On Christmas Day in 1990, British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee sent a communication between an HTTP client and receiving server. The result? The Internet as we know it (the world wide web) was born.
Cue almost 30 years of innovation in the way we communicate and do business.
Yet this isn’t the full story.
Two years earlier, in the small Russian town of Kondopaga, Vladimir Hrostov completed a successful test of the same technology that Berners-Lee used that lauded the introduction of today’s web. The tools were a little more basic and the result was that the message took longer – but it was successful.
Hrostov took his findings to the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, excited with the potential it had for communication. Unfortunately for Hrostov, this was at a time when the Cold War between the US and Russia was still very much prevalent. Although relations were thawing, there was still a lot of mistrust between the East and West.
Accusations of spying were rife. The ruling Politburo of the old Russia didn’t want to run the risk of this type of communication being picked up by the Americans, and promptly threw Hrostov in jail to keep him quiet. He remained there for 17 years.
Jump forward two years and the point where Berners-Lee steps in. Credit for the breakthrough goes to the United Kingdom so neither Russia nor the US benefit. Ironic, no?
It would be – were it true. But it’s not – it’s simply a tale I’ve made up to make a point.
While you were reading this tale, you may have started checking Google for names and places. Some you’d find, others not. If you didn’t check Google and have read to this point, now you know you don’t need to check any facts.
So why the fictional tale of Vladimir Hrostov and his (non-existent) part in the birth of the Internet?
People can tell you anything. If they’ve built a level of trust with you and haven’t broken that trust, you’ll be more inclined to believe what they say. Yet never take it as gospel.
- If you’re a business and a consultant tells you they can do X or Y for your company, do a little background checking on their claims. Speak to past clients for satisfaction levels (the consultant did give you a past client list, right?).
- If you’re an individual, remember there’s no such thing as an anonymous Internet presence. Unless you’d happily say everything and anything you say online offline as well, rein it back in.
- If you’re a marketing or PR company looking to run a campaign, stick to the facts. You may get some early sales, but will they be worth the stickiness factor that could be attached to your name afterward when you’re called out on false facts?
The point is, up until I “confessed” about Hrostov, you may have believed what you were reading was true because over time I’ve (hopefully) built up your trust in me. If that’s the case, I’m grateful that you feel I’m transparent enough to trust.
But trust only goes so far. Your name, your reputation, your presence is all you have to separate you from everyone else. Truth is everything. Truth succeeds where the falsehood of fake sales fail.
Are you always being truthful to yourself?
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Twitter: frankreed
Spot on Danny. I am trying to actually teach my kids about online discernment. Since we are now in an environment where literally everyone can have a voice / forum or whatever does that mean that people will stop lying about stuff? Not likely. Good chance it will increase.
Dark view of humanity? Nope, not at all. Just realistic. There has never been a more critical time in history for caveat emptor. It is on US to see if what we buy is what we claim it is or what we need it to be, not just what the salesperson claims.
Agreed, Frank – while social media and all the claims of transparency are a great lead-off point, we still need to take responsibility for confirming what we’re told.
VERY creative Danny! I got a kick out of how you drew us in to make some very valid points. I think it also points out how historically we’ve done business and how that’s changed. Bravo!
I agree with Frank, caveat emptor will be a huge part of business (more than ever before). That’s why authenticity, trust and relationships are important more now than ever. And those relationships can’t just be online…the combination of online & offline will make for the strongest of relationships.
Thanks Beth – always wanted to be a storyteller
I think this is where the offline connections will prove to be an even bigger draw than the online ones. It’s pretty hard to disguise lies when you’re eye-to-eye with someone – not so difficult when it’s just an avatar.
One slip up, and years of earning trust can be lost or at least set back. The goal is to strive for consistent efforts that build and maintain trust over time. We also need to remember that Google remembers everything and social media has changed the way/speed at which we communicate. So thinking before acting is ever more important.
Good point, LJ – while you may feel you’ve deleted an error, someone somewhere still has it. And they might not always have your best interests at heart.
Danny Brown highlights the ease with which fictional content can be passed off as genuine through the Internet. As organisations make increasingly grandious claims, the importance of fact checking becomes obvious. Take care when selecting partner organisations, and make sure that you are able to verify any claims which the happen to make.
via uberVU
i’m an individual… should i rein it back?
pffft – i like being off the wall… and i’ve been called on it too
as an individual people need to know what they are getting into and not take everything so personally, no?
There’s definitely the need to remain individual. But how far do you take this individualism?
Do you think, “Psht, I’ll say what I want and damn the rest”, even if it’s hurtful and degrading to another party?
Or do you think, “Okay, I can still have my voice but am I really comfortable with what I’m about to say”?
I think there’s a line, and although it may be fine, it’s one worth considering before opening up to the world.
well it brings it back to your other point – if i wouldn’t say it offline, i wouldn’t type it online either
i know my line, i just think it might be further than the standard lol
I’d happily say everything and anything I say online offline as well. Makes life easier if I stay consistent across the board. I’m not markably different online than off, at church than at work, at home than at the grocery store.
Doesn’t mean I don’t say really boneheaded things once in awhile; just means I don’t have to worry about someone “finding me out.” There’s nothing I say online that I wouldn’t want a potential employer, a friend, my wife or my pastor to see.
You totally had me there with the Russian tangent.
If you asked many PR / social media people to show you their front page coverage – many would come up dry.
Some don’t have much to show, but even the very best consultants run into the problem where the “big” client won’t implement what their advice and it doesn’t work out right – and they can’t turn it into a perfect case study. This happens very frequently.
But people with real experience will be able to show you proof (or at least lots of convincing evidence).
Danny
Have you read Cryptonomican? I thought you may have lifted a chapter out of that novel or another cyber punk tome. Brilliant.
I concur with Jac Star. If I wouldn’t say it offline, I won’t say it online. I am less inclined to believe that people truly discern a quantative differnence in their offline and online behaviors.
Then again, I am also a fan of Tony Soprano.
Twitter: timjahn
This is such a relevant topic these days, in journalism, education, and just every day life. Can you use Wikipedia as a source in a research paper? Do people trust the Chicago Tribune more than someone tweeting about something happening on Michigan Ave.? Who does the average Joe believe more, the 6 oclock news or all of the above?
As usual, you got me thinkin’ Danny.