Comments on: Do We Agree Too Much Online? Yes We Do- I Mean, No We Don’t

By: Doug Haslam » Blog Archive » Top 10 Posts for 2009

Doug Haslam » Blog Archive » Top 10 Posts for 2009 — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:20:41 +0000

[...] Do We Agree Too Much Online? Yes We Do- I Mean, No We Don’t: I successfully defended both sides of an argument- or did I pick them both apart? Anyhow, a good, spirited discussion ensued. [...]

By: RV

RV — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:56:32 +0000

Twitter Comment

You guys gotta check on @thebrandbuilder more! RT @chrisbrogan: You know @dough ‘s right People agree lots in public – [link to post]

– Posted using Chat Catcher

By: Doug Haslam

Doug Haslam — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:49:05 +0000

Exactly– my posts can tend to be fragments– the germ of an idea to start discussion. when it works (like this one has), the comments give it a fuller life.

By: Keith Trivitt

Keith Trivitt — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:45:24 +0000

Doug – That’s a great, great point that you need to add value to what you agree with. Just simply saying “Great post!” Or “I agree!” (and let’s be honest, we all do that from time to time) doesn’t really add any more value than snarking on the post and not offering some constructive feedback. I like that “push it up to the next level” part … very intriguing. That’s got me thinking …

By: Doug Haslam

Doug Haslam — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:34:58 +0000

Chris– so we have the 2-faced people waiting to jump on someone to build up their own rep (they get filed in with the trolls and social miscreants, yes?)- along with the general agreeableness of many of us, we see a black hole of no-real-debate.

akaMonty- Thanks for saying what I was thinking!

Keith– I’ll add– you need to add value in agreeing, too. Take something you like and push it up to the next level. You (all of you) are as smart as the guy or gal who thought up the interesting post you agree or disagree with anyway, right?

By: artrox (Nicky Tillyer)

artrox (Nicky Tillyer) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:47:16 +0000

Twitter Comment

You guys gotta check on @thebrandbuilder more! RT @chrisbrogan: You know @dough 's right People agree lots in public - [link to post]

- Posted using Chat Catcher

By: rebelbrown (Rebel Brown)

rebelbrown (Rebel Brown) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:42:16 +0000

Twitter Comment

RT @chrisbrogan: You know, @dough 's right with this post. People agree lots in public - [link to post] {AMEN & WELL SAID!}

- Posted using Chat Catcher

By: Keith Trivitt

Keith Trivitt — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:24:03 +0000

Doug – This is a very interesting post and certainly one that has caught my attention. My initial reaction was “Yeah, he’s probably right about this.” (see, I’m agreeing with you already!). But the more I got thinking about it, the more I came to the conclusion that often, with online communications, due to the inability to read people’s emotions, facial expressions and most importantly, tone, agreeing is often our safest way of not burning a bridge with those we respect and know.

I think you certainly can – and should – disagree with others in online communications, whether that be via a blog comment, post or Tweet, but you also need to add something beyond that, a constructive point or a different perspective. Because the thing is, without offering that up, a simple line of disagreement in online communications often comes across as curt and disrespectful, rather than constructive. And at the end of the day, aren’t we all just trying to get a little better at our personal and professional lives?

@KeithTrivitt

By: akaMonty

akaMonty — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:18:55 +0000

This is why I exist, to sow discord and to not only disagree, but to be disagreeable. :)

Actually your assessment is right on for the largest percentage of people… some of us like to take on the dirty (and fun!) job of calling BOOLSHEET on people and I enjoy getting the frequent DMs that say “Thank you for saying what I was thinking!”

Of course, then I have to yell at them to grow a pair and say it themselves from now on. :D

By: Chris Brogan...

Chris Brogan... — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:16:30 +0000

I’m an agreeable guy and I accentuate the positive, but you know what this hit home for me?

Because people say only nice things about me and my blog for the most part, and they’re always sweet to me.

UNTIL they see the potential to step on my face to rise up, and then they let their real feelings show.

I can’t abide two-faced people. It’s become a bit of a problem, and what’s funniest is, people tell me all the time, “you’re not like the people I know from the agency world” (meaning that I’m not some kind of two-faced asshole), and then I get that treatment all the time from all these people (which NEARLY makes me want to be a lot more guarded).

So I’m glad you brought this up. I agree with what you said. ; )