Compassion in Politics: Christian Social Justice, Non-Profits, and Life Theology

A little You Tube fun for Friday….

I include this mostly for the comic aspect.  But it does ask a relevant question about media broadcast that increasingly is a part of our cultural wallpaper.  And the writers are on strike…so why not watch YouTube instead of stale re-runs.  [or your could create your own content....]   Is video blogging always navel gazing?  Does navel gazing have a value?  Does it ever become too much?  Is there value to video blogging beyond navel gazing?  Thoughts?  Perhaps this is the cool thing about new media.  YouTube + video (actually optional w/ a macbook) + Macbook + Creativity + Message/Idea + Socks + Funny = Cool for Free.  I think the folks that made this seized on a unique issue, but there seem to be plenty of ideas (it just seems hard to find which one will get this much exposure)…

Free Hugs for Christ just launched a YouTube channel. They have a couple videos up and are looking to create some more. Cool idea! It got #34th most subscribed recently. In a very, very short time their 4 videos have received 1,500-2,000 views. Here is one of their videos for your viewing pleasure:

Here is the original Free Hugs campaign created by Juan Mann with the Sick Puppies soundtrack that received over 18 million views:

Both are fantastic ideas. What do you think?

FYI: Relationship drives the new movement.  If you want to make your video go viral, having a “remarkable” video (thanks Seth Godin), friending a bunch of like minded people on YouTube (and perhaps some that aren’t like minded) or perhaps twitter, asking people to subscribe, asking people to put the video on their youtube channel, and using heyspread to post your videos to multiple sites.  Also, posting them to niche video sites like GodTube is helpful too.  Finally, garnering online and offline coverage helps a bit too.  Speaking in a universal language is  very helpful, but so is actual translation via dotSub if you video is instructional or information focused. Oh,  if you like the idea of the Free Hugs for Christ, show the kids from Santa Monica some love and send their video along.  Also, if you like my blog, please subscribe on Google, Technorati, or your RSS feed of choice.  I have links to all of that on the right side tool bar.  If you have any questions about subscribing, feel free to pass them along.  Oh, if you have any comments, feel free to pass them along.

thanks to kalandrakas for the sweet flickr photo.

Trendspotting Online: Web 2.0 and Social Networking (Digital Natives: the MySpace and Facebook Generation)
A shift is occurring beneath our feet as more people are actively leaving the ranks of mass media consumers and followers to new media pro-sumers who actively voice their opinions in the newer, more interactive web environment.  

This weekend at BarCamp Nashville new media guru Mitch Joel of Six Pixels of Separation pointed out that consumers are spending 48% of their free time online.  This, alongside the millions that are hopping on the Facebook bandwagon and that are daily joining of the diverse ranks of the bloggosphere.  

Mitch also pointed to the incredible diversity in users and methods of communication.  With mega-events like Blogher and the sprouting up of unconferences like Barcamp this trend will only continue.  Events like these and virtual collaboration and communication is increasingly flattening the earth, such that you don’t have to be a tech geek in San Francisco to have social networking access to the stars of the digital world.  And far from being withdrawn wizards behind the curtain that may characterize other industries, these folks generally seem to be women and men of the people. The monumental and viral Free Hugs video is really a metaphor for the diversity and community, that are embraced  by this change is far more human than the top-down culture and one-way communication of the era that came before it.

The Mass Media and Commercial Shift:

One more sign that the old guard might be crumbling is “You Tube Killer the Video Star” with some Steven Colbert love.  Corporations are seizing this opportunity too.  Tracking the Influence of Conversations: A Roundtable Discussion on Social Media Metrics and Measurement is a manifesto and testament to this shift.  I highly recommend it for anyone looking at the cultural or commerce ramifications of this fundamental shift in the way we communicate and do life.

“The advent of social media–blogs in particular–thus brings with it at least the potential for removing the barrier between a sellar and buyers who are likely remote–geographically, economically, culturally, and otherwise.  The social media platform truly leverages the Web’s massive scale to carry information–fact or opinion–globally and instantly.” 

Jeremiah Owyang of Podtech.net and Matt Troll of Down Jones 

The Personal Shift or What this Means for You, Me, and the Human Community:
I guess the balls in our court now.  We are no longer sitting on the bench, we are potentially active participants in the game.  In our hands, we have the power to forge or disrupt conversation and community. 
What will you do?

Oddly enough Mitch Joel has a great post about linking up via social networking communities.  Thats a great start.  Whats next??

Ps.  If all Canadians are as nice as Mitch Joel, it might not be half-bad place to live.  Like Nashville, but with French accents and pronounce “about” like “a boot.”  Diversity is lovely indeed.

The church is steadily adopting new media strategies in order to reach this increasingly post-modern digital generation. MSNBC recently featured the advent of God Tube, which is similar to YouTube, but with more God-focused and kid friendly content. If you want to check out God Tube videos, the interviews featured a funny Mac Parody and mentioned this reading a Psalms 23 by a young girl, which has received over a million hits. I welcome God Tube to the full range of digital platforms for communication and ministry. I just hope they add more 2.0 features, such as a “related videos” sidebar, so that its easier to find and access videos. If you would like to see more Christian Mac parody videos, you can check them out here or here.

Funny Christian vs. Christ follower Mac Parody video on GodTube

Sooooo….in the interest of open communication….July 24th is my birthday. I feel like celebrating by doing the cabbage patch!!! (or perhaps some other funky dance) The family is getting together this evening and going out to Outback for some tasty grub. Have a great 24th!

So what dance should I do? The macarena? The electric slide?