I am hitting the road later today traveling to Toronto for RecruitFest, meeting with the great folks at Rypple, then on to Ottawa to visit my friends at Halogen Software (and do a live HR Happy Hour show).
I am driving so there will be lots of time in the car, and that pretty much means lots of time 'off the grid' and disconnected from social media and networks.
Too bad I don't have my old CB Radio.I could do some 'old-school' social networking in the car.
For those who don't remember CB's check out the lengthy article on Wiikipedia.
CB Radio culture was celebrated in movies, television, and music.;)
In many ways the CB Radio was the early form of technology-enabled social networking. The band served many of the same purposes that social networks like Twitter do today, news, ('the bridge is out on I-77'), inside information, ('Kojak with a Kodak on US46'), and pure socializing, ('Breaker one-two, this is Greasemonkey, anyone have their ears on, come back?').
But are today's social networks, like Facebook and Twitter superior to the classic CB Radio?
The Tale of the Tape:
| Feature |
Social Networks |
CB Radio |
Advantage |
| Primary users | Pretty much everyone |
Long haul truckers |
CB Radio |
| Iconic figures |
Robert Scoble, Ev, Jack |
Betty Ford, Jackie Gleason |
CB Radio |
| Star power |
Hammer, Ashton Kutcher |
Burt Reynolds |
Push |
| Theme song |
'United Breaks Guitars' |
'Convoy' |
Social Networks |
| Business Benefits |
Connect with customers, prospects, candidates |
Find cheap gas |
Social Networks |
| Signature vehicles |
Mini Cooper, Smart Car |
Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am, Kenworth 18 Wheeler |
CB Radio |
| 'Anti-social' features |
Multi-level-marketing |
Disregard for traffic regulations |
CB Radio |
| Networks fostered by |
Friending, The 'ReTweet', 'Follow Friday' |
Keeping each other out of jail, Truck Stop parties |
CB Radio |
| Signal the end was near |
Grandma is on Facebook |
Cell phone technology |
Social Networks |
Well, it is clear- CB Radio tops Social Networks!
Time to figure out a new handle, I hope it doesn't wreck my personal brand.
Thanks to Jerry Albright for the original idea to write this post.