wallydownundy

I realised I was old when an invitation to a funeral via Facebook surprised me. I recognise the site’s appeal as I have friends and family in the USA, Europe, Asia and Australia. Facebook allows me to connect with these far-flung people. But never had I been alerted to a death and told of the funeral arrangements on-line. Welcome to 2010.

Notification of a death by Facebook isn’t uncommon. Teens build RIP and Memorial sites as soon as they learn of a friend’s death. This month in Sydney one family learned their son died via such a site. The police were challenged identifying the remains and couldn’t make a positive identification until five or six hours after the accident. In an SMS world, that’s equivalent to a week. By then RIP notices were popping up on the pages kept by the victim’s sisters.

The memorial site on Facebook is a perfect place for mourners to connect and share memories of the decedent. It is a safe and open site for all to gather - and memories to be shared.

Until recently.

Now Facebook memorial pages have become the targets of malice. In February 12 year old Elliot Fletcher was stabbed in the chest and killed during a schoolyard brawl. His assailant is incarcerated. That boy is 13.

If this tragedy weren’t sufficient, “opportunistic vandals” have degraded the memorial site for Elliot with notes of insult, hate and rage. Melbourne University’s Dr Lauren Rosewarne explains the attraction of international media and a high profile death attract people wanting attention. Hence they shock us all with their notes of hate on a site dedicated to a young victim.

The vast displays of mourning seemed to start after the death of Lady Diana. Stunned members of the public began leaving flowers at the gates of Buckingham Palace. Soon that delivery of flowers and stuffed animals and notes became the norm after a death. The short-lived tribute sites were usually at a victim’s home - or at the site where their body was discovered. It would be unthinkable to see these locations defaced.

Today police in the Queensland city of Bundaberg are monitoring Facebook sites devoted to eight year old murder victim Trinity Bates. While 3,900 people have joined one page, others have posted child pornography or messages in support of the apprehended murder suspect.

Perhaps technology is taking us too far. Perhaps there are some areas best left to face-to-face communication. After a death the natural place to gather is the victim’s home or funeral parlor. It allows a personal connection and sharing that on-line will never replicate. And if Drive Through Funeral Parlours open Down Under - like in America - you’ll be able to do so from the comfort of your car.

This morning I presented at a Dow Jones seminar here in Sydney at the up-market Hilton Hotel. Apparently they host a series of forums across Asia Pacific, and this was the first social media event in Australia this year. A similar event had been held in Singapore a few weeks back.

The audience of 150 people were predominantly from the client side, with fair representation from the major agencies. Leading banks, corporations, government departments and others attended.

The first speaker was Social Media Senior Advisor at Telstra – a real coal-face position. The last speaker was regional salesman for Dow Jones, Lars Voedisch (and former FH Singapore person!). In-between was yours truly!

Knowing many would focus on the tools and tips and case studies, I focused on the meta-trends (erosion of trust in institutions, explosion of publishing and thus the death of top-down communications). I said it would be a good deck for counsellors to use with their CEOs so they understood the framework for engaging in social media.

There was one reporter in attendance – Glen Frost from “The PR Report”. Also there was our new Account Director, Paris Brimo. I paired Glen and Paris so she’s now the “cover girl” for the next edition!

All in all a great way to spend the morning (and the better part of a day preparing the deck). If you need the slides they are here: http://www.slideshare.net/Wallyballoo

Through the miracle of modern technology and a wide network of contacts, I am the guest lecturer this evening at the International Public Relations course at Indiana University. My former Ford colleague Jim Bright has been a professor there for several years. Given his troupe is preparing for a field trip to Japan - and to satisfy their interest in how a boy from New Jersey is lucky enough to land in Sydney - I get to speak to the class.

As I gaze out of the Skype video window into the classroom, I’ll see 16 students. Nate from Evansville has the wickedest sideburns I’ve ever seen. Ashley was inspired by a cruise at age 13 and one of her dream jobs is to work on a ship as liaison with international travelers. Sam is “super jealous” I get to live in Australia as he’s already been here - and is itching to get back! There’s Rachel from Chicago and Bene’ from Nashville (one of my favourite American cities). Alexei is keen to learn the cultures of Japan and India, while Shabrelle can’t decide between public relations and corporate law (is it because they’re both creative fields?).

Angela wants to know if we really say “G’Day Mate!” (We do.) Alex est Francophone parce’qu’elle adore la France (moi aussi)! Meanwhile Kristopher speaks Japanese which may not prove useful in South Bend (not South Park) but will be a bonus in Tokyo. Paula is from Tulsa and is keen to learn about Asian cultures (there’s a lot to learn). Samantha’s already done an internship and is fluent in Spanish. And Alexandra is already an officer with PRSSA - the student public relations association.

Finally I’ll see Professor Bright and his able assistant Kate Lee (who is privately cheering for her fellow Canadians in Vancouver now).

So as you all hunker in to the cold and wet and snow of Indiana, spare a moment’s thought for all of us trapped down here in Australia. (Speak to you soon!)

As part of the kick to the economy last year when the Global Financial Crisis was at its most deadly, the Australian government introduced a series of spending programs. One was to offer free insulation to every Australian household, up to the value of $1,200. Overnight a cottage industry was born. Tradesmen raced to have their businesses certified so they could install insulation for free to households - then charge the Federal Government $1,200 per household.

Once again, the devil is in the details.

With the rush to get insulation and construction industry funds flowing, the program was introduced rapidly. There appears to have been insufficient training and little oversight. One tradesman suggested I factor the government’s $1,200 into the cost of our remodelled kitchen. He would get the grant for the full amount of the insulation even if we only were going to use one batt. No harm no foul? We didn’t go ahead with that tradesman!

Other than overcharging, the lack of training led to faulty installation. Pink batts were laid over halogen light fixtures - putting that house at risk of fire. Some houses got inferior quality insulation so the benefit is lost. Others had foil insulation stapled into place with metal staples. And as the young installers were not trained, some pierced electrical wires. Four people were killed. More were severely burned. An unknown number of houses have “live” attics or worse, especially if that “live” foil insulation comes into contact with water pipes. In that case the bathtub spigot could be an electrocution hazard.

Now that all these issues have come to light, there are calls in Parliament for the sacking of the Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett.

Today Garrett is featured in a front page photo in The Australian. Is he in the crawl space of a home accompanying an inspector? Is he bedside with a burned installer? Is he in a cramped conference room working with industry leaders to solve the problems? Nope. Minister Garrett is alongside a stream looking at a small snake, as yesterday he launched an effort to monitor reptiles, snakes and maybe even bugs.

Yes, I am familiar with the excuse that it was a pre-booked event. And yes, somehow I understand that snakes are critical to the environment. And of course “business as usual” does need to proceed. But I am not the public.

What the public see is a Minister out in the bush - and out of touch. People have died and homes may be unsafe. And in comparison to that, the snakes don’t matter. Sorry. The Minister needs to demonstrate control of this “burning” issue or else we’ll demand government put someone in charge who will.

PS: The comments of the author are in no way meant to disrespect reptiles or snakes or any other “creepy crawlies,” as the Minister’s office described them.