Having managed to escape London alive (I jest) I thought I would use my train travel back to the sticks (All the way to Loughborough – a whole hour and a half!) to reflect on the #tedxtuttle event and what it made me feel as a person who may be considered as a “first timer” to London’s take on Social Media.

Well – it was in a fabulous venue, and those involved with the organisation and delivery of the event were passionate and were on top form. The live speakers were interesting and creative and the audience seemed to enjoy the day. Was I expecting anything less? (The answer is, I wasn’t – I can’t critique the work of people who clearly love what they do and make a good job of inspiring and connecting large networks of people together in this way) I personally (and I mean personally, no reflection on what was happening today and what the event achieved on grander scheme of things) struggled with the event, and I struggled (mainly) because London makes me feel intimidated, makes me feel insignificant and understandably as a reaction to this, the topics of conversation I am capable of having in this context, differ quite great from similar conversations I might have at an academic conference, or even down the pub in Loughborough. ( + only a visit to London would leave me feeling like I must justify my existence..)

After tweeting (half joking) about wanting a Fringe event (1) to overcome my illicit fear of talking to people I’ve only just met (even without the twitter buffer)– and (2) give people the chance to have a conversation with each other (as most of the talks seemed to be about being social, about being informal or about having a conversation – it’s like talking about twitter on twitter) – in response to this, a question from tuttle’s founder, Lloyd Davis resonated with me – and have partly sparked this additional reflection: “Why don’t you start a social media cafe in Leicester?”

I’ve done my fair share of social media stuff in Leicester now. And having thought about it – this is my reasons why I wouldn’t:

(1)Leicester already has stuff. I know it has stuff because I have utilised them to my fullest in order to create myself a home here. Most cities (now) have enablers like Lloyd, and have started to develop stuff. It is a great thing (London as the uber example) – and ultimately demonstrates a culture shift – a personal example could include the fact that my fears of London are not as great as they were say, 3 years ago, when I could genuinely say I felt like a nonentity when I visited – I can now say, “wow, I now know of people and they are actually really nice/helpful/useful etc” – it has opened up a world I thought I could never enter.

But – are we enabling the enabled to become more enabled? Yes (in a way) But thankfully – this time, it’s not just London that is experiencing it. We don’t need to go to London to engage in the tuttle-style conversation. And we can also speak to people in London, with having to leave our rural setting (take note #digitalbritain). It’s hard to understand and to relate to the personal networks of others – but it isn’t impossible to reach beyond your comfort zone, your strong ties. How do we take the successful social lessons of the tuttle club and the likes and it to enable smaller towns and cities? – or go even further back and enable villages and smaller communities. And in return, would London be interested in listening to the results of similar social experiments elsewhere? Can we smash down the barrier to entry even more?

(2)Although I’m interested in investing time in event organisation – I don’t think Leicester needs me to do anything for them (bar participating -which can mean a lot of different things). There is a strong scene – and a strong network. I’m not even going to bother listing the amount of people, places and events already doing similar – I can slot in and get on with it. However, I think smaller places like Ayr (like, where I’m from and stuff) could do with me helping them. And would I hold a social media cafe? (No.) – I would probably find a niche that benefits the type of town/community it is. Beyond the technology, the notion of hyperlocal is here.

(3)Additionally, I’m interested in observing network interaction as a research interest in itself – I have to remain sceptical of evangelism in the same way I am cynical about analysis without adoption . I am trying to construct the bigger picture – and by placing myself (however briefly) within these spaces, I can start to get a feel for that particular network and what they are trying to achieve and the motivation of the crowd. Tuttle club seems like a fun way to spend a Friday morning in London, it works – but doesn’t promise to attend to everyone. What is the demographic? Why does it exist? Who are the main players? How is it changing with time and participation? What is the future?

I think Mat Morrison summed it up best during his presentation on predicting social media trends – “We tend to associate ourself with people who are like us, allowing us to judge people on the people they follow” – that is true unfortunately, but it is comforting to know that despite my struggle, there is a time and place for everyone. Yes, even those who turns up, hide behind their netbook, over analyse the experience to the point of nonsense, completely lacking the social tact required for social events about social media- and then digs a deeper hole by blogging about it. Yes, even me.