Taylor Davidson - Latest Comments

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tdavidson — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:46:40 -0000

A simple, human reason: I don't like to smile in pictures (a little different from in-person).

I'm not really that serious, whatever the facial expression implies.

(and I hadn't thought of that irony!)

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

jtnt — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:02:01 -0000

Just seeing the full write up of this adventure after watching it unfold live. My question, which I remember having real-time, was why you're so serious in most of the pictures?

I also love the irony (or something) of you feeling very alive while painted as the living dead.

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tdavidson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:17:08 -0000

Just now? :)

The "for yourself and for others" is the key bit for me. It's not just about our actions and attitude impact us, but how they impact others: creating shared experiences that are greater than the sum of the parts. Interpersonal synergy, in a way.

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

davidsanger — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:36:56 -0000

"instead of shying away from trying something new or standing out, embrace the opportunity for yourself and for others."

Now you are getting at the nub of creativity.

Re: A Little Jaunt: The Expenses

NewYorkHotels — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:52:35 -0000

Wow! That was amazing! I can't imagine that you only spent $66 per day in your travel. Having friends to the countries your going to visit really helped a lot. I traveled too in many countries by spending not much money. So i save some travels expenses i get the great deals of LastMinuteTravel. They are really fantastic!

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tdavidson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:42:49 -0000

One more reason to love New Orleans :)

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

cschultz — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:02:59 -0000

Taylor, this is a great post, and was a great experiment and Halloween.

I think its interesting that no-one asked. This is one thing I love about New Orleans, people feel free to let their freak flag fly, and most have realized that no-one really cares. Or at least, people are used to it. If more people were able to let go of what they fear people are thinking about them, and just be themselves, there would be a lot more well-adjusted people.

Great post, wonderful to see you. Look forward to seeing you again soon, my man.

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tdavidson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:03:46 -0000

Thank you. Obviously the experience couldn't have happened without you, but more than that, in writing about it, just trying to learn from your gift in creating and sharing stories that people can identify with, connect to and care about. Causes/events/experiences/awesomeness like Cause It's My Birthday are powerful ways to bring people together by using our lives as platforms and "accessible happy places" to make it easier for people to care, contribute and change.

And same here :)

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tdavidson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:47:34 -0000

Well, I don't want to make it a commentary on society and public discourse, it's really too small of a sample to use for broad generalizations. Let's just consider it a story to remember next time we encounter a similar (or, more likely, not-so-similar) situation in our daily lives. Pay attention. Say hello. And care.

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tdavidson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:43:15 -0000

Yep, by the time I reached SF I was looking pretty ragged. Maybe that's why nobody asked me about it :)

Personally I don't think this is something we've "lost", but something that is ingrained culturally. It would be interesting to try this in other cultures and contexts and see the response. Actually, some day perhaps I'll share stories of my random "cultural tests" in the UK, Japan and India..

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tdavidson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:29:56 -0000

Yes, but I'm still surprised nobody asked, not even a simple "did you have a good Halloween?"

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tommartin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:31:09 -0000

Interesting how scared folks are about talking to strangers... well given that you looked like a bad Kiss impression.. that might be somewhat explainable but more importantly, I think this post shows how we have lost the willingness to step outside ourselves and just start a damn conversation with a stranger. Thanks for reminding us we all should ask the crazy face painted guy -- dude, what's up?

@TomMartin

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

capitalfellow — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:06:08 -0000

I'm really, really shocked no one engaged you. Even the obvious "how was the party?" or "what was the bet you lost?" even more so because of the dichotomy of face paint combined with nice shirt & blazer.

Since it's election day I'll extrapolate it to being a sad commentary on public discourse. When we don't engage even those that make us uncomfortable we miss a chance to learn, to find the commonalities, the edge cases and the core issues. Echo chambers and my-way or no-way seem flow from those missed opportunities.

Awesome tale though.

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

twitter-1268381 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:57:48 -0000

Taylor - This is maybe my favorite blog post ever on your blog. Though every post is insightful and full of information, this was a story of YOU and you told it so incredibly well. In telling people about this, I said exactly what you did. That you're naturally an introvert so this was a big deal for you - but that the best and most wonderful and admirable thing about you is that you know who you are but are willing to push the boundaries and stretch yourself, even when it DOES make you uncomfortable.

I'm looking forward to many more adventures with you in person soon.

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tdavidson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:55:52 -0000

As a performer yourself, I'm guessing you'd have no problems doing the same thing :)

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

garagespin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:45:12 -0000

Great, great post. All I did for Halloween was paint walls...sadly, no faces...and no zombie patterns... But really, kudos doing DOING it. :D Thanks for sharing!

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

Jeff — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:03:34 -0000

"And that was the most curious thing to me. Nobody asked me about the face paint."

It was the day...after Halloween..

Re: The Local Loci of Control.

tdavidson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:03:51 -0000

Believe it or not, I'm actually desperately trying to ramble less, even if the above doesn't demonstrate the conviction :)

But small can be a defense mechanism against big: the failure of "too big to fail" companies has exposed some of the problems with using size as a defense mechanism.

Actually, I would argue that networks, declining transaction costs of communication and organization et.al. offer a defense for small against big, in some markets, networks, and communities. How? Small can procure talent, resources, capital at a similar cost basis and leverage said resources with a similar efficiency and effectiveness as large, in some systems.

.. and one of my interests is figuring out which systems :)

Re: The Local Loci of Control.

fschlegel — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:41:14 -0000

I think the drive to big was often fueled by reduction in transaction costs especially when it comes to currency conversions and risk. Now big in many markets is a defensive mechanism against large capital movements that can change the fundamentals of doing business. (The impact on Iceland of trying to out maneuver the big boys for example or a Wallmart on the town square) The question of small that most weighs on my mind is what are defense mechanisms against the big. As networks try to control and stop content through digital pipes, or large financial institutions decide to favor one region over another - small can be at a distinct disadvantage and vulnerable to power plays. Avoiding choke-holds may be one place where regulatory intervention ends balancing the scales of big vs small. (And I'm a very strong believer in the power of small to drive change).

Another aspect of the go local (riffing on your "being human" and "physical and online world" points) is the question can the technological evolution of api's etc reverse the cocooning movement driving individual interaction online and away from the local pub. I understand the differences between geographic local and social local and maybe the cash flows even out in a fashion. However, I do like a good pub.

I'm rambling as usual. Like your thought thread.

Re: Making Yourself Uncomfortable

tdavidson — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:02:05 -0000

We all played a role; it took everyone to chip in to make it happen.

(And, yes, I washed it off in SFO. That story is coming up soon :)

Re: Making Yourself Uncomfortable

newjess — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:51:22 -0000

Taylor, it was great to see you in New Orleans, and thanks so much for being an integral part of TribeCon2009. You took some amazing pictures, and we're all grateful to you for going out of your way to document the event for us. Hope the zombie makeup eventually washed off. :)

Re: Hidden Endpoints

tdavidson — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:17:48 -0000

Algorithms and people each have their own black boxes; the power of the black boxes of our minds, the inability to outline the influences, contexts and break down our thought processes into flow charts, decision matrices and equations is why algorithms aren't enough on their own.

Re: Think big by starting small.

tdavidson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:07:28 -0000

All companies, big and small, worry about the bottom line; they just
worry about it differently.

The real question: what kind of "worrying" do we need to incent right now?

Re: Hidden Endpoints

matthewbward — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:01:15 -0000

Love it. I was discussing something similar with a client last night: Conversations take place in real life where emotions like passion and frustration can be felt too; conversations are bigger than what can be inferred by reading little letters on a computer screen.

Re: A Little Jaunt: The Expenses

tdavidson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:40:23 -0000

Not only does "spending social capital" sound better than "couch-crashing", but it's also a much better way to explain the wide-ranging hospitality that people have shown me along the way.