Come On, Man: The Endless Dilution (TED)
I once enjoyed the TED talks with people featured such as Professor Dan Gilbert at Harvard speaking on happiness and how to achieve it in your life. At the time he had about 15 million “views” (I subsequently hired him to speak at one of my events, and he was great.) But then someone left the door open.
TED today (I receive the usual promotions) seems heavily left-leaning and largely sanctimonious. We seldom hear both sides of an issue. And the cookie-cutter format of the presentations is damn near robotic. You have to fill the “presentation mold.” (I’m reminded of the great satire, “The Stepford Wives.”)
Even worse are the independent TEDx events (e.g., TEDx Hoboken, New Jersey) which are sort of a junior varsity opportunity for “experts.” You’re not on the first team and the crowds aren’t filling the arena.
There are now coaching organizations and individual specifically dedicated to crafting a TED or TEDx talk, I guess like Toastmasters on steroids! People list this on these appearances on their resumes!
This has all diluted the original, valuable idea of bringing true experts with individual personalities and non-political agendas to the masses.
I follow no one on Twitter. I have over 9,000 followers, whom I prefer to think of as “readers and colleagues.” I intend to be the last person on earth who has never appeared on TED or TEDx.
I’m figuring that should occur about next April
