Fixing Broken Windows

  I just finished reading a great post by Jason Kottke that deals with the broken windows theory of social behavior and its relation to online socialization. Kottke does a wonderful job of using quotes from older articles to explain the theory itself, then goes on to present his own thoughts on the theory's relevance to our online experiences. It's well worth a read.

In essence, what that "broken windows" theory states is that if a neighborhood building has one broken window chances are that, in relatively short order, the other windows will get broken out. This theory holds true regardless of the socio-economic structure of the neighborhood - rich or poor, suburb or urban. The explanation for the theory is simple: a broken window that remains broken is a sign that no one cares - therefore, breaking more windows costs nothing.

Kottke posits that the "broken windows" in the online community take the form of forum spam and trolling and un-moderated blog replies and forum posts. As he says, "[when] forums, message boards, and blog comment threads with more than a handful of participants are unmoderated, bad behavior follows." This bad behavior, in turn, leads to more and more badness until the forum loses its relevance, its attendance, and its position of authority (or enjoyment). He also tries to infer that a site's appearance may play a part as well, that a badly used template or poor design of a site leads to trouble. However, I think that's a bit far-fetched. Theoretically it works, sure, but still a well-moderated forum can limit the bad posts even if the site looks horrible.

So, why write about this you ask? Well, first of all we have a fairly popular forum ourselves. People come to it looking for assistance, for answers, and for information on our company and our expertise. If we fail to adequately monitor what is said there, much less what we say ourselves, then we, too, can lose our attendance and our relevance.

Of course, I don't intend people to take an iron fist when it comes to policing what is going on in our forum - we've done that in the past and while it keeps the forum "clean" and free from negativity, it can also lead to a too "antiseptic" feeling. Having some dissension in the forum is a good thing - it shows we don't simply deny that we have faults or that we hide things from the public. However, if someone calls us out we should respond in kind; maybe not a full out verbal assault but with logic, with reason, and with just enough force to let people know we're serious.

Plus, we're NOT perfect. Sorry to slap people into reality here, but there is no Tooth Fairy, we DID walk on the moon, Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, and CrystalTech does make mistakes. The key is to be human about it and admit it. Apologize, present a plan of attack for fixing the issue and move along and get it done. This is what drives us, this is what puts us in at the head table and this is what we're known for: transparency. Granted, there's a fig leaf or two, but our windows are open, not broken.

Twitter Writing Contest 2

So, Copyblogger had another Twitter Writing Contest - this time is was to tweet a Haiku. Being a glutton for punishment, and having a false sense that I write better than I really do, I sent in my submission. My brother did one as well. Without further ado:

Haiku 1:
Blogging is not dead / it’s just been reduced to this / single-serving thoughts

Meaning:
My take on the Wired piece on blogging - touting that it's "so 2004" now that Facebook, et. al. are alive and kicking (the crap out of personal blogs I suppose).

Haiku 2:
lost my train of thought / forgot the syllable count / better luck next time

Meaning:
Pretty obvious, but pretty clever.

Judging commences this Friday (11/). First prize is a MacBook Air. My fingers are crossed.

the Internet Versus Hog Futures

Something I wrote for my blog at work. Thought it was pretty good:

My grandparents' kitchen was THE place when I was growing up. A seat at the table was a place of honor, especially in the early evening when folks would stop by for coffee. In southern Iowa things move a bit more slowly than in other areas of the country. In Unionville, population 25, this is especially true.

Therefore, being able to sit at the table gave you a front row seat to the news and notes, whether it was how the latest crops were doing, whose son was back from boot camp, or even discussion on the fall out from the most recent high school football game (Moravia football was HUGE in Appanoose County in the 80's and old habits die hard).

I remember sitting at that table one weekday afternoon a few years ago. My grandparents were playing cribbage, as was their normal routine, and the Royals game was on the radio. A truck pulled up outside and my grandmother, in a most Stepford-like way, got up to make a new pot of coffee.

A man walked up the front porch, knocked twice and then let himself in the front door. He was attired as one would expect: Kent Feed cap slightly askew and appropriately sweat stained, overalls just dirty enough, hand rolled cigarette dangling. There was definitely no doubt as to the man's profession. He sat just off to the side of the table, took off his hat and laid it on his knee. My grandmother, ever the courteous host, handed him a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

They talked, chatted, joked. Time came for introductions as I was the unknown in a world of daily routine. The man - and it's been so long I've forgotten his name - asked me what I did for a living.

"I work for a web hosting company," I said proudly.

"Ah," came his reply. Pause. "What's that?"

Slightly taken aback, I replied "It has to do with websites. You know, the Internet."

"Oh, the Internet," he drawled. "I've heard of that."

And that was it. The discussion of corn yields resumed, and my part was through.

"I've heard of that."

Not "oh, of course" or "how interesting". Simply, "I've heard of that."

I took it for granted that everyone was familiar with the Internet - that everyone used it and that it was as part of their daily routine. I just assumed that even here in rural America, where mowing hay or plowing a field was a daily occurrence, that at least accessing email was a given. It never dawned on me that someone would simply have "heard" of the Internet.

We can all use a humbling experience like this once in awhile to remind us that not everyone knows what we do, much less how we do it. Not everyone is as familiar with things like "DNS" or "webmail" or "FTP". We all need to take a step back and understand this, and be able to adjust our methods of communication accordingly. We don't have the ability to hand over a fresh cup coffee, but we do have the luxury of a friendly and understanding ear.

Vote for me in 2008

Vote Curtis in '08

The Black Crowes - VH1 Unplugged - Wiser Time (acoustic)

Testing 1, 2, 4

Just downloaded a couple of new plug-ins for LiveWriter so I want to test them out. The first is "Polaroid Picture" - it makes any pic look like an older Polaroid. Let's see how it works....

That's my kids up in Sedona. Yep....LOVE this plug-in.

The other is a "Now Playing" app. It's supposed to show what I'm currently listening to. Considering I have music playing from my iPod at the moment, that may be tough, but I'll fake it out a little...let's see how it works:

Radiohead - In Rainbows - 4 Minute Warning

Yep, digging this plug-in as well. Now they just need one for "Insert Now Drinking". What would that tag say for me? Blue Moon with a slice of orange.

Drink red...

The one book that has had, by far, the most influence over my life and its direction is The Razor's Edge by William Somerset Maugham. I can't say what the focal point of the book is for me, but I do know that I read it at a pretty pivotal point in my life; a time where I needed guidance that can't be found from friends or family, counselors or clergy.

I actually read the book for the first time after seeing the movie adaptation starring Bill Murray. I remember going to see the movie alone (big Bill Murray fan here) as no one else had a desire to see it. I went in blind with zero knowledge of the book or its subject matter - I just wanted a laugh. Little did I know...

Watching the movie I was transfixed by the Larry Darrell character and his internal struggle. I suppose that's what drew me to the book - Larry himself. I could relate to him as I was having issues of my own, and was looking for something that no one else could provide. The movie whetted my appetite, and the book proved to be not my salvation as much as my direction. While I'm no Larry Darrell (shoot, I WISH) he certainly gave me pause, guidance and peace through his own search and his discoveries.

Oddly enough, one of the most direct pieces of advice I carry with me came from the movie itself, and isn't even in the book. It's a fairly important part of the story: Isabel has come to Paris with her mother and meets Larry for dinner. Larry has been apart from Isabel for a couple of years, just "loafing".

Isabel, the blue blood, is forever uncomfortable with Larry's Plebeian tastes: cafe table wine, friends of questionable character, one room apartments with no private bath. Larry has no need of luxuries - just necessities. In fact, it is when Larry takes Isabel to his apartment in Paris that this revelation comes.

Upon entering his apartment, Larry asks Isabel if she wants a glass of wine, and Isabel accepts.

As this is the Fall, and it's chilly outside, Larry opens a window, reaches out, and pulls a bottle of white wine from his sill and pours two glasses.

Isabel, perplexed, asks "What do you do when it's summer?"

"Drink Red."

I Advanced Masked

I bought this album when it came out, and a couple others that resulted from the Fripp/Summers collaboration. Looking back, I'm not sure what possessed me to by it as I had zero idea who Robert Fripp was. I knew Andy Summers from the Police, but even then I had no real admiration or love of his guitar playing. I suppose I was thinking I'd get an album of somewhat eclectic songs like "Mother" from Synchronicity. Little did I know....

Maybe it's the wine (who am I kidding...it IS the wine), but the album stands the test of time. Each song is different on many different levels. While the "sound" stays the same (you can tell the difference between Summers and Fripp) the rhythm, pacing, atmosphere and feeling change from song to song. I love that. So many artists these days sound the same: same song, same sound, same engineering.

Okay - lame post, but I wanted to write. Just felt the need....

My 140 Character Story

See here: Copyblogger.com Twitter Writing Contest

My submission:
"Some say I should have acted differently, but walking away was the only solution. I couldn’t go through that again – at least not this soon."

Post Title Here

If you haven't experienced it, a pediatric dentist's office is a wonder to behold; at once intimidating in its mystery while being frenetic with the activity of children expending nervous energy on the toys scattered throughout.

My son walks into the room with a confidence I can only pray he keeps into adulthood. I am not only proud watching him, but also a tad jealous as I have lost that confidence years ago.

Neil showed up knowing he required three extractions. Though he doesn't exhibit a noticeable amount of fear, I know there is some there, just beneath the surface. Even at such a young age he gets embarrassed when he is placed in a situation he's unsure of how to handle. He tries to act nonchalant, but those who know him (and I'm one of the lucky ones) can see right through it. His last experience with this much dental activity amounted to an anesthetist, a shot, three hours of sleep, and a silver tooth.

As I watch him playing with a few of the other children in the office, I wonder at his ability to adapt: He not only plays with the others, running around and climbing through the mock spaceship in the waiting room, he actually starts conversations, interacting with the other children with ease. Again, more jealousy on my part.

"I'm having a few teeth pulled today," he remarks to a newcomer.

"Wow, that's cool." I hear another say.

"Yeah, I guess. I'm a little scared, but it will be okay," he replies. And then playing resumes.

Amazingly, it seems that after his admission everyone is calling his name, asking him to "come see this" or "follow me." It is as if a tension is released, even if just a touch.

Later, as we follow the dental assistant to one of the examination rooms, I say how proud I am of him, telling him "it takes a pretty big man to admit to being scared."

"Well, I just figured if I told them I was scared that maybe they'd feel okay if they were scared too."

There are quintessential moments as a parent, moments that you grasp and hold on to throughout your life, moments you wrap in silk and tie with velvet, that you put on the mantle to display to the world, moments that make your heart burst with such pleasure, such pride, such adoration that you are certain it will kill you, willingly and completely. This is such a moment.

If I never do another right thing, I have this to hold on to. I have the innocence of my son, I have pure and unsullied hope, faith, kindness, compassion. I have a moment that has such beauty in it, it is almost painful.

He stops in the hallway, "Why are you crying dad?"

Breaking the Shackles of my OS

I just read a post by Richard Stallman, President of the Free Software Foundation. The post dealt with the irony (and danger) of the OLPC XO running Windows (see Can we rescue OLPC from Windows?).

Richard makes some interesting statements, equating the use of Windows on the XO as giving users of the XO an addicting drug. He states that having the Windows OS on a machine that is intended to promote the use of technology in education, especially in underprivileged countries, "puts them under the power of the system's developer -- perhaps permanently." He further states that "[i]f the XO turns out to be a platform for spreading the use of proprietary software, its overall effect on the world will be negative."

Wow. So, that means that by writing this post on a Windows machine, using Windows Live Writer, and posting the blog to a host that runs the Windows OS, I'm an addict? Look, I'm addicted to a lot of things (my children's laughter, for example), but I'm definitely not shackled to my OS.

I use what I use because it's easily available, it's user-friendly, and it does what I want/need it to do. Isn't that the goal of OLPC (and any other organization that has started up since)? Isn't their goal to get technology to children to assist in their education and enrichment of their lives? Does it really matter "how" that is done versus the fact that it IS being done?

OLPC has enough problems without someone using the organization to promote their own goals and ideals. Stallman goes on to promote the use of the FSF's own "free" OS, Sugar. It's not enough that Stallman's post is misdirected, but to add in an appeal for something his organization is working on at the end of the post just makes it all the more ineffective.

Now, I understand that many would argue that I have the luxury of switching the "how"; I can easily move to a Linux flavor, switch to Open Office, etc. while those in other countries can't. However, I still fail to see how that is the fault/responsibility of OLPC. Their PRIMARY focus is NOT promoting freedom through the distribution of free software. Taken from the OLPC web site is the following:

"Our goal: To provide children around the world with new opportunities to explore, experiment and express themselves."

How that gets accomplished is irrelevant. 

A modern spiritual by Gail and Dale?

Not sure what's more off-putting: hearing this song in two-part harmony or hearing Lawrence Welk call it a "modern spiritual".

High Fidelity

Caught part of the movie "High Fidelity" with John Cusack yesterday afternoon. For some reason, while I was watching the move I was curious as to  how it compared to the book - so I went out and bought it.

I've never read any Nick Hornby before, but I was so taken by his style, his conversation and his ability to nail the neuroses of the human male that I'm already over half way through the book.

Something of note: Hornby also wrote the book "Fever Pitch", which was turned into a movie starring Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore. Interesting to note, the team in the film was not the team Hornby originally wrote about in his book. For American audiences the setting was transferred to Boston during the Red Sox run at their first World Series win in 80+ years. Hornby's book follows a superfan of the Arsenal football club, a team in the English Premier League.

Microsoft! or Yahoogle

So, the Enquirer that is the interweb is abuzz about the prospect of Microsoft purchasing Yahoo! Personally, I see it as a lame attempt by Microsoft to, in very simple terms, gain ground on Google in the search and advertising market. Put aside all the fluff about how the acquisition would advance the goals of openness, innovation and the protection of privacy on the Internet (paraphrased from Microsoft's response to Google's questioning the proposal); Microsoft is losing the war when it comes to the multi-billion dollar search advertising game, and they know it.

What's even more interesting is how Google views the potential partnership/purchase. To wit (click the link above to see the full posting from Google): "Could the acquisition of Yahoo! allow Microsoft -- despite its legacy of serious legal and regulatory offenses -- to extend unfair practices from browsers and operating systems to the Internet?"  Pretty harsh words, and not unexpected, especially since Microsoft cried "Foul!" when Google bought Double-Click. However, is Google really living it's "do no evil" mantra true? See this story that broke in the Wall Street Journal today: "Google could potentially offer money, or guaranteed revenue in return for a Yahoo advertising outsourcing pact" said folks familiar with the discussions.

So, Google spreads some decent FUD regarding Microsoft's acquisition bid from one end of the Googleplex, but extends the proverbial olive branch to Yahoo! from the other end - it's all good, folks, we're just trying to help our brethren out; loan them some cash with a reasonable interest rate (we don't expect to gain anything on this deal) to keep them on their feet, keep them viable, protect their brand, and further our own desire to protect the world from the beasts in Redmond. Do no evil, hell - Google does nothing but.

Half drunk all the time

Friday night, red wine and Tom Waits. Not sure what could be added to make it any more perfect. Oh, wait - I added some Harry Chapin.

David Lynch iPhone

It's been awhile

Not a recent post - still recovering from the hangover that was July. Switched positions in late '07, and while things are still hectic, they're not as much. I'm not "the man" anymore, so I'm out of the spotlight for awhile. It's weird as I was always in the mix, but it's a little less stressful now. Hopefully, I'll have more time to post.

If you're curious about the picture, I just wanted to test the "insert" function within Live Writer. Pretty nice - I'll try and get something a bit more appropriate when needed.