Grandpa Learns of the *Magic Computer Box*

 

I keep getting a kick out of how so many people keep talking about Twitter, Facebook and social media (et al.) like they are ridiculous time-wasters, unable to be comprehended by a reasonable, practical, effective person.

Are you one of “those people?”

I got the headline for this post from an article in Wired Magazine, talking about the difference between Jimmy Fallon interviewing a Twitter guru, compared to Charlie Rose doing the same. Rose’s interview is referred to as seeming like an episode of “Grandpa Learns of the Magic Computer Box.” Jimmy Fallon, on the other hand, is doing his best to stay current and understand these modern social tools.

Which camp do you fall in? Social media hater, or social media participant?

The Case Against Social Media

For those of you pessimists, you can read this article about how Facebook may risk the effects of “infantilizing the human brain.”

Quote from the audio in the above article:

“Every generation is phobic about the effect of new technology on the morals of the next.”

She goes on to discount the application of this phenomenon concerning social media, and why this time it’s different.

So, you can find good information in both camps.

My point, relative to Construction Marketing, is this:

You can either grump around, refusing to understand or participate in the new social media trends, and fall behind. OR, you can experiment and try to find cool new ninja ways to use this stuff to expand your relationship base and perhaps even grow your business.

It’s your choice. If you want to remain a grinch about it, I totally get it.

But the truth is, this social media stuff is all just a new, very powerful way of communicating with the world. And it’s trending like a juggernaut.

So ask yourself: Do you want to waste time throwing a futile tantrum about how you think it sucks, and you want to go back to the “good old days” of wasteful, one-sided shotgun marketing?

Personally, I’m going to keep my eyes on the horizon, and scoop up what I can along the way.

Now go follow me on Twitter.

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