Networking and Newscasters

I invented LinkedIn fame. So long ago no one remembers it. Predating video and new features that have fallen on the trash heap of social media, an article inspired someone to write their own article, tag me with a link and I met many exciting professionals.

This might have been my introduction to Sarah Elkins. Also to an uppity recruiter although he never commented again. Now that video does not work (everything goes blurry as I scroll over a video) I am relieved from watching self aggrandizing videos.

When video became the next big thing, when people who talked into their phones and hit Record started calling themselves "Content creators" as if they wrote and directed The Sixth Sense there was a cult of personality born on this site.

Suddenly people acted like the ones on video were more important than they were. They were so important that they stoped posting. With the obvious exception of Amy Blaschka whom I met before she made videos it was mostly a community of giggly guys who did not let me in on the joke.

Alright- I had a dream that I was talking to Eric Didier. Must have seen a video before bed. There is no hierarchy on this site. Meeting people who post should be like meeting newscasters.

Does it matter that I met "Melrose" Larry Green? He held signs on Melrose Avenue trying to get on the Howard Stern Show. I met him at a book signing of the selfsame radio host.

There might be an article about that book signing. It was pretty sedate although I had nice conversations. On the show at the time they talked about women who did outrageous things in line. Not at this book signing.

None of which has to with the perception of celebrity. People on LinkedIn are no more famous than local news anchors. I have met various news personalities. They are nice and part of the community.

We are all regular people. It's not like you are meeting them on the red carpet and asking "Who are you wearing?" That is strangely worded question as if you are giving Jean Paul Gaultier a piggyback ride. It is nice to bump into people you recognize.

it's not the be all and end all. You could probably have a nice conversation with Justin Welsh. I haven't, so far. He responds to comments which is good. I cannot say if meeting Elon Musk would be good or bad. Probably depends on his mood that day.

Just don't mention the propensity for rust on that strange Tesla truck. People are people. So where is that Depeche Mode article I have been talking about for nine years?

That idea has been in stasis since their concert tickets were marginally affordable. Stupid Ticketmaster. Anyway, no one is more important than you. Think of it like talk shows. Some of the biggest stars were not that interesting in interviews. Less known stars could be more interesting and did better in that element.

Don't envy anyone on this site. Maybe you wish you had the notoriety of Luke Matthews. He has had adversity and done it all by himself. If you are envious of me- why? Do you want to cut off the night early to wake up at an ungodly hour to be resented by supervisors?

Don't worry, they resent all of us. I work around them. There is a story to be written about the consistency of newscasters. Someone should make a movie about WRC 4's news team.

They were together well over twenty years. Strangely, Steve Doocy was on Channel 4 as a fun loving guy; not the angry host of Fox and Friends. None of my high school friends changed political affiliation and stopped taking a joke to this severity.

Add "Oral History of WRC 4" to the list. Many of the greats like Jim Vance and George Michael have passed away. It was hard losing Wendy Rieger last year. People on the nightly news are part of your life. Not unlike people who post on social media.

The End of Networking and Newscasters

Thomas Jackson Will Return in Be Approachable or Go Home