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Superiority Complex
It seems that the human instinct to proclaim "I'm better than you" strikes again.
Sure, it's a shame that the small community of typepad betabloggers will eventually disperse or diversify when the service goes properly live, but proclaiming oneself part of an "elite" group just seems to me to miss the point.
Community is an inclusive thing, not an exclusive thing - it's also, by it's very nature, designed to evolve and change, and it can only do that when it's fluid - some people leave, others arrive.
I think it's quite sad that people feel the need to proclaim their special-ness with a badge or a logo. I can't help feeling that just the fact that we're getting to test out typepad early should be enough - hell, it'll be pretty obvious when it goes live who has been a betablogger - the content alone will be much more than a new blog.
July 21, 2003 in Weblogs | Permalink
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Comments
Hi,
I can't help but feel that you miss my point.
This is my response on my blog to Men's concerns about the word Elite:
My feelings echo yours but about the word 'snob'. that's why I figured the word Elite was better placed.
In my mind being a Snob is far worse than being recognised as one of a select chosen few (not mater how random the process).
People seemed to embrace the TypePad snobbery and that bothered me greatly.
I'm not snobbish, I'm proud but not aloof or snooty.
I am one of the chosen, and for now that makes me one of the 'Elite' but not 'Elitish' in my nature. Elite in my book stood for privelage, nothing more.
It was not intended as a symbol of offense.
This was intended as a badge of pride, a badge of honour (for I feel that it is one to be a member of such a wonderfully diverse and proud set of people).
In response to your comment:
"but proclaiming oneself part of an "elite" group just seems to me to miss the point"
It really wasn't meant as an exclusive gesture, in fact quite the opposite. I'll admit I hadn't even considered the feelings of those users who will soon join us along this path. It was merely meant as a gesture of solidarity amongst those of us here now.
Like a tour t-shirt, or a group tattoo. Just something that made us all feel like 'we were there'.
I don't think it's exclusive, and it certainly isn't mean to mean "I am better than you'. Elite doesn't mean this at all. It just means special. And I feel honoured and special to be able to beat this remarkable piece of software.
My post wasn't meant to down-play or be negative towards anyone. It's a shame you missed my point. If anything i can't help but feel that it is your comment that feels the more 'superior'.
Can't we all just get along? ;-p
Posted by: Steve Hunt | Jul 21, 2003 11:42:54 PM
and it certainly isn't mean to mean
should read:
nd it certainly isn't meant to mean...
oops!
Posted by: Steve Hunt | Jul 21, 2003 11:43:46 PM
Your point is well taken.
I wanted to notify you of a change that better represents our feelings of community.
I've changed my icon here:
http://authgeek.typepad.com/authgeek/2003/07/revised.html
And I urge others to do so as well so we can still hold our 'family' ties while not making ourselves out to be vastly superior (which we're not).
It's foolish to become angry or assuming simply because of an icon.
If you wish, grab an icon and display your positivity about beta testing a great product for some great people.
-n
Posted by: authgeek | Jul 22, 2003 1:21:20 AM
On another COMPLETELY different topic, Morcheeba is absoluely wonderful. Sky Edwards has an AMAZING voice.
Posted by: authgeek | Jul 22, 2003 1:31:49 AM
Oh I'm not angry about it - not by a long chalk - I'm just a little disheartened by it.
Posted by: pix | Jul 22, 2003 8:08:26 AM
In the past, people used to get medals for great displays of bravery and courage at war. They used to win prizes for contributions to medicine that saved the lives of thousands.
Nowadays, people think they deserve an accolade for writing what they had for lunch.
Posted by: Pete | Jul 22, 2003 10:21:27 AM
Damn! All I blogged yesterday was what I had for lunch, and I didn't get medals. I just got wasps. Where am I going wrong?
Posted by: Karen | Jul 22, 2003 10:24:20 AM
I am pretty sure that Mena and Ben did not choose people they thought were über-bloggers, they picked a cross-section of people who would use it for a variety of purposes, which would fit into the purpose of beta testing a product.
You're not special because you were chosen, just lucky.
Posted by: D | Jul 22, 2003 10:58:58 AM
The fact that Pix *is* an überblogger is just coincidence...
Posted by: Karen | Jul 22, 2003 11:43:00 AM
überblogger my arse.
Posted by: pix | Jul 22, 2003 12:59:23 PM
No, your arse is an über-arse blocking out the sun...
Posted by: D | Jul 22, 2003 5:44:29 PM
über-arse eh?
You. Doghouse. Now.
Bad boyfriend. No biscuit.
Posted by: pix | Jul 22, 2003 7:26:29 PM
Sooooo... Yeah, I'm in agreement that the badges indicating one's blog ID or status as a beta tester are disappointing. It felt at first like there was a really good community vibe going around, but imho the "I've got a lower number" thing seems to work against that.
Posted by: Brian | Jul 23, 2003 3:55:39 AM
I'm sorry Pete, did you not read this:
"Elite in my book stood for privelage, nothing more.
It was not intended as a symbol of offense.
This was intended as a badge of pride, a badge of honour (for I feel that it is one to be a member of such a wonderfully diverse and proud set of people)."
NOT A MEDAL! - HELLO? Do you 'get-it!!?
Jeeze... I'm bored with this now. I'm going back to blogging about how shit the world is and how work sucks and how microsoft are bad and how dull my life is and how I never get an visitors etc etc etc ad nauseum...
Posted by: Steve | Jul 23, 2003 10:10:31 AM
Then quite frankly Steve you need to check a dictionary.
I like to imagine that "denied" means "maybe later" but I wouldn't argue with someone who wasn't aware of my private little set of vocabulary rules and skulk off in the huff about it.
Posted by: D | Jul 23, 2003 10:28:29 AM
I'm sorry, I'm still giggling at the pomposity of "I am one of the chosen."
Posted by: Karen | Jul 23, 2003 10:34:18 AM
Steve: What are you trying to tell me? That I can dodge bullets?
Morpheus: No, Steve. I'm trying to tell you that when you're ready,
you won't have to.
Posted by: Pete | Jul 23, 2003 11:05:43 AM
Reply for *Permalink (Re: Post of July 21, 2003:
Used as a noun, the term 'one of the elitishes' is a semantic replacement for 'one of the elite' -- it just sounds better to some folks. 'Elitish' can also be used as an adjective. Consider getting a new dictionary.
Posted by: blues | Jun 6, 2004 5:59:52 PM
