cre8Buzz Blog

By it’s very nature, a social network attempts to mimic real life social interaction in an electronic fashion. If face-to-face, verbal conversation is the most “authentic” form of human interaction, can sharing comments on a blog, or engaging in a chat, or sending private messages be as “real?” Well, technically, no. However, technology gives us opportunities to participate in virtual experiences, like flying (flight simulators), or rock stardom (karaoke) or even African Safaris (Disneyland, Busch Gardens, etc). A social-network may just a better way to communicate with people across the world.

The authors of Authenticity, James Gilmore and Joseph Pine, argue that we choose to participate in these experiences but we all have a different tolerance for them. (For a recent summary in Time Magazine, click here.) have to conform to our self-image - what we depict and perceive as authentic. If we think that the only coffee that is “real” must be hand ground and made with water from our backyard stream, the Starbucks’ experience is something we will find intolerable. On the other hand, if we think a triple-mocha-latte-double-caf-blah-blah is a great treat, then Starbucks can be a great addition to our lives. In other words, we all have a different definition of what is authentic.

However, I think we all agree that we have little tolerance for slickly marketed phony offers. If we sense that something is contrived or fake, we tend to reject it immediately. Similarly, when we find something that is different from the norm, something that exceeds our expectations for trustworthiness and quality (see Trysh’s post about Canon on the Anthill for example) we are surprised and give it marks for being “real.”

Our goal, as a Cre8buzz team, is to take the social network and render it to be as Authentic as possible. Props to all of our members as you are our source of ideas and inspiration.

Oh, and we can’t wait for a time where we all can meet face-to-face and enjoy an authentic beverage together.

Onward!

Keith