louisgray.com - Latest Comments in louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

Frederic — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:30:00 -0000

I'm late to the party, but I think credibility simply comes from not letting your readers down. It has little to do with writing positive or negative reviews or the ration between the two - as long as your honest (and you are!), it doesn't matter.

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

Solacetech — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:01:00 -0000

Writing/Blogging shows your true personality. There's a lot people out there who think they know more than others. These people exert their "power" via negative comments/blogs and bullying. Thankfully you balance out this Elite urge to look down on people...Thanx!

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

Elliott Ng — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:41:00 -0000

I appreciate the Silicon Valley sense of optimism that you project with the blog. I definitely think "going negative" is a way of getting traffic, and I'm glad you're not playing that game. On the other hand, I first discovered LouisGray.com when you had the big spat with Mark Rizzn Hopkins on attribution so the sad fact is I found out about the blog as a result of controversy! But I think the learning is you just keep playing your game and eventually there will be breakpoints where you find readers, or readers find you. Takes some faith but if you're truly passionate about what you are blogging about then you WILL have the faith. Anyway thanks for sharing. I just read the interview...interesting, and I still know nothing about your day job! Hope to meet you next week at Web 2.0.

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

Carolyn Ann — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:00:00 -0000

I've just started reading your words, Louis, and I like your honesty. It's a sadly lacking trait, etc, etc. (It isn't, but it's obligatory for that sort of nonsense to be inserted.) :-)

My attitude to those who don't like my words: it's your problem, not mine. Keep on writing, and develop a thick skin. (If you don't have one, already).) Every writer needs one of those - but no Web N.X service will ever deliver that. It's purely a human requirement. :-)

Carolyn Ann

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

Susan Murphy — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:44:00 -0000

I think too many people expect the popular bloggers (You, Brogan, Scoble, etc.) to be like journalists, presenting a balanced viewpoint and backing that up with a million facts, etc.

You hit the nail on the head when you say "personal" blog. That's what it is - your opinion, nothing more, nothing less. Some will agree, some won't. That's what is fun about the medium, don't you think?

Frankly I learn more from you guys about what is good and usable than I ever do from mainstream media.

Keep on bloggin'!

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

raffy banks — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:56:00 -0000

I think as long as you're honest what does it matter. Readers will see that and appreciate it.

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

Mark Evans — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:52:00 -0000

Louis,

Don't worry about defending yourself about how you view and write about what's happening. Unlike many people, you spend the time to get a real feel for new services. If you like them and/or feel they have promise, so be it!

By the way, maybe it's time for one of the tech scene's hottest bloggers to jump on the Wordpress bandwagon. :)

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

engtech — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:31:00 -0000

Now that you've become a hit in the techblog market, it's time to conquer the lifehack market (bigger market!) with your secrets to sustainable living and keeping your passion.

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

Azzam — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:04:00 -0000

If you have a knowledge of software and the technology that drives them then you should give a realistic viewpoint of whether they have the ability to progress and actually prove to be useful. I have visited other blogs that discuss web 2.0 and the startups but clearly do not have an understanding of whether these startups will really function. Its not difficult to see what services will be a sure winner and what the trend is, but to rip a service just because it is not compliment to the current web 2.0 trend is just plain wrong. A lot of man power and skill is needed at times to develop a startup and due credit for that reason alone should be given. Yes! if a startup is missing the ball and developing a service for the sake of getting into the game should be advised were they should focus on and improve. But to write them off just because we feel they are not upto scratch is just plain wrong

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0000

The reasons you want to stay positive is the same reason I hold that I don't do a lot of early adopter reviews - while I see the positive and potential in a lot of the same stuff you like, I want to give them a fair shake before I unleash them on our often mercilous readers. A couple of times I've hyped up a company I thought was on the right track but not necessarily ready for prime-time, and then gotten ripped to shreds in the comments later on.

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

Charlie Anzman — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:31:00 -0000

Hey Louis - Not only are you delivering but you're proving a point. I've been tweaking my shared reader list tonight because there are a lot of great writers that should be read ... You and a few others are proving that (in record time). There are a lot of really brilliant and interesting people out there. This is one way to bring them to the forefront.

Sidenote: Why not here? For those of you reading this and .. ugh ... were still in elementary school ??(no slight intended), Robert Seidman (who appears above me here somewhere) was doing Internet prognostication back in the mid 1990's. I was factually thrilled to see him still here commenting. (It was Louis' reference to Friendfeed that reconnected us). Just neat stuff! Period.

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

Robert Seidman — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:23:00 -0000

It's an interesting thing these days -- being a reviewer. In the "old days", I would've said "you need to do strive for balanced reviews", but in the old days there weren't a boatload of FREE products and services around that people were interested in reading about.

Where the balance has to come in is two instances: 1.)people are asked to spend money on the products you review. 2.) some situation where you're expected to write about ALL products/services.

I don't think either situation applies to you.

You might want to put something about that in your disclaimer on your about page so that people know that if you didn't write about it, you probably didn't like it.

But it's your blog, you can do what you want and if you want to only write about products and services you like and are interested in, I doubt it will put too many people off. People won't be looking to you as an authority on *everything* social-network or web 2.0 wise, but if you're not striving for that, it's not a negative.

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

Shey — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:56:00 -0000

So if you're too nice, you lack credibility and if you complain about a lot of stuff, you're called a New Media Douchebag. And when you try to balance, you'll be dogging on some poor tech or celebrating a really crappy one.

Can't win huh?

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

Webomatica — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:53:00 -0000

Good post. I feel constructive criticism - that which is backed up with clear reasons is totally valid, and may actually help a service improve their product. I also think if a blogger is too positive too much of the time, I begin to question their credibility. That's different from saying "negativity delivers credibility" but there are endless numbers of cheerleaders who will say nothing but positive things about whatever they're promoting, and sometimes there's dollars behind it, which clouds the objectivity even further.

That said, so far you've done a great job. I think you are fair and I do recall those posts where you were carefully critical, and I appreciated them.

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

louisgray — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:22:00 -0000

Steven, we are definitely friends. My wife knows you as "my cranky Canadian friend". I must talk about you a lot. And Marshall, humor is a wonderful thing to have. I'm not writing jokes here, but I try to make the writing entertaining and enthusiastic.

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

Steven Hodson — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:10:00 -0000

Louis in all honesty I like you and I like your enthusiasm for the products you like. You write excellent and well rounded posts that I always look forward to.

Will I yank your chain if I get a chance - you betcha I will but then that is something that friends do to each other and if there is one thing that I would like to believe is that we are friends even though we may never meet face to face.

And yer right negativity doesn't deliver credibility but that doesn't mean that always being on the upside of some does either. It is the voice that one develops that delivers that credibility - positive or negative - and you have the voice.

You just keep doing what you do best Louis and I'll keep reading (and giving you a hard time :) )

Re: louisgray.com: Does Negativity Deliver Credibility? If So, That's Nuts.

Marshall Kirkpatrick — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:59:00 -0000

Keep on rockin' Louis! Just don't lose that sense of humor :) I totally share your enthusiasm about a lot of stuff.