Seems to me that’s a poor solution. Putting up with bad behavior just creates more of it as our standards as a society continue to collapse into the muck of “anything goes because any self expression is good and who are we to judge behavior.”

    Clue to LayZ: “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24). The idea of rightly judging **the behavior** of others can, in fact, be found throughout the Bible. What you cite is talking about judging a person’s soul, which only God can do.

    In the end, it must be up to the blogger to manage his or her own audience and figure out what to do with troublesome commenters, if anything. I’d just like to suggest that “making the world better” surely includes not rolling over to people who make it worse.

  • http://dawnkey.wordpress.com/ Dawn D.

    @159 Yeah, I’m not concerned about Chris’ threats. I didn’t libel him. Lawyers and judges are smart; they’ll be able to follow my argument. If he’s silly enough to see an attorney about suing me, she will either laugh him out of her office or smile to herself that she has a good pigeon on the line.

    But I DID badly go against my own good advice and didn’t stay professional in my original comments. Still, I do think this points to something that is deserving of discussion.

    Personalities aside, if any blog has a shameless perpetual huckster, or a tiresome troll who won’t shut up, etc., at what point, if any, is it okay for the audience to declare that enough is enough?

    What’s a blogger’s responsibility to his general audience? Does one person’s good trump the overall good? For example, is protecting one person’s financial desires more important that protecting the experience of the overall audience?

    More broadly, does a blogger and his or her audience have to put up with bad behavior in the name of free speech or under threat of being sued?

    Is there such a thing as “rights of the whole” when it comes to a blogger’s audience???

    I personally don’t think that an individual’s right to freedom of expression trumps all reason and common decency. Like I said, nobody is required to give anybody else a platform to spew whatever he or she wishes.

    In the real world, people remove themselves from such people until the offender is speaking to a wall. But with blogs, we’re all captured in the same space and if we want to follow the discussion, we’re forced to wade through the mounting crap.

    Of course, we have the right to walk away ourselves and let the basest of people win. Seems to me that’s a poor solution. Putting up with bad behavior just creates more of it as our standards as a society continue to collapse into the muck of “anything goes because any self expression is good and who are we to judge behavior.”

    Clue to LayZ: “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24). The idea of rightly judging **the behavior** of others can, in fact, be found throughout the Bible. What you cite is talking about judging a person’s soul, which only God can do.

    In the end, it must be up to the blogger to manage his or her own audience and figure out what to do with troublesome commenters, if anything. I’d just like to suggest that “making the world better” surely includes not rolling over to people who make it worse.

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com/ Chris

    “free speech or under threat of being sued?”

    Free speech does not include making false statements with malicious intent towards an individual.
    I am not sure yet, but I think I will be filing the original complaint.

    “But I DID badly go against my own good advice and didn’t stay professional in my original comments.”

    This sounds like an admission. If you would simply care to retract your original false statement, I would be willing to drop this. I think that’s reasonable enough.

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com Chris

    “free speech or under threat of being sued?”

    Free speech does not include making false statements with malicious intent towards an individual.
    I am not sure yet, but I think I will be filing the original complaint.

    “But I DID badly go against my own good advice and didn’t stay professional in my original comments.”

    This sounds like an admission. If you would simply care to retract your original false statement, I would be willing to drop this. I think that’s reasonable enough.

  • http://dawnkey.wordpress.com/ Dawn D.

    I meant I shouldn’t have called you an ass.

    My “original false statement” which you seem to be upset about, given what you wrote in #160, is your wrong notion that I called you a criminal. I didn’t.

    But if it makes you feel better, I don’t think you “committed a crime” nor “did something worthy of being carried off by the police.”

  • http://dawnkey.wordpress.com/ Dawn D.

    I meant I shouldn’t have called you an ass.

    My “original false statement” which you seem to be upset about, given what you wrote in #160, is your wrong notion that I called you a criminal. I didn’t.

    But if it makes you feel better, I don’t think you “committed a crime” nor “did something worthy of being carried off by the police.”

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com/ Chris

    That’s good enough. Next time please stick to the facts. I will do my best to be factual as well.
    I do not want any trouble, but I do not want to be misrepresented either.
    Thanks

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com Chris

    That’s good enough. Next time please stick to the facts. I will do my best to be factual as well.
    I do not want any trouble, but I do not want to be misrepresented either.
    Thanks

  • anon

    Chris and Dawn D.: take it off line!

  • anon

    Chris and Dawn D.: take it off line!

  • Tom

    I thought last week, what it would be like, if the science and or environmental world had “a Scoble” in that field – the interesting passion and knowledge, with both breadth and depth, but also how to actually link the fun with the meaningful – the truly helping ourselves and future generations. Maybe an angle is what’s required, that and a small break – perspective can be useful, and taking stock is good.

  • Tom

    I thought last week, what it would be like, if the science and or environmental world had “a Scoble” in that field – the interesting passion and knowledge, with both breadth and depth, but also how to actually link the fun with the meaningful – the truly helping ourselves and future generations. Maybe an angle is what’s required, that and a small break – perspective can be useful, and taking stock is good.

  • http://glpelletier.wordpress.com/ Guy Pelletier

    Crap,
    Look at what you did, you have LayZ talking about religion, and everybody swapping barbs.
    Its been several comments since anybody said anything techie.

    Crap

    Guy

  • http://glpelletier.wordpress.com Guy Pelletier

    Crap,
    Look at what you did, you have LayZ talking about religion, and everybody swapping barbs.
    Its been several comments since anybody said anything techie.

    Crap

    Guy

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Chris Heuer: you missed where I updated my philosophy and have repeated that new philosophy several times: it is important to get it right out of the gate.

    But, even if you missed that there’s a HUGE difference between totally making shit up about someone (he was fired) to getting some “shading” wrong about an idea that was being discussed.

    When I wrote about the Social Media Press Release I was discussing an idea. If I got it wrong, you should have pointed out how I did. I seem to remember you doing that. I also seem to remember linking back to your updates.

    That’s TOTALLY DIFFERENT than what a certain “gossip” site did to me (and is continuing to do to me).

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Chris Heuer: you missed where I updated my philosophy and have repeated that new philosophy several times: it is important to get it right out of the gate.

    But, even if you missed that there’s a HUGE difference between totally making shit up about someone (he was fired) to getting some “shading” wrong about an idea that was being discussed.

    When I wrote about the Social Media Press Release I was discussing an idea. If I got it wrong, you should have pointed out how I did. I seem to remember you doing that. I also seem to remember linking back to your updates.

    That’s TOTALLY DIFFERENT than what a certain “gossip” site did to me (and is continuing to do to me).

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Chris (and everyone). I know Chris does follow up his lawsuit threats, no matter how frivolous they might seem to you and me. So, be careful here.

    Chris: I think you’ve lost your rights to participate in my community here. When I do start blogging again I’m going to start blocking your messages.

    Sorry to do this, but I’ve gotten so many complaints about your behavior here that I’m no longer going to put up with it. I don’t tolerate people who threaten to sue other commenters. That’s not fair behavior here.

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Chris (and everyone). I know Chris does follow up his lawsuit threats, no matter how frivolous they might seem to you and me. So, be careful here.

    Chris: I think you’ve lost your rights to participate in my community here. When I do start blogging again I’m going to start blocking your messages.

    Sorry to do this, but I’ve gotten so many complaints about your behavior here that I’m no longer going to put up with it. I don’t tolerate people who threaten to sue other commenters. That’s not fair behavior here.

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com/ Chris

    “I don’t tolerate people who threaten to sue other commenters. That’s not fair behavior here.”

    I understand. I’m also sure you know you could have stopped Valleywag and others long ago but chose not to as your strategy.
    I’ll keep reading it.

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com Chris

    “I don’t tolerate people who threaten to sue other commenters. That’s not fair behavior here.”

    I understand. I’m also sure you know you could have stopped Valleywag and others long ago but chose not to as your strategy.
    I’ll keep reading it.

  • LayZ

    @179 and @!80….

    Whoa!!! I think we need a ruling here. Does Scoble commenting on HIS OWN BLOG count as being back???? If so,I’ll take my winnings in cash as we’ve snapped the “streak” at 4 days, which was my bet.

    Can we get a ruling on this? ;-)

  • LayZ

    @179 and @!80….

    Whoa!!! I think we need a ruling here. Does Scoble commenting on HIS OWN BLOG count as being back???? If so,I’ll take my winnings in cash as we’ve snapped the “streak” at 4 days, which was my bet.

    Can we get a ruling on this? ;-)

  • http://markivey.typepad.com/onthemark/ Mark Ivey

    Robert–Taking a break is not a bad idea; everyone needs to get recharged at some point I’m amazed you’ve endured for this long, leading the way in your own way in this crazy new world. I”m a few years older than you meaning I’ve almost certainly made more mistakes; one thing I do know is it doesn’t do much good to beat yourself up–we could all have done better with our families, our spouses (speaking as a divorced dad) and our lives. Keep looking ahead, not back, and figuring out what the next chapter of your life will be. We’ve all learned and benefited from your postings and perspective the last few years. And no matter what your state of mind is today, I have a feeling you’re just getting warmed up. Let me know if I can ever help and good luck.

  • http://markivey.typepad.com/onthemark/ Mark Ivey

    Robert–Taking a break is not a bad idea; everyone needs to get recharged at some point I’m amazed you’ve endured for this long, leading the way in your own way in this crazy new world. I”m a few years older than you meaning I’ve almost certainly made more mistakes; one thing I do know is it doesn’t do much good to beat yourself up–we could all have done better with our families, our spouses (speaking as a divorced dad) and our lives. Keep looking ahead, not back, and figuring out what the next chapter of your life will be. We’ve all learned and benefited from your postings and perspective the last few years. And no matter what your state of mind is today, I have a feeling you’re just getting warmed up. Let me know if I can ever help and good luck.

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    LayZ: in that definition I never left. :-)

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    LayZ: in that definition I never left. :-)

  • Pingback: For the Socialset of the net. » So where are the Social Workers ?

  • Pingback: Blogging fatigue breaks out « Green Tea Ice Cream

  • Pingback: Feldman’s Kramer-Imus-like meltdown results in PodTech separation by “mutual agreement” » Make You Go Hmm

  • http://LenEdgerly.com/ Len Edgerly

    Robert, I’m glad to see you commenting here, but I hope your break from “real” blogging ends soon. I check my NetVibes feed every day, sad to see the latest post is still “Things on my mind…” You were wise to take a pause. I hope its healing effect brings you back refreshed–and soon!

  • http://LenEdgerly.com Len Edgerly

    Robert, I’m glad to see you commenting here, but I hope your break from “real” blogging ends soon. I check my NetVibes feed every day, sad to see the latest post is still “Things on my mind…” You were wise to take a pause. I hope its healing effect brings you back refreshed–and soon!

  • LayZ

    @184. I’m throwing the red flag out on this. Commenting on other blogs, if that is what you are suggesting, I don’t think qualifies as being “back”. But commenting on your own blog? Seems the spirit of the “break” was violated. ;-) . I think we need to go up to the booth for a reply ruling.

  • LayZ

    @184. I’m throwing the red flag out on this. Commenting on other blogs, if that is what you are suggesting, I don’t think qualifies as being “back”. But commenting on your own blog? Seems the spirit of the “break” was violated. ;-) . I think we need to go up to the booth for a reply ruling.

  • http://jerichooncbs.blogspot.com/ lisa coultrup

    Hey Robert

    I am really glad to know that your little one will have such great parents, its always been obvious how much you care about your family and the world around us. When I began my journey into being a blogger, I kept hearing your name and decided to check your place out. I was taken with how kind you were, how you really went all out to explain things for newbies like myself, and how you just seemed to be a really nice guy.
    I hope you get to relax and enjoy your new baby when he gets here, but I also hope your not away too long because your a big influence on so many of us!
    all the best :-)

  • http://jerichooncbs.blogspot.com/ lisa coultrup

    Hey Robert

    I am really glad to know that your little one will have such great parents, its always been obvious how much you care about your family and the world around us. When I began my journey into being a blogger, I kept hearing your name and decided to check your place out. I was taken with how kind you were, how you really went all out to explain things for newbies like myself, and how you just seemed to be a really nice guy.
    I hope you get to relax and enjoy your new baby when he gets here, but I also hope your not away too long because your a big influence on so many of us!
    all the best :-)

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →