Thank god it is Saturday, the sun is shining in a windy winter lunch time! I have some much desired breathing space in this mission [im]possible phase of my life to take things off my chest in writing from yesterday's lunch with Helen and et al.
If there is one thing in my life that I'd like to keep despite any challenges at any levels, it would be serendipity itself. Based on this strong feeling of serendipity concept and its mechanism reflected in my day to day thoughts and activities, I conducted a study on technical aspect of UGC (User Generated Content) in my field with the assistance of Associate Professor Tuncay Ercan, which was published last week in the The International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society, Volume 6, Issue 4, pp.179-188 titled "Issues in User Generated Content Process and a Proposed Model to Solve them"
Yesterday on our traditional Friday lunch (with Helen, her dad Bruce, her research mate Despina and a few members from Helen's show crew), we discussed UGC from various angles. It was interesting to see Helen being totally disagree on my views related to UGC. She said "anyone can say anything even with no context which could be so harmful at times and consequences may be very heavy and unbearable". Well, I said to Helen it could be true but anything sometimes could create something. Saying things could be better than leaving them unsaid which could have tremendous impact on our lives. My points appear to be supported by Professor David Green of Monash whom I have high respect and admiration in his studies on serendipity published in 2004 which has been a true inspiration to me since then.
Despina believed that my technical focus and my co-author Tuncay's literature search on the topic is timely and well balanced to complete the picture in a sense whilst Bruce was raising one of his eye brows with lack of the emphasis from anthropological aspect which I purposefully had hidden in the methodology section itself. However the most interesting review comment came from a CoP (Community of Practice) participant of the study who said that until we conducted this study, he even was not aware that he has been producing content which empowered his communication and maintained his connectedness in his field. For him the importance of the study was the study itself and shedding lights on this controversial and exponentially growing topic from at least one angle creating a kind of awareness. All feedback pros or cons of this study was well received by myself as they all add value for the post follow up phase of my studies.
I'd like to extend my follow up to a wider audience hence have one simple question here that may shed some lights on what UGC is or is not. My question to you is "What is the importance of UGC in your personal and professional life?" By this question, I'd like to understand how important UGC is for you, how it has been affecting your life, your profession, career and more from your own experience.... Do you believe (as Helen alluded) UGC is mainly rubbish and could be toxic for overall life?
Regards,
Mehmet Yildiz
I share Helen's allusion for the following reasons: 1st: It is superficial ('could') and applies to all and nothing. 2nd: UGC by definition (Wikipedia) is content produced outside a professional routine - in other words: amateurish. And this reminds me of serial shots taken by my Leica camera where I have 90% rubbish just to produce maybe one excellent shot. To delete the 90% rubbish takes additional time and requires the attitude to . . . let go. Many people do not let go what they have acquired. So finally they have loads of stuff produced to carry on. Over the time it may become too much and . . . damage your health.
ReplyDeleteBUT . . . through evolution mankind figured out the 10% healthy stuff on earth which is easy to digest and keeps you alive. Same applies - in my book - to UGC.
The importance of UGC in my personal and professional life ? It helped me to develop more strength and kinda routine on my way to become a perfect professional amateur.
Unintentionality is keyword.
Cheers.
Hello Mehmet, UGC to me is like the life blood of the web, to restrict it's flow, in most cases (not all)isn't going to do the system any good, like chopping off a limb because it doesn't look like the standard limb in the text book.
ReplyDeleteFlow of people (that come with user generated content that's not to universal tastes or standards)is different from selling a premium service, it's a different process, intertwined but different - even youtube could open a premium service if they put their minds to it, it's about perception of status/value/need/want.
People come with emotions, they share those emotions, example: free youtube content people sharing of emotions, each person FEELS like a star/movie director and may even claim to be one, but in reality they know that a person that trained for years on a subject is going to have the 'real' edge/talent/skills that's worth paying for.
Professionals that feel threatened by the people expressing themselves, are essentially beating themselves up, when they should be focusing on showcasing their talents to the masses, and sharing their "secrets of success" without fear because eventually people realize that some people are better at some things than others, and you can't know everything about everything in one lifetime!