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Friday, March 29, 2013
Why 'clicktivism' is important
Posted By Desiree Kane on Fri, Mar 29, 2013 at 7:00 AM
There's no denying that everyone from companies to the U.S. government are monitoring what we say and do online. There's even a Homeland Security social media word watch list. Meaning if you tweet or use these words online, you're put on a watch list by the government.
Clicktivism, or the act of making political statements through changing your profile photo(s) and sending out messages using social networks as a means to communicate a social movement, is important because, even in some small way, it shows Uncle Sam something the marketing industry calls "sentiment." This week's ongoing Human Right's Council marriage equality campaign online eruption is a perfect example of this.
Get caught up here if you need the back story:
Clicktivism, or the act of making political statements through changing your profile photo(s) and sending out messages using social networks as a means to communicate a social movement, is important because, even in some small way, it shows Uncle Sam something the marketing industry calls "sentiment." This week's ongoing Human Right's Council marriage equality campaign online eruption is a perfect example of this.
Get caught up here if you need the back story:
That's because the Human Rights Campaign, which advocates equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, has been promoting an image of a pink equal sign over a red background in lieu of its blue-and-yellow logo to mobilize supporters online as the Supreme Court begins hearings on gay marriage today in Washington, D.C. A symbol of "equality," the photo has racked up more than 25,000 "likes" and 78,000 "shares" on the group's Facebook page in the last 24 hours. In fact, Mashable reports that since actor George Takei changed his profile picture to the red equal sign, the post has received more than 40,000 likes from fans.
Read more: What Is the Red Equal Sign All Over Facebook and Twitter?
Clicktivism is about swaying public sentiment reports based around online discussion and activity. Data on sentiment is intellectual property. The government, even if nothing else, is collecting this information and clicktivism is the citizen's way into the data history books, where people look many years later when they want to track a movement towards changing laws. It is a group of people exerting their sway and changing the data and it's a way to communicate with the people listening directly. There's nothing better for democracy than that.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
SXSWi: It has begun
Posted By Desiree Kane on Wed, Mar 13, 2013 at 11:58 AM
My experience with SXSWi began distinctly and punctually yesterday in the airport. I missed my outbound flight because of traffic and was sitting blowing off 4 hours until the next jet when I overheard one stranger say to another in passing "I don't want your tall banana!"
Enjoying my peanut butter Twix for a 7 a.m. breakfast, all I could wonder was if this odd moment of candy and inappropriate commentary between strangers was an omen, an indicator of what is to be over the next four days. SXSW is the biggest party of the year for the creative community. My inbox is chockfull of invite-only RSVPs, too. Man, this is going to be good.
I'll be here, on this page, every day until March 11 making regular updates as things happen so check back often.
I sat there, taking in the moment, the only words crossing my mind were "this is going to be a total shit-show ..." and, inevitably, it will be.
Welcome to CL Charlotte's coverage of South by Southwest Interactive in Austin, TX.
Constant commentary, photos, tweets, and more during my waking hours on my twitter @dbirdy, instagram @dbirdy and on Facebook @desiree.kane!
Friday, March 8, 2013:
Scott Provancher sighting! I knew there were other Charlotteans here, just wasn't expecting to see the President of the Arts & Science Council. This makes me feel good about Charlotte's representation within this artsy/science-y community!
*
Unauthorized owl costume wearing at Hootsuite HQ, party of one!
Austin has an unofficial slogan of "Keep Austin Weird." They're succeeding at this. The only weirder place is Carson City, but that's a story for another day. What's so weird about Austin? It's like the culture has been so unabashedly quirky for so long that something being a little off is commonplace, nay, expected. Think of it like this: It's like the Common Market, except it's an entire city.
*
Every time I come to Texas, I think, "Wow, they really do it big here." But then I meet the natives, and they're such mild-mannered nerds that I wind up pleasantly surprised. They do it big ... brained that is.
*
OH: "When did scrappy and entrepreneurial become just ... Dickish?"
I've heard this a lot about the SXSW organizers from a whole bunch of different places. People are complaining that it's gotten too big, that it's sold out, too commercial, people don't like the panel track selections as much as they did in < insert arbitrary date here >, etc. Consequently, all of the people complaining are bleeding-edge techpreneurs, so I can see how they'd feel that this once-small conference has grown too much for their tastes. Everyone I've met (save one guy, Jay Baydala, Founder & CEO of Goodpin) has been here five-plus years in a row. One lady even picked up the cab for a friend and me because of this.
*
OH at 1:13AM: "I've never worn a pair of shorts where my balls came out to say hello. Earlier I looked down and said, Is that a tomato?'" - our Motorphilia Limo driver
*
2:55 AM: One of the weirdest moments ever. Ever.
I was walking with my friend Michael Cummings (one of the founders of BIL Conference, the open-source unconference with a mission not dissimilar to TED except in approach) and girl friends from the U.A.E., Ayesha and Latifah. Latifah looks exactly like famous Middle Eastern singer Myriam Fares and we were literally mobbed by a pack of young, drunk Saudi Arabian men who thought Latifah was the celebrity singer.
First, they followed us to the car, cat-calling and pawing at Latifah. "This is how celebrities must feel," I thought to myself.
We made it to the car, but they started opening the doors, the back window of the Honda Element ... the whole thing was actually rather scary, which is why I wasn't able to catch more video.
Afterward, Latifah expressed feeling "like a pair of shoes." It was crazy - she was wildly objectified and my heart goes out to her for that. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say there were some cultural things happening that are broad and complicated, which I can't begin to understand, let alone articulate. It was interesting, I'll give it that.
Day 1: DONE. Whew! Tomorrow: The SXSWi Gaming expo!
Enjoying my peanut butter Twix for a 7 a.m. breakfast, all I could wonder was if this odd moment of candy and inappropriate commentary between strangers was an omen, an indicator of what is to be over the next four days. SXSW is the biggest party of the year for the creative community. My inbox is chockfull of invite-only RSVPs, too. Man, this is going to be good.
I'll be here, on this page, every day until March 11 making regular updates as things happen so check back often.
I sat there, taking in the moment, the only words crossing my mind were "this is going to be a total shit-show ..." and, inevitably, it will be.
Welcome to CL Charlotte's coverage of South by Southwest Interactive in Austin, TX.
Constant commentary, photos, tweets, and more during my waking hours on my twitter @dbirdy, instagram @dbirdy and on Facebook @desiree.kane!
Friday, March 8, 2013:
Scott Provancher sighting! I knew there were other Charlotteans here, just wasn't expecting to see the President of the Arts & Science Council. This makes me feel good about Charlotte's representation within this artsy/science-y community!
*
Unauthorized owl costume wearing at Hootsuite HQ, party of one! Austin has an unofficial slogan of "Keep Austin Weird." They're succeeding at this. The only weirder place is Carson City, but that's a story for another day. What's so weird about Austin? It's like the culture has been so unabashedly quirky for so long that something being a little off is commonplace, nay, expected. Think of it like this: It's like the Common Market, except it's an entire city.
*
Every time I come to Texas, I think, "Wow, they really do it big here." But then I meet the natives, and they're such mild-mannered nerds that I wind up pleasantly surprised. They do it big ... brained that is.
*
OH: "When did scrappy and entrepreneurial become just ... Dickish?"
I've heard this a lot about the SXSW organizers from a whole bunch of different places. People are complaining that it's gotten too big, that it's sold out, too commercial, people don't like the panel track selections as much as they did in < insert arbitrary date here >, etc. Consequently, all of the people complaining are bleeding-edge techpreneurs, so I can see how they'd feel that this once-small conference has grown too much for their tastes. Everyone I've met (save one guy, Jay Baydala, Founder & CEO of Goodpin) has been here five-plus years in a row. One lady even picked up the cab for a friend and me because of this.
*
OH at 1:13AM: "I've never worn a pair of shorts where my balls came out to say hello. Earlier I looked down and said, Is that a tomato?'" - our Motorphilia Limo driver
*
2:55 AM: One of the weirdest moments ever. Ever.
I was walking with my friend Michael Cummings (one of the founders of BIL Conference, the open-source unconference with a mission not dissimilar to TED except in approach) and girl friends from the U.A.E., Ayesha and Latifah. Latifah looks exactly like famous Middle Eastern singer Myriam Fares and we were literally mobbed by a pack of young, drunk Saudi Arabian men who thought Latifah was the celebrity singer.
First, they followed us to the car, cat-calling and pawing at Latifah. "This is how celebrities must feel," I thought to myself.
We made it to the car, but they started opening the doors, the back window of the Honda Element ... the whole thing was actually rather scary, which is why I wasn't able to catch more video.
Afterward, Latifah expressed feeling "like a pair of shoes." It was crazy - she was wildly objectified and my heart goes out to her for that. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say there were some cultural things happening that are broad and complicated, which I can't begin to understand, let alone articulate. It was interesting, I'll give it that.
Day 1: DONE. Whew! Tomorrow: The SXSWi Gaming expo!
Thursday, March 7, 2013
CL Charlotte heads to SXSWi
Posted By Desiree Kane on Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 12:00 AM
What do you get when you put the world's largest collection of brilliant Internet nerds plus music and alcohol all in one place? 2013 SXSW® Interactive Festival, of course!
I'm only (half) kidding. But guess what?! CL Charlotte is taking you there beginning tomorrow, Friday, March 8th! SXSWi is as follows, according to their website:
I'll of course be posting here on my column but also on my Twitter @dbirdy, Instagram, and Facebook. I cannot wait to go and I can't wait to bring you with me. Hell yeah, SXSWi!
See you in a few days! Oh, and if you're going to be in town, please hit me up on Twitter. Charlotte people in Austin, Texas this weekend! Let's do this!
I'm only (half) kidding. But guess what?! CL Charlotte is taking you there beginning tomorrow, Friday, March 8th! SXSWi is as follows, according to their website:
Scheduled March 8-12, the 2013 SXSW® Interactive Festival will feature five days of compelling presentations from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders, the SXSW Trade Show and an unbeatable lineup of special programs showcasing the best new digital works, video games and innovative ideas the international community has to offer.I've already got a preview of the new Nintendo Wii U and 3DS XL lined up to share with y'all via video like I did with the CES 2013 Sony 3D 1080p Playstation TV w/ Simulview. SXSWi is pretty much an in-person nerdgasm. I will do my best to share that with you, online.
I'll of course be posting here on my column but also on my Twitter @dbirdy, Instagram, and Facebook. I cannot wait to go and I can't wait to bring you with me. Hell yeah, SXSWi!
See you in a few days! Oh, and if you're going to be in town, please hit me up on Twitter. Charlotte people in Austin, Texas this weekend! Let's do this!
