Jeremiah called a “Web Hippie” –Shel Israel Responds
Just a few days ago, I had explained my difficulty explaining my career to friends and family. Yesterday, a friend called me on my drive home, he’s a Silicon Valley web professional working he’s working at a Software company you would know, and has worked at a variety of other large tech companies you would also know.
I was taken-back/shocked when he told me the following:
“Jeremiah, how’re things going, I checked out your blog a few weeks ago, you really seem like some type of hippie, some kind of web hippie”
Funny, heh, guess it’s better than “web prophet”. He’s talking about how I preach/believe that customers are taking charge with the new set of tools available and if companies don’t respond they’ll be irrelevant and out of the conversation. Well –it’s happening, to what degree, I can’t fully measure, but there’s reasons why CNN, NYtimes, are all starting to adopt user content in their content mix –as that’s the way to survive. There’s reasons why news casters on TV are getting information from blogs, and why CBSnews, and Computerworld quote bloggers now –this is the where the news and fresh thoughts are breaking.
I had to share this with business blog expert Shel Israel,, I sent him an email last night he responds with the following.
“Your friend can call me what he wishes. In the 60s I inhaled. I had lots of sex with lots of women in the 60s. I hated the war, racism and presidents who lied. I marched for integration and against war. I was passionate about working for everyone everywhere having an even break. I worked 60 hours a week while going through college. I paid my bills and met my military obligations. I was normal for my in age in those times. Flower power and communes were around but not for me.
Now I’m in the 60s again. I’ll be 62 in a month. I’m passionate about my wife and my sex life is private. I consider a third glass of Chardonnay being bad. I still hate war and racism and presidents who abuse power for personal agendas. The rest is pretty much the same. A belief in one world, closer together, people talk to people directly without stat department filtering, without media distortions and amplifications. The values I had in those 60s are pretty applicable to the values I have today on the web or off.”
Check out more of this old hippie’s thoughts at Naked Conversations. Shirley and I loved what he wrote, it was clearly the highlight of the evening. I’m not sure what the right term is however there’s a trend happening with the web smoothing out communities, the common man taking charge
I had some other great conversations with my friend, mainly around web analytics, and user experience testing, and online forum communities. I’ll start to talk about this more in an upcoming post.
Jeremiah, the Web Hippie –my Auntie Chris, a child of the love generation would be proud.
14 Comments so far
Leave a reply
[…] Other than our passion for web, this is probaly the most important discussion to have –even if you’re a hippie. Tara Hunt asks some logical questions, what is your business model? Something many Web 2.0 companies need to answer –unless they want to do Dotbomb 2.0. (I was Web 1.0 and DotBomb2.0 at Exodus) So I really know what that’s like. Life sucks when you’ve no more customers. […]
[…] Part of my discussion with my buddy (other than him calling me a web hippie) revolved around his struggle working with User Experience (UX) professionals. […]
Revenue from Blogging?…
Making money using the Webare you? : ” Other than our passion for web, this is probaly the most important discussion to have even if youre a hippie ….
Jeremiah, you’re a bleeding blog-hugger.
heh –it’s true, you would know better than anyone.
Wow. Cool. Far out… gotta split.
This is funny, people have started to call me “Web Hippie” even in person.
I saw the guy who observed this last night in SF, I told him I wrote about this, hopefully he’ll swing by.
Groovy!
jko -
after a soaking in this for a few days, i assume “web hippie” is just politically incorrect…:) don’t take it too hard you’re still hip in my book.
great seeing you and your wife last night. last place in the world i’d expect to see you at.
cheers.
Web Geek
Please, don’t take offense or feel bad. I really enjoy your opinion, and always welcome it.
Web hippie is interesting, unique, and not a ‘bad’ thing.
Spreading the love that the internet can bring (through democraitzation and socialzation) is in fact what I do sound like and do believe in.
It’s the great equalizer and enables individuals to connect with others with simliar interests globally.
The information revolution is indeed among us –and I embrace it and all the terms that come with it.
Continue the dialogue for sure.
Glad to see you last night!
[…] As if being called a “Web Hippie” last week wasn’t enought… […]
[…] I’ve been called a Web Hippie […]
[…] Related Defining Topics: I have a hard time describing myself to my family and friends, called a web hippie, an evil liar, and Neutral or Neo Marketer. […]
[…] I’m going to be a bit cranky, here, I don’t mind being called a web hippie, an evil liar, a neutral marketer, or a neo marketer, but PLEASE don’t call me a WebMaster. It’s like we’ve gone back to 1997, and uploaded ‘under construction’ rotating gifs and black star backgrounds. The modern day web manager is purposeful and is supposed to make decisions based upon sound understanding of user experience research, understanding business needs, and understanding of technology (see the three elements of a web strategist) Google just launched a WebMaster resource, that appears to have some useful resources that I’ve discussed or used before. Neat tools include site verification, site map uploader, central blog, forums, and ability to submit content. I’m doing the site verification process as we speak. […]
[…] Speaking of defining roles, I’ve been called a Web Hippie, an Evil Liar, and an Neo Marketer. […]