Leon Atkinson

I just commented on Jeff Barr’s blog about how Google has clueless recruiters.

If you don’t pay attention to my other blog, Clear Night Sky, then you missed that the volume of posts has gone way up.  Many more Clear Ink people are posting really interesting content now, so check it out.

Jason Calacanis is known for many things, but I tend to associate him most with the 9th inning of the Gillmor Gang. It was just like when a baseball team is clearly out of the race and they start bringing in rookies to try out for next year. Sure, this guy might hit a few batters, but he also racks up a bunch of strike outs. And it’s fun to watch.

Earlier today, Jason outlined a technique for getting his attention by posting to a blog, “New Calacanis link-bating rules”. I’m sure it’s occurred to him that this technique works fairly well for any clueful citizen of the 21st century blogtropolis. That was part of my point when I wrote “The Unlinked Link”. Here’s a more succinct theory: you can say something nice and interesting (in that order), and the right people tend to hear you, tend to pay attention.

I’ve always felt that being nice matters. If someone complements me, I’m more apt to focus on what they are saying. If someone starts a conversation with something negative, I’ll spend some energy on presenting my side of the argument, which leaves less attention to be aimed at what they are trying to communicate.

You must follow up your polite attitude with something interesting. Just kissing butt won’t cut it. If someone goes on and on complementing me (stop laughing–it happens!), I will find it hard to pay full attention if there isn’t some interesting content mixed in.

I wonder if Jason might appreciate my being “elitist” and “selfish” by referring to people as clueful and by not using anchor tags. I’m not giving link love, but I am giving real love, Google unlinked love.

The reason being nice matters is that it’s a benevolent universe. And lest anyone doubt that I’m nice, please refer to the self-deprecating humor two paragraphs ago. Dave Winer recommended this style of humor recently. But before I start a full-on Douglas Hofstadter impersonation, I will halt this post before it become too self-referential. This is the last sentence in this post.

I love Jim Turner’s recent post about how saying “just google my name” is becoming a substitute for handing out business cards among the tech elite.  (Yes, if you google “just google my name”, you’ll find his post.)  This is another expression of how linking is not necessary any more.

When I read this, it made me google myself.  Of course, you won’t find me if you google “Leon”.  You’ll end up in Spain.  But if you google “Leon Atkinson”, you will find me.  In fact, I now fill up the first page.  That surprised me.  For the longest time I was number one, but the jazz guitarist named Leon Atkinson was number two.  It looks like his site went away, and now I can hardly find anything about him.

It makes me want to print up a bunch of moo.com cards that just have my picture on one side and my name on the other.

What’s Bad? Telling people they are less worthy of living than a fish.

What’s Worse? Telling people they are less worthy of living than a potential person.

What’s Worst? Fully accepting the implications can drive you insane, after which you might do anything, including shoot a bunch of innocent students.