Disappointed

Kira,

Sometimes I believe it is easier to find fault with a social network than to work to change it; however, that being said, typically an attempt to make any adjustments to any “social” network results in a lot of grumbling and high school antics.

GovLoop is a Ning Architecture website – I would suggest looking at your profile on “Ning” as one was created when you joined GovLoop. Then – when at the Ning Home Level, put in a search for the legalities of social media, public record compliance, and open meeting laws. You may find something there.

Unfortunately, social networks tend to mirror their perspective environments – meaning…the federal sector’s most innovative agenda tends to be centered on “conferences.” And, by that I mean, I love the federal environment, but often given the nature of the environment the thing that is oftentimes a must do to be “included in the federal in crowd” are the conferences. All the “success-driven” employees get funded to a conference on behalf of their agency.

In private sector conferences are so continual that often folks are staying out of the room during selections to attend rather than hoping their name will be called.

Personally, I don’t attend conferences as a rule – while contemporaries do – and I really don’t like conferences all that much. I’d prefer to have the prospectus and white papers from the preparers, but I report on the topics so I usually will attend those that have merit for the topic I’m undertaking.

Advertising is something I used to feel was a nuisance as well as you – at this time though I really like advertisements and advertorials – especially earnest and entertaining ones. In a Capitalist society, which we are, the capability to market isn’t something to avoid at all costs and blatant self-love of product fests to me are like mini-celebrations of our success in this society.

A lot of folks too who attend conferences – pay for them out of their own pocket – rather than get funded. But, you are correct, most folks are funded through their companies.

If you want to gain more insight on the legal side of social media – I would suggest creating a group if the search on Ning fails to turn up anything.

What I know of these sites is that we have to make them what we want them to be. After all – the memberships only near 10000 for the “very high membership sites.” Wasn’t that long ago we could achieve that “personally” on MySpace. These are not astronomical memberships – therefore the data shares are really segmented within that membership base and at best the result of a “handful” of members garnering their email friend list as new members. What I am alluding to is that we only are reviewing information and education resources on any Ning Architecture from a short list of participants in any given field. Certainly, this isn’t the whole enchilada in as far as the entirety of the federal or state and local government with only 10,000 members.

If I can locate some social media legalese – complying with public record and open meeting laws I’ll forward it to your attention.

And, just so you are aware, many folks go through an elation phase of joining a Ning site such as GovLoop – then there’s the backlash – where personalities emerge that have maintained a stronghold within the site (any site) and they aren’t always happy to see someone who may damper their environment – then there is a rank and file stage (the most dis-pleasant as this embraces all the negativity we hoped social networks would depose, then there is the plateau of acceptance that it is what it is, then the final result of working within the paradigm as it was developed.

The other disappointing thing about Ning sites that without arbitration you can be X’d off one without just cause or explanation. The creator of this site is nice (Steve), but if you review the bylaws of many of these sites – if you do anything the owner doesn’t like you can be deleted. There is some arbitration through Ning – as it is technically their site on their architecture – but truth be told they don’t like to be involved. So if you join a Ning site that has a less comprehensive creator than Steve is on GovLoop – any time you upset another member by posting something they “feel” steps on their toes (whether realistic or not) you can get the delete button.

What is interesting to determine is through the Ning Architecture – who really owns and operates Ning? And, then the “private groups” on sites such as GovLoop – who really has access to all that data? To me that is the more interesting question.

In my opinion this is a nice way to meet people with similar mindsets and interests. To garner insights into this classification of “hot items” in the sector to use as jumping boards to more extensive research. Each Ning site is like a stepping stone on the path to discovery – they are not; however, the end all of discourse on any given topic, just a sampling demographic.

About the Author: Ms. Quesinberry, President DonnaInk Publications (DP), a small, sole proprietor, woman-owned business with over 19 years of professional expertise featuring high 90th percentiles relative to acquisitions and procurement. Donna is a published technical non-fiction | fiction author; university courseware developer | instructor; and recognized poetess. Donna has interviewed on CNBC and is a single mother of five adult children.

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