There are over 1.4 million results for a Google search on “social media expert,” yet 43,000 for its antonym of “social media amateur” — and a mere 10 for “social media dumbass.”
How come few people confess to being amateurs and dumbasses?
Shel Israel theorizes:
I think this controversy has been accelerated because people have started making money teaching others about social media. And when they and their friends come up against competition they take a very old school approach. They badmouth people they do not know, and assume the right to point a derogatory finger simply because they were doing the stuff first.
Search through those Google results and you’ll stumble upon everyone’s thoughts on what defines an expert and how to evaluate experts. I like what David Risley opines:
Calling yourself a social media expert is like saying you’re an expert in talking. It is just human interaction like we’ve been doing since we rubbed two sticks together and made fire. I know “social media” is a buzzword these days, but let’s just be honest here, shall we?
Indeed. If you can’t talk, ‘fess up and call yourself a dumbass, or an amateur at least. It might cause someone to give you a second glance for being unique in a crowd of clones.
You are welcome to brand me a social media expert, but I’ll be the first to kindly thank you and shrug it off, preferring to be a social media dumbass instead.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
You are funny and clever. I am sure others have called you worse.
This reminds me of Micah Baldwin’s quest to be the #1 Douchebag on Twitter: http://learntoduck.com/douchebag/douche-bag
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Heh, hadn’t read that but just did and commented. Thanks.
I think the logic is because that people are interested on meeting experts over than a dumbass. If you were to choose which person to ask something and gain knowledge to would you go to an expert or a dumbass. Just like that.
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Ari, how did you ever think of looking this up in the first place?
Rather than it being like talking, I think the term social media expert/amateur, refers to the promotional aspect of social media. It’s like someone being an expert/amateur in sales (through talking). A social media dumbass is just someone who’s obnoxious on the Internet. Why would anyone admit to being one… for the same reason they’re dumbasses to begin with… attention!
Why would you rather be an expert than a dumbass? Do you go around and tell people things you’re proficient doing, such as [begin sarcasm], “Hi, I’m Stephen and I am an expert at tying shoe laces!” [end sarcasm]
Being a dumbass has its perks. If nothing else, there’s certainly less pressure in being a dumbass! LOL
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