Armchair Sociology
17 Storytelling Moments That Defined 2017
From Donald Trump to The Last Jedi, here are 17 of the stories that defined us politically, culturally, scientifically, financially, and socially in 2017.
Armchair Sociology
Your Awkward Holiday Conversation Survival Guide
Here’s how to keep your next family gathering from turning into a minefield of awkward conversations.
Business Advice
The Secret That Gets People Talking About You and Your Business
I recently heard a PR vendor ask her client what their upcoming stories were. “Well, we have a new feature.” The client then explained what the feature is and what it does. “Okay,” said the PR pro. “But what’s the story?” “What do you mean?” “I mean what problem does Read more…
Armchair Sociology
The Other Guy Didn’t Win; You Just Failed to Convince People
In politics, business, love and war, we’re tempted to reduce all conflicts to a winner and a loser. By doing this, we imply that one side’s argument (or army) defeated the other soundly. In reality, this rarely happens. That’s because the margin between victory and defeat is often just a Read more…
Armchair Sociology
The Commencement Speech I Wish Someone Had Given at My Graduation
I don’t remember a word from my graduation. I don’t even remember who spoke at it, much less what they said. That’s partly because I was exhausted (our art school staged our portfolio review and our graduation on the same day), but also because people rarely say anything memorable during Read more…
Social Media
What I Learned by Reading Everything
Last week, Ian M. Rountree and I started Read It All Week, a challenge to read everything we were subscribed to — especially all the blogs we so easily subscribe to, but never actually absorb. We did this for two reasons: To reconsider why we subscribe to certain kinds of Read more…
Armchair Sociology
3 Myths About Social Media Debunked
On Sunday nights, Mack Collier runs a Twitter-based group chat called #blogchat, which I highly recommend to anyone who wants to learn more about blogging while hobnobbing with their peers. But, based on the defensive reaction to some of my comments from several of the #blogchat participants, I’ve realized that Read more…
Armchair Sociology
The Popularity Paradox: Why Do We Hate Pop Culture?
I don’t know anybody who loves pop radio. I know people who listen to it ironically, as though they’re not comfortable admitting they don’t entirely hate Lady Gaga. And I know people who admit to liking just Lady Gaga, or just Usher, but still insist they “hate the radio.” But Read more…