The web is full of talk about flash mobs, wisdom of crowds, collaboration, etc.  The conversations we see mostly rave about the wonderfulness of it all.  Isn’t it all lovely, creative and effective?  Can’t we all easily achieve great things?

It isn’t always a piece of cake.  It can be tough and go completely pear shaped.  Working and socialising with people can still be hardwork. We still face the normal human, social and group behaviours that happen in the real world.  Technology isn’t the magical solution, though it can definitely make things easier.

Groupthink

The Element speaks briefly about Groupthink, more in relation to talent, but still highlights a point of how many people fail to discover what they want to do because of peer pressure or lack of individuality.

An obvious example would probably be school kids who don’t pursue certain hobbies because ‘it’s not cool’ or if someone wants to leave to do different things that family or friends do not *approve* of.

Quite often people within communities feel they know best and may even end up going a step too far in trying to get what they think is right.

Groupthink with the Software Testing Club

Groupthink has also made me very cautious about some new steps I am taking with the Software Testing Club.  I very recently announced that this much loved community will be turning into a paid for membership service.  There are many reasons for this which I will cover in more detail at a later point, but it’s all for what I believe is the best for the community. I’ve made a conscious choice that I won’t be doing it for free anymore (it’s actually costing me money, not to mention the time) and if it’s just going to be another software testing forum then there is nothing in it for me.  But anyways…

I was worried (and still am) about the decision, and whilst it is still early days I do believe groupthink will increase or decrease the chances of the new paid membership working.  The first few responses have been fairly positive and supportive of the change in direction.  There are obviously questions that need to be answered, but it will be interesting to see how it evolves.

If the first comments were all negative backlashes at the proposal then it would probably set a trend for future comments on the topic.

The Software Testing Club members are all pretty cool and professional and I have the faith it will all work out in the end, which ever end that is!

Clay Shirky: How cellphones, Twitter, Facebook can make history

It’s interesting to read that Dave Eggers is enthusiastic about print making a come back.

As long as newspapers offer less each day- less news, less great writing, less graphic innovation, fewer photos- then they’re giving readers few reasons to pay for the paper itself. With our prototype, we aim to make the physical object so beautiful and luxurious that it will seem a bargain at $1. - gawker

It’s interesting because there is so much for free out there.  It has fast become the norm.  But how good is free really?

Free almost naturally loses the quality that we once upon a time expected. Everything is rushed.  The competition is tough.  It’s about being first, not the best.

Just like Dave talks about a different experience for printed newspapers. I’d like to see different and better experiences online.

All the things that I desire for aren’t available because everyone seems to be trying to cater for an audience of thousands and millions.  I want them to cater for me. Mostly me and perhaps some others :)

It would be nice if we all knew each other a bit better. Put a face to the avatars, but more importantly know the personality behind these people communicating on the web and to have some kind of trust with them.

My younger son (aged 4) is such a copycat.  He looks up to his older brother (aged 5) in adoration and will often mimic his every word and move.

You may think this copycat syndrome is just for kids.  It is clearly not.  It’s visible all around the social web.

It’s not a bad thing to adopt what others are doing, but only if it is suitable for your context.

Organisations quickly jump up to create a Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Bebo, YouTube, etc presence.  They happily link into them and shout about how ‘socially aware they are with the web’, but upon quick invesitigation there is nothing worth the effort to look into further.

If you create a Twitter account that you widely promote be sure you Tweet.

If you create a YouTube account be sure you have some kind of video to post.

You catch my drift.

You will look worse if you maintain a dead social media account, so why not focus on what you know you can deliver?

Think before you copy :)