Emma Brooks | Digital Media Enthusiast

If you’re behind the game, here’s a link explaining The Great Write Off of 2009. You can find links and discussion to all posts by checking out the Twitter trending topic, #WriteOff09.

For Day 12, Dan wrote about his experiences with CityChase, an Amazing Race-type of event with various challenges around the city of Toronto. Contestants are allowed to run, walk, or take public transit, but no wheels or private transit are allowed.

Dan writes about his experiences:

It strongly exceeded anything I had ever thought of the event, and we bettered what our personal goal was, it being our first CityChase and all. I think it also helped us bond a little more; perhaps for better or worse. Figured I’d share what our personal experience was and how the day unfolded.

It sounds like a really great event to take part in. Dan goes on to expalin the ten challenges he had to participate with his teammate Jason. Thanks for explaining what you had to do – not sure I’d really chug a glass of water with 4 crickets in it but then again, my sense of competition is pretty strong so who knows. Maybe I’ll sign up for the next event – I’d definitely be up for the challenge just to see how I do.

Great way to spend a Saturday! Thanks for sharing, Dan.

If you’re behind the game, here’s a link explaining The Great Write Off of 2009. You can find links and discussion to all posts by checking out the Twitter trending topic, #WriteOff09.

Heck yes, cheap video cop-out!

That’s right, I did a Friday Five type of video where I tell you 5 things you may or may not know about me. Seriously, at any point you just want to go ahead and contact me to tell me just how stunningly original and brilliant I am, I am sitting here and waiting to hear from you!

This weekend I’ll be in Montreal visiting a good friend, oui oui oui! I may be posting from there on Sunday. Have a great weekend everyone and stay “cool and hip” like “The Hut”.

If you’re behind the game, here’s a link explaining The Great Write Off of 2009. You can find links and discussion to all posts by checking out the Twitter trending topic, #WriteOff09.

For Day 10 of the Great Write Off of 2009, Dan of DanHocking.com writes about how social media aggregated uninformed opinions really well. He says:

Creating this strong movement of uninformed opinions and groupthink really leads to some interesting interactions. It also acts to turn me off of social media. I’m not really interested to listen to the same message over and over again; let alone the same incorrect message.

OK. Sure, I suppose that social media does push these kinds of uninformed opinions on you, whether you want it or not thanks to Twitter or your Facebook news feed. Before the push of social media to you, one could avoid this kind of ignorance by simply avoiding certain spaces online. However, I wouldn’t say that social media is really to blame for pushing this in your face. Wander down to the nearest watering hole, and if you get enough (sorry, stereotyping) guys, in their 20s or 30s, who have been drinking for a while, soon enough you can find the exact same thing being yelled at the top of these guy’s lungs. Stupidity and a feeling of having a right to any opinion – right or wrong – is hard to avoid, sadly.

However, I like the points brought up by Dan and think that it is true – social media has this really great (and awful) way of repeating incorrect information at lightning speed. Think of all the rumours that fly around when any kind of accident or tragedy occurs. The social media-sphere is more concerned with getting the information right now but not the right information now.

I remember a case study on the Toronto Propane Explosion that happened last year. It concluded that while Twitter, Facebook and blogs had information on the incident over two hours before any reliable news site had a mention of it, at the end of the day, the news sites were by far more accurate in the information they reported. This is one of social media’s great failings.

Great blog post, Dan and some great discussion happening in the comments! Everyone should head on over and check it out.

For his first post for the The Great Write-Off of 2009 (more information can be found here), my friend Dan has written about ways to give back to our community:

As my generation moves from schooling to starting out careers, it’s important to remember to still take time to give back in whatever ways your skill-sets enable you to. Yes, we have the highest personal debt load of any demographic, and it’s important to work to pay that off as quickly as possible, but many of us have been able to build our successes based off of our involvement outside of the classroom

I’ve actually been thinking a lot about this lately.  During high school and university, I was very much involved with volunteering and lately I’ve been painfully aware how long it’s been since I’ve done something to give back.

At the end of his post, Dan asks us what are we doing outside of our work and donations and whether or not we are satisfied with our level of involvement.

I’ll be answering these questions in a blog post in the near future, as I been mentally writing the post in my head for some time. There may be an announcement of some kind. Just sayin’.

Thanks Dan, for being our social concience and nudging us in the right direction. Great post!