The unspoken rule that inhibits authenticity

You know what sucks about the Link Economy? The unspoken rule that you never criticize anyone with more followers than you. In private, you may think someone is an incompetent fool but in public, you praise them for allowing you to kiss their butt – in hopes that they might sprinkle a little fairy dust on your digital presence.

This amounts to a big, giant authenticity remover.

I’m not just talking about mere mortals with followers in the tens or hundreds. I have personally observed this behavior among both high-level B-listers and lower-ranking A-listers alike. It seems no one is immune.

Few will admit it, but this behavior is rampant, and that's bad. It turns us into attention beggars. We’re afraid to speak our minds. It's not enlightened self-interest--it's enDARKened self-interest. It promotes conformity over originality. It robs us of the necessary ability to strongly critique an IDEA without being rude to its author. If person and idea are inseparable, then honesty, transparency and authenticity go out the window. After all, most people are taught to be polite and try to please others.

As a result people are encouraged to disingenuously praise the popular not because they agree with them, but because they're popular. They have valuable link love to share. Is the "popularity" of our big social stars sometimes a mirage built on false pretenses?

Instead of following the boss around, like in the '60s, and constantly muttering "yes, JB...brilliant, JB..." today's YES MEN AND WOMEN have it much easier (unless you're the famous social activists known as the "Yes Men" -- different deal).

It's just, "empty praise/name/link/post -- done!"

What could be easier?

Aren't "honesty, transparency and authenticity" supposed to be what social media is all about? If this trend continues, the inevitable result will be Web-enabled sycophancy. That would be a shame.

What do you think? Is "link love" genuine – or just an influence Ponzi scheme? Is it related to society's current inability to engage in spirited debate and public discourse in a civilized manner? Is this link-based pecking order doing more harm than good, by being a needless drag on authenticity?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. (No, I mean your real ones.)

Comments

[Billy Delaney]

I am new to blogging.
Seems like there is way too much awesome being spread around to make the bread taste any good.
I like this article.
billy delaney

[Mark W Schaefer]

Superb post Steven and absolutely true. I wrote about this "economy of favors" and the country club like tendencies of the A-Listers in 2009. You might enjoy this: http://bit.ly/7s550n

One of the things I am constantly reflecting on is, am I joining the club? I have worked very hard to encourage dissent -- real dissent on my blog community. I don't want to be surrounded by sycophants and it is an interesting challenge.

Thanks for the superb blog post!