I like Chris, and appreciate his philosophy. But most of us are still figuring out just how deep and dark this economic crisis is. If new media is to keep its credibility moving forward it can't be used to blow smoke at people trying to make them feel better. That said, it's time to start thinking about how to help each other out long term. There are going to be a lot of unemployed and people hurt by this economic downturn. That requires a ton of innovative thinking too. - Robert Scoble

with all due respect Chris, it's about reality - not how any media (new or old) tries to spin it. - Chuck Boyce via twhirl

+1 Robert, +1001 - Kirill Bolgarov

Am I reading the same link that you guys are? What I read wasn't about spin or blowing smoke. What I read was a call to take responsibility as leaders - to get people to quit looking at the problem and start looking for a solution. That doesn't deny in any way deny that there is a real problem, it merely focuses the energy on efforts that will move us through this next phase of pain faster. Of course it's 1:20 AM and I've had 3 beers after a 14 hour workday, so I reserve the right to be wrong. - Bill Sanders

Bill: the point that I was trying to make is that we're still calling in fire alarms and aren't yet able to call for much deeper help. - Robert Scoble

And a lot of the media and portions of the business sector seem content to jam the 911 lines with false alarms, to extend the metaphor, Robert. It's up to us in the New Media to be realistic, not morbidly sensational or absurdly optimistic. - Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins

I agree with Bill (and Christopher Penn). Robert's right: there are still fire alarms yet to go off. But I can already read that on the home page of CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Google News, and a thousand other web sites. OTOH, there are a few that truly add insight, perspective and/or depth to the headlines. I think it does more good to "lead the way" than just parrot headlines. If I'm out of work, I'd rather learn how to improve my resume than hear about how many people are out of work. - Will King

I read the same thing as Bill and appreciate Chris's point: "Despair dies in the face of confident leadership" that's exactly what's missing in the White and Congress right now - they seem to be inspiring more despair rather than stepping up to the plate and leading coherently from the front. - Sally Church

Robert: Thanks for clarifying. I read it as a call to personal responsibility. I agree that the deeper help and rebuilding will come after the clean up. However long that takes. - Bill Sanders

The problem with all media right now is that reporters aren't experienced enough to be talking about what's going on. 100% of those on TV are hired by their looks/performance and not necessarily by their knowledge and experience in a certain area. That we have nearly no one that can logically explain what is going should say it all. If you can't talk about what it truly means to the bottom line in our world, you shouldn't be talking about it. I agree it's time for everybody to wake up, whatever else it takes. We got ourselves into this. If we do the right things we can get out. And in the future, we need to hold everybody - including ourselves - at a higher standard. - Patricia

Know one way not to despair? I didn't have a dime in the stock market. Too poor. Someone joked the other day, "I invest heavily in commodities, like food, and gas." But what I'm doing, and how I'm going to approach this is I'm going to find ways to equip people. I'm going to push even deeper into educating on the business applications of the tools, including when people's jobs go belly up. - Chris Brogan

I'm not one that gets taken in by false prophets or sensationalistic journalism. Yes, this crisis is bad and there will be "casualties" - but crying about it isn't going to help the situation. The politicians are doing enough of this for us all. What I saw from Chris's post was exactly what we should always be doing - believing in ourselves and helping others where we can. I fail to see how that was "blowing smoke". - Danny Brown

I don't think what Chris is saying is all that complicated: he's just trying to get people to realize that despair is a choice, not a fate. Regardless of how dark things get socioeconomically in the coming months/years, we're all going to have to choose our perspective. How you see things precedes how you do them. People with desperate eyes do desperate things. - phil baumann

Chris: you'll find me doing the same as you. Helping people rebuild after a storm comes through is definitely a good role for all of us. But the storm still hasn't hit Silicon Valley yet with its full strength. That will come over the next two quarters. For me my role is to tell you how bad I see the storm being. It's not to pull back from the truth. And that's not "crying." Any more than a weatherman telling you to freaking get out of town before a storm moves in is "crying." - Robert Scoble

It is damn hard to lead when you haven't been realistic about where the heck you are to begin with. The idea that social media can "lead" the way out of re-set of the entire financial system is laughable. This should change some of the fundamentals of how our economy works - i.e., savings rate, regulation, sound long term priorities (not making the number quarter over quarter). It isn't doom and gloom to critically assess where we are, what is coming. Leadership is what we do once we've done that. - Brian Roy

Robert- oh I know. You're definitely on the optimistic (yet reasonably realistic) side. I mean, you've got other genetics mixed in there with that Valley living. Your post where you mentioned your brother's bar actually caught my eye. Finding those indicators like that and thinking about the downstreams of all this might be where others find an opportunity. Damn, it's a blog post I didn't want to write yet. Well, guess I have Monday ready. : ) - Chris Brogan

Brian: I don't see "social media" leading us out of anything, so there we agree. But I do hear the call to leverage all our channels of influence (including our social media tools) to help lead our way out of this mess. Obviously there will be differences in opinion on what to do and how to do it. And its a fine line to walk. Witness Robert calling it like he sees it and the angst it seems to have caused... - Bill Sanders

I think the most important thing here is to engage in this discussion with the assumption of goodwill and do our best to understand the other person's POV. Afterall, we are (mostly) after the same things. - Bill Sanders

I'm starting a new weekday radio show about HOPE on blogtalkradio. Starting Monday, October 13th at 3:00 PM EST. All the details are over here: http://offonatangent.blogspot.com/2008...... I'm tired of hearing all the negative talk. Join in. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stevega... Guest call-in number: (347) 215-8647 This show will broadcast daily at 3:00, starting Monday October 13th and end on Monday November 3rd. Thanks, --Steve - Steve Garfield

Bill: amen! - Robert Scoble

At the risk of sounding pedantic, the fundamental difference between social media and mainstream media is that (wait for it)... it's social. If all we do with that gift is repost mainstream media reports about how bad it is, shame on us. If we can find a way to translate the social piece into action, that could help in practical ways. Here's one idea I have, which I acknowledge is vague in its current state. Maybe you can build on it. Here's the idea: how can social media connect out-of-work people with complimentary skills? Can we enable a useful bartering economy? (e.g. I'll fix your PC if you fix my truck?) - Tom Cunniff

+1 Tom - I'll give it some thought. - Bill Sanders

Tom: I'm holding a Twitter and FriendFeed meeting at the Half Moon Bay Ritz on Tuesday evening to do just that. Network to see where jobs are, how we can help each other as we go through this storm, etc. - Robert Scoble

Do NOT let this economic downturn get to you. Exercise regularly, wach what you eat, and look for ways to help others. Get personally involved in outreaches to those less fortunate than you, such as the homeless. If this downturn evolves into a full blown Depression, there will be massive soup lines. Get involved in food distribution. AngelFood Ministries offers food at a significant discount, for example. Help others out, it's rewarding and the life you save may well be your own. http://www.angelfoodministries.com/ - J. D. Ebberly

In times like this. Truth is the only way we can fix things and move forward. Honest discussions are what we need from our leadership with responsible tasks that the average citizen needs to do. Need simplistic steps that we can all follow. - CW™

@Robert, Credibility only comes from spreading doom and gloom? I don't think so. Either you're simply reporting facts or you are editorializing. If the latter, I'd prefer someone not simply ringing fire alarms. - Howard Keziah

Hi-- I took some weekend interest in this discussion and many of your comments. First. I think the spirit of your discussion is right on, I just feel the social media movement hasn't quite figured out how to build the bridge to the next era that transcends the education factor and mass utilization barrier. It's the literate elite who really get social media and utlize. Whether the U.S. economy really tanks, or not is yet to be seen, but social media is here, the time is now, and the medium is a powerful tool to connect the world, businesses, ideas, etc. Right now, social media is operating on lot of hype, word of mouth and mass experimentation. Some or more of you are the social media elders (pioneers) and Twitter and blogging rock stars. This movement is your baby, and your vision has blossomed into an exciting New Media movement (as Mr. Scoble calls it, and I like that term) where it is now in position to create it's own destiny. While you built it (and thank you for an amazing contribution and all the hea - Scott M Iseman

I posted the full text of this comment at http://www.acemarketingagency.com/in-the-... - Scott M Iseman

The only thing we have to fear is ... Carrottop! - Ernie Oporto