J Groves · Storify

@umairh's #TED2013 critique

J Groves — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 03:13:05 GMT

On Feb. 25/26, 2013, London economist Umair Haque took to Twitter — as he usually does — for a thought-provoking critique of #TED2013.

Storified by J Groves · Tue, Feb 26 2013 19:13:05

Regular followers of Umair Haque (@umairh) are familiar with the economist's iconoclastic discussions about modern society. Today, he took on TED, the popular conferences whose theme is "ideas worth sharing."

The series of tweets, posted over several hours, are collected here.

Poking fun at TED isn't cynical. It's healthy. RT @princeboucher: @umairh I'm a fan of #betterness, but your cynical tweets are morbid.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 19:24:22

Look, I'm a fan of TED talks, like many of you. But let's admit that they're getting a little more comical as the years go by.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 19:49:49

The real problem with TED's simple. It assumes complex social problems are essentially engineering challenges. Geekthink.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 19:52:17

In a sense, TED's magic formula--fifteen minutes on a stage--devalues the harder work of critical thinking necessary for knowledge.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 19:53:46

It's like the opposite of a great classroom, where ideas are explored in subtlety, nuance, and rigour. Hence, the blowback.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 19:54:10

I'm not an enemy of TED Talks. But I do worry about a future where the metier of a Great Worthy Idea is a Big Commercial Idea.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 19:57:23

The blowback would be less if TED didn't bill itself as "Ideas Worth Spreading". Hence, implying that the rest..aren't.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 20:00:54

My other criticism of TED is that they never actually invite critics of TED. Which is a little like the opposite of open mindedness.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 20:02:36

Finally, TED's got a hard determinism to it; a kind of technological rationalism. It ignore institutions and society almost completely.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 20:03:57

The idea of our age is that great ideas can be simplified, reduced, made into convenient, disposable nuggets of infotainment.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 20:07:18

I disagree. I think really grappling with great ideas takes time, commitment, frustration, infuriation. The opposite of TED thinking.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 20:08:02

If somebody said: I'll explain Guernica or Aristotle's Ethics to you in 15 minutes...I'd spend 15 minutes telling them why not to.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 20:09:50

So this idea that great ideas can be reduced to 15 minutes is really just determinism's endgame. "See? It's this simple!"
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 20:12:01

To stretch the analogy, TED talks are to great ideas what memes are to art.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 20:13:48

Even if there is the nugget of a truly great idea in a TED talk, a TED talk devalues the very idea of a great idea. Socrates, it ain't.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 20:14:23

Sure, TED talks can be an "intro" to great ideas. But you know I'll never let my kids read Twilight, instead of Dickens? Exactly.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 20:16:21

perfectly said RT @DougHenwood: Quickness is the friend of received ideas. Critical thought stops the flow of time with second thoughts.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 20:20:22

I'm a purist. And so I worry: do we really need fast-food for the human mind, when there's so much great nourishment out there?
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 20:20:49

But perhaps my biggest worry about TED talks is: they seem deliberately designed not to challenge our assumptions.
— umair haque · Mon, Feb 25 2013 20:22:49

NDTV #fail: How not to use social media

J Groves — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:11:51 GMT

In an ill-considered moment, the Indian station NDTV took to Twitter to ask its audience for pictures immediately after the horrific blast in Hyderabad on Feb. 21, 2012.

Storified by J Groves · Thu, Feb 21 2013 07:11:51

Send us your pictures from Hyderabad blasts at @ndtv #hbad
— NDTV · Thu, Feb 21 2013 06:07:39

The backlash to the network's insensitivity was instantaneous. Within an hour, scores of tweets had spread throughout Twitter, almost none of which were supportive.

Go fcuk yourself. Is it some b'day celebration..? "@ndtv: Send us your pictures from Hyderabad blasts at @ndtv #hbad"
— Ronnie · Thu, Feb 21 2013 06:08:50

Bleddy Sickos!! --> RT @ndtv: Send us your pictures from Hyderabad blasts at @ndtv #hbad”
— Priya James · Thu, Feb 21 2013 06:10:16

Some accused the organization of shirking its journalistic duty to report the story itself.

Why don't you Send the Lady of your channel there... NO LIVE COVERAGE? RT @NDTV : Send us your pictures from Hyderabad blasts at @ndtv #hbad
— Ankita Thakur · Thu, Feb 21 2013 06:22:00

Citizen journalists u mean?? r u jerks or morons?? @ndtv: "Send us your pictures from Hyderabad blasts at @ndtv #hbad"
— Sajith Menon · Thu, Feb 21 2013 06:11:30

WTF! Should they save people or click pics? #Pathetic Tche!! »» "@ndtv: Send us your pictures from Hyderabad blasts at @ndtv #hbad"
— Gopi · Thu, Feb 21 2013 06:12:06

Cool journalism bro. :-\ RT @ndtv: Send us your pictures from Hyderabad blasts at @ndtv #hbad
— Abhinav Chandel · Thu, Feb 21 2013 06:13:28

A few people did offer photos, although I doubt it's what NDTV had hoped for.

Here ==> https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=145026005569188&set=a.145026002235855.36488.145025905569198&type=1&theater @ndtv Send us your pictures from Hyderabad blasts at @ndtv #hbad
— Nitesh! · Thu, Feb 21 2013 06:18:38

Fbcdn

Will this work @ndtv Send us your pictures from Hyderabad blasts at @ndtv #hbad http://pic.twitter.com/fyZNucrGgF · Ramesh Chhetri

Here http://coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/skyfall-lead.jpg RT@ndtv Send us your pictures from Hyderabad blasts at @ndtv #hbad · Parth Kulkarni

More often, the reaction was visceral frustration and hatred. With one tweet, the organization lost virtually all credibility with its audience.

Assholes RT @james_priya Bleddy Sickos!! --> RT @ndtv: Send us your pictures from Hyderabad blasts at @ndtv #hbad”
— Intrinsic Dreamz · Thu, Feb 21 2013 06:12:26

WTF !! Pathetic People :| RT: Send us your pictures from Hyderabad blasts at @ndtv #hbad
— Hardik Karia · Thu, Feb 21 2013 06:24:49

Aww how sensitive RT"@ndtv: Send us your pictures from Hyderabad blasts at @ndtv #hbad"
— Ajay · Thu, Feb 21 2013 06:14:32

And you wonder who desensitizes us ! RT @ndtv: Send us your pictures from Hyderabad blasts at @ndtv #hbad
— Kiran Kumar Karlapu · Thu, Feb 21 2013 06:18:21

Hence proved, NDTV is a bunch of chutpakodas RT @ndtv Send us your pictures from Hyderabad blasts at @ndtv #hbad
— PsyBaba · Thu, Feb 21 2013 06:16:10

#DU221's awesome hunt

J Groves — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 20:26:55 GMT

Look at how creative my students are!

Storified by J Groves · Fri, Feb 01 2013 12:26:55

Dr. Groves is left speechless from my hat #DU221 #JRLWeb http://pic.twitter.com/4k9ZYMFx · Jeremy Carter

@SaraDHammond I'm a nobody. You should find someone via the #JRLWeb hashtag.
— J Groves · Thu, Jan 31 2013 15:35:17

Nice to see @KochAvenger and @CalebMabe4 hitting the #JRLWeb project hard in the bitter cold!
— J Groves · Thu, Jan 31 2013 11:44:20

Convo Theme Day

J Groves — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:42:50 GMT

221News covers convo

Storified by J Groves · Tue, Apr 24 2012 09:42:50

Drury thanks everyone who came out to Theme Day! #duconvo
— Taylor Reese · Sat, Apr 21 2012 11:48:11

Great people, great day, and fantastic food at Theme Day! success! #duconvo
— Katie Sextro · Thu, Apr 19 2012 14:20:18

What a great theme day! Still looking for fun? Don't forget about the clothing drive in the FSC. Clean out those closets! #DUconvo
— Sheila Haskins · Thu, Apr 19 2012 13:12:10

Wish I would've known about the trees being planted sooner! Would have loved to be a part of it. #duconvo
— Katie Sextro · Thu, Apr 19 2012 13:08:52

Snaps to Drury students for planting trees in honor of theme day, "Seeds for Change." #DUconvo
— Sheila Haskins · Thu, Apr 19 2012 13:10:40

Check out some of the booths that are set up in the FSC right next to the Commons! Lots of interesting samples and products #DUconvo
— Lindsey Sprouse · Thu, Apr 19 2012 12:31:26

Coffee on a bicycle? Nope, it's a coffee AND bicycle shop. Go check it out #DUconvo http://pic.twitter.com/VongMfek · Lindsey Sprouse

No one knows when to clap #DUConvo
— Erin Crunkilton · Thu, Apr 19 2012 09:48:24

Free pedicab rides! #duconvo http://pic.twitter.com/t0IKzVBY · Natasha Sanford

Donate old clothes in the FSC lobby today as part of theme day #DUConvo
— Erin Crunkilton · Thu, Apr 19 2012 11:23:32

Don't forget to go to the Sustainable Foods and Alternate Transportation Fair for theme day! #DUconvo http://pic.twitter.com/JEGRMcQO · Sheila Haskins

Seeds of Change #themeday #DUConvo
— Hannah Shirley · Thu, Apr 19 2012 09:38:04

What we call "organic food" today, our grandparents called "food" when they were our age #DUconvo
— Emily Dicus · Thu, Apr 19 2012 09:36:33

I feel like French fry grease would smell... #DUConvo
— Natasha Sanford · Thu, Apr 19 2012 09:33:49

Rock 'n Renew, Johnny's contribution to environmentalism. A tour bus that runs off of french fry grease is just one example #DUConvo
— Erin Crunkilton · Thu, Apr 19 2012 09:31:48

3:00 p.m., Kellogg Greenspace. Be there for one of Theme day's service projects: planting fruit trees #DUConvo
— Erin Crunkilton · Thu, Apr 19 2012 09:09:50

Ready for Drury's Theme Day, and excited all my classes were cancelled! #DUConvo
— Katie Sextro · Thu, Apr 19 2012 07:05:47

DC Networks' CareerQuest 2012

J Groves — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:25:57 GMT

Drury's DC Networks headed to Kansas City this week to meet with public-relations professionals.

Storified by J Groves · Fri, Feb 10 2012 13:25:57

A group of budding young PR professionals from Drury University headed to Kansas City to learn more about their chosen profession.

They headed out via bus Thursday with @h20s leading the way.

Good morning, #CQ12 adventurers! See you at 8:45 for blast off. @DC_Networks
— Regina Waters · Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:38:25

Been up and at it to head to KC, MO! Lots of fun and opportunity ahead. See y'all Friday night. #CQ12
— Molly · Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:38:25

Getting ready for #CQ12 Kansas City today, seeing @RedNovaLabs and @Water today. This is what makes learning exciting!
— Amanda · Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:38:25

The bus is packed and we are on the road to Kansas city! #CQ12
— Paige Grimshaw · Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:38:25

First stop: Red Nova Labs, which helps small businesses develop Web communication and mobile solutions.

@RedNovaLabs Thank you for allowing Drury Career Quest to visit #CQ12
— Alma Flores · Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:38:25

Just left @RedNovaLabs! What an amazing company! I loved how they help the small businesses try to stand out. #CQ12
— Paige Grimshaw · Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:38:25

@RedNovaLabs was way cool. Loved the environment and goals there. #CQ12
— Molly · Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:38:25

Excellent site visit! Thanks!@RedNovaLabs RT @heyalma89: @elyukina thanks for directing us to Red Nova Labs #CQ12
— Regina Waters · Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:38:25

Next stop was Water.org, a nonprofit organization helping to bring clean water to remote areas of the globe through low-cost methods. It's also home to Drury grad Erin Swanson, who serves as Water.org's marketing programs manager.

@cmc23 @molly_katharine @h20s @creativechrista pumped to have you here at @Water HQ today! :D love @DruryUniversity folks
— Erin Swanson · Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:38:25

(Apparently, there were no sightings of Water.org co-founder Matt Damon, however.)

Full Interview With Matt Damon About The Water Crisis · water

But the excitement didn't stop there. The group headed to the health-care company Cerner for a look at corporate communications on a larger scale.

@cmc23 Thanks to you and the other #CQ12 attendees for stopping by! today. Hope the other visits are great as well. Safe travels!
— Cerner Corporation · Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:38:25

VML, a digital marketing agency, came next.

Thank you #VML for a great visit! It was fun to see all the projects you are working on and how creative your work is. #CQ12
— Paige Grimshaw · Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:38:25

@heyalma89 @cmc23 Glad to hear you enjoyed your visit!
— VML · Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:38:25

And then one of the largest public-relations firms around: Fleishman-Hillard.

#DrurySMC 2011, Day Two

J Groves — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 21:33:44 GMT

Highlights from the Drury Social Media Certificate summer seated class, 2011, Day Two, focused on the marketing/public relations perspective.

Storified by J Groves · Thu, Oct 27 2011 01:27:05

Using LinkedIn

Good tip: When your boss tries to friend you on Facebook, guide him or her to your LinkedIn network. #DrurySMC
— grovesprof · Sun, Jun 05 2011 07:42:14

#DrurySMC How to attach a .pdf to your LinkedIn profile. http://lnkd.in/YSjuzp
— hailey_zoesdad · Sun, Jun 05 2011 08:17:57

Marketing

#DrurySMC QR code for @h20s: http://t.co/4geXasd
— grovesprof · Sun, Jun 05 2011 14:18:26

Becoming ubiquitous? QR codes now appearing on scoreboards, in grocery stores, and on television shows. (@h20s) #DrurySMC
— grovesprof · Sun, Jun 05 2011 14:10:06

Social media news releases receive 3 times the amount of views as a press release. #DrurySMC
— dmccallum01 · Sun, Jun 05 2011 13:18:47

example of a social media press release...bring your news releases to life http://bit.ly/Z0rM #DrurySMC #EntryPR
— JessicaOverend · Sun, Jun 05 2011 13:11:20

Define objectives and strategy before deciding your social-media platform(s) for delivery/tactics. (@h20s) #DrurySMC
— grovesprof · Sun, Jun 05 2011 12:10:01

Groundswell: Social media: People get things from each other, rather than traditional institutions like corporation. (@h20s) #DrurySMC
— grovesprof · Sun, Jun 05 2011 11:59:45

@h20s "Businesses should create a 'social ecosystem' where consumers live your brand" #DrurySMC
— JessicaOverend · Sun, Jun 05 2011 09:22:36

Think of social ecosystems and how you fit in. (@h20s) #DrurySMC
— grovesprof · Sun, Jun 05 2011 09:21:43

Think hard about who will be responsible for your social-media efforts: Marketing? Corporate comm? Or outsource? (@h20s) #DrurySMC
— grovesprof · Sun, Jun 05 2011 09:48:27

Wordpress

#drurySMC wordpress themes are many!!! 1384 @ .org alone!
— curtgilstrap · Sat, Jun 04 2011 08:44:47

Facebook

Two camps of Facebook sharing: Keep it privately professional vs. be yourself. #DrurySMC
— grovesprof · Sun, Jun 05 2011 07:41:21

Location-based

Just learned about @shopkick. You don't swipe a card when shopping, shopkick swipes you. Bring on those coupons. #DrurySMC @curtgilstrap
— h20s · Sat, Jun 04 2011 15:05:28

Twitter

#drurydig

J Groves — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:29:56 GMT

Storified by J Groves · Thu, Oct 27 2011 02:14:48

RT @springfieldNL: Curious about the #Drurydig? Check it out here! http://bit.ly/fAfBjR #SGF #Ozarks
— lemont · Thu, Apr 14 2011 19:08:11

RT @kschwers: Burnham Circle #drurydig #DUThemeDay http://twitpic.com/4ksyl0 · lemont

One more event for @DruryUniversity Theme Day. Drew Emery will be in Clara Thompson at 6. #Drurydig
— AndersonRL · Thu, Apr 14 2011 15:15:12

Presenting of findings from Dr. Monty Dobson, dig still in early stages. #drurydig #DUThemeDay http://twitpic.com/4kvpoz · kschwers

Accurate Springfield,MO flag #drurydig http://twitpic.com/4kvff1 · schadelauren

The diggers haven't found much yet but as they continue they hope eventually Civil war artifacts will surface. #drurydig
— WordsofArt90 · Thu, Apr 14 2011 13:16:20

#drurydig what a good day to be sitting outside! http://t.co/iOb0mmU
— pgrim17 · Thu, Apr 14 2011 12:57:49

Trench was about 4.5 feet deep and 6 feet wide. Onlookers able to see contrasts between soil at the base of the mound. #DUThemeDay #drurydig
— DruryUniversity · Thu, Apr 14 2011 12:22:22

Dr. Dobson-Du prof heading up the project-says that a radar scan helped to find a trench about 4 1/2 ft deep and 6 ft wide. #drurydig
— alexsmith91 · Thu, Apr 14 2011 12:17:40

DU Soph. Lauren Dorris helped with the #Drurydig hours earlier. Quote to follow. http://instagr.am/p/DJgaM/ · alexsmith91

#drurydig "Being a history major, it's been really cool seeing archeology brought to the DU student body."
— alexsmith91 · Thu, Apr 14 2011 12:05:20

Even though students didnt find any artifacts, Dobson says it was great experience and a beautiful day!! #drurydig
— alexsmith91 · Thu, Apr 14 2011 12:16:32

Students think the 11a.m. convo featuring Ric Burns was less than extroidinary. People found it to be disappointing for theme day #drurydig
— WordsofArt90 · Thu, Apr 14 2011 11:06:10

@Emkessler takes a quick break from digging to pose for a picture. #drurydig #DUThemeDay http://twitpic.com/4kt7cg · kschwers

Burnham Circle #drurydig #DUThemeDay http://twitpic.com/4ksyl0 · kschwers

Curious about the #Drurydig? Check it out here! http://bit.ly/fAfBjR #SGF #Ozarks
— springfieldNL · Thu, Apr 14 2011 10:07:12

Final thought from Ric Burns: Civil War not a gloomy topic. Rather, a moving topic due to the leadership shown by Lincoln. #Drurydig
— mattyice30 · Thu, Apr 14 2011 09:56:45

Raw footage from Ric Burns's interviews about Civil War. #Drurydig http://twitvid.com/ZJYSO
— mattyice30 · Thu, Apr 14 2011 09:52:09

Theme day: the persistence of memory . Welcome to the civil war. #drurydig http://t.co/A34ZbFg
— combs_amanda · Thu, Apr 14 2011 09:47:33

Ric Burns: The Civil War: Not just a war fought by citizens. A war to define citizenship. #drurydig
— grovesprof · Thu, Apr 14 2011 09:44:05

Some highlights of #JRLweb chat (Feb. 22)

J Groves — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:03:08 GMT

Students and profs from the University of Memphis, Lehigh University, and the University of West Virginia chatted about the impact of Twitter on Feb. 22, 2011. Here are some highlights.

Storified by J Groves · Thu, Oct 27 2011 14:25:40

.@BHulac Next? Growth, and a lot of it. The growth among young people has been particularly huge. Where it goes is up to us (users) #JRLweb
— JeremyLittau · Tue, Feb 22 2011 10:59:32

Twitter has changed the profession of the journalist, they aren't the source for info, instead they are a filter for information #JRLWeb
— foxkd · Tue, Feb 22 2011 10:51:34

@agutjahr @grovesprof I agree, I feel like 10 years from now, no one will be able to pick up a phone or have a real life convo. #JRLWeb
— ceburrows1 · Tue, Feb 22 2011 10:55:50

@BHulac Irresponsibility is sometimes hunted down and killed on Twitter - check out Cooks Source: http://bit.ly/c9xxnJ #JRLweb
— thebobthe · Tue, Feb 22 2011 10:54:12

@agutjahr It's about moderation, if someone is across the world Twitter allows for conversation but face-to-face is always best #JRLweb
— foxkd · Tue, Feb 22 2011 10:58:11

RT @JeremyLittau: .@BHulac News in Twitter has value if the user constructs their network well. Literacy with the medium is important. #JRLweb
— MemphisJournos · Tue, Feb 22 2011 10:58:58

@shaymaunz Sometimes I fear that. I hope the new journalism is a constantly growing project, like a (credible) wiki. #JRLweb
— thebobthe · Tue, Feb 22 2011 10:59:28

AWESOME Twitter reach for the #jrlweb hashtag! http://bit.ly/fCceJP
— Donna0779 · Tue, Feb 22 2011 11:08:35

Social media only requires journalists to up their game and work harder, better, and faster. (I took that from Daft Punk.) #JRLweb
— alexandrathegr8 · Tue, Feb 22 2011 11:01:19