For all we try to do...what else are we missing?

Here's another guest post...a social experiment a bit off the political path, but might just put that 'political path' into perspective when you think about it. 'Thanks!' to John Parker, a friend and attorney from Michigan, for sending this along.
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In a Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007, the man with a violin in this picture played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
- After 3 minutes...a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
- 4 minutes later...the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
- after 6 minutes...a young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
- 10 minutes...a 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
- 45 minutes...the musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour...he finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition of his effort whatsoever.

No one knew, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made....how many other things are we missing?

Something we can all learn from...

Whether you're in politics, sports, civic work, government, business, non-profit or just a plain person, here's a short video that came to me from my lifelong best friend with just this message: 'This is why we play sports."

It has a great twist at the end and is a re-creation of the TRUE story with the original teams doing the video. If you like it, pass it along...just I felt compelled to do for you! Thanks to Tom Biggs, my best friend from the day we first met when we were 4 years old, for sending this along to me...and us!

www.responsibilityproject.com/films/player/the-home-run/

Best! George Q.

Sun Sentinel Responds to Clean Up Blogs Suggestion

Dear Readers,

Earlier today, after reading yet another hateful, derogatory and ugly comment on a blog post on the Sun Sentinel blogs (I won't mention which one), I wrote the below note and sent it to everyone at the Sun Sentinel I thought might read it.

Much to my pleasant surprise, I received the following response from Chris Tiedje, Social Media Coordinator, Sun Sentinel Media Company...which I find very encouraging and I hope you will, as well. Chris has graciously OK'd to share this with you, so let's get to it!

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Dear Sun Sentinel Editors & Writers,

I would like to once again suggest to you that it would be an advantageous civic and business decision on the part of the Sun Sentinel to adopt a policy of requiring those wishing to post on your various blogs, such as BROWARD POLITICS, to be required to register (once) a legitimate name, email and telephone number with you before being allowed posting their comments...EXACTLY AS YOU REQUIRE FOR POSTING LETTERS TO THE EDITOR IN YOUR PRINT EDITIONS!

I post occasionally on your Broward Politics blog under the pseudonym of 'GEORGE Q. PUBLIC' (and link it to my bio and profile every time so anyone can see who I am). And while I commend you for occasionally removing a particularly heinous posting, the amount and nature of the offensive, obscene, vile, hateful, defamatory, derogatory and threatening posts that so often appear in your blogs due to the 'anonymous' posters knowing there is no traceable link back to them regardless of what they post has now caused even ME to have second thoughts about posting my opinions on your blogs.

And this is not just my opinion on this matter. I have been told by more than a few decent, civic-minded people who DO participate in civic affairs here in Fort Lauderdale that they actually FEAR posting to your blogs now...even anonymously...due to the retaliatory, humiliating and obscene abuse such simple decent posts of opinions are so often subjected to on your blogs...all of which is because there is no accountability whatsoever...or even a perception thereof.

You already require this minimal accountability for your print editions...and there is now NO DIFFERENCE whatsoever between print and online media, even in terms of legal liabilities, I'm told...so what is the logic behind allowing the differing standards between the two?

I submit to you that most of the major newspapers around the country, as you undoubtedly know, DO require this minimal step of registering with them prior to being allowed to post to their blogs. Doing so does not impede 'anonymity' as posters can still use pseudonyms to post their comments...and it does not affect freedom of the press or freedom of expression in any ways other than making it a bit more responsible EXACTLY AS YOU REQUIRE FOR YOUR PRINT EDITIONS. Your time-honored protections remain intact, as you would not disclose these identities unless under subpoena to do so...but those who would post totally false, defamatory, obscene, vile and hateful might be dissuaded from doing so...which would benefit us all!

I further submit to you that doing so will BOOST your online readership...and increase the quality and quantity (benefitting online ad revenues) of posting participation in by more decent, responsible civic-minded citizens...and thereby allowing more people who avoid reading and posting to them now to do so without fear of obscene, vile, humiliating and/or threatening retaliation for posting their opinions and comments.

Shown below is a simple 'login' form required by the Detroit Free Press to post any comments to its blogs (and/or commentary on its articles). If the DETROIT FREE PRESS can do this, for God's sake, there should be no problem for the Sun Sentinel to do it.

I urge you again to use your unique online platform more advantageously and impose at least a perception of 'accountability' on your blogs to everyone's benefit and to simply require would-be blog and commentary posters to register with you prior to being allowed to post.

Thanks for your consideration.

George Mihaiu
GMStrategic Media
PO Box 461090, Fort Lauderdale FL 33346
Tel: 954.828.1337 | www.gmstrategic.com
aka 'George Q. Public - A Citizen's Voice' - www.GeorgeQPublic.blogspot.com
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The following is Chris' reply to my above email:

Thanks for your comments, George. I couldn’t agree more. This is something we’re working on Tribune-wide, and we are in the process of installing new software to help us do exactly what you’re suggesting. A big part of the issue we face in the newsroom is getting the writers and editors to read and respond to user comments. It is a big cultural switch, but know that we are working on it.

Please feel free to contact me any time with questions on this matter. Thanks for reading.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Chris Tiedje
Social Media Coordinator
Sun Sentinel Media Company
954-356-4340 (p)
954-235-2859 (c)
954-356-4471 (f)
Twitter: @ctiedje
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