Twitterville Mayor? Jay Fresh says where I should go

Yesterday was a slow news day in social media, except for the Paul Walsh report that his blog had been banned in China after he reported that Chinese officials beat a blogger to death. I wrote about that and got a few responses, mainly that my problems subscribing to Paul on Google reader were my own anomolies, and not a Google block. But there was no flood of outrage about the Chinse blogger; nor was there any response when I wrote about the incarceration of a popular Saudi Arabian blogger; nor did people much care about Wael Abbas who posts videos showing police brutality in Egypt.

But then I really stirred it up. I wrote a light-hearted, off-the wall addendum to Laura Fitton's outstanding post on a Twitter Village. I suggested we pick a mayor and tossed out a few silly titles for people who are well known in my particular neighborhood of the 700,00 resident megalopolus of Twitter. That should have been obvious for the titles. Do I really aspire to run a virtual senior center? Just what Loic be doing as Secretary of Tweesmic?

And most people saw the humor. They added nominees in comments. They made jokes. Hell, it was a slow news day in Twitterville.

Not since I asked the equally meaningful question over a year ago of: "What washer & dryer should I buy," have I received so many Comments. About one in five are alarmed or irate. They somehow think that (1) I have authority to do such a thing, and (2) I would actually want to do such a thing, or (3) there are enough old people to need a senior center.

I answered the first couple of concerned comments with polite private email. Then I posted a comment that said I was only kidding and now Jay Fresh has suggested I just put myself into a dark and hairy place.

Be serious. (Oops that's the problem.) So let me drag out some dreds: I've been involved in social media for a pretty long time now. I'm pretty much on the record favoring transfer of power from top to bottom. I've co-written a book on the topic; made speeches; written tens of thousands of words on the subject.

If anyone thinks that I really believe we should install government to rule in Twitterville, I think they should take a little Loosen-Up pill. Seriously.

Comments

[Lewis Green]

Shel,

So much of America seems to have lost its sense of humor. Such a pity. We can become irate about social media but not about torture and death--shame on shame!

[Ontario Emperor]

So what washer and dryer did you get? And who will head up Twitterville's Department of Laundry?

[shel israel]

Ontario Emperor:
Kenmore. Turns out they are the most reliable. And stop trying to make this a soap opera, Your Sudsiness.

[Ryan Anderson]

This just in - Shel Israel endorses performance enhancing drugs! Could these "loosen-up pills" be the start of bloggers being disqualified from the A-List? What a scoop!

[Geoff Livingston]

LOL, now this is funny, calling Shel Israel a conservative federalist. I like the beret revolucion thing though, as it inspires me to remember the spirit of blogging ;) Be well, Shel.

[JayFresh]

Hi Shel,

Came up with an explanation for why your readers get going over the more trivial world matters. Although I think the choice of washer/dryer is a pretty important one.

J.

[Mihaela V (prprof_mv)]

My explanation is that people love to be engaged in debate and to express their opinions - so they'll pick up on any idea that seems even remotely controversial and go at it. It's fun. It gets people communicating, communing - it satisfies the need for communication and companionship. If they don't take your post seriously, then they can only post a smiley comment and move on... not fun. On the Chinese blogger post, they can only agree with you and move on... not fun. Arguing can be fun, it lets the ego go out and play (or not... but I'd better not go there).

[shel israel]

Mihaela V I think that's a very astute insight. Very astute, indeed.