Consider the source...

Category: Knowledge

Published: 02/07/2009 07:12 a.m.

Meg shared with me this article from Fashionista concerning fashion compliments. They talk about how a compliment from someone more important in the fashion world is much more valuable or desired than from a friend. The core of this aims to see if the source of a compliment changes the way a compliment is accepted.

The short answer is: Of course it does!

The source always matters. Always. Getting @replied from one of the big guys on twitter is much more fulfilling than getting one from a random follower. Advice from someone with experience and knowledge is much more valuable than from anacquaintance. And a compliment from a fashion elite is better than one from a friend. This is because in one case you are being recognized by a professional, and in the other case, anamateur.

But, sometimes things get a little mixed up and the real source gets lost. I am not talking about telephone-game type message changing. I am talking about getting a stock tip from an actor or getting relationship advice from a pro video-blogger. The content of the compliment or advice that you are getting should depend not only on the celebrity-status of the source, but more so the expertise of the source. Many times we are easily fooled, and this is thanks to celebrity endorsements.

Should I really use a certain razor because Roger and Tiger are in the commercial shaving with it? Does being a pro athlete require some kind of great knowledge of removing hair from a face? No and no. But it works. In a few cases, there is a real use behind it, like Jessica Simpson in anti-acne commercials. Overall, though, they are very overused. A professional of one thing doesn't mean they know jack about something else, even if it is related.

One of the cool things about new media is that some companies are doing more realistic advertising aboutthingsthat they do use. Audible advertises on TWIT, and unless we are all being lied to, many of the show guests are avid audible users. In this case, the source is accurate, and the advice (or endorsement) can be taken a bit more seriously.

The other half of considering the source is the non-professional side. Shouldn't you be taking the advice of your friends? Don't they know you better and don't you trust them? Yes and yes, but with a caveat. If a friend recommended a movie to me, I still have to consider their movie expertise when deciding how to take that advice. Do they like movies that I do or are they into idiot-box movies? That answer usually determines my action. For instance, if Meg were to recommend a show to me that she likes, I may take that with a grain of salt. I know her well enough to know I don't want to waste time watching some show about Ruby. But, there is also some special sauce when it comes to friend recommendations and advice.

Meg will also recommend things that she thinks I would like. This is much different than what she likes, and this type of advice can only come from a friend. She is using a formula based on other stuff she knows I like. A simple "If he likes X and Y, he might also like Z." As a friend, she probably has many ideas of X and Y, so she may be more accurate than a stranger. But even strangers on the web can provide good picks following a similar formula. I mention some band I am listening to, and someone says "hey, if you like them, check out these guys." After considering the source and the reasoning, I can make a good decision to go check out the new group.

So, we know the source is of utmost importance. We see that on-topic advice from a Pro more valuable than from an amateur, but we aren't swayed by off-topic advice from a Pro in something else. And, we have a better idea of what kind of advice to take when dealing with friends. Considering the source and how things relate to you can help you to find new things and make better decisions.