Although the Aegean Airlines FB page HASN’T posted its recent offer for domestic routes, it HAS deleted all recent posts on similar offerings where ‘Likers’ “expressed dissatisfaction” (euphemism!) with their inability to actually secure such prices.

The page’s posts (only their own) jump from October 2010 to 28 May 2011. They decided to return to traditional one-way advertising and NOT engage with a social-media-savvy market – as well as dismiss (i.e., delete) customer feedback rather than use it to formulate a better outreach strategy? Or don’t they need to, seeing as they’ve (supposedly) clinched the market anyway…?

I’ve always preferred the airline for EU and domestic travel, but thanks to an EU/Brussels-based spanner being thrown in the works, effectively quashing their efforts to set in cement what would have amounted to a Greek market quasi-monopoly, I’m surfing other sites for this year’s trips!

“Lads and lasses of upper level management, thank you for hosting my previous travel needs. However, a new destination is in sight – welcome to International Social Media Hard-ass Landings Terminal.
For my own customer satisfaction, I won’t remain seated with folded arms while your captains fiddle with consumer sensitivities.
Don’t worry about me forgetting any personal belongings, my travel pouch will not be housing your boarding cards anymore.
If you eventually and quite wisely decide to come down out of the clouds and ground yourself in sensible social media strategies, please ask an established social media baron for assistance.
On behalf of me and my wallet, please don’t expect to see me on board your aircraft in the foreseeable future.”

Happy travels everyone, and remember to have your say!

The study does NOT say fathers “should stick to just playing with their children,” as the January 27, 2011, The Telegraph article by Richard Alleyne notes. Even though generalizations cannot be made from a sample of 112 and from one geographical area only (and here I call into question the decision by the peer-reviewed journal Developmental Psychology to accept and print the study as is), the study found that when both parents are responsible for the caring and upbringing of their children, there MAY be an increased sense of competitiveness between the two (due to different approaches, opinions) and this may be passed on to the children in a negative manner (thus disrupting domestic harmony, etc.). For this reason, parents need to examine which parenting model suits them best. In some cases, the model that MAY be best suited, say the authors of the study, Rongfang Jia and Sarah J. Schoppe-Sullivan (note the double-barrelled surname [Ed.: Thank you, Danae Harmandas.]…) is one where the father concentrates on playing with rather than equally caring for and disciplining his children (sounds like a whole lot of letting off the hook to me, but I digress…!).

The Greek article as well as the one from The Telegraph (it’s a wonder the study authors haven’t sued the reporters and their mediums yet!) have irresponsibly published a small part of the study and its results. The issues surrounding such an important matter are very complex and should be ‘handled’ with the utmost care and sensitivity to the message being passed on. Or don’t newspaper editors have that in their job description anymore?…)

And I ask: what is the problem with a different approach? Isn’t this an optimal way for children to learn about effective conflict resolution? Surely this must be more preferable than children learning that fathers are only good for playing and not competent enough to participate in their care and upbringing…? If I were a man, I would be very insulted.

And then we wonder about escalating divorce rates… “Hello, Ingrained Life-long Beliefs? Yes, this is Reality Today calling …”

To The Telegraph and Nooz.gr: tragic article and shoddy, irresponsible reporting. We need to be weary of misinformation!

The title of the academic research study is: ‘Relations Between Coparenting and Father Involvement in Families With Preschool-Age Children’; it has much to offer and much to make you want to vomit.

The last paragraph of a post, ‘Greek Prime Minister refers to Openfund as example of innovation and growth’ notes:

“It is with this in mind that we would like to announce that the new call for proposals will open towards the end of September – and we would be happy to receive for consideration any entrepreneur’s application”

That is all well and fine, and kudos to you. However, in your excitement over internal developments and subsequent haste to announce them both on Facebook and on your blog via the post ‘The Openfund IV – Call for proposals opens’, you #failed to close the chapter on the previous CFP!! I can’t for a minute believe ANY of what has transpired since yesterday is ‘advisable’, “innovative”, inspires and affirms “trust and support” or convinces anyone that you will be able to meet “even higher” goals in view of the fact you have fallen seriously short of previously set goals. I guess the “uniquely humbling … moment” was just that – a moment.

As such, the last paragraph of the post ‘Greek Prime Minister refers to Openfund as example of innovation and growth’ really reads more like this:

“It is with this in mind that Now that all of Greece knows us, we would like to announce that the new call for proposals will open screw over the last round of applicants and open a new call towards the end of September – and we would be happy to receive for consideration any entrepreneur’s application”.

In brief, and related to our submission to ‘The Openfund III – Call for Proposals Opens’:

We submitted, you responded, we reviewed, … you disappeared   >>—-> *???*

Deadline #1: Inaction. On our inquiry: “Oh, yes … we will now contact you September 03.”

Deadline #2: September 03 AND September 15 has come and gone but nary a word from you. Inaction.

September 16: Action. Whoo hoo, CFPs round 4!!!   >>—-> *jaw crashes to the ground*

I won’t go into the whole timeline of events, nor is it my intent to ‘blacken’ your reputation. However, there is a lesson to be learned and 1 full day after a major blunder – you may support and fund hi-tech companies but a simple e-mail communique or telephone outreach would have sufficed – you have yet to enable any kind of ‘client’ recovery or damage control mechanism to avert certain disappointment on the part of all involved (unless we were the only ones from Call III not to be informed…).

If you are not aware of and sensitive to timely professional conduct and role modeling, how can you “help entrepreneurs with fresh ideas to jumpstart their business while providing support on all things startup”? If one of your start-ups did something like this and also never enacted some kind of damage control, what would you and your investors do?

The “trust and support” to which you refer certainly does not carry any weight in our books now. At this point, I would suggest you AND the list of illustrious individuals and Partners aligned with the Openfund read and follow a timely “live case study” that may as well carry your name.

There is no example here that is “worthy of advocating and support”. A real pity for an initiative that was worthy not of the Prime Minister’s mention, but in the hearts and enterprising minds of so many that come to your meetings and share in your efforts. THAT is what you should have “in mind” …

I don’t want my degree recognized.

Certainly not as a KEME! I put myself – and my parents – through 4 years of 36 subjects (FULL attendance), 20 hours work-study per week (the most any university allows a student to take on), seminars, workshops, term papers, baby-sitting, on-site practicums, President of This, Secretary of That, Founder of the Other, scholarships and study grants, and a 3.8 GPA at the end of my transcripts. Am I boasting? No – I’m setting the foundation! Just as I thought I was doing back then… when I was going through all of this in order to secure my future. I knew the degree wasn’t recognized by the Greek State, but we all knew the market recognized its worth.

I don’t want my degree recognized.

But I do want my efforts, money, blood, sweat, tears, contributions, and market-worth recognized for the knowledge I gained and, as a result, what I now have to offer by prospective employers and future colleagues. But that can’t be if my degree isn’t recognized. Which, according to Greek law, it will not be. That’s ok. You know why?

I don’t WANT my degree recognized.

Thanks to Greece (oh, Πατρίς…) and the EU for opening up the world to me – only to keep me now on the outside with my nose pressed up against the window looking in at what I can’t have: professional rights. You knew we were at an illegal institution (illegal because they presented it as a university); why didn’t you protect your youth and close it down like you did similar institutions this week?

Then again, you’re still not protecting your youth with these latest actions; ‘endorsing’ the operations of 30 KEMEs, the graduating papers (because they’re NOT considered as degrees) from which will STILL not be enough to put their graduates (officially) on a par with those from public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). These KEMEs will NOT be able to hire the very people they are today recruiting, enrolling, accepting tuition payments from and educating!! Do their students and their parents KNOW THIS?! Has the Greek State informed them? Is THIS the recognition that private education had set its sights on? Is this what I should aspire to also attain for MY university degree? NO!

I don’t want my DEGREE recognized.

I should have become a _____ (fill in trade), but no … not the daughter of ‘So & So’. I had a bright future ahead of me and, anyway, I was interested in bettering and preparing myself for the world without borders, the world the EU envisioned (I did leave a less developed country to come to Greece), the world that was my oyster!

I do so hope they will take that into account when I go apply for a job cleaning toilets at the airport.

So, after a characteristically verbose lead-up, my question is: why have they closed down AUA and HAU this week, when La Verne was doing exactly the same thing – presenting itself as a university? Don’t presume to tell me the Greek State didn’t know that ULV was operating and promoting itself as a university; I’m sure they must have gotten at least wind of it following visits from the likes of George Papandreou, his brother Nick, the then US Ambassador to Greece, Nicholas Burns, the leaflets, advertisements…

Why wasn’t the unlawful practice shut down then to protect us?

At least ULV California had the presence of mind to come do it, albeit for a different set of reasons. Of course, they had other interests at stake … their name and stakeholders to tend to. A State – well, at least the Greek State – doesn’t have to worry about things like that because, well, you just can’t please everyone and since the majority is not in a huff about something like this, who cares!

Except, George Papandreou SHOULD care when he knows it is the likes of such internationally accredited institutions that will ultimately drive knowledge creation and transfer through the education of forward-thinking, critically capable and productive individuals. That’s not to say graduates of Greek HEIs are not… But I’ve yet to learn that the children of our Prime Minister and his Minister of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs (how many packs of cigarettes and Frappedes did they go through to arrive at THAT title?!), Ms. Diamantopoulou, attend public schools…

Taking a look at the title of the department responsible for the education of our youth – tomorrow’s leaders, that is – I find it to be very apt and wholly symbolic of the state of education in Greece. You attend an educational institution, it becomes a lifelong affair (Greece must top the charts on eternal students; the Constitution even states that the mandatory duration of study canNOT be less than 9 years!) and then you inevitably turn to religion because, well, the first two didn’t do diddly squat for you!

For anyone that disagrees, take a look at the current state of this ‘cradle of civilization’ and tell me the foreigners and their “fast food approach” to knowledge sharing and creation are to blame. I guess Annoula’s right, “everyone has to be careful when making their choices” – I will take that into account when considering how to go about righting the wrongs my birthplace has done me.

I don’t want my degree recognized. Because it is a degree. From a private higher education institution recognized and accredited by international standards … “with all the Rights, Privileges and Honors thereto pertaining.”

Stay posted…

Ως ακαδημαϊκός, γνωρίζει πως κάθε ‘φαινόμενο’ απαιτεί ορθή, συστηματική και μεθοδική μελέτη για να βγάλουμε πόρισμα. Ο χαρακτήρας των social  media, όμως, χαρίζει τι δυνατότητα, και κατά συνέπεια/επέκταση, καθώς επίσης απαιτεί προσωπική χρήση για εμβάθυνση απόψεων και επιστημονικού τύπου σχολιασμού. Να βγει να μας πει πως οι διαπροσωπικές σχέσεις περνάνε κρίση (και πότε ΔΕΝ ίσχυε αυτό?!) και ότι σε αυτήν συμβάλλουν και τα ψηφιακά μέσα, να κάτσω να τον ακούσω. Αλλά, κύριε Ασκητή, μορφωμένε και καταξιωμένε, πρόσεξε που πας να επεκταθείς ως ειδικός όταν δεν το έχεις ‘τεστάρει’ καν το εργαλείο!

Και τι το είχαν το κοριτσάκι εκεί να κάνει?! Οι ερωτήσεις του παρουσιαστή (και οι σχετικές απαντήσεις της Δίδας Πετρίδη) την εξέθεσαν περισσότερο από οποιαδήποτε ανακοίνωση κάνει στο FB προφίλ της, όπου επιλέγει να τα πει … ενώ σήμερα τόσοι και τόσοι έμαθαν ότι φοβάται την άρνηση και ότι έχει χωρίσει και μέσω SMS…!

Come on, where was the protection of and compassion for human relationships in that, you ‘experts’?!!

Άρα, ας (συνεχίσουμε να) εξετάζουμε την επικινδυνότητα των μέσων ως opinion formers και την επιρροή τους στο μέσο Ελληνικό νοικοκυριό – γιατί όποια μάνα δεν έχει σχέση ή/και ουσιαστική επαφή με τα ψηφιακά μέσα, σήμερα επιβεβαιώθηκε (για άλλη μία φορά) στις απόψεις της και βεβαιώθηκε για το πόσο κακό μπορεί να κάνει το Internet και τα ‘κομπιούτερ’ … αντί να έχει ενημερωθεί για τις πιθανά αρνητικές συνέπειες της χρήσης αλλά ΚΑΙ να έχει καταλάβει πόσο θετικό ρόλο μπορεί να παίξει στη ζωή των παιδιών της και το μέλλον της χώρας (αλλά άσε το δεύτερο. Αυτό ας το καταλάβουν πρώτα οι εκπαιδευτικοί και οι policy και decision makers…).

Ειδικά όταν φέρνεις έναν τόσο γνωστό και στο χώρο του ειδικό, όπως τον Ασκητή, θέλει μεγάλη προσοχή γιατί πιο γρήγορα υιοθετούνται οι απόψεις του για το κατά το ευρύτερο κοινό άγνωστο. Μα, δεν ακούς τη Θεία Πίτσα τώρα, … “Παιδάκι μου, το’πε ο Ασκητής! Ε, κάτι θα ξέρει και αυτός!”

Το MEGA και ο συγκεκριμένος παρουσιαστής το χειρίστηκε πολύ επιφανειακά, ανώριμα και χωρίς καμία (αντικειμενική?) γνώση παρά μόνο τη δική του – προφανώς περιορισμένη – εμπειρία. “Οδήγησε” μία συζήτηση χωρίς προορισμό και χωρίς όλα τα εφόδια … ένας ‘ειδικός’ του FB στον τόπο μας δεν υπάρχει για κάλεσμα? Μπορώ πολύ γρήγορα να σκεφτώ 2-3 άτομα, αλλά για να τους γνωρίζεις και να τους καλέσεις … πρέπει να έχεις ασχοληθεί! … που με πάει πίσω στο “– προφανώς περιορισμένη – εμπειρία”.

Scandalous, κατά την ταπεινή μου άποψη. Όπως είπαμε, ό μεγαλύτερος εχθρός της γνώσης δεν είναι η άγνοια, αλλά η ψευδαίσθηση της γνώσης (Stephen Hawking)! Σήμερα, αυτό μας το απέδειξε το MEGA…

Υ.Γ. Δεσποινίς Πετρίδη, προτείνω damage control. QUICK!!

E-mail που έστειλα σήμερα (14 Ιουλίου, 2010) στο ΣΚΑΪ:

Προς: Κύριους Βασίλη Λυριτζή και Δημήτρη Οικονόμου, και Συντακτική Διεύθυνση καναλιού SKAΪ

Καλημέρα,

Η συνεχείς σας αναφορές-σπόντες στις γυναίκες όπως μόλις ‘ξεστομίσατε’ «γιατί οι γυναίκες δεν γνωρίζουν», έχουν καταντήσει άκρως ενοχλητικές και πλέον προσβλητικές!

Ενώ είστε σε ένα κανάλι που πρωτοπορεί και κάνει αξιόλογες ενέργειες σε διάφορους τομείς που έχουν θετικό αποτέλεσμα στη κοινωνική ευαισθητοποίηση, τα σχόλια περί την εμμονή τον γυναικών με το ‘Sex and the City’ μέχρι τις γνώσεις μας (κατά τη γνώμη σας, ανύπαρκτες) όσον αφορά τεχνολογικά θέματα («μην ανησυχείτε, καλώδια δεν υπάρχουν») τελικά τα ακυρώνουν όλα και σας κρατάνε στην ίδια κατηγορία με τους υπόλοιπους … ημιμαθείς και αδαείς φαλλοκεντρικούς.

Άμα το ίδιο το SKAΪ υποστηρίζει πως «Όλοι Μαζί Μπορούμε», πώς οι ‘πρέσβεις’ του καναλιού διατηρούν και διαιωνίζουν σεξιστικές στάσεις με (Ελληνικής απόχρωσης) μισογυνία?!

Η έλλειψη σεβασμού και απαράδεκτη συμπεριφορά τον Ελλήνων ως προς το περιβάλλον, τους νόμους και γενικώς ως προς ό,τι άλλο μας ενημερώνετε και μας προσκαλείτε να καταπολεμήσουμε μαζί (που υποστηρίζω θερμά και ενεργά!) … έχει της ρίζες της στην περιφρόνηση και την έλλειψη σεβασμού προς τοις γυναίκες!

Ας πρωτοπορήσετε και στον τομέα της ευαισθητοποίησης του κοινού για την αξία της γυναίκας, γιατί οι γενικεύσεις όχι μόνο υποβιβάζουν και εκμηδενίζουν την προσφορά και θέση της στην κοινωνία μας, αλλά δείχνουν την αποκοπή (και συνεπώς την έλλειψη μορφωμένου/καλλιεργημένου  χαρακτήρα) από σύγχρονα θέματα που μαστιγώνουν την Ελληνική πραγματικότητα!

Στης προσπάθειές σας για ‘επανεκπαίδευση’ του κοινού, δείξτε ΠΡΩΤΑ ευαισθησία στους ανθρώπους, και έτσι θα καταφέρετε και τα υπόλοιπα.

Εύχομαι να μπορέσω να συνεχίσω να παρακολουθώ την ‘Πρώτη Γραμμή’. Τα άλλα κανάλια τουλάχιστον δεν κρύβουν τη σωβινιστική και σεξιστική ταυτότητά τους.

Με Εκτίμηση,

Σύλβα Καρακατσάνη.

************************

English translation follows.

An e-mail I sent today (14 July 2010) to SKAΪ TV Channel:

To: Mssrs Vassilis Lyritzis and Dimitris Economou, and Editorial Management of SKAI TV channel

Good morning,
Your constant references to women as just blurted out by one presenter – “because women don’t know” (in reference to cars) – have become extremely annoying and now offensive!
Although you’re at a TV channel that is leading change and making significant inroads in several areas that have a positive effect on social awareness, comments ranging from women’s obsession with ‘Sex and the City’ to their knowledge (or, in your opinion, lack thereof) of technological matters (as in “don’t worry, there aren’t any cables”) ends up cancelling the above efforts and only serves to keep you in the same category as other … quasi-educated phallocentrics.

If SKAI itself maintains that “We Can, All Together”, how can the channel’s very ‘ambassadors’ maintain and perpetuate sexist attitudes with (Greek hues of) misogyny?!

The disrespectful and unacceptable behavior by the Greeks to the environment, laws and generally anything else you inform us of and invite us to conquer together (which I strongly and actively support!) … has its roots in the contempt and disrespect of women!!
Why don’t you also be pioneers in the field of public awareness regarding the value of women because (degrading) generalizations such as those you very often make not only debase and nullify their contribution to and position in society, but show your removal (and ergo, non-educated character) from contemporary issues that plague modern Greek reality!

In your efforts to ‘reeducate’ the public, FIRST show sensitivity to people, and the rest will follow.
I hope to be able to continue watching ‘Proti Grammi’ [the show’s name, which translates to ‘First Line’ – ed.]. The other local channels at least do not conceal their chauvinistic and sexist identity.

Sincerely,
Sylva Caracatsanis.

It seems Greek Tweeters use Twitter as one more platform for status updates where they talk to followers rather than engage in a dialogue (talking at vs. engaging with). The most important thing is that we (individual users and companies/brands) have yet to understand that growing customer relationships and bringing in sales now require a ‘conversation‘ rather than bombarding the target market with adverts, info. and images.
Indeed, Tweeters in our country can be likened to press release distributors, as noted by ‘Ioanna’ commenting on a Suit.gr post. Of course there’s no interest in following that! Most Twitters I follow are foreign and I have learned a lot from the links they provide, but, most of all, from the way they communicate and get their message ‘out there’. They have taken the principles of traditional marketing and re-shaped them for economic benefit through the tremendous potential of networking. The business model of Greece (and other Mediterranean countries) has a lot to learn about how to attract customers not just because a shop/product/service exists but because they have really listened and responded to the demands of their consumers.
We have to stop just uploading/throwing out information (many times in an arrogant manner!) at potential customers and first listen to what they really want and how we can give/provide it to them – and, why not, let it be in the form of a gift sometimes!
We have to stop talking at people and start conversing with them! Unfortunately, we are not authentic, we are not pioneers and as long as we refuse to ‘follow’ the example of those with proven successes, we will forever be wondering “why all the fuss over social media?!”

I recently had the pleasure of striking up a (Internet) friendship with two Greeks that appear to have ‘caught the pulse’ of what I mention above. I offer here their links as examples of ‘customer-centric’ and ‘good business-oriented’ professionals: Olivia ‘speaks to’ Greek mothers through her blog and Facebook and John keeps us informed and offers ‘treats’ through his blog and Facebook AND Twitter.

They engage their customers, they reward them and they keep them coming back. Word of mouth is the mother of viral and these two have embraced this logic!

Regarding the ‘conversation’ that we want to have with companies that for many years have lead the market (and siphoned our pockets – albeit of our own free will!) … Ripple-it.com is preparing an exciting new platform just for this purpose – Spread the word, influence your world! Send an e-mail to invite@ripple-it.com to join and change the (commercial) status quo!
Happy Tweeting, Facebooking, blogging, sharing … i.e.: HAPPY NETWORKING!
(and if you want further assistance understanding and implementing the above, come visit me @ Power It!! on Facebook!)

Φαίνεται οι Έλληνες Tweeters να χρησιμοποιούν το Twitter σαν άλλο ένα platform για status updates όπου μιλάνε στους followers αντί να ξεκινούν ή να επιδιόκουν τον διάλογο (talking to vs. engaging with). Το πιο σημαντικό είναι πως δεν έχουμε (μεμονωμένοι χρήστες και επιχειρήσεις/brands) καταλάβει πως η ανάπτυξη πελατειακών σχέσεων και ‘κυνήγι’ πωλήσεων πλέον απαιτούν ‘κουβέντα’ και όχι βομβαρδισμό.

Όντος, οι περισσότεροι Tweeters της χώρας μας είναι σαν διανομείς δελτίων τύπου, όπως αναφέρθηκε η ‘Ioanna’ σχολιάζοντας ένα post του suit.gr. Φυσικά και δεν παρουσιάζει κανένα ενδιαφέρον αυτό! Οι περισσότεροι Twitters που παρακολουθώ εγώ είναι ξένοι και έχω μάθει πολλά από τα links που ανεβάζουν αλλά, προπαντός, από τον τρόπο επικοινωνίας τους. Πήραν τις αρχές του παραδοσιακού marketing και τις διαμόρφωσαν προς οικονομικό όφελος μέσω τρομακτικές δυνατότητες networking. Το επιχειρησιακό μοντέλο της Ελλάδος (και άλλον Μεσογειακών χωρών) έχει ακόμα πάρα πολλά να μάθει για το πώς να ελκύσει πελάτες όχι απλά επειδή ένα κατάστημα/προϊον/υπηρεσία υπάρχει – «και που να τρέχουμε τώρα, και έτσι καλά είναι» – αλλά επειδή πραγματικά έχει ‘ακούσει’ και ανταποκρίνεται στις απαιτήσεις του αγοραστικού κοινού.

Πρέπει να σταματήσουμε να ανεβάζουμε/πετάμε πληροφορίες (που γίνετε πολλές φορές και με υπεροπτικό τρόπο όποτε και αποστασιοποιεί!) στους εν δυνάμει πελάτες και πρώτα να ακούσουμε τι πραγματικά θέλουνε και πως μπορούμε να τους το δώσουμε/παρέχουμε – και ας είναι και σε μορφή δώρου καμιά φορά!

Δυστυχώς δεν είμαστε αυθεντικοί ούτε πρωτοπορούμε (λίγο ο ήλιος, λίγο η τεμπελιά…) και όσο επιμένουμε να μην (παρ)ακολουθήσουμε το παράδειγμα αυτών που είναι αποδεδειγμένα επιτυχής, θα αναρωτιόμαστε μία ζωή «μα καλά, γιατί τόση φασαρία περί κοινωνικών μέσων?!» …

Τελευταία, είχα τη χαρά να συνάψω Ιντερνετικές σχέσεις με δυο Έλληνες πού μου φαίνεται έχουν πιάσει τον παλμό για τα όσα αναφέρω παραπάνω… Προσφέρω εδώ τα links τους προς παράδειγμα ‘customer-centric’ and ‘good business-oriented’ professionals: Η Olivia απευθύνετε σε Ελληνίδες μαμάδες μέσω blog και Facebook και ο Γιάννης μας κρατάει ενημερωμένοι και προσφέρει εκπλήξεις πάλι μέσω blog και Facebook ΚΑΙ Twitter.

Όσων αφορά την ‘κουβέντα’ που θέλουμε να έχουμε με της εταιρείες που τόσα χρόνια οδηγούν την αγορά (και αντλούν την τσέπη – οικειοθελώς μεν…) … το Ripple-it.com ετοιμάζετε ένα συναρπαστικό platform ακριβός για αυτό τον σκοπό – Spread the word, influence your world! Στείλε e-mail στο invite@ripple-it.com για να γίνετε μέλος και να αλλάξουμε το κατεστημένο!!

Happy Tweeting, happy Facebooking, blogging, sharing … δηλαδή: HAPPY NETWORKING!

(και άμα θες και άλλη βοήθεια για να καταλάβεις και να εφαρμόσεις τα παραπάνω, πέρνα από το Power It!! στο Facebook!)

The sub-buzz this week (for men) … what’s the big DEAL?

So men don’t ‘get’ SATC. From TV presenters to friends, men have for the last 10 years wondered – and disdainfully questioned – what all the hype is about. This has re-intensified in the lead-up to the second round of the hit series’ big screen premier, Sex and the City 2.

The scene: a cosmopolitan city. Main characters: women. The essence: friendship.

With emotional AND economic independence, women today know that the traditional man-woman relationships of the pre-digital age have evolved to the point where, actually, they don’t NEED men. Need in the sense of being on the husband-administered – and thus insubordinate-status-maintained – ‘dole’. They still want them though … want their attention, approval, devotion and love. That’s the hard part.

Since in new-age relationships (due to or because of women’s independence/feminism/cerebral capacity) loyalty is rare and ‘til-death-do-us-part devotion even rarer, the path lined with freedom of (potential partner) choice is one you can’t travel alone. And because the destination isn’t always as promising as initially envisioned (see ‘childhood fantasies’), women KNOW that at the end of the day/path/relationship their friends will be there.

This is where SATC hits home. It ‘speaks’ to that group of inner emotions that men have yet to set as a priority in their social, romantic, esoteric cosmos: empathy, understanding, support… Charlotte sums it up best: “What if we were each other’s soul mates? Then men could just be these great sweet guys to have fun with”. (To all those ‘Sleeping Beauty’, ‘Cinderella’ fairy tale fans still out there, don’t take umbrage with me, leave a message and we’ll talk in 5-10 years.)

Men have traditionally enjoyed their own (established and never to-be-questioned) gender-preferenced meetings-of-the-minds in smoking rooms, men’s clubs, football fields, strip joints, locker rooms …

So why is it surprising that women are excited about having found a ‘medium’ through which to connect at a more essential level…? Instead of rooting for Kareem Abdul Jabbar, buying tickets to watch Barry Bonds break the all-time home runs record, hopping on charter planes to watch the national football team be crowned UEFA Champions, or showing off their latest piggy-bank-breaking gadgets, women have their own new set of social interaction activities that more fully express them (needle-point and Tupperware parties just didn’t make the cut).

SATC comes to validate that, empower its continuation, and encourage women to seek out their own niche in society with appreciation and respect for self. For the first time in history, women are giving to themselves without guilt, strings attached, taboos or sense of gratitude.

The major theme of fashion runs in parallel to that of relationships; just as men come and go in their lives, so too do shoes, clothes and handbags – with the difference that 1) the latter desirables are commodities (so it’s ok to change loyalties on a whim – Blahnik today, Louboutin tomorrow) and 2) women control their presence and influence in their lives.

The ‘umbrella’ housing and sheltering all the above … is friendship. That’s what we women call this bonding. And we’re not ashamed to enjoy it, promote it, flout it and, be sure, defend it tooth and nail!

If you’re a man and you STILL don’t get SATC: IT DOESN’T MATTER, that’s just it – THIS is for US!