sarahmerion.com - Latest Comments

Re: 8 Creative Ways To Learn A New Language

learning spanish language — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:50:51 -0000

Immersion is one of my favorite aspects of language learning. Watch movies, listen to music and radio, all in Spanish. I think it helps trigger my memory and keep my Spanish in front all the time.

Re: 8 Creative Ways To Learn A New Language

Japanese_Dude — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 09:03:50 -0000

I have a way that helps me. I started thing called "Japanese Monday" ( for the record, I am learning Japanese) and it is where every Monday, I am as Japanese as possible. I speak in it as much as I can. I probably eat Ramen. I associate with a Japanese person at school.....etc. etc. etc.

Re: How + Why Students Use Social Media

sarah merion — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:45:22 -0000

Thanks for your comments, Nate, as always.

Interesting idea regarding the parameters of technology. While I agree that people are inherently scared of what is new/different, at the same time, people are innately curious. New technologies, social networks, and ways to interact online are a dime a dozen. Perhaps the failure to adopt isn't due to being scared of what's new, but because people are unfazed by new technology.

I'm quite shocked to hear that students were scared of pedophiles and stalkers. 1) You were speaking with a college students that were scared of pedophiles...? What college? 2) STALKERS? My friends and I who use Facebook (for example) are the DEFINITION of stalkers. Ever heard of "Facebook stalking"? It's a completely normal and acceptable form of interaction. Granted, the difference is that we "stalk" our friends, enemies, ex-boyfriends. So in terms of "real strangers", yes, I can see your point.

Good stuff Nate! You always say things that get me think a little deeper. Thanks.

Re: How + Why Students Use Social Media

nateriggs — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:04:10 -0000

First, @Benno is being an ass.

This is actually a really interesting perspective, Sarah. I've talked at a few college classes and am always surprised to see the divide among college student users. Your "value" and "me" concepts are present in what I've seen.

Some additional ideas to consider:

- Parameters of the technology. Facebook & LinkedIn & MySpace are profile-centric tools. Most of the conversations and interactions happen on a users own profile or the profile of someone else. Twitter is much different. Most of the interactions happen in the cloud or from 3rd party applications. This could possibly impact student adoption rates from a frame of usability, i.e., we humans are sometimes scared of what is new or different to us.

- Fear of stalkers, pedophiles, and general creepy people. One of the classes I talked with was very opposed to blogging and even opening Facebook up to less immediate friends. When I asked why, multiple students sited the above reason. It seems that generation me has had those fears pounded into them by their parents. Long term, it's interesting to consider how indoctrinated fear might effect social media adoption and usage.

Keep this discussion going. I think you're onto something that's worth looking at under the microscope...

Re: This Is Digital Anthropology

gregallan — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:41:48 -0000

Too sodding true!

Re: How + Why Students Use Social Media

sarah merion — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:39:30 -0000

Sorry you feel that way. Care to elaborate?

Re: “Improvement” Doesn’t = Up

Nicolas Ward — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:24:58 -0000

In gradient descent search algorithms, it's often very important to have a way to perturb the current state out of a local maximum. If you define fitness (or improvement) only in terms of moving up, the computer will happily get stuck, king of its little hill, failing to notice the high value mountain just out of range.

It's important therefore to not only have a method for deciding when you need to back down to go even further up, but to have a method for visualizing the higher possibilities outside your immediate sphere.

(Yes, I will totally go computer science on this metaphor.)

Re: Tips For A Successful Internet Hiatus

CaseyJerk — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:33:27 -0000

Welcome back! I think its perfectly human to take a hiatus every now and then. :D

Re: 9 Initial Reactions about Buenos Aires

Wilson Usman — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:39:54 -0000

Hey Sarah great article. Sounds like you are having a blast. I just posted on my blog about how safe it's in Argentina. Can I link to this post I think they could use your honest reactions.

Re: Micro-Events En Route To Buenos Aires

Fabricio Vai — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:43:34 -0000

how did you end up in Arg?

Re: 5 Tips on Capturing a Gen Y Audience

Paul Orlando — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:49:56 -0000

Nice. But I think there's a difference between providing stimulation and adding value. Services that add value can demand more than a 3 second window to do so. I totally admire the simplicity of chatroulette, though not the actual usage.

Re: Quantum Physics & Marketing

JoselinMane — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:58:22 -0000

Sarah,

Great post because it attempts to use science and the natural world as a template to what humans ie brands should be doing.

One example I always use is with muscles. In order for a muscle to grow it must break and heal. This is similar to how marketers need to "break" their associations with certain traditional concepts and let their minds "heal" as they rethink their strategies in order from them to continue to grow.

Keep posting and love the new blog design!

Re: 9 Initial Reactions about Buenos Aires

Colin Wright — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:43:25 -0000

Ah, I miss Buenos Aires. I lived there for 4 months and just got back to the States recently, and I definitely fell in love with many aspects of BA.

Other things about the city:

-Subtle plastic surgery is super-prevalent...they don't wear much makeup, but many of the women have had small adjustments made

-The stray dog problem is (believe it or not) an even bigger issue in other parts of the country. Go to Ushuaia and there are more dogs than people!

-God, do I miss Argentina-style alfajores

-And cheap Malbec

-Parties last forever, but people don't drink to 'get trashed' like they do in the States...they drink, but only a few, not a dozen drinks

-There are maybe a few square feet of non-destroyed sidewalk in the entire city

I'll leave it to you to discover the rest! Enjoy your time there and eat an empanada for me!

Re: 7 Deadly Signs Your Social Network Is Fat

@sarahmerion — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:10:16 -0000

I feel you, Nate. It is all about how you use them. Because they're so global now, I need to re-evaluate how I use each network.

Re: 7 Deadly Signs Your Social Network Is Fat

nateriggs — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:34:53 -0000

I like this post Sarah - I don't necessarily agree with all of it, but it's a great perspective none the less. For me, it comes down to your objective. If your use of social networks is simply to keep tabs on personal relationships, then you are spot on.

If you use centers around growing a business, then the game changes a bit. Social networking becomes much more about Brogan's idea of "I see you" rather than "we're friends".

In business, things like twitter become a numbers game. You will always have your core 150, but in the end, if you are trying to spread content (and you understand that .001 percent of your network will actually convert on your content and be interested in a relationship) than your use of the tool changes.

At any rate, it comes down to your objectives and the choices you make on how you use the tools... Just my $.02

Re: Welcome to Puma Ocean Racing

Louis Vuitton sale — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:11:52 -0000

Thanks for posting this. Very nice recap of some of the key points in my talk. I hope you and your readers find it useful! Thanks again

Re: Ding Dong the Old PR Pitch is Dead

Joe Salome — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:43:55 -0000

People become complacent....lazy and end up settling for less. You have to have want, drive, desire to make it happen and not fall into the lull. Always be reaching for more, the unknown, or untouched. Like the old saying goes...when your slacking, someone else is working harder to take over your spot.

I think in PR if your story is juicy enough or if you THINK your story is juicy enough then you feel like you dont have to put as much effort into getting outlets to pick it up.

Re: Ding Dong the Old PR Pitch is Dead

Matt Cheuvront — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:14:19 -0000

I agree with both of you. I'm young so maybe I cant speak to this - but where did the "blanket approach" ever come from? Joe, as you said, generic never worked, and doesn't today - so why are so many companies lazy in their approach? Are there just that many people and businesses who STILL fall for the act?

Curious what you guys think about WHY so many PR firms and companies aren't changing their tune or approach.

Re: Ding Dong the Old PR Pitch is Dead

@sarahmerion — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:07:54 -0000

Exactly Joe. Truthfully, it all comes down to how you make people feel. Blanket emails make people feel invisible. Personalized messages go a little further to show that the person took some time and interest in you. This is so important on getting your pitch noticed.

Re: Ding Dong the Old PR Pitch is Dead

Joe Salome — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:46:50 -0000

Generic never worked and will not in the future. What is comes down to is a "Valid Business Reason" -Why should we do business together. If you are not educated on my product, service or website then why do I want to give you my time. If your sending me a blanket email or message then you must not be taking what you do seriously. You have to put in work to get results...even when prospecting for new partners.

Re: The Age of Digital Mortar

Nicolas Ward — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:11:52 -0000

Not sure what it says about me, but when I first saw the headline, I thought mortar as in mortar shells (or, more technically, indirect-fire weapons)... that you'd be lobbing mortars over a wall, hitting a target even though you couldn't see it. Obviously a very different metaphor than what you're talking about, but in some ways I think the violent description might be more apt for some attempts to mix brick and click services.

I noticed a sports card/collectibles shop on Concord Ave, while riding the 78 bus this morning, that had a huge eBay sign... reflecting that their brick location was functioning as little more than a warehouse for their click operation. It gives them a stable platform from which to fire into the digital world.

Re: Innovation Shminnovation

Punit — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:47:22 -0000

Its time NU shows this town what its got!

Re: Innovation Shminnovation

KylePs80 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:29:30 -0000

Well said, Sarah. We gotta get all these people working together as much as possible to effect the kind of change that will benefit all of us. Mad love for Dart and HIC and IDEA. Bringing people together just means more momentum to help the young talent bust through ceilings.

Re: Innovation Shminnovation

@sarahmerion — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:46:24 -0000

I don't think Dart is "merely a platform". This platform is incredibly valuable and provides a bridge that was otherwise non-existent before Dart. My accolades may be accolades may be dramatic but they are still very much warranted.

And, go Huskies!!

Re: Innovation Shminnovation

@sarahmerion — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:43:25 -0000

I'm glad to support Dart :-)