DISQUS

This is a boat full of awesome! Great work Stampy!

LOL. I have to decide?

I think She Will Set You Free would have an awesome effect.

Though Bright Northern Lights would be total fun.

If you think this anything about getting attention, you obviously don't know Chris.

I'm amazed at how many of the comments have gravitated toward the defense of Facebook and the anger and backlash for a simple personal decision. Facebook, Twitter, whatever social media outlet isn't for everyone. Where does it say that Facebook Fan Pages are bad for everyone? It doesn't.

Chris decided that a fan page about him didn't serve his community. The conversation that preceded the move on Twitter was all about making it about others. He made the decision that his fan page didn't do that for him. It's called living your values.

Drew, Drew,

You shall kick cancer's ass to the curb and then pound it some more.

I blame my horrific 2009 allergies on Drew's Cancer.

Louis said it perfectly: Bad thing. Awesome guy.

*hug* You can do this, we're behind you all the way.

xo

We gots tonnes of patience.

I think lying about seeing the show would have put you into stickiness and you did the right thing. Now they know you aren't a suck up. :P

You know what's worth it to me? Knowing you got to sing the ENTIRE song. They musta heard something they liked to let you continue.

And now we cross our fingers.

For some reason I'm stuck on you singing New York State of Mind. Whatever you pick really needs to have a wide range in 90 secs and you need to rehearse like crazy.

"This is the speed of marketing and business communications. Not days. Not usually even hours. This is going to be tricky. You think?"

Forget sleep!

You've made a list to make someone's head explode. Congrats on becoming a little too @cspenn.

I second Evernote and Freshbook recs. Best note keeping and invoicing apps hands down. I can't live without Freshbooks iPhone app.

Thanks for the BatchBlue mention!

I could hear the What? from over here ;)

Happy Birthday Howard! I hope he had a fun day!

It's obvious that his client, Fed-Ex was appalled at his tweet. Whether or not his comment was extreme and/or notable, his client didn't like it and that's the endgame.

For some reason, Mr. Andrews wife jump into the fray makes it much more unprofessional to me.

I haven't been around the net as long but as a community manager and "host" of a somewhat close knit and rather large online community, there are a couple of things that always strike me.

1. When you join, figure out the norms of the community. Those add up to the things that you need to keep in mind in order to earn respect in the community, to build social capital if you will. If you troll, obviously you're not going to be listened to and perhaps even shut out of the community. Same applies if you walk around angry.

2. While the other person may not always agree with you, they are a human being with thoughts and feelings. Don't assume that you know best in every situation, listen, be thoughtful and treat everyone with the respect you want to garner some day.

3. Volunteer. Give to your community. No this isn't mandatory for participation and no I don't mean tweeting your "click on my junk" stuff (hat tip to
@AmberCadabra). The Twitter community doesn't consider that giving, but advertising. Take that into consideration with other social networks you become a part.

The last thing I want to say that I'm coming across more often than not lately is the faux celebrities you mention getting bashed for doing something and judged harshly. There's been an assumption that they are out for everything they can get.

This is simply NOT true. Okay there may be SOME self-absorbed people on the 'net, but most of those "celebrities are still human". Most are searching for happiness and success just like me.

If "celebrities" are held on a pedestal, of course they'll disappoint, because the raised expectations and the opinionated "things they should be doing" will crush all the things they ARE accomplishing. Something heavily on my mind given that today Obama will be sworn in.

Now I want to ran on your being realistic about time piece but I'll save that for another day. ;)

I used to respond to email when it came in or as soon as I got it on my iPhone or at my computer. Now, I don't do that so often unless it's really urgent or something I want to get taken care of right away. You know there are some things that you respond to because the result of the conversation is important, contracts or etc.

I really have to agree with the set your boundaries up front crowd. I've even drawn up a workflow procedure that I send to new clients. I still feel guilty for a non-instant response but that's something *I* need to work on. ;)

I'm one of those people who like the extended version fine, but the shorter is great too.

Thanks birdie!

Please don't tell me about your ebook, your blog, your etc.

A couple weeks ago I got an auto DM, I politely DM'ed the lady back and said, hey this isn't working for you. She didn't have a clue why and spent the next few DMs going back to what she was all about and what she'd done in the world. I try every day to be helpful, this time it didn't take. I unfollowed her.

Sadly, now I just unfollow immediately. Auto DM'ers, you FAIL.

You were crystal clear that you were doing a sponsored post and practiced what you preach. I don't see the breach of trust everyone else is up in arms about.

I don't know about anyone else, but I found it disturbing to read the comments on the Dad-o-matic post versus the actual piece.

I don't like Plurk or Friendfeed. I don't want to read every single thing that someone decides to send through their social sites and Plurk's layout turns me off. I felt guilty about this until I realized I have plenty of conversation and information where it really works for me. I try new things, but in the end, it's about what fits into my life.

I have a business to run and need to focus on what works for my productivity (etc) versus what works for others.

Oh and there are plenty of other places to play (and connect with Chris). :)

I am not loving Friendfeed. Yesterday I finally got fed up enough to ask where I could filter out twitter streams from it.

As much as I love the conversational aspects, it's just another huge feed to process of EVERYTHING that everyone is doing. If you have some specific useful way of using it, I'd love to hear it.

Who has the time to listen to everything?

Mandy,

Congratulations to both you and Chris for successful surgeries. I'm happy that writing this had a chance to bring together something wonderful. It's great to hear the news that all is well and you look to be healing fast.

My test was for the fully implantable implant. I'm not sure if they had different qualifications, but it looks as if yours was as well from the photos?

My speech discrimination for my left ear was between 60-40% but they were firm that they could not accept me unless my scores were better. I wonder if that's because there was a high demand in our area? I will have to call the clinic and ask and see where they are on testing candidates.

By no means am I finished trying to get them to accept me but it seems as it's going to be a bit more difficult than I imagined it would be to make it happen.

I can only say that I know the future holds many changes and do not thing of this as my last chance to have the surgery.

As I'm reading your journal I'm realizing I'm not sure how I would feel only have one ear implanted either. Much to think about.

Thanks for letting me know and keep me posted!

Chel

I try to keep all emails short and to the point and well organized. If there's more than one point to make then I use numbered lists. If I'm getting especially long emails in return, I explain how hampering this is to actually responding.

If someone wants to write a 2 page email asking me for something, that's fine, as long as they realize that my response isn't going to be as long. I want to exchange the information NEEDED and then get on with my day.

Great advice for email writers. I can see a couple of changes I can make myself to make things easier on people that I respond to or email. Thanks!

Hi Mandy,

Thanks. I'm not thrilled by the outcome but can certainly handle it until things change. I'm still hopeful that the requirements will keep changing and that as the testing moves forward will put me in the category of them calling me in.

Thanks for sharing your story and encouragement.

I'll email Chris and see if he's okay with me sharing his address and give him yours. Hope the two of you can connect. :)

I read and study ninja theory and teachings without the physical aspects. I also like taking walks and going to the beach to write. And don't do nearly enough stuff offline that I should.

Chris,

Thank you for your comment. I'm glad that someone who is having the implants has commented and I wish you luck with process. I'd be interested in hearing how it goes for you.

I found out last week that I actually didn't qualify due to my word discrimination percentage. I'm a little disappointed by this but realizing that it's only a matter of time before it's available to the majority of people. The cost is alarming and I'm concerned how it will be treated by insurance.

I did blog about the results last week and also will be sharing more thoughts on my situation but also some thoughts about how I'm feeling lately in social situations.

Please feel free to contact me via email at chel (at) chelpixie (dot) com.

I could not finish reading those tweets. That's how horrible I found them.

Noah, don't belittle what eMOM is doing in order to make a difference in the lives of people who ask for that help, for that connection. They've taken the responsibility to ensure that members of eMOM understand what is acceptable and what isn't.

This program has been in place for years and troops are still writing in to request a civilian pen pal. That is what's important.

That when a solider reaches out, there is someone there to take their hand, pat their back, or give them a smile.

For a long time I felt most comfortable using my Second Life avatar as my avatar everywhere. When I was new to social media I felt a bit shy about putting my face everywhere.

Obviously a lot has changed since then! I'm still approached as chelpixie and that's pretty cool to me, but my face is associated with it so they get ME, not the avatar.

Plus when I use a photo of me in real life then there is always someone at social events that recognizes me and gives them a way to introduce themselves easily. I love that it makes easy on them to say hi, I'm so and so. I also really like it when other use their faces so I know who they are instantly too.