By Chris A. Heidelberg, III, PhD. Publisher
If you are one of my former 1600 Facebook friends, don't even bother trying to contact me because you can't! I don't exist! I am officially disabled which really means excommunicated! I guess the YouTube videos below describes how I feel right now. One of the biggest problems of dealing with many online companies is knowing what the terms of your agreement. Like Internet veteran Rob Scobie I recently had my Facebook account disabled after receiving a warning email that I might be disabled. I think that there is a huge difference between getting a warning email and being straight up cut off by the powers that be at Facebook. My "warning" from Facebook turned into being banished from Facebook in a manner that would have made Charlton Heston's Moses look like he was still included in the Egyptian Royal Family. I was kicked out, thrown out, and literally made an example of because I betrayed the terms of my agreement.
Here is a quick quiz: how many of you really understand the terms of the agreement when you signed up for Facebook or any online service. I actually went to law school, have a PhD and deal with legal documents all of the time and I have to tell you that the document that most people routinely scan and click is clearly written in favor of the drafter of the contract because they know that few people will successfully protest or win in a court of law.
My point here is that I love the Facebook platform, but in their zeal to prevent spam they are persecuting amateurs like me who have no intention of spamming and only intentions of networking. Maybe they should borrow from LinkedIn and allow people to network who belong to the same groups. In my case I was experimenting with teaching a class in South Africa and here simultaneously before taking a trip. So I networked through one of my friends and that was considered a violation because I was adding too many friends too fast.
I have written Facebook several times and I have only received an initial response and after that I have received no response email from Facebook. This is disturbing to me that a company of this size would treat its customers like this and not even both to respond to email with at least a form letter. Hey, I work with the government and even they send you a form email to respond to your email. I realize that I will probably not get my account restored for writing this post but after trying to correspond with them and promising to reform from my "wicked ways" that I did not know I had. All I want to do is network with my academic, technology, media and student friends. I am so disappointed because I feel that the heavy handedness of Facebook is a shame because I think it has the potential to become the platform. I have always liked it better than MySpace but it appears that they don't want me.
My real problem with Facebook is that when you try to find out how many friends that you can add they cannot tell you what the limits are. Please spare me the lecture about safety when we know that everyone's data is being mined and used for advertising in the future by Microsoft after that huge deal. If by some miracle that I manage to get my account restored, you can bet that I will be on ten friend limit per day. What is really terrible is that I actually interacted with my friends and used them for both professional and media contacts.
So here are my questions: what does one do when they run afoul of the undisputed king of social networking? What would you do? In the meantime, if you want to contact me by Facebook you may be eligible for retirement by the time I even get a response, so don't hold your breath waiting. Come on Facebook give me one more chance and loosen up because you are starting to act like Microsoft used to act before they re-discovered customer service.
If you're reading this and you are on Facebook, I hope you learned what I did: Facebook can do whatever they want to do; Facebook will cut you from the squad quick and then tell you to read the vague rules that they wrote to protect themselves legally; Facebook will not give you specifics in plain English on how to stay out of trouble once you have run afoul; Facebook will not give you real due process and you will be punished with a snowball's chance in hell of being reinstated with all of your existing friends; Facebook will not respond to your requests for reinstatement even when you promise to change; Facebook has created rules similar to the credit card companies and you know you can't win appeals with them unless you are F. Lee Bailey or loaded; and Facebook has the best social networking site in the world that will make you an addict as I am finding out as I go through withdrawal. Hey maybe we should protest! Yeah right!
Hey I have already lost my privacy, due process, and right to protection against self-incrimination with Facebook. So I better use my First Amendment right while I still have it! I guess I feel like the guy getting lectured to by Clint Eastwood as Clint is holding the gun to him and promising this gentleman to, "Go ahead make my day!" You never get a straight answer when the person holding the gun is holding all of the cards, has cut you off of Facebook, and has already shot at you quite accurately. Don't bet on me getting reinstated, especially after this post!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
The Convergence Effect: Consolidation Is Now Impacting Brand New Media!
As I was reading All Things Digital on the Wall Street Journal online portal, I noticed that my Facebook friend Rafat Ali had sold the popular digital news site paidContent for somewhere between $25 and $30 million dollars to English publishing conglomerate, The Guardian. Under the terms of the deal Guardian will take a hands off approach and let Ali and his team do what they do best: keep us informed on the latest technology news.
Normally, I am not a fan of media consolidation; however, my concerns are usually when big companies merge. I actually am more of a fan of deals like this when social media pioneers and gurus like Ali are financially rewarded. Why? First, it will encourage more blogging teams to produce quality content that draws eyeballs if they want the same financial rewards. Second, it brings new players into the media game with new ideas and approaches to reporting that is sorely needed. Third, it demonstrates that the big companies are willing to pay real dollars to become real players in the digital media world.
Media consolidation is not always evil; however, it has to be regulated. Now I know that this may not be popular with some of my supply-side economic friends, but regulation is often needed because human beings are complicated creatures who behave both good and bad. At the end of the day, change is coming to media because of the impact of convergence.
To be sure, the media conglomerates are finally beginning to understand that social media is different and cannot be controlled and manipulated as easily as traditional media because of the democratizing effect of the Internet and social media. Politicians and big business are just beginning to learn these lessons, but the Google mantra of "do no evil" is a start. Even though, Google and these companies are far from perfect, the idea of dealing with the public in a forthright and transparent manner is what is driving the web.
Normally, I am not a fan of media consolidation; however, my concerns are usually when big companies merge. I actually am more of a fan of deals like this when social media pioneers and gurus like Ali are financially rewarded. Why? First, it will encourage more blogging teams to produce quality content that draws eyeballs if they want the same financial rewards. Second, it brings new players into the media game with new ideas and approaches to reporting that is sorely needed. Third, it demonstrates that the big companies are willing to pay real dollars to become real players in the digital media world.
Media consolidation is not always evil; however, it has to be regulated. Now I know that this may not be popular with some of my supply-side economic friends, but regulation is often needed because human beings are complicated creatures who behave both good and bad. At the end of the day, change is coming to media because of the impact of convergence.
To be sure, the media conglomerates are finally beginning to understand that social media is different and cannot be controlled and manipulated as easily as traditional media because of the democratizing effect of the Internet and social media. Politicians and big business are just beginning to learn these lessons, but the Google mantra of "do no evil" is a start. Even though, Google and these companies are far from perfect, the idea of dealing with the public in a forthright and transparent manner is what is driving the web.
The Convergence Effect: Consolidation Is Now Impacting Brand New Media!
As I was reading All Things Digital on the Wall Street Journal online portal, I noticed that my Facebook friend Rafat Ali had sold the popular digital news site paidContent for somewhere between $25 and $30 million dollars to English publishing conglomerate, The Guardian. Under the terms of the deal Guardian will take a hands off approach and let Ali and his team do what they do best: keep us informed on the latest technology news.
Normally, I am not a fan of media consolidation; however, my concerns are usually when big companies merge. I actually am more of a fan of deals like this when social media pioneers and gurus like Ali are financially rewarded. Why? First, it will encourage more blogging teams to produce quality content that draws eyeballs if they want the same financial rewards. Second, it brings new players into the media game with new ideas and approaches to reporting that is sorely needed. Third, it demonstrates that the big companies are willing to pay real dollars to become real players in the digital media world.
Media consolidation is not always evil; however, it has to be regulated. Now I know that this may not be popular with some of my supply-side economic friends, but regulation is often needed because human beings are complicated creatures who behave both good and bad. At the end of the day, change is coming to media because of the impact of convergence.
To be sure, the media conglomerates are finally beginning to understand that social media is different and cannot be controlled and manipulated as easily as traditional media because of the democratizing effect of the Internet and social media. Politicians and big business are just beginning to learn these lessons, but the Google mantra of "do no evil" is a start. Even though, Google and these companies are far from perfect, the idea of dealing with the public in a forthright and transparent manner is what is driving the web.
Normally, I am not a fan of media consolidation; however, my concerns are usually when big companies merge. I actually am more of a fan of deals like this when social media pioneers and gurus like Ali are financially rewarded. Why? First, it will encourage more blogging teams to produce quality content that draws eyeballs if they want the same financial rewards. Second, it brings new players into the media game with new ideas and approaches to reporting that is sorely needed. Third, it demonstrates that the big companies are willing to pay real dollars to become real players in the digital media world.
Media consolidation is not always evil; however, it has to be regulated. Now I know that this may not be popular with some of my supply-side economic friends, but regulation is often needed because human beings are complicated creatures who behave both good and bad. At the end of the day, change is coming to media because of the impact of convergence.
To be sure, the media conglomerates are finally beginning to understand that social media is different and cannot be controlled and manipulated as easily as traditional media because of the democratizing effect of the Internet and social media. Politicians and big business are just beginning to learn these lessons, but the Google mantra of "do no evil" is a start. Even though, Google and these companies are far from perfect, the idea of dealing with the public in a forthright and transparent manner is what is driving the web.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Now That's Edutainment and Convergence!
Here is a great post by George Ruiz on Flickr that says the three words that I am always talking about on this site: Edutainment and Convergence!
If you have a Mac and an iPhone you are more than half way there, all you need is the right HD video camera and tripod and a Canon Powershot if you want super digital stills.
My point is that one can a really nice Mac and an iPhone for less than $3,000 and then add on a decent HD and Powershot Shot for another $3, 000 and you can have a walking studio that can fit in one bag when traveling for less than $7, 000. I remember that a similar hookup during the early 90's or at the beginning of the decade and it would have cost closer to $70 to get the same quality results for video, sound and to put it online. Of course, no cell phone existed for the masses during the 1990's ,and neither did iTunes , that play back video like iTunes. People were just really adopting digi-Beta at the beginning of the decade and the tapes were high: nearly $50 at the time. My point is that you could have done streaming and downloads but the qualtiy was not there. After the Duke Digital Initiative, one would think that every college could put this set up in every students hands, and throw in a digital camera and classic iPod for storage purpose. Why? Because no one would ever have an excuse for missing a class that they can download on their computer or their phone via rss, and the students could also create their own visual homework to accompany what they write. It would be a great way to conduct natural research in field whether it was qualitative, mixed or quantitative.
This is just part of the future of education. We just have to get all of the Academy on board because those who podcast on iTunesU are already ahead of the game. We just need to work with them on presentation, and we can recruit producers and directors for the job of killing the snooze factor and making the class/show fun, interactive and learner-centered.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Recording a Podcast Using an iPod and a Micromemo
Edutainment and research keeps getting easier with tools like the iPod and inexpensive recording attachments that are a little more than $69. You can record lectures, research interviews and media interviews with your iPod and upload them to your computer and create your own podcasts. Now that's edutainment!
Monday, December 17, 2007
Strike It Out Grandma With Wii!
Here is the rest of story from the previous post! As you can see this senior knows how to bowl a virtual strike, and she is not alone. The average gamer age is 32 and climbing. These folks are going to mess up the curve and are already bringing the family hour back with a little friendly - or should I say - serious competition!
Don't believe me, check out The Washington Post.com story that has been all over Digg.com on this issue!
Yes, and now you can see the rest of this story with just you and Wii!
Seniors Are Leading The Edutainment & Convergence Charge With Wii Addiction!
By Chris A. Heidelberg III, Managing Editor & Producer
Just In case you thought I was joking about the seniors playing Wii check out this photo. As you know, this is the version of Edutainment Today that focuses on the visual image more than text, so I figure that this picture says a thousand words!
By the way, this photo is not from New York City where there are huge lines to buy a Wii which I will show later, these senior are literally from Omaha, Nebraska in middle America. The silent majority has spoken: casual games are hear to stay and learning or serious games are a big part of the future of learning, assessment and competency development according to experts such as John Paul Gee, Marc Prensky, Robert Wisher, and Clark Aldrich. So get your game on!
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