cowboy jargon

I hate industry jargon. We all know it well - I don't need to quote any. What I will do though is link to this list of Old West slang. I think I might start using some of this language in meetings.

That ppt? Just a lick and a promise.

Can we get it done by Friday? All to pieces.

Long day? I need an Arbuckles.

brain bilge water

or something.

In Brier-style, I'm going to squeeze out a few bits and pieces from some recent reading and that.

First, this from Cory Doctorow on not judging new media by old rules. It's a simple thought but a great one. I often think that the expected format of something (wrongly) dictates its conception. I.e. brands liking to do big campaigns with certain channels pre-determined. It also reminds me of a rant I had ages ago about simple insights being stretched to fill a book. I'd like to think that instead of publishers asking "can you turn that into a book?" the writer might ask herself: "should I turn this into a book?"

Next up, some eggy thoughts from the excellent Katie Chatfield. I'm firmly behind her thoughts on perfection stifling personality and appeal in brands:

You could never be friends with anyone that doesn’t have doubts, make mistakes, have cracks and the ability to laugh at those moments in life when things have gone significantly broader at the base.

Structure, process and rigour. shudder. It's a tough one though isn't it. I'm all for brands being really experimental, trying stuff, getting it wrong and apologising. The most interesting stuff is such because it didn't come off the tried and tested shelf. Easy to say. Harder to persuade.

Actually that reminds me of a bit of Eddie Izzard when he talks about telling the truth. He says how, as kids we deny everything, but as we get older we realise telling the truth can get us laid:

Then when you're more mature,
you start telling the truth.
              
"I've broken a glass. Is it expensive?
I'll pay for that. I'm sorry."

You do that so people might go,
"What a strong personality.
I like to have sex with people
with strong personalities."

"I broke other things,
I smashed that.
That's gone and I've just
thrown the cat out the window."

Ahem. Here's a few other random bits:

- the Yo-Yo that charges an iPhone.

- Adrian's "influence is the social media equivalent of market share" (I like)

- And a bear on a trampoline (is it me or does he bounce pretty much as high as the tree anyway?):


P.s. Sorry to put you between a trampolining bear and a yo-yo Adrian. Such is the nature of brain bilge ramblings. I also need the loo and I'm trying to wrap this up really quickly.

insects in dew

Wow

Great find Asi

tell me what to do

I thought maybe I needed a number two, but apparently it was just a blog post rumbling up from beneath. Here it is:

I had dinner last night at the brilliant Paddyfields in Balham with my accomplice in eating stuff, Wrisley. After ordering, we were brought a complimentary dish we hadn't asked for. Our first starter arrived moments later.

"Eat that first. Then eat that." We were told.
So we did.
Then our second starter arrived.
"That first. Then that one. Then that one." Our waiter continued. "That's hot. That's cold."

We did what he said. He was right. It was good.

It reminded me how much fun it was to be told what to do by someone that knows what they're talking about. In terms of food, it frees you from your role as customer and turns you into a pupil. Suddenly you're not just eating, you're learning and you're really tasting.


It reminded me of a guy I work with, Dogg (yes, you read that correctly). He takes part in some kind of military training where an army guy stands on his head and screams at him (amongst other things I hope).

And my old boss, who used to have squash 'lessons' in which his 'instructor' screamed things like "faster you fat cunt" as he shuffled around the court. It was somewhere between a squash lesson and visiting a dominatrix.

Rules are great. Life is boring when we can do anything. So many apps, services, social networks and so on rush around to let us do as much as possible in whichever ways we like.

There are two sides to this (I think - I'm very tired):

1. Relinquishing control means relinquishing responsibility - it frees us to behave in ways we wouldn't normally
2. Being told how to do stuff changes the experience - we're no longer prodding and poking at things in our own way; we're learning and broadening our outlook

What if a community network demanded that you introduce yourself to another member you don't know. Or made a rule that on the first day of every month, everyone had to upload a photo. These are not very inspiring first thoughts, but the sentiment is there. If "they made me do it" then it's ok. I wasn't showing off, or being nosey, or desperate. We are all just playing the game.

I see a vague similarity in this thinking to I'm in like with you, which creates an environment that demands certain behaviour. It frees people from the ugly side of dating and says: We make the rules. You can relax.

Enough. I don't even know what I'm saying any more. Why isn't tea as good as coffee at waking people up? Isn't it supposed to have more caffein.

Here's two rules for you:

1. You must add a comment to this post
2. You must use the word 'teapot' in it