The Cluetrain gains another passenger in Chris Selland. Selland writes:
“I’m changing my mission statement – and evolving the focus of this blog. Yes I’ll still write about the Siebels, Oracles and SAPs when and where it makes sense (and where either I have something important – or fun – to say (hopefully both)), but I’m turning my attention to what is – in my mind – much more important.
Ironically, this brings me back to the point of a book I truly hated – The Cluetrain Manifesto. As I was speaking with Paul, I realized that what I hated so much about the book wasn’t that it was wrong – what I really disliked was the arrogant, condescending, ‘all big companies are stupid’ attitude of the authors. (As an aside, if this bugged you as much as it bugged me, you’ll love the Gluetrain).
But the primary point of Cluetrain was that customers are increasingly less interested in being ‘managed’ by companies, and much more interested in speaking with each other. To this point, I must tip my hat to the Cluetrain authors (as much as it hurts to do so) – they had it right. The problem with the book (other than the attitude) was that they were at least 5 years early. In 2005, however, customers are supported by a technology and social infrastructure that isn’t just facilitating change – it’s hastening it.“ (emphasis added)
Excerpted from a much longer post that deserves a full read.