Squidlog.net

Squidoo etiquette is a hot topic these days, as AJ writes her series on this topic on Squidlog, the hottest Squidoo News Magazine on the Internet.

You might wonder why anyone needs to be reminded to be kind to their fellow lensmasters, or anyone else on the various social networking platforms.

Common courtesy may not always be followed and this could be due to a number of reasons.

First of all, people are in their own separate realities as they create blog posts or lenses, or respond to any number of people all over the world by means of the world wide web. People are sometimes oblivious to the fact that they are not really alone, at all.

Second of all, a certain percentage of people are drawn to the internet and Squidoo included, who have a range of disabilities that may include infirmary, depression, Asperger’s, or Autism, or perhaps a terminal illness, or any number of other diagnoses.

Granny Sage made a very wise observation: respond to people by what they are trying to say, not how they are saying it.

Another way to look at it: the first human response is almost always of the ego. Let that response go. Wait for your highest inner power to answer. If this does not arise, then do not comment at all.

The Squidoo Forum was used as an example throughout the show. People fail to read the rules and guidelines. They do not take the time to familiarize themselves with the Squid-Nots. They allow their Ego to dictate a knee jerk and often rude response.

If you are annoyed by the rudeness of another, use some self-discipline before shooting off a one line comment meant to cut down a person at the knees. Again, look at the heart of the message, not the tone. Or simply ignore it.

The discussion turned to Twitter. I personally think that Broadcast messages are very rude. Lately, I’ve been getting Twitter direct messages asking me to join a person’s Mafia Family.

How idiotic is that?

Aj’s rule of thumb is to never criticize in the comment section of a lens. Praise in public, constructively criticize by contacting the lensmaster privately. Don’t be like some of the Doctors I have seen who scream at nurses in front of patients. This rises forth within my psyche what we described as righteous indignation on the show.

Do not respond to people while in the throes of Righteous Indignation, although I would like the doctor I am thinking of to read this and think before he does his screaming again. But he wouldn’t think I was talking about him, the Perfect One!

AJ and Joan think it’s rude not to put a Bio-picture of yourself on your Squidoo Lensmaster page. When you fail  to do that, an orange squid defaults as your identity. I tend to think that if a person is not internet savvy at all, they just don’t know any better. Some lensmasters establish identities by using avatars to represent themselves. Stargazer, Ohme, Susan52 and even AJ have done this, and it works on Squidoo very well.

Charly Leetham responded in the chat room by saying that many marketers forget there is a real human being behind the purchaser. People forget that first and foremost, building relationships is the most important thing.

I asked AJ how she thinks others see her. AJ said that she feels people do not understand her sense of humor, which she is better able to express through her Squidlog articles. I thought it was hysterical when AJ called  someone who responded inappropriately on a lens of hers as a “toe-rag.” Her cheeky side, as she calls it, certainly came out in that remark!

Spamming is a problem almost anywhere you go on the internet, but especially on Squidoo. This is why the Angel Blessing (and appropriate Dinging) program was established on Squidoo. Angels oversee all lenses being published and can see where spamming arises, and nip those in the bud. They also can see great lenses and lensmasters in the making and encourage these by incurring a blessing. Even as we did the show, many were waiting to hear if they were accepted into the Angel Program–or not.

All in all, spamming is bad etiquette. I think it takes people some time to know exactly how to conduct themselves on Squidoo and everywhere else they go on the internet.

Once the learning curve is overcome, anything is possible!

Join us on Giant Squid Open Mike October 19th when our guest is Charly Leetham, discussing email marketing and building a list, and how this ties into Squidoo.

Join us on Moon, Moo & You: The Collective Wisdom, October 20. Guest to be announced!

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