1. How do we enable “real conversations” in the blogosphere?
Uhh, you mean like the video you posted before with you and Mena? Why not just ask her for an interview and slap that sucker on the ‘net? Take a tape recorder with you. Really, its not that hard.

Acutally, I’ve not linked to the Mena video at all. I don’t entirely understand what you’re referring too here, (“why did I say bullshit to Mena’s presentation rather than interview her at a different point?”??)

All I mean by the question is thinking about the visual and social cues we get from real conversation and think about how we can implment them into the blogosphere — rather than create rules/suggest rules that explicity state what is and isn’t on.

I am guessing that by Persona representation you mean Integrity?

No, I mean what I more often refer to as ‘hats’. Eg, I might say “With my BBC hat on, I would say that your DRM system would be of interest to broadcasters looking to distribute their programming via IP. But with my personal hat on, I would say that it stifles people’s desire to be able to be able to watch what they want on whatever device they want”

That’s two personas. Many, or maybe just ’some’ have questioned whether it’s possible to have two different personas. “You always represent the BBC to me, Ben — until you leave”.

I disagree with that statement – the above example is of two circumstance-appropriate, yet differing, views based on my professional and personal opinion. I’m more than capable of holding both, and working two both dynamics during my work and non-work life.

I can also play chess against myself, etc.

There will always be people questioning your objectivity. That is a good thing. Just be honest, and blog about things that are interesting and your record should speak for itself.

Oh I agree people will always question my objectivity. Especially for me, because I’m more than happy to put my views about in public.

I do mention stuff that’s going on at the BBC on my blog. I also criticise it a lot too. I will continue to do both even after I leave the BBC.

3. The Place of Marketing in the Blogosphere

I don’t think you can expect to make standard rules for blogger integrity. All you can do is call bullshit on them and raise awareness about it.

No, I don’t want to make “standard rules for marketing” (just like I don’t think standard rules for civility hold much water either). But I do think people need to stand up and voice their opinion when they feel a boundary has been crossed.

Again, I’m happy to put my thoughts and views about – but I’m not representative of the blogosphere. It’s our blogosphere and we need to be more vocal about we find appropriate and what we find objectionable.

Marketing is about creating a positive vibe around the product – if enough people sound out bad practices than that marketing will end because it will no longer cast the product in a good light. People didn’t like 50 Cent advertising his (otherwise excellent) violent gang film near schools – people voiced their opinions and the posters soon came down.

It seems to me that 99% of blogs are heavy on style and light on substance. That is an issue that needs to be addressed.

I agree, but then I will also support people’s desire (and hopefully, but not everywhere) right to post to their blog whatever they want. Sure, a “here’s what I had to eat today” blog post doesn’t move the world forward, but that person has the right to contribute that to the blogosphere just as much as Robert Scoble has to contribute his latest views on Microsoft to his blog.

This whole post has to do with control. Nothing to do with conversation. Rock on.

??? Do elaborate, Hugh, cos I fail to see how this post is about control. And I wrote it.

Even if Tony does have a point, my original point stands: enabling conversations is an art… and not everyone is good at it. The way to have a conversation, online or off, is to start one, and then keep it going. The idea that we need some pre-fab, concensus-tested posterity-proof ethical toolbox handed down to us from on high is ridiculous.

This whole post has to do with control. Nothing to do with conversation. Rock on.