Comment to Commenters

Hi - since I left Forrester about six weeks ago, people have been telling me that this blog has gotten a lot more interesting.  I hope you agree.

The main reason for this is an expansion of my thinking while building a new company.  What I'm working on is reflected in part by what you read here.

I've been having a lot of fun with the conversations that have been playing out here as well.  There have been many thoughtful comments and I wanted to say thanks for sharing and participating.

Over the next week or so, I’ll be digging deeper into some recent posts to learn more about what we agree and disagree on.  I intend to highlight the insights that resolve critical points and others that open new questions.  (Related to something I learned from this thoughtful piece on commentary from bond art + science.)

One last comment to you - thanks.

Comments

[Chris Bailey]

As someone currently being trained in business anthropology, this subthread of Foucault and Bentham's Panopticon, is fascinating. And definitely open to some deeper investigation. I hope there's a future blogpost to explore some of the relationships and how you've noticed the impact on yourself as someone who has recently moved outside of the panopticon structure...and how your new company could overturn that model. What do you think?

[Peter Kim]

Good questions David - I think it's possible that the social-business dynamic can change to merge individual and company interests, but it will take time. And we'll have to get beyond the marketing applications of today.

[David Mattia]

Adam wrote "If you work for someone else as a digital professional in any sort and also blog - you have to be able to speak freely."

If that were true then sooner or later you may just bump into business issues of larger consequence. The social dynamic of a company will always trump the individual needs for expression. And while this may be arguable on several levels, if the tenor of this social-business dynamic is seen to change over time, as it does, and that it is likely to become even more overbearing in the years ahead; then how will this affect how social media is used by proactive professionals? What norms will be forced upon us and which will be be rejected? Where are the opportunities in the marketing dynamic?

Well, one immediate one is that your independent blog is interesting. I suspect other answers will be here too. Thanks.

[Peter Kim]

Thanks Ryan. I'll be the first to admit that there's some real junk living on this blog and 100% chance I'll put up some nonsense in the future. I'm just hoping to have more hits than misses! Thanks for commenting.

Hi Kris - thanks and please always feel free to keep me in line with the non-US perspective.

Max - are you familiar with Foucault's investigations into prisons and Bentham's panopticon? ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon ) You are dead on and the origins of the issue go way back. [another great example of comments adding value!]

Adam - thanks.

[Adam Singer]

I think that no blogger should ever feel this way. If you work for someone else as a digital professional in any sort and also blog - you have to be able to speak freely.

Probably time to go if you ever feel constrained.

I agree, your content has been fantastic lately and you've really find your voice. Thank - YOU, peter.

[Max Kalehoff]

Pete,
Here's a topic to tackle: Your voice on your blog was boring and didn't come through while you were at Forrester, but it has since you left. (I knew you on a more personal level, so knew you were truly interesting.) How many bottled-up voices are there at all the world's corporations? Is there mass, subtle censorship and paranoia going on -- which none of us really acknowledge? You bet!
Max

[Kris Hoet]

It's true, you've definitely ramped up your blog again, and it's great to see that you did. Enjoying it! Good luck with the new company by the way.

- Kris

[Ryan Stephens]

Peter -

I've just recently been acquainted with your blog. My first read was the 'ego trap' post so I guess I've been fortunate enough to only read your 'good stuff.'

I -love- the way you maintain the conversations on your blog. Thanks for sharing with me as a reader.

Looking forward to more of your stuff in the future!