Super Villains Week: New Media Douchebag

Thanks to Matt Herzberger for pointing the way to this great video that is the basis for the finale for Super Villains Week. Drum roll please ... I give you the New Media Douchebag!




As the video suggests, the New Media Douchebag is the person in your office (or likely every speaker at those higher ed social media conferences) who basically feels the need to broadcast his/her thoughts and life on every conceivable medium.

Didn't catch the New Media Douchebag at the meeting this morning? That's OK, just check their blog, Facebook profile, Twitter feed, mySpace page, IM away message or contact them on their iPhone for any thoughts.

I also consider the New Media Douchebag to be the person who treats anyone who isn't aware of some Web 2.0 technology like an idiot. You know that uppity tone of voice: "You mean you haven't heard of Digg or Lifestream?"

Since probably most people reading this are closer to being New Media Douchebags than to dealing with them (be honest: less than 15 percent of the population, by some surveys, read blogs regularly), here's a guide how to not go over to the dark side and become this super villain:

• Know thyself — The first step to stop being a New Media Douchebag is to admit you are a New Media Douchebag. Take an honest look at yourself ... I'll wait a minute or two ... Now, say it with me, "My name is ______, and I'm a New Media Douchebag."
  
• Realize probably about 5 or fewer people will bother to read everything of yours on all your sites — Amazing that we're not that important as we think we are! Once you realize probably no one will expend the effort to read all your stuff, it's freeing. You can let go and no one will miss it or care!
  
• Take a serious look at the quality — Can you honestly give 100 percent to a blog, social network profiles, a microblog feed, and more all the time? While you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket, doing too much with limited resources isn't great either. Pick the things you're really passionate about and enjoy and stick to those. This will at least take your Douchebag-ery down a few notches.
• With great power comes great responsibility — Because we know so much about social media, it's hard not to be condescending some times. But seriously, we have this knowledge and power to do good in the world instead of making people feel bad. If someone doesn't know about a site, offer to help them set up a profile or find a blog they'd like, instead of just spurting knowledge to show off.

In the end, it's OK to be into social media, just not too, too into it. You can easily recover from New Media Douchebag-ery and stop being the super villain in your office.