Halfway through my blog vacation (change in comment policy)

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Thank you Werner Vogels!

By kicking our behinds when we visited Amazon for a book reading an executive review on corporate blogging, he taught us a valuable lesson: "always be prepared."

So, this week when we spoke to BA Venture Partners (one of Silicon Valley's most powerful venture capital firms, the "BA" stands for "Bank of America" which is one of the world's largest banks) we were prepared with all the ROI answers that came up. Not only were BA Venture Partners there, but a bunch of CEOs and other Entrepreneurs were there too. They recorded it and we won over some very tough customers. Hopefully they'll have the recording out as a podcast soon.

Meeting Philip Rosedale, founder of Second Life, at that talk, was a major "cool meeting" for me. Next week I'm gonna spend a lot of time in Second Life helping my son, Patrick, build out his house, so it was good to have a conversation about where Second Life is going. Can you imagine a world where your blog or RSS feed will be painted on any 3D object? Philip can. And is. I told Philip about Eric Rice's new record label in Second Life.

But, mostly, this past week was about change.

Some things I've changed? 1) No more coffee. 2) No more soda. 3) Xercising. 4) No more unhappy people in my life. 5) Get balance back in my own life.

Thanks to all the interesting people I've had conversations with this week. More than 100 people by last count. Some, who, Gent Hito, showed me some killer technology (it's called RSSBus, and takes RSS into places I never really thought about. In other words, things that aren't blogs or news feeds. If you're a developer you should get a demo from Gent).

One of my most memeorable conversations, though, was with Buzz Bruggeman, CEO of ActiveWords and a good friend. He told me to hang around people who are happy. And I realized I had been listening to too many people who were deeply unhappy and not bringing any value into my life. He told me to listen to this recording on NPR about "finding happiness in a Harvard Classroom." He also told me about the four agreements, which are Don Miguel Ruiz's code for life. Good stuff.

It was that moment that I decided to moderate my comments here. Yes, I am now approving every comment here. And I will delete any that don't add value to either my life or the lives of my readers.

This is a huge change for me. I wanted a free speech area, but after having a week off I realize that I need to make a change. That, I'm sure, will lead to attacks of "censorship" and all that hooey. Too bad. I'm instituting a "family room" rule here. If I don't like it, it gets deleted and deleted without warning — just the same as if you said something abusive in my family room I'd kick you out of my house. If you don't like that new rule, there are plenty of other places on the Internet to write your thoughts. Start a blog and link here. Etc. Etc.

Anyway, another conversation that I had on Monday, with Bubba Murarka, lead program manager on the Windows Live search team, led me to say to him "why don't you guest blog my blog next week?" He said "yes" so starting tomorrow he'll be guest blogging here.

Now, that might sound strange, but Bubba is one of those guys who is a connector. Everyone I know loves him. He works at our campus in Silicon Valley and was one of the first Microsoft employees to buy a MacBook and put Windows on it. Translation? He likes trying new things and is someone I trust and feel good around.

His attitude is life changing.

Plus, he knows a lot about the tech industry. He can tell you how many shares of stock you'll likely get offered at Google, for instance, if you're gonna take a new job there. And he has not only a new MacBook, but a new Lenovo T60 that he says is a "rocking machine" on his desk too. And, he's one of those guys who ships software. He was on the desktop search team. When I visited him he was showing me some software that blew my mind, too. I doubt he'll tell you about that, but, that gets to the other part of my philosophy.

Help developers ship great software. Bubba has, so he's earned his way onto my blog.

See ya April 23!

Oh, and if that wasn't a good enough post for you? Here's some quickies:

Steve Rubel, senior vice president at Edelman, had dinner with me on Monday night and gave me a bunch of fun stuff (these are his favorite sites):

Ask a Ninja is Hillarious!
Hop Stop is a cool guide for city travelers, not many cities, yet, but shows off public transit. Here's the Hop Stop for San Francisco, for instance.
With Meebo, a Web 2.0 Instant Messaging service, you can sign into four accounts at once.
Want to see if there's a domain available on the Web? Instant Domain Search rocks for that.
Want to see popular sites in the Del.icio.us service (which lets people share their favorite Web sites) then use Populicio.us.
Or, maybe you want to see what a combination of Digg, Slashdot, or Del.icio.us looks like? Well, that would be Diggdot.
PopURLS is his favorite aggregation site. Shows off popular news from popular sites. This rocks.
Steve was praising NewsVine, which is a news site that combines news from both pros and amateurs.
The memetrackers that Steve uses include Memeorandum/Tech, TailRank, but also include Cloudee, a site I hadn't tried before. I've been using that and it's a good way to find what people are talking about too.

From elsewhere in my email and/or aggregator:

Orrin, of itsjerrytime.com, wrote to thank me for being the first site to link to their funny animations. He was proud that they were nominated for the first Internet Emmy's. That so rocks! Orrin and Jerry, you're welcome in my living room anytime! I watch your stuff anytime I need a smile!

Sarah in Tampa says to check out this unbelieveable geeked-out office. Oh, that's Larry Larsen's office and it made me drool. You might need to open this URL: http://www.greenjem.com/office/Cribs.wmv in Windows Media Player to see the video.

Allen Bush, of Sharpcast, gave me a demo of their new photo organization tool. It rocks. Instantly synchs your photos among multiple devices, multiple platforms, and multiple browsers. Not sure it's good enough for normal people, but there's a direction here that I really like. They blog too.

This week I'll be on stage with Matt Cutts of Google and Jeremy Zawodny of Yahoo (we're doing a keynote at the Webmaster World conference) and to help me prepare Andy Edmonds of the Windows Live Search team (we gotta get you a shorter and cooler name Andy if you're gonna compete with "Google" and "Yahoo") put together a demo of their new macro language.

Do you lend stuff to your friends? BillMonk lets you keep track of who's borrowing and not giving back.

Technology Rock Stars are hiring on here at Microsoft at a rapid pace, Ken Levy notices.

Wow, every attendee at the TED Conference (about 1,000) got a free copy of our book, Naked Conversations. That's a huge honor.

Do you know who this is? It's the 12-year-old daughter of Amazon Web Services evangelist Jeff Barr. She's doing a cooking video blog called "BiancaVision." That rocks! Do you know of other kids of geeks who are doing podcasts or video blogs?

Speaking of Jeff Barr, he's built a master list of ways to put RSS feeds on Web pages.

And speaking of video blogs, there's a Vloggercon coming up June 10 and 11 in San Francisco.

I heard some other company announced a calendaring service this week. Oh, OK, it was Google with its calendar. But did you check out Kiko too? They have a bunch of things that Google doesn't do like it can send alerts via any IM and lets you get RSS feeds off of your appointments. But, does it really have a hope of competing against the big guys? As I watch people use calendars, I sense that they are swimming upstream. As Steve Gillmor said in his podcast with Mike Arrington the other day, he wants Google and everything else can go to heck. What I thought was fun was here at Microsoft employees were sending around instructions on how to get Office 2007 to work with Google Calendar.

Greg Hughes is not just my brother's boss, but he's a security expert too, and he wrote a good blog on phishing scams and asks can it really be stopped? IE 7 is gonna try Greg, but it will be interesting to see the new anti-phishing technology will change the game.

The next London Girl Geek dinner is coming up on April 24. Some of my coworkers will be there.

Microsoft this week shipped Academic Search, so of course I read Gary Price for his reactions. Gary's a librarian. A search expert. And very influential.

Think the Easter Bunny hates you? He just might! (video).

Are you a TWiT'er? There's a LOT of geeks who are. I was getting emails and IM's all week after being on the show on Sunday.

And with that I'm off for another week of Xbox playing. Oh, regarding Xbox, my readers warned me not to let Maryam play Zuma. They were right. She's addicted. Even is waking up early now to play Zuma. And what do I mean by "Xercising?" Well, you get on your exercise equipment and start playing Xbox. Chris Pirillo lost 15 lbs by doing that. I find I can play half an hour of Geometry Wars while Xercising. Heheh, and I see the "Get Naked" meme continues with Xbox Live team member Larry Hryb being challenged to a fun video game of "how well do you know your Xbox?" Heheh! Larry's such a good sport.

Oh, and thanks to Hugh Macleod for the continued wonderful cartoons on your blog. Thanks for letting me borrow one for this post. They make me smile. And that's really all that matters, isn't it?

Published by Robert Scoble

I help entrepreneurs build their technology business' story, help with getting ready for investors, with other launch plans, and many other strategic things that can help your new startup. Call to talk: +1-425-205-1921 (text first).

Published

262 thoughts on “Halfway through my blog vacation (change in comment policy)”

  1. I signed up for a Second Life account earlier this week after hearing you talk about it on TWiT, but so far I’m unimpressed. There’s some technical aspects that bug me… the graphics aren’t that great and it often takes a while to load objects, textures, etc. for the area you’re in.

    However, my main issue with Second Life is that the only areas that have a decent amount of people are all adult-oriented. Places I’ve visited that don’t have anything to do with sex are almost always empty with maybe only one or two other people around.

    Maybe I’m missing something, but so far I don’t see much value in Second Life.

    Like

  2. I signed up for a Second Life account earlier this week after hearing you talk about it on TWiT, but so far I’m unimpressed. There’s some technical aspects that bug me… the graphics aren’t that great and it often takes a while to load objects, textures, etc. for the area you’re in.

    However, my main issue with Second Life is that the only areas that have a decent amount of people are all adult-oriented. Places I’ve visited that don’t have anything to do with sex are almost always empty with maybe only one or two other people around.

    Maybe I’m missing something, but so far I don’t see much value in Second Life.

    Like

  3. In otehr news Scobleizer, wanting to be happy leaves the corporate conglomeration of Microsoft for the wonders of Google! But, seriously, as a first time commenter, and (a short time reader) good job Rob.

    Like

  4. In otehr news Scobleizer, wanting to be happy leaves the corporate conglomeration of Microsoft for the wonders of Google! But, seriously, as a first time commenter, and (a short time reader) good job Rob.

    Like

  5. Kevin: it won’t be for everyone. I find the graphics to be pretty nice. Not as nice as, say, in the latest version of Flight Simulator, but pretty nice nonetheless. What graphic card do you have?

    But, yeah, that certainly is one problem with anything online. (The adult issue). There are clean zones. And as more of us get into Second Life there’ll be more people to talk with.

    Personally I don’t think it’ll really take off until they let us do audio chat ala what Xbox Live lets us do.

    But, both of these problems aren’t there in Xbox 360 land, so maybe that’d be a better experience for you.

    For me, Second Life is cool because it lets you build your own world.

    Like

  6. Kevin: it won’t be for everyone. I find the graphics to be pretty nice. Not as nice as, say, in the latest version of Flight Simulator, but pretty nice nonetheless. What graphic card do you have?

    But, yeah, that certainly is one problem with anything online. (The adult issue). There are clean zones. And as more of us get into Second Life there’ll be more people to talk with.

    Personally I don’t think it’ll really take off until they let us do audio chat ala what Xbox Live lets us do.

    But, both of these problems aren’t there in Xbox 360 land, so maybe that’d be a better experience for you.

    For me, Second Life is cool because it lets you build your own world.

    Like

  9. Haha, I’m sitting in an incredibly busy coffee house (my absolute favorite) and it is their one year anniversery. In re-reading my post, I realized how terrible my grammar was (in that previous sentence). I hereby apologize to all those who suffer reading it!
    Scoble, can you get me a job?!

    Like

  10. Haha, I’m sitting in an incredibly busy coffee house (my absolute favorite) and it is their one year anniversery. In re-reading my post, I realized how terrible my grammar was (in that previous sentence). I hereby apologize to all those who suffer reading it!
    Scoble, can you get me a job?!

    Like

  13. I didn’t know you wanted me to. If you email me stuff, without sending me a link to your blog, how would I know that?

    Like

  14. I didn’t know you wanted me to. If you email me stuff, without sending me a link to your blog, how would I know that?

    Like

  15. I also don’t link to everything. I get hundreds of emails every day. I only can put up the ones that I think are most interesting for my readers.

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  16. I also don’t link to everything. I get hundreds of emails every day. I only can put up the ones that I think are most interesting for my readers.

    Like

  17. Pingback: Doug’s World » All Things in Moderation

  18. I did send you an email haha, remember you were the one telling me about how you know lots of people on campus who are getting macbook pro’s and running vista on it?

    then i linked you to my blog: http://makemeswitch.blogspot.com where i told you about my wicked slow ThinkPad and how I needed an upgrade? wantedted to spread the word? i still have the emails if you want me to forward them to you again.

    Like

  19. I did send you an email haha, remember you were the one telling me about how you know lots of people on campus who are getting macbook pro’s and running vista on it?

    then i linked you to my blog: http://makemeswitch.blogspot.com where i told you about my wicked slow ThinkPad and how I needed an upgrade? wantedted to spread the word? i still have the emails if you want me to forward them to you again.

    Like

  20. Yeah, but I just haven’t gotten to that yet. I have more than 3,000 things that people have sent me that haven’t gotten blogged either, so don’t feel too bad. I just didn’t feel like posting that on this post.

    Like

  21. Yeah, but I just haven’t gotten to that yet. I have more than 3,000 things that people have sent me that haven’t gotten blogged either, so don’t feel too bad. I just didn’t feel like posting that on this post.

    Like

  24. “Do you know of other kids of geeks who are doing podcasts or video blogs?”   No, but I know a kid who started a company at age 14.  He is also an active blogger, consumes/reviews a hundred or so books a year.  I guess I can’t call him a kid now, he’s just become 18. 
    There’s another reason why he belongs to this thread: one of his initiatives along with Chris Yeh is the Silicon Valley Junto, which had an interesting lunch discussion about Happines.  Since you appear to be thinking about these things nowadays, you would have been a good addition to our table, and you’d have enjoyed it too…
    Damn, I managed to write a comment without linking to myself!  – but it felt good:-)
    No, I’m too selfish for that, here;s my piece about the “kid”.

    Like

  25. “Do you know of other kids of geeks who are doing podcasts or video blogs?”   No, but I know a kid who started a company at age 14.  He is also an active blogger, consumes/reviews a hundred or so books a year.  I guess I can’t call him a kid now, he’s just become 18. 
    There’s another reason why he belongs to this thread: one of his initiatives along with Chris Yeh is the Silicon Valley Junto, which had an interesting lunch discussion about Happines.  Since you appear to be thinking about these things nowadays, you would have been a good addition to our table, and you’d have enjoyed it too…
    Damn, I managed to write a comment without linking to myself!  – but it felt good:-)
    No, I’m too selfish for that, here;s my piece about the “kid”.

    Like

  30. Pingback: Zoli's Blog

  31. Robert,
    I applaud your change to moderated comments. When a blog gets as many visitors as yours and when you reach an audience as large as yours it might be a wise choice to make this switch. As you pointed out, there are other ways to comment if you don’t want to leave it here.

    As far as your other change to improve your life, if you have not seen it or no one has linked it before, here is a site that you may find interesting.

    http://www.stevepavlina.com/index.htm

    Regards,
    Anthony

    Like

  32. Robert,
    I applaud your change to moderated comments. When a blog gets as many visitors as yours and when you reach an audience as large as yours it might be a wise choice to make this switch. As you pointed out, there are other ways to comment if you don’t want to leave it here.

    As far as your other change to improve your life, if you have not seen it or no one has linked it before, here is a site that you may find interesting.

    http://www.stevepavlina.com/index.htm

    Regards,
    Anthony

    Like

  33. Pingback: Damien Mulley » Blog Archive » Naked Conversations, sorry private party.

  34. Damien, I allowed your trackback in. It might be a private party, but it’s a BIG private party. 🙂

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  35. Damien, I allowed your trackback in. It might be a private party, but it’s a BIG private party. 🙂

    Like

  36. Pingback: The Daily Ramblings of an SMS Engineer : Robert Scoble's Cool Links for Today

  37. I dunno Robert, still unsure what to make of this new twist, I’ll wait for the more intelligent people to chime in and tell me if this is a good or bad thing. It is interesting though in many of the larger traffic single blogger blogs, they seem to moderate or just stop comments altogether. Have you gotten too big to be an amateur blogger? Sounds like yourself and others need a blog equivalent of a PA due to all the traffic and the thoughts people leave. Can someone come up with a technical solution to this besides you having to manage this by moderating things manually?

    Like

  38. I dunno Robert, still unsure what to make of this new twist, I’ll wait for the more intelligent people to chime in and tell me if this is a good or bad thing. It is interesting though in many of the larger traffic single blogger blogs, they seem to moderate or just stop comments altogether. Have you gotten too big to be an amateur blogger? Sounds like yourself and others need a blog equivalent of a PA due to all the traffic and the thoughts people leave. Can someone come up with a technical solution to this besides you having to manage this by moderating things manually?

    Like

  39. I enjoy your blogs. I am one of the numerious faceless web developers that dot the landscape having been the sole designer / developer of my former company’s site for many years while also maintaining my church’s site for the same period along with one other church. Pain management issues made me “retire” so that I currently maintain only my ministry site and one small professional site. I hope to pass the first of many MS certification exams next Friday.
    I appalaud your desire to surround yourself with happy people but on this Easter eve I feel compelled to point out that the only truly happy, or better yet, peaceful people are those who are right with God in Jesus. Maybe you are looking in the wrong places for whatever it is you are seeking. The answers are in the New Testament. Give it a try. You might learn what life is all about.

    Like

  40. I enjoy your blogs. I am one of the numerious faceless web developers that dot the landscape having been the sole designer / developer of my former company’s site for many years while also maintaining my church’s site for the same period along with one other church. Pain management issues made me “retire” so that I currently maintain only my ministry site and one small professional site. I hope to pass the first of many MS certification exams next Friday.
    I appalaud your desire to surround yourself with happy people but on this Easter eve I feel compelled to point out that the only truly happy, or better yet, peaceful people are those who are right with God in Jesus. Maybe you are looking in the wrong places for whatever it is you are seeking. The answers are in the New Testament. Give it a try. You might learn what life is all about.

    Like

  41. Scoble, I was reading back through past entries, and I looked around and couldn’t find if you had gotten more info on this GarageBand competitor supposedly under development at Microsoft. Any word?

    Seeing Microsoft taking on iLife is interesting, though (in my meaningless opinion), a little fruitless.

    Like

  42. Scoble, I was reading back through past entries, and I looked around and couldn’t find if you had gotten more info on this GarageBand competitor supposedly under development at Microsoft. Any word?

    Seeing Microsoft taking on iLife is interesting, though (in my meaningless opinion), a little fruitless.

    Like

  43. That’s awesome that Bubba is going to blog on here. Seems like Bubba knows everybody – and I mean *everybody*.

    Oh, but I think saying he’s on Windows Live Search isn’t entirely accurate. But he is doing some wicked cool stuff.

    Like

  44. That’s awesome that Bubba is going to blog on here. Seems like Bubba knows everybody – and I mean *everybody*.

    Oh, but I think saying he’s on Windows Live Search isn’t entirely accurate. But he is doing some wicked cool stuff.

    Like

  45. Pingback: Mutually Inclusive PR

  46. I applaud the move to moderated comments, but that’s a heck of a lot of extra work for you to moderate everything. My biggest problem with moderated comments is not censorship (sp?) but that conversations die more easily. If an authors out and you’re having a debate in the comments, it takes hours for things to get approved and readers can’t talk.

    OTOH, you probably check back here every hour or so, so it’s not as big of a deal….

    Like

  47. I applaud the move to moderated comments, but that’s a heck of a lot of extra work for you to moderate everything. My biggest problem with moderated comments is not censorship (sp?) but that conversations die more easily. If an authors out and you’re having a debate in the comments, it takes hours for things to get approved and readers can’t talk.

    OTOH, you probably check back here every hour or so, so it’s not as big of a deal….

    Like

  52. Damien,

    >Can someone come up with a technical solution to this besides you having to manage this by moderating things manually?

    Well, Slashdot has community moderation, which is a technical solution. Me? This is my blog, so the responsibility ends with me.

    I guess that’s what makes it different than, say, our Channel 9 forums.

    Like

  53. Damien,

    >Can someone come up with a technical solution to this besides you having to manage this by moderating things manually?

    Well, Slashdot has community moderation, which is a technical solution. Me? This is my blog, so the responsibility ends with me.

    I guess that’s what makes it different than, say, our Channel 9 forums.

    Like

  54. SapmKarma2 works great with WordPress, as for filtering out people who make you unhappy no tool can do this but your own fingers.

    I in general I let anyone who challenges me post in my blog unless they are spammers, now if someone was posting negative stuff day in and day out I would ban their IP for sure.

    Matt Cutts started doing this on his blog recently to cut down on the noise, I guess it makes some sense if you have a high traffic blog.

    Hmm, but I don’t know, I think I got a trackback deleted in here Robert and the post I made in my blog was fun, not negative, remember how this makes people feel or you might have an angry mob with pitchforks at your door!

    I am sure you will find a balance Robert, enjoy your time away.

    Like

  55. SapmKarma2 works great with WordPress, as for filtering out people who make you unhappy no tool can do this but your own fingers.

    I in general I let anyone who challenges me post in my blog unless they are spammers, now if someone was posting negative stuff day in and day out I would ban their IP for sure.

    Matt Cutts started doing this on his blog recently to cut down on the noise, I guess it makes some sense if you have a high traffic blog.

    Hmm, but I don’t know, I think I got a trackback deleted in here Robert and the post I made in my blog was fun, not negative, remember how this makes people feel or you might have an angry mob with pitchforks at your door!

    I am sure you will find a balance Robert, enjoy your time away.

    Like

  56. Back in the BBS days, I was active in th eILInk net, which was a net of about 500 BBS worldwide. Conferences were tightly moderated. Some called us IronLink, but, hey the conferences had a high signal to noise ratio.

    My main blog is political, comments have to be moderated, unless you want attacks by trolls deliberating trying to start flame wars, etc.

    Of course, if a blog gets really big, and some political blogs routinely get 500 comments on a post, then moderating can’t be done manually, and you do get the trolls.

    Like

  57. Back in the BBS days, I was active in th eILInk net, which was a net of about 500 BBS worldwide. Conferences were tightly moderated. Some called us IronLink, but, hey the conferences had a high signal to noise ratio.

    My main blog is political, comments have to be moderated, unless you want attacks by trolls deliberating trying to start flame wars, etc.

    Of course, if a blog gets really big, and some political blogs routinely get 500 comments on a post, then moderating can’t be done manually, and you do get the trolls.

    Like

  58. A technical solution: The blog software having a login system where your trusted commentors can comment un-moderated. People can earn or lose the Scoble trust.

    I admire you for not being scared to “change”.

    But I hope a bad day of yours is not going to ruin a good conversation 🙂

    Like

  59. A technical solution: The blog software having a login system where your trusted commentors can comment un-moderated. People can earn or lose the Scoble trust.

    I admire you for not being scared to “change”.

    But I hope a bad day of yours is not going to ruin a good conversation 🙂

    Like

  62. Pingback: Information Narcosis

  63. As, I believe, the only person to actually be fired from commenting on this blog, I might be wasting my time trying this, but what the heck.

    It’s hard to argue with you about this because you’re doing it partly because it will make you happy. But perhaps you could have a simple commenting policy so it’s clear what you will accept.

    It’s your blog, and while I think it makes it more interesting to have people challenge your thinking, its not clear what makes you unhappy.

    So how about it? A list of the things that make you unhappy, besides, of course, being asked to write a list of the things that make you unhappy?

    Like

  64. As, I believe, the only person to actually be fired from commenting on this blog, I might be wasting my time trying this, but what the heck.

    It’s hard to argue with you about this because you’re doing it partly because it will make you happy. But perhaps you could have a simple commenting policy so it’s clear what you will accept.

    It’s your blog, and while I think it makes it more interesting to have people challenge your thinking, its not clear what makes you unhappy.

    So how about it? A list of the things that make you unhappy, besides, of course, being asked to write a list of the things that make you unhappy?

    Like

  65. Robert

    Good choice on moderation of comments, there are some people that are baiting you into badlands –not pleasant and serves no purpose but to serve their own needs.

    I’m also curious to hear your responses on blog ROI, I’ll be anxiously waiting for the podcast.

    I’m in Second life, my name is Jerky Omelet

    Like

  66. Robert

    Good choice on moderation of comments, there are some people that are baiting you into badlands –not pleasant and serves no purpose but to serve their own needs.

    I’m also curious to hear your responses on blog ROI, I’ll be anxiously waiting for the podcast.

    I’m in Second life, my name is Jerky Omelet

    Like

  67. Pingback: da.vebrig.gs » Blog Archive » Comments and Blog Sitting

  68. Dominic, I thought about doing that, but that would just encourage people to walk up to the membrane I put out there and touch it. If you are here for a real conversation, then you’ll probably always be on the right side of the line. If you’re just here to call me names, or to try to make me feel bad, then…

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  69. Dominic, I thought about doing that, but that would just encourage people to walk up to the membrane I put out there and touch it. If you are here for a real conversation, then you’ll probably always be on the right side of the line. If you’re just here to call me names, or to try to make me feel bad, then…

    Like

  70. “And I will delete any that don’t add value to either my life or the lives of my readers.”

    Does this mean we’ll get a lot more ‘MS / Vista / Origami / Xbox360 / Scoble is god’ posts and less (gasp) naysayers?

    Like

  71. “And I will delete any that don’t add value to either my life or the lives of my readers.”

    Does this mean we’ll get a lot more ‘MS / Vista / Origami / Xbox360 / Scoble is god’ posts and less (gasp) naysayers?

    Like

  72. Robert, good for you – first of all on the “no more coffee/soda” (wish I could manage that!) and secondly on the comment moderation.

    I think I said in a comment previously that you might as well turn comments off completely – but moderation is probably a better option for you, as it allows you to directly continue the conversations (which you obviously enjoy) while getting rid of the constant sniping. Anyway who wants to snipe can get their own blog 🙂

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  73. Robert, good for you – first of all on the “no more coffee/soda” (wish I could manage that!) and secondly on the comment moderation.

    I think I said in a comment previously that you might as well turn comments off completely – but moderation is probably a better option for you, as it allows you to directly continue the conversations (which you obviously enjoy) while getting rid of the constant sniping. Anyway who wants to snipe can get their own blog 🙂

    Like

  76. Why isn’t there a way to moderate members? That meaning people apply for the privelage to post on your blog, and you give people the yay or nay.

    Let’s be serious, you’re never going to delete a comment from Dave Weiner… or your other friends.

    Just an idea, maybe matt from wordpress can work on it.

    Like

  77. Why isn’t there a way to moderate members? That meaning people apply for the privelage to post on your blog, and you give people the yay or nay.

    Let’s be serious, you’re never going to delete a comment from Dave Weiner… or your other friends.

    Just an idea, maybe matt from wordpress can work on it.

    Like

  78. Hey Scoble, did you get that email I sent you about the AIDS relief photography site. The guy behind the site has been dying to attract more viewers, and as of now Google and MSN Search have still not indexed the site.

    On a second note, Live Academic is really good. When it’s out of beta, I’m recommending it to a few librarians I know (I’m maintaining a site for them currently).

    On a third note, do you think you can figure out, perhaps get a Channel9 video on, what the heck the upside down “V” symbol in Vista is supposed to mean.

    On a fourth note, I’m off to do something interesting. 🙂

    Like

  79. Hey Scoble, did you get that email I sent you about the AIDS relief photography site. The guy behind the site has been dying to attract more viewers, and as of now Google and MSN Search have still not indexed the site.

    On a second note, Live Academic is really good. When it’s out of beta, I’m recommending it to a few librarians I know (I’m maintaining a site for them currently).

    On a third note, do you think you can figure out, perhaps get a Channel9 video on, what the heck the upside down “V” symbol in Vista is supposed to mean.

    On a fourth note, I’m off to do something interesting. 🙂

    Like

  80. Well, actually, now I just remembered what my fourth note was…

    On a fourth note, why’d you stop drinking coffee? Does this mean your traditional Starbucks Wi-fi stops are a thing of a past now?

    Perhaps there’s a green tea pub around Seattle that serves a nice dish of Wi-fi? 🙂

    Like

  81. Well, actually, now I just remembered what my fourth note was…

    On a fourth note, why’d you stop drinking coffee? Does this mean your traditional Starbucks Wi-fi stops are a thing of a past now?

    Perhaps there’s a green tea pub around Seattle that serves a nice dish of Wi-fi? 🙂

    Like

  82. Jon: no, I might delete a few of those posts too. Why? Cause do they add anything to the conversation?

    Vivek: my cholesterol level is too high, so making lots of changes in my life. I’ll try to get a Channel 9 video on that, though.

    Stefan: it’s very possible that I’ll delete a comment from Dave Winer or my other friends if they don’t add anything to the conversation here.

    Like

  83. Jon: no, I might delete a few of those posts too. Why? Cause do they add anything to the conversation?

    Vivek: my cholesterol level is too high, so making lots of changes in my life. I’ll try to get a Channel 9 video on that, though.

    Stefan: it’s very possible that I’ll delete a comment from Dave Winer or my other friends if they don’t add anything to the conversation here.

    Like

  84. Good move on the comment moderation, Robert. It was getting out of hand here with the anonymous flames. Got to take out the trash once in awhile.

    Like

  85. Good move on the comment moderation, Robert. It was getting out of hand here with the anonymous flames. Got to take out the trash once in awhile.

    Like

  86. I imagine being able to answer questions when you’d properly prepared was a LOT more fun than having to grasp at the first thing that popped to mind. It’s also nicer for the audience when the speaker shows that they’ve done that legwork, and are applying their talk *to* the audience, rather than just taking a canned position and talking *at* the audience. The former makes taking the speaker *much* easier than the latter.

    Like

  87. I imagine being able to answer questions when you’d properly prepared was a LOT more fun than having to grasp at the first thing that popped to mind. It’s also nicer for the audience when the speaker shows that they’ve done that legwork, and are applying their talk *to* the audience, rather than just taking a canned position and talking *at* the audience. The former makes taking the speaker *much* easier than the latter.

    Like

  88. Constructive dissent that adds value is always considered. Flame throwers only leave scorched earth. So good for you introducing comment moderation. I make no bones about moderation.

    I will allow the odd off the wall thing through – if only to let others return the discussion back to a more sane level and so demonstrate the ‘wisdom of crowds’ is alive and well.

    Good for you Robert.

    Like

  89. Constructive dissent that adds value is always considered. Flame throwers only leave scorched earth. So good for you introducing comment moderation. I make no bones about moderation.

    I will allow the odd off the wall thing through – if only to let others return the discussion back to a more sane level and so demonstrate the ‘wisdom of crowds’ is alive and well.

    Good for you Robert.

    Like

  90. John: actually, the people I interview say that’s not true at all. Knowing the questions ahead of time makes it a lot more likely to be a commercial than a conversation.

    Like

  91. John: actually, the people I interview say that’s not true at all. Knowing the questions ahead of time makes it a lot more likely to be a commercial than a conversation.

    Like

  92. Being able to discern between gain and loss (“value”) in all things is difficult – so much depends on your perspective, which is always subject to change.

    Try and replace the word “value” with “joy”, and see what that changes. Joy doesn’t always spring from value (a relative function) or even happiness (a transient state). Being a father (like me) you know what joy is – now see how that translates into work product, specifically software. It’s astounding to me how joyful the best products/services truly are, and how that translates into communities that *create*. Maybe that’s what was bumming you out about some of the comments you were seeing.

    Good luck with the shift. It’s an important world-view mod.

    Like

  93. Being able to discern between gain and loss (“value”) in all things is difficult – so much depends on your perspective, which is always subject to change.

    Try and replace the word “value” with “joy”, and see what that changes. Joy doesn’t always spring from value (a relative function) or even happiness (a transient state). Being a father (like me) you know what joy is – now see how that translates into work product, specifically software. It’s astounding to me how joyful the best products/services truly are, and how that translates into communities that *create*. Maybe that’s what was bumming you out about some of the comments you were seeing.

    Good luck with the shift. It’s an important world-view mod.

    Like

  94. Hallelujah! Robert, your faith in a completely open dialog was admirable, but moderation is actually a way of improving the quality of experience for your readers. I had dropped off for awhile because the noise to signal ratio was getting out of hand as the popularity of the blog grew.

    Thanks for the change.

    Like

  95. Hallelujah! Robert, your faith in a completely open dialog was admirable, but moderation is actually a way of improving the quality of experience for your readers. I had dropped off for awhile because the noise to signal ratio was getting out of hand as the popularity of the blog grew.

    Thanks for the change.

    Like

  96. Turn up the positive, turn down the negative — I dig it. On workdays I try to stick to tea (“Earl Grey. Hot”) — coffee can send me into orbit.

    Like

  97. Turn up the positive, turn down the negative — I dig it. On workdays I try to stick to tea (“Earl Grey. Hot”) — coffee can send me into orbit.

    Like

  98. More favorite drinks to recommend. Pinot Grigio is a delightful, dry white wine that doesn’t linger. Old Australian Stout is a marvelous brew you can find at Trader Joe’s. It doesn’t beat the flavor of Guinness on tap, but Old Australian has unusual powers of its own.

    Like

  99. More favorite drinks to recommend. Pinot Grigio is a delightful, dry white wine that doesn’t linger. Old Australian Stout is a marvelous brew you can find at Trader Joe’s. It doesn’t beat the flavor of Guinness on tap, but Old Australian has unusual powers of its own.

    Like

  100. Interesting… is it still OK to point out the flaws in your arguments?

    What is it the Vista debacle that helped bring you to the realization that you needed to moderate comments? I think things definitely got out of hand in those threads on both sides.

    Like

  101. Interesting… is it still OK to point out the flaws in your arguments?

    What is it the Vista debacle that helped bring you to the realization that you needed to moderate comments? I think things definitely got out of hand in those threads on both sides.

    Like

  102. Mujibur: that depends. Are you here for a conversation or just to be pointing out my flaws? If you’re here for a conversation and are putting forth a balanced viewpoint, I’m all for it. But in my family room if all you say is negative stuff than I doubt I’ll let you stay.

    It wasn’t the Vista debacle that caused me to change my policy.

    Like

  103. Mujibur: that depends. Are you here for a conversation or just to be pointing out my flaws? If you’re here for a conversation and are putting forth a balanced viewpoint, I’m all for it. But in my family room if all you say is negative stuff than I doubt I’ll let you stay.

    It wasn’t the Vista debacle that caused me to change my policy.

    Like

  104. Good stuff. Comments can add a huge amount of value, but a lightning rod blog like this can attract those who are aren’t interested in contributing to a positive conversation. Comments on a blog like this need to be curated at times. I like your “family room” policy – there are polite ways to discuss just about anything, and tone can be much more significant that topic at times. Sometimes asking an abusive loudmouth to leave can foster a better discussion among those with more to contribute.

    I recently dropped coffee for a week and found that hot water with lemon was actually pretty good. A lot of the coffee or soda thing while working is just a reflex micro-break kind of thing for me, and sipping a hot liquid did the trick.

    Like

  105. Good stuff. Comments can add a huge amount of value, but a lightning rod blog like this can attract those who are aren’t interested in contributing to a positive conversation. Comments on a blog like this need to be curated at times. I like your “family room” policy – there are polite ways to discuss just about anything, and tone can be much more significant that topic at times. Sometimes asking an abusive loudmouth to leave can foster a better discussion among those with more to contribute.

    I recently dropped coffee for a week and found that hot water with lemon was actually pretty good. A lot of the coffee or soda thing while working is just a reflex micro-break kind of thing for me, and sipping a hot liquid did the trick.

    Like

  106. John: actually, the people I interview say that’s not true at all. Knowing the questions ahead of time makes it a lot more likely to be a commercial than a conversation.

    Robert…oy, read what I wrote. I didn’t say “Knowing the questions ahead of time makes things better”. I said, “I imagine being able to answer questions when you’d properly prepared was a LOT more fun than having to grasp at the first thing that popped to mind.”

    “Properly prepared” is not the same thing as “Knowing the questions ahead of time”. It means things like knowing your audience, and if they all come from a single or small number of companies, or the same industry, knowing how what you’re talking about applies to them. So instead of having to grasp at straws, you can come up with coherent arguments that are applicable to your audience and their needs. It’s been my experience that an unprepared speaker can’t handle anything BUT canned questions and prepared responses, and ends up doing a remarkable imitation of a motorboat: but-but-but-but….

    That’s why you got burned by Werner, was because neither of the two of you were prepared to answer questions about blogging as they applied to Amazon. You went in like a couple of kids in a daisy field and got nuked. This time, you were prepared, had useful information, and had a much better day.

    Like

  107. John: actually, the people I interview say that’s not true at all. Knowing the questions ahead of time makes it a lot more likely to be a commercial than a conversation.

    Robert…oy, read what I wrote. I didn’t say “Knowing the questions ahead of time makes things better”. I said, “I imagine being able to answer questions when you’d properly prepared was a LOT more fun than having to grasp at the first thing that popped to mind.”

    “Properly prepared” is not the same thing as “Knowing the questions ahead of time”. It means things like knowing your audience, and if they all come from a single or small number of companies, or the same industry, knowing how what you’re talking about applies to them. So instead of having to grasp at straws, you can come up with coherent arguments that are applicable to your audience and their needs. It’s been my experience that an unprepared speaker can’t handle anything BUT canned questions and prepared responses, and ends up doing a remarkable imitation of a motorboat: but-but-but-but….

    That’s why you got burned by Werner, was because neither of the two of you were prepared to answer questions about blogging as they applied to Amazon. You went in like a couple of kids in a daisy field and got nuked. This time, you were prepared, had useful information, and had a much better day.

    Like

  108. Pingback: robhyndman.com » Blog Archive » Don’t Worry, Be Happy
  109. Pingback: Hidden Melody

  110. Almost don’t want to comment because it will make you have to moderate one more. But, I’m doing it anyway.

    The move to moderate is a good one. You should have done it a long time ago. It is your blog, Robert. You’ve put so much into it and done so much good with it, so the blog should not bring you grief.

    Good to see you having fun with it again.

    Like

  111. Almost don’t want to comment because it will make you have to moderate one more. But, I’m doing it anyway.

    The move to moderate is a good one. You should have done it a long time ago. It is your blog, Robert. You’ve put so much into it and done so much good with it, so the blog should not bring you grief.

    Good to see you having fun with it again.

    Like

  114. Pingback: Dossy's Blog

  115. hugh macleod Thank God you’ve started policing your comments. Your Mudpit had become upsetting and unreadable, due to the actions of a small, worthless minority.

    There’s one or two people that do this on an infrequent basis. I’m not sure how this amounts to making the whole blog “upsetting and unreadable”

    What I fear has happened is that Microsoft has put down an edict that since blogs are a public face of MSFT they should be moderated and project the best image of the company. So what this, and other Microsoft blogs, are going to amount to little more than watered down PR for the company.

    Like

  116. hugh macleod Thank God you’ve started policing your comments. Your Mudpit had become upsetting and unreadable, due to the actions of a small, worthless minority.

    There’s one or two people that do this on an infrequent basis. I’m not sure how this amounts to making the whole blog “upsetting and unreadable”

    What I fear has happened is that Microsoft has put down an edict that since blogs are a public face of MSFT they should be moderated and project the best image of the company. So what this, and other Microsoft blogs, are going to amount to little more than watered down PR for the company.

    Like

  119. Hey, I’m glad too see you’ve set your blog to moderate all comments, it had to happen sometime or another and I’m glad it’s happened now before things get worse for you than they were already, good luck with what you’ve got planned! 😀

    Like

  120. Hey, I’m glad too see you’ve set your blog to moderate all comments, it had to happen sometime or another and I’m glad it’s happened now before things get worse for you than they were already, good luck with what you’ve got planned! 😀

    Like

  121. “No more unhappy people in my life”

    I hope you mean, no more blindly critical people posting on my blog, etc. No more arguing with fools.

    Because if you mean literally, no more unhappy people, that’s a little loony isn’t it? If you’re happy 100% of the time, you’re not living in this world.

    And seriously, let us know how the soda thing turns out. As a member of the same generation, a lot of us grew up drinking soda, then getting a serious caffeine addiction in college/early career with Mountain Dew/Jolt, and I’m betting you’re the same. So you could be an inspiration to all of us addicted programmers/Internet junkies. This is when the personal side of blogging is really interesting – finding commonalities 1,000s of miles, religions, languages, cultures apart.

    Like

  122. “No more unhappy people in my life”

    I hope you mean, no more blindly critical people posting on my blog, etc. No more arguing with fools.

    Because if you mean literally, no more unhappy people, that’s a little loony isn’t it? If you’re happy 100% of the time, you’re not living in this world.

    And seriously, let us know how the soda thing turns out. As a member of the same generation, a lot of us grew up drinking soda, then getting a serious caffeine addiction in college/early career with Mountain Dew/Jolt, and I’m betting you’re the same. So you could be an inspiration to all of us addicted programmers/Internet junkies. This is when the personal side of blogging is really interesting – finding commonalities 1,000s of miles, religions, languages, cultures apart.

    Like

  123. Dunno if this is gonna pass your comment mod but I can give it a try.

    Wow, this post is definitely big. I really took some time to fully read this and you really mix tons of stuff into a single post, all without no connection whatsoever. I dunno if others like this or not but I kinda admire this style, cause it’s like a roundup.

    Moving on, to the topic of controversy, the comment moderation thing. I’m not really opposing it cause I’ve seen that people have been a bit hard on you Mr.Scoble. But I’ve always believed in the freedom of the blogosphere and my say is that you must let people see all sides of a coin. So what if someone curses you?? You must have enough confidence to face him off… But do tell me, what is the main reason for this move of yours? There’s something else… But one thing, this is gonna give you one headache of a job that too counting your blog’s popularity.

    Popurl is a freaking great site, I love it!!

    As for change, I like this wise old saying “Change is the only thing constant in this world”. Beautiful irony!!

    Like

  124. Dunno if this is gonna pass your comment mod but I can give it a try.

    Wow, this post is definitely big. I really took some time to fully read this and you really mix tons of stuff into a single post, all without no connection whatsoever. I dunno if others like this or not but I kinda admire this style, cause it’s like a roundup.

    Moving on, to the topic of controversy, the comment moderation thing. I’m not really opposing it cause I’ve seen that people have been a bit hard on you Mr.Scoble. But I’ve always believed in the freedom of the blogosphere and my say is that you must let people see all sides of a coin. So what if someone curses you?? You must have enough confidence to face him off… But do tell me, what is the main reason for this move of yours? There’s something else… But one thing, this is gonna give you one headache of a job that too counting your blog’s popularity.

    Popurl is a freaking great site, I love it!!

    As for change, I like this wise old saying “Change is the only thing constant in this world”. Beautiful irony!!

    Like

  125. Pingback: AListReview
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  127. OK, I’ll chase rawhide and comment thusly.

    Robert, I agree that moderation is not only your perogative, but essential. I use plugins that help deflect the obvious spam-fests, so there’s not a lot of work on my end.

    What appears to be at issue is not so much the quality of the conversation, as you seem to be hedging* on what standards are being applied to make that determination, but of the commentors themselves.

    In other words, this seems to be about effectively removing Christopher Coulter and Dmad from your comment threads. I have no personal knowledge of those two, and will not comment futher about them other than to note their absence in this thread.

    So conversationally, and in seriousness: Was that the intent, or a side benefit?

    * Cite: “Vinnie: my value filter is set pretty low.”

    Like

  128. OK, I’ll chase rawhide and comment thusly.

    Robert, I agree that moderation is not only your perogative, but essential. I use plugins that help deflect the obvious spam-fests, so there’s not a lot of work on my end.

    What appears to be at issue is not so much the quality of the conversation, as you seem to be hedging* on what standards are being applied to make that determination, but of the commentors themselves.

    In other words, this seems to be about effectively removing Christopher Coulter and Dmad from your comment threads. I have no personal knowledge of those two, and will not comment futher about them other than to note their absence in this thread.

    So conversationally, and in seriousness: Was that the intent, or a side benefit?

    * Cite: “Vinnie: my value filter is set pretty low.”

    Like

  129. Ethan: I’ll let both of those through if they add something to the conversation and don’t just attack. They can do that kind of stuff on their own blogs, if they think it’s valuable.

    Like

  130. Ethan: I’ll let both of those through if they add something to the conversation and don’t just attack. They can do that kind of stuff on their own blogs, if they think it’s valuable.

    Like

  133. Robert,

    To date, I have still not figured out how trackbacks are supposed to work. 🙂 I know that’s a ghastly confession, but there it is.

    I too have a blog here on WordPress, but I haven’t started using it yet due to a technical issue. My current blog, http://spaces.msn.com/adayinthelifeofaperson/PersonalSpace.aspx, exists pretty much to perform the function alluded to by its title, “A Day in the Life of A Person With a Disability.” That is, it provides glimpses of the things I encounter during a day. As such, the blog is mainly copies email and other correspondence. That makes the ability to email entries to the blog a useful feature offered on MSN and absent on WordPress. I haven’t yet figured out an alternative that doesn’t require a change in my basic modus operandi. If blogging requires a fundamental change in how you do things, you’re more likely to burn out.

    I also share the question some readers have voiced about just what constitutes an unhappy person in your view. The subject matter of my MSN blog, for example, deals with challenges I slog through almost constantly. There are days when I feel like I’m trying to swim in concrete, 😦 and my entries reflect the degree of difficulty involved. Of course, there are also good days. 🙂

    If, by “unhappy people,” you mean certain “trolls,” my experiences have taught me how to deal with them. You engage only as long as doing so suits your own purposes. Beyond that, you are correct in forcing them to use other forums to air their “views.” This one happens to be yours. 🙂

    Scott

    Like

  134. Robert,

    To date, I have still not figured out how trackbacks are supposed to work. 🙂 I know that’s a ghastly confession, but there it is.

    I too have a blog here on WordPress, but I haven’t started using it yet due to a technical issue. My current blog, http://spaces.msn.com/adayinthelifeofaperson/PersonalSpace.aspx, exists pretty much to perform the function alluded to by its title, “A Day in the Life of A Person With a Disability.” That is, it provides glimpses of the things I encounter during a day. As such, the blog is mainly copies email and other correspondence. That makes the ability to email entries to the blog a useful feature offered on MSN and absent on WordPress. I haven’t yet figured out an alternative that doesn’t require a change in my basic modus operandi. If blogging requires a fundamental change in how you do things, you’re more likely to burn out.

    I also share the question some readers have voiced about just what constitutes an unhappy person in your view. The subject matter of my MSN blog, for example, deals with challenges I slog through almost constantly. There are days when I feel like I’m trying to swim in concrete, 😦 and my entries reflect the degree of difficulty involved. Of course, there are also good days. 🙂

    If, by “unhappy people,” you mean certain “trolls,” my experiences have taught me how to deal with them. You engage only as long as doing so suits your own purposes. Beyond that, you are correct in forcing them to use other forums to air their “views.” This one happens to be yours. 🙂

    Scott

    Like

  135. Hi Robert,
    Not sure if you’ve seen this yet, but basically Anil Dash has your back on the comment policy change thing. For my part, I don’t think it’s censorship in the least as long as you’re not deleting people for respectfully disagreeing with you – and I’m pretty sure that you wouldn’t do that.
    And by the way, good for you for getting into exercise and such. It’s a fantastic way to get balance back into your life and keep things in perspective. You should try yoga.

    Best,
    Teresa

    Like

  136. Hi Robert,
    Not sure if you’ve seen this yet, but basically Anil Dash has your back on the comment policy change thing. For my part, I don’t think it’s censorship in the least as long as you’re not deleting people for respectfully disagreeing with you – and I’m pretty sure that you wouldn’t do that.
    And by the way, good for you for getting into exercise and such. It’s a fantastic way to get balance back into your life and keep things in perspective. You should try yoga.

    Best,
    Teresa

    Like

  137. Glad to see the new and improved blog. Hope you have a great time “off”. Oh and when Maryam finally gets past stage 12 in Zuma, tell her to keep on playing. Evidently you have to go through it twice to get to the final stage. Good luck with the “new” Scoble and thanks for the link to ask a ninja, I am still laughing.

    Like

  138. Glad to see the new and improved blog. Hope you have a great time “off”. Oh and when Maryam finally gets past stage 12 in Zuma, tell her to keep on playing. Evidently you have to go through it twice to get to the final stage. Good luck with the “new” Scoble and thanks for the link to ask a ninja, I am still laughing.

    Like

  139. I don’t know about your plan, half the fun of reading your blog was the comments, you handled the trolls well, but I could see that getting exhausting and well, a major pain. I will keep reading, your insight has given me alot to pass on to friends and family, they think I am the Guru, I am just a Re-Scobleizer.

    Like

  140. I don’t know about your plan, half the fun of reading your blog was the comments, you handled the trolls well, but I could see that getting exhausting and well, a major pain. I will keep reading, your insight has given me alot to pass on to friends and family, they think I am the Guru, I am just a Re-Scobleizer.

    Like

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  142. Pingback: Cloudy Thinking » Blog Archive » On Comments

  143. Robert – I also have high cholesterol levels and sitting behind the computer gained me a few extra pounds this winter. It’s kind of funny that you mention channel9 because I pulled my exercise bike out of the basement several weeks ago and ride it while watching videos, channel9 videos, Google videos, all kinds of fun stuff.

    Awareness of the importance of health is key, find your zen place dude! 🙂

    Like

  144. Robert – I also have high cholesterol levels and sitting behind the computer gained me a few extra pounds this winter. It’s kind of funny that you mention channel9 because I pulled my exercise bike out of the basement several weeks ago and ride it while watching videos, channel9 videos, Google videos, all kinds of fun stuff.

    Awareness of the importance of health is key, find your zen place dude! 🙂

    Like

  145. Wow… Information overload. LoL… Who has enough time in their day to click all those links? I guess I know what I am doing this weekend.

    Thanks Robert

    Like

  146. Wow… Information overload. LoL… Who has enough time in their day to click all those links? I guess I know what I am doing this weekend.

    Thanks Robert

    Like

  148. Moderating comments would make sense if you’d address damaging topics. But since everything in your world is rosy, I don’t see the point.

    Like

  150. Moderating comments would make sense if you’d address damaging topics. But since everything in your world is rosy, I don’t see the point.

    Like

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  153. Pingback: Scobleizer - Microsoft Geek Blogger » Don’t Worry, Be Happy

  154. You may already be aware of this, but Tal Ben-Shahar, the teacher presented in the NPR segment, has a self help e-book – The Question of Happiness – for sale at:

    http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=91-0595734871-0

    its only $5 and can be read in an afternoon. Its not prescriptive like most self help books, but it is full of good ideas and concepts that are pretty easy to ingest and over time apply. I still open it up every now and then and read parts of it.

    Like

  155. You may already be aware of this, but Tal Ben-Shahar, the teacher presented in the NPR segment, has a self help e-book – The Question of Happiness – for sale at:

    http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=91-0595734871-0

    its only $5 and can be read in an afternoon. Its not prescriptive like most self help books, but it is full of good ideas and concepts that are pretty easy to ingest and over time apply. I still open it up every now and then and read parts of it.

    Like

  156. Pingback: Corporate Mayhem » Blog Archive » The Four Agreements

  157. If you liked the Four Agreements, you may find the work by one of Don Miguel’s students interesting as well. It’s called The New Agreements in the Workplace and is a great piece about applying the core principles within a work environment.

    As for the idea, its a great one – we have been avoiding the ‘crazy makers’ and focusing our energy in relationships with people who contribute value to us and the world. It is hard of course, but life is much more peaceful and we are much happier as a result. Life is too short to waste with people who are sucking away your time and energy…

    Like

  158. If you liked the Four Agreements, you may find the work by one of Don Miguel’s students interesting as well. It’s called The New Agreements in the Workplace and is a great piece about applying the core principles within a work environment.

    As for the idea, its a great one – we have been avoiding the ‘crazy makers’ and focusing our energy in relationships with people who contribute value to us and the world. It is hard of course, but life is much more peaceful and we are much happier as a result. Life is too short to waste with people who are sucking away your time and energy…

    Like

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  160. As so many have said bfr me, in life pain is unavoidable, suffering is optional. I’ve only just got here (via An udge and a wink) and I like it, getting rid of the Calimeros is a sign of mental health, I think. It is NOT censorship, this is your window into this world, you absolutely have the right to decide abt everything. It is a privilege we have, not a birth right. Anyone who abuses it should find himself with no wy to be vile, rightly so. I too refuse to be dragged down by the contagious miserable and bleak. Kudos to you!

    Like

  161. As so many have said bfr me, in life pain is unavoidable, suffering is optional. I’ve only just got here (via An udge and a wink) and I like it, getting rid of the Calimeros is a sign of mental health, I think. It is NOT censorship, this is your window into this world, you absolutely have the right to decide abt everything. It is a privilege we have, not a birth right. Anyone who abuses it should find himself with no wy to be vile, rightly so. I too refuse to be dragged down by the contagious miserable and bleak. Kudos to you!

    Like

  162. I utterly support your decision to jettison negativity and moderate comments. I know that in my own life, I’ve had to make similar decisions. At first you say “I should be bigger than this” but then you realize that you ARE, by refusing to admit drama into your life. Kudos!

    Like

  163. I utterly support your decision to jettison negativity and moderate comments. I know that in my own life, I’ve had to make similar decisions. At first you say “I should be bigger than this” but then you realize that you ARE, by refusing to admit drama into your life. Kudos!

    Like

  164. it’s the Happy week; just saw an piece on Wellington College teaching students to understand themselves, build tools to build relationships and find a basis for happiness.

    what’s the main value in commments? for you? for visitors? I’d expect this to raise the value.

    Like

  165. it’s the Happy week; just saw an piece on Wellington College teaching students to understand themselves, build tools to build relationships and find a basis for happiness.

    what’s the main value in commments? for you? for visitors? I’d expect this to raise the value.

    Like

  166. Pingback: the head lemur’s Blog » Blog Archive » Shiny Happy People! Now without phlegm!

  167. I figure if you’ve decided to moderate comments, ragain ballance, and stop hanging around unhappy people (more power to you; stress kills) and you STILL have 93 comments (plus 1) on this posting alone, you’re doing something right.

    Like

  168. I figure if you’ve decided to moderate comments, ragain ballance, and stop hanging around unhappy people (more power to you; stress kills) and you STILL have 93 comments (plus 1) on this posting alone, you’re doing something right.

    Like

  171. Robert, Thank you so much for staring at our BA Ventures event. The CEO’s, who come from large and small, IT and med startups, had a wide range of questions for you.

    The podcast or streaming audio file for the event is available from our website at http://www.baventurepartners.com/news/index.html

    You can also find the podcast at iTunes by searching for “BAVP.” Even though we had mike problems at the event, the recording is clear, if long, because there were so many questions.

    Thank you again

    Like

  172. Robert, Thank you so much for staring at our BA Ventures event. The CEO’s, who come from large and small, IT and med startups, had a wide range of questions for you.

    The podcast or streaming audio file for the event is available from our website at http://www.baventurepartners.com/news/index.html

    You can also find the podcast at iTunes by searching for “BAVP.” Even though we had mike problems at the event, the recording is clear, if long, because there were so many questions.

    Thank you again

    Like

  173. Pingback: How to Start a Two-Bit Operation » Happy people make you happier
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  175. Pingback: 4/23/2006 8:49 AM - Matthew Gifford
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  183. Pingback: StrayPackets » Scoble, Comments, Guilt and Happiness

  186. Congratulations, Robert, this sounds like a terrific deal for you. I’d love to buy you and Miryam a beer once you get settled down here in July.

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  187. Congratulations, Robert, this sounds like a terrific deal for you. I’d love to buy you and Miryam a beer once you get settled down here in July.

    Like

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  206. Hi, everybody!
    I’d like to express my opinion about these blog comments. I consider them very ineresting and useful for visitors. Because there different people and every of them has the own opinion and his own thoughts. And sometimes you can find out something very interesting and unusual.
    I also quiet agree with the fact that people may write something meaningless and it is necessary to delete it.
    Good luck in future!

    Like

  207. Hi, everybody!
    I’d like to express my opinion about these blog comments. I consider them very ineresting and useful for visitors. Because there different people and every of them has the own opinion and his own thoughts. And sometimes you can find out something very interesting and unusual.
    I also quiet agree with the fact that people may write something meaningless and it is necessary to delete it.
    Good luck in future!

    Like

  214. Pingback: Why is Corporate Blogging Important? « Marketing Nirvāna — by Mario Sundar

  215. check out my blog – life of a lounge lizard.

    like you, I went through a period of my life where I was faced with some major decisions.

    ..and here I am – in thailand.

    happy memories.

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  216. check out my blog – life of a lounge lizard.

    like you, I went through a period of my life where I was faced with some major decisions.

    ..and here I am – in thailand.

    happy memories.

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  217. I think we all reach limits on how many people we can absorb in our life. I recently wrote about 15 year old research which expects normal folk to be able to handle about 150 subtantive relationships. Anything more will literally muddle your mind.

    http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-web-20-or-why-my-head-hurts/

    So mixing with happy folk is very fine line to draw when deciding how you’ll weed out the relationships which clutter those 150 chunks of headspace.

    Like

  218. I think we all reach limits on how many people we can absorb in our life. I recently wrote about 15 year old research which expects normal folk to be able to handle about 150 subtantive relationships. Anything more will literally muddle your mind.

    http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-web-20-or-why-my-head-hurts/

    So mixing with happy folk is very fine line to draw when deciding how you’ll weed out the relationships which clutter those 150 chunks of headspace.

    Like

  221. Pingback: Moderating Comments « The PressDisplay Club
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  225. joe,

    tell me about it. despite repeated submissions to their ad feedback network, nothing. I am just dying with this crap. oh man, no idea how to get away from this nonsense

    Like

  226. joe,

    tell me about it. despite repeated submissions to their ad feedback network, nothing. I am just dying with this crap. oh man, no idea how to get away from this nonsense

    Like

  227. Pingback: Vacation Package Guides » Blog Archive » Family Vacation Virginia - My Vacation Reading

  232. Interesting sociological experiment of isolating the sad… Will they make their own communities of sorrow? Will they find eventual happiness from that community? Is there any hope for unhappy people?

    Does this refusal to be around unhappy people create greater unhappiness for those people, thus furhter isolating them from others? How does that impact society? Family?

    Like

  233. Interesting sociological experiment of isolating the sad… Will they make their own communities of sorrow? Will they find eventual happiness from that community? Is there any hope for unhappy people?

    Does this refusal to be around unhappy people create greater unhappiness for those people, thus furhter isolating them from others? How does that impact society? Family?

    Like

  234. I have the 4 agreement here in my house, although I haven’t read it yet. Man they are impressive though, right? Keep it real Scoble.

    Like

  235. I have the 4 agreement here in my house, although I haven’t read it yet. Man they are impressive though, right? Keep it real Scoble.

    Like

  236. I’ve seen that people have been a bit hard, opinion we really can’t: Stopping phishing and other online , I use plugins that help deflect the obvious spam-fests, so there’s not a lot of work on my end. Coulter and Dmad from your comment threads. I have no personal knowledge of those two, I encounter during a day. As such, the blog is mainly copies email and other correspondence

    Like

  237. I’ve seen that people have been a bit hard, opinion we really can’t: Stopping phishing and other online , I use plugins that help deflect the obvious spam-fests, so there’s not a lot of work on my end. Coulter and Dmad from your comment threads. I have no personal knowledge of those two, I encounter during a day. As such, the blog is mainly copies email and other correspondence

    Like

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