May 15, 2011
In praise of opinion (not information)
Just back from interviewing smart folk in NY for a film for A Big Event on the future of the global economy and government tax strategies.
Struck by a simple truth. People don’t go to events, summits, conferences (call them what you will) for information, but for opinion. In most industries the information is out there. In volume. Live. Online. Like thick alphabet soup.
What the live medium is about in our information-overloaded age is summary, insight and navigation. Or put another way: opinion. Great live business gatherings are about engaging with opinions that guide future actions.
Obvious enough. But how often have we all been to events where the guy at the front transmits a pile of information rather then opinion? Thoughts?
2 Comments
Yes whilst I agree with what you've said I think it depends on the "information". I'm going to the annual Endocrine Society conference in Boston in a few weeks time and it's always a forum for us not just to give and receive opinion but also definitely information. This is because science has become so specialised and niche orientated that it's impossible to get all the relevant information just from journals, online sources etc. It helps a great deal to have specialists in related areas all in one place at the same time disseminating their research.
Agree to an extent. It depends on the forum. In design/tech, usually you get a bunch of folk talking about projects and work. So to an extent their opinion has been served through their work.
In other forms opinions may be served by those with larger egos, not just information. So maybe its more than just an issue of fashion or trend but one of ego.
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Brand refreshment is probably overdue:
2 years ago
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