Tritecale – Joseph Carrabis, Author Blog

“It’s too accurate” (more undocumented uses of NextStage’s Evolution Technology)

Note: this post originally appeared as a blog arc on my old Triquatrotiticale blog. I’m resurrecting the complete arc here as it’s referenced in That Think You Do‘s “The Liz Effect” chapter.
Enjoy!

This post is about looking in one’s mirror and dealing with what is seen. This post’s origin is being told that the reason a company will not use NextStage’s tools is because the tools are “…too accurate.”

First – and I suppose it truly is a first– note that one of the owners of a company is sharing a reason a prospect won’t use that company’s product.

Second, I’ve actually glommed comments from a few folks into this post.

Third, because it’s too accurate???

I did thank the company for their interest, explained that we could always do business in the future, so on and so forth.

Then I hung up the phone and went back to wondering “…because it’s too accurate“?

Let me clarify this a bit. I’m honored by their decision, specifically the reasons behind it. This company’s principals were declining because they were, indeed, principled, and in a way NextStage can completely understand; before they resold our tools they would use the tools on their own material.

But there was some fear in their voice when they said, “Your technology is excellent. Nobody questions its accuracy anymore. You’ve published enough, others have published enough, it shows up in scientific material, Chris Berry even told everybody at his eMetrics Toronto presentation that they should go with NextStage if they want scientifically provable and actionable results, so nobody questions whether or not NextStage tools are accurate anymore.”

(thank goodness, that! And thank you, Chris, for that)

And then the kicker came, “We’re afraid to find out we’re full of BlueSky…” (they used another term) “…or something worse, like our designs really do suck and we always knew they did but could never admit it to ourselves. If we use your tools then we’ll have no choice but to face the facts.”¹ Continue reading ““It’s too accurate” (more undocumented uses of NextStage’s Evolution Technology)”

Understanding and Using NextStage’s Level 1 Sentiment Analysis Tool

For those of you who weren’t in the loop, NextStage has been taking it’s desktop tools and turning them into web tools. The first to come out of that particular shute is NextStage’s Sentiment Analysis Tool. I’ve written about that tool before in Sentiment Analysis, Anyone? (Part 1) (happy to resurrect, if you wish) and Canoeing with Stephane (Sentiment Analysis, Anyone? (Part 2)) (ditto). Here I’ll be sharing how to use and understand the Level 1 version of that tool.
Continue reading “Understanding and Using NextStage’s Level 1 Sentiment Analysis Tool”

Santa’s Shamanic Origins

[[Note: this originally appeared on the Discover the Practice website]]

Some people know that the modern Santa concept (heavy male, white hair, red suit, et cetera) was created by the Coca-Cola company as part of a marketing campaign; Coca-Cola wanted to get children as a market but were forbidden by law from directly marketing to them. Their solution was to create a character that benefited children (gave gifts) and the children in return would reward this giftgiver with a bottle of Coke. So we weren’t marketing to children, but if those kiddies wanted to get gifts…

The nearest “historic” Santa was the 19^th century Bokkerijders, a group of Belgian laborers who performed Robin Hood like acts. The church denounced their activities as Satanic although the poor appreciated waking to gifts of food and money on their doorsteps. Prior to that, a St. Nicholas myth comes from the Slavic countries. There, St. Nicholas had a “Dark Helper” who was dressed in black, had horns and pointed ears, all based on Santa’s shamanic origins.
Continue reading “Santa’s Shamanic Origins”

The Gloves, They Go Boom!

Who could predict this? We did, actually…

Don’t worry if you don’t understand that title. If the majority of people could understand it, chances are Donald Trump wouldn’t be President.

Or maybe he would. Who knows.

Anyway, this post is about Donald Trump as POTUS, President Of The United States. It’s been about a week as I write this. I plan on republishing it on our Politics blog (alas, long gone) at the end of February 2017 with additional comments, if any.

Continue reading “The Gloves, They Go Boom!”

Today I was asked “Don’t Trump supporters know they’re wrong?”

Yesterday I saw a tweet “If someone doesn’t value logic, what logical argument would you invoke to prove they should value logic?”
I would determine what type of argument they most value and invoke that type of argument to their detriment, offering logical discourse as an alternative.

“Don’t Trump supporters know they’re wrong?”

The question is invalid.

‘Wrong’ implies a morality. Any question of ‘right and wrong’ requires a concept of a godhead, obeisance to some authority capable of inviolate decisions. Telling someone they’re ‘wrong’ requires them to understand guilt and shame. That’s the province of religion and we’re suppose to keep church and state separate in America.

Questions of morality require a recognition of a higher authority, of something superior to one’s self.

I think what you’re after is ‘error’. What most Trump supporters can’t do is admit they made a mistake. This has nothing to do with Trump specifically. Western society especially has made it a point of honor – saving face – not to admit a mistake. Admitting a mistake causes two things immediately; it recognizes responsibility and it requires change.
Continue reading “Today I was asked “Don’t Trump supporters know they’re wrong?””