SFWoW

San Francisco Women on the Web: serve, educate, empower

January 24th was another in our long string of rainy nights. Nonetheless, as SFWowers showed up for our get-together on the subject of LinkedIn, at WineBarSF, we had to move to a larger table. In attendance: Doris Beers, Teri Gardella, Maritess Hoy, Megan Keane, Ellen (?), Anna Papina, Rebecca Kidder, Erin O’Neill, and myself. It really makes a difference to have those names we see on the list come to life as real people.

We ended up sharing information one-on-one rather than shouting around the table. I
was seated beside Maritess, who I thank for her LinkedIn tips:

• ping people in my network from time to time
• let my contacts know if I am seeking info on a particular company
• participate in the “Answers” section to increase visibility.

Rebecca later added a tip about recommendations

• rather than collect general recs, wait until you have a specific employment target, and then ask for a recommendation directed toward the target.

Needless to say, I began adding to my LinkedIn network right after the get-together!

As Susan Stearman has stated: the event was ultra simple to arrange: I just picked a date, time, and place. Thanks to everyone who showed up - I enjoyed meeting and talking with you all.

Eleanor Beaton

How interesting that it took the weather to get us all talking. I loved the small insights into individual lives. And the reassurance that at least those reporting in came through OK.

I promised a post on the Facebook Beacon situation and here it is. The simplest explanation is that Facebook suddenly began publishing their users’ non-Facebook web actions without asking their users’ permission or providing a way to opt out. Not only annoying, but also a breach of its own privacy policy. I checked a number of technical and marketing organization sites, and this article provides the best explanation of how the information was collected, what was done with it, who else was involved, and what is still going on.

The sudden publication of everything one did was scary, annoying, and embarrassing. Facebook listened to users and the press and turned off the automatic publication pretty quickly. Some of the other sites where actions were captured set up clear and granular opt out processes. Some didn’t. The information is still being collected and used by Facebook and other sites. Still other sites are planning on joining in (as of mid-December). It is not just information about Facebook members that is being collected, but in information about everyone who visits the various sites. Some of the information is aggregated, but some of it includes clear personal information.

Web Beacons are not new — they show up in most anti-spyware reports as “tracking cookies.” The technical purpose is to be able to use just one cookie for complex sites. The less spoken-of use is to track what visitors to web sites are doing. What makes them scary to security types is that they are put on one’s computer silently and they can do a lot more than just collect information and send it silently back to the mother ship. They can interact with other cookies and can carry out executables.

From a marketing perspective, tracking cookies permit sites to gather good user information and provide better marketing and user services.

Those who are most touchy about privacy issues don’t want any information gathered without their permission and object to all cookies. Just to make everyone nervous, there was an incident in 2005 when the NSA “accidentally” (who knows?) dropped tracking cookies from its public website. The FTC (which runs the Do Not Call List) is currently being asked by privacy activists to establish a Do Not Track List.

What does this have to do with SF-WOW? It is my sense that about half our membership is placing cookies and beacons that the other half is trying to remove. I think it would be fascinating to hear both sides.

I would also love to hear both from those who write Facebook applications (is security something you think about?) and those who use them (who do you trust? Do you have a Secret Crush?)

Next topic — teleclasses and podcasts - compare and contrast. I have asked a couple of people to contribute and will add to that list as the first few posts come through. Do let me know whether you would be more likely to read a note from a practitioner or an interview.

Stay Dry.

Thanks, indeed, to Mary and her family for hosting the December meeting/holiday potluck.

The food was lovely (Mary’s mac and cheese, Susan’s vegetarian lasagne, lots of pie, amazing ice cream, and more) but what I enjoyed most of all were the conversations.

I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I had no clue how wide the audience is for podcasting or that it can be a road to fame and diva-dom. I feel at least two trends behind (I have no personal blog). We weren’t all sure about whether the fame in the podcast domain “is real” (translates to money, power, or fame in other media?) and how much of the content is useful. Podcasting seems to be more popular in Europe than in the US. Most of us at the table were surprised to hear just how common and popular podcasts are. Unsurprisingly, the adult content market was out in front in seizing a new technology and distribution method. I was surprised that evangelicals are also major players in this market.

There was also talk about acceptable behavior in the workplace — is it OK to swear? How rough (free? loose?) can behavior get before it is hostile or inappropriate or harassing? Does it depend on the kind of workplace (bank vs. ad agency, for instance?). Do creatives get a free pass because of the nature of the work? Are you willing to put up with things that are close to the line so you can be yourself, too? And how hard is it not to swear once you realize you shouldn’t?

Unsurprisingly, wowsers described fascinating, cutting edge projects they are working on. I will leave it to those individuals to share when and what they can. What can be discussed in person is not always what can be written about.

You should come next time.

While the monthly meetings are generally meant for sf-wow business, there is plenty of time for conversation. Scrappy hours are designed just for getting together and letting off steam. They started when happy hours stopped being quite so happy (any wowser can set one up where and when she chooses). Announcements of the next scrappy and of the next business meeting will be posted to the list and to the events page here.