One of my favorite aspects of the social web is being able to see all the many personalities. As often as not, those with a crude delivery style can also have very good points! I am reading Rohit Bhargava’s new book, “Personality Not Included” by the way. For a company of any size to not fear the different styes within their ranks is part of the muscle-building process IMO.

Well, brands, like all economic offerings, are inherently inauthentic, so we are really talking about brands becoming ‘more authentic’, or brand trying to ‘cue authenticity’.

I have been digging into the philosophy of authenticity of late, and I have realized how difficult it is to be authentic, for both people and for brands.

Like you, I love the promise of social media, because social media is one of the few places where brand can participate in authentic conversations with consumers and citizens. It’s messy, and it isn’t easy, and not many brands ‘get it’, but I’m teaching myself to be tolerant of brands who at least try.