So my presentation on Community Management as a Core Competency of Open Source recently passed the 7000 views mark. I admit that I find it somewhat incredible that one can create a lecture that gets viewed this many times. But still more interesting is seeing how the content and community around Slidecast has evolved.
Presently my presentation is the 74th most viewed slidecast on Slideshare – it just got run over by “What Teachers Make” which blew by it on its way up the charts (and rightly so, it really is quite good even if it doesn’t have sound). I am also pleased to note thought that my bit recently passed “Paris Hilton Photo Collector” and is moving in on the Beautiful Women of Japan and 50 Funny Cats.
I’ve been visiting slideshare a fair bit since I first posted to it 8 months ago. What has been interesting is that as it has gets more popular it seems that both the slidecasts get better (for example “What Teachers Make”), and that the more interesting slidecasts are polling better (note “What Teachers Make” meteoric rise). Indeed my own presenetation’s relative rise against cats and sexy women is further example of this trend. A year ago it seemed at least a fifth involved scantily clad women – but the days of those slideshows doing well appears to be in relative decline (they are still there, don’t get me wrong). It just appears that once you are this deep in the long tail, lots of other content is more interesting to people.
All this is to say that yet again Andrew Keen should be roundly ignored, but then the very fact you are here probably means you were already ignoring him…
eaves.ca 
I think the Slideshare crew is probably finding it easier to surface quality, interesting content as that content has made its way to the site. How else to explain my friend Sacha getting Slideshow of the Day two or three times in the past month? (I mean, aside from the fact that she is brilliant)
I think the Slideshare crew is probably finding it easier to surface quality, interesting content as that content has made its way to the site. How else to explain my friend Sacha getting Slideshow of the Day two or three times in the past month? (I mean, aside from the fact that she is brilliant)
The “What Teachers Make” had sound for me, but the slides got out of sync with the sound by the end of the presentation.
Thanks for the correction David. My computer was having issues when I watched “What Teachers Make” last night. Just re-watched it…
Nothing loaded on Safari, so I checked it out on Firefox and it worked fine. I know Safari used to have some problems with Flash or Java stuff.
The “What Teachers Make” had sound for me, but the slides got out of sync with the sound by the end of the presentation.
Thanks for the correction David. My computer was having issues when I watched “What Teachers Make” last night. Just re-watched it…
Nothing loaded on Safari, so I checked it out on Firefox and it worked fine. I know Safari used to have some problems with Flash or Java stuff.
I think the quality improvements is a testament to the userbase of powerpoint and Keynote and the audience of slideshare and less attributable to generalized growth.
If this were the case YouTube would have nothing but stellar videos in their top-ten list(s). Sadly, that is most certainly not the case by any rational measure.
Even less popular video sharing sites; Blip, Vimeo are inundated with utter garbage.
Those cats aren’t so funny.
I think the quality improvements is a testament to the userbase of powerpoint and Keynote and the audience of slideshare and less attributable to generalized growth.If this were the case YouTube would have nothing but stellar videos in their top-ten list(s). Sadly, that is most certainly not the case by any rational measure.Even less popular video sharing sites; Blip, Vimeo are inundated with utter garbage.
Those cats aren’t so funny.
“Even less popular video sharing sites; Blip, Vimeo are inundated with utter garbage.”
I can’t imagine bothering to put up such crap. Is it just an extension of the “What I do is important enough to show everyone else” syndrome?
“Even less popular video sharing sites; Blip, Vimeo are inundated with utter garbage.”I can’t imagine bothering to put up such crap. Is it just an extension of the “What I do is important enough to show everyone else” syndrome?
“Is it just an extension of the “What I do is important enough to show everyone else” syndrome?”
While I can only speculate – I think it’s perhaps the reverse; people feel that by it being recorded and publicly available it BECOMES important and valid.
Between Wii-fit girl, lonelygirl15, geekgirlee (seeing a pattern?) I think it’s apparent the notion of attracting fame without the bother of talent, skill development or an agent is certainly a draw too.
Perhaps it’s a spaghetti approach – because popularity is so arbitrary just throw everything up and see what sticks.
“Is it just an extension of the “What I do is important enough to show everyone else” syndrome?”While I can only speculate – I think it’s perhaps the reverse; people feel that by it being recorded and publicly available it BECOMES important and valid.Between Wii-fit girl, lonelygirl15, geekgirlee (seeing a pattern?) I think it’s apparent the notion of attracting fame without the bother of talent, skill development or an agent is certainly a draw too.Perhaps it’s a spaghetti approach – because popularity is so arbitrary just throw everything up and see what sticks.