push protesting
DESCRIPTION
When your advocacy web site has a message that is in opposition to someone else's, it can be hard to get the word out. You usually don't have the budget to advertise, and your target audience may be predisposed to not visit your site. Or they may not even be aware of the issue you are raising to even ask the right questions. This talk reviews techniques that use the programmable web (XML, KML, RSS, geocoding and microformats) to get your message in front of people via third-party websites. By allowing your data to flow freely, you can catch people's attention in unexpected ways. (Be sure to open the notes tab while viewing, and please visit my blog at http://skeptools.wordpress.com/2008/10/18/push-protesting/)TRANSCRIPT
Push Protesting
Getting the word out through the programmable web
Tim Farleywhatstheharm.net &
skeptools.com
what is this about?
getting your message out cheaply
who is it for?
when your message is in opposition
to someone or something
protestors(FreeXXXX.com)
advocates (SaveTheXXXX.com)
consumer protection(xxxxSucks.com)
political or religious messages
scientific skepticism
why is this useful?
advertising isn’t cheap
google-bombing does not scale
top 10 links
your site ends up preaching to
the choir
what alternative techniques are there?
programmable web
XML & RSS
Microformats
Geocoding & KML
open up your data
opened data can flow by itself
third party web sites (neutral ground)
Importance of tone
key is getting attention without alienating
your audience
what is the skeptic movement?
paranormalghosts
alt medicalastrology
hoaxesscams
9/11 “truth”
pseudo-sciencedenialismscientologymisinfoUFOsBigfoot
whatstheharm.net
victim reports
rhetorical tool
research tool
RSS feeds
RSS is not just for blogs!
all sites should publish
via RSS
third-party sites will pick up your RSS content
visibility
recommended: FeedBurner.com
Microformat: Geo-coding
GeoRSS
GeoRSS example<item> <guid isPermaLink="false">whatstheharm.net.case.number.1170</guid> <link>http://whatstheharm.net/fengshui.html#loh_futt_keong</link> <author>whatstheharm.net</author> <category>feng shui</category> <title>Loh Futt Keong</title> <description>The neighbors both believed in feng shui, but didn't get along with each other. When one put a mirror on their house to reflect bad luck, the other did the same and the feud escalated. The argument ended up in the street with one person dead.</description> <pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:06:00 -0400</pubDate>
<georss:point>6.1105 100.362007</georss:point>
</item>
KML
KML is Keyhole
Markup Language
KML Example<Placemark id="whatstheharm.net.case.number.1170"> <styleUrl>#case</styleUrl> <name>Loh Futt Keong</name>
<description>The neighbors both believed in feng shui, but didn't get along with each other. When one put a mirror on their house to reflect bad luck, the other did the same and the feud escalated. The argument ended up in the street with one person dead.</description>
<Snippet maxLines="1">Stabbed to death</Snippet>
<atom:link href="http://whatstheharm.net/fengshui.html#loh_futt_keong" />
<Point> <coordinates>100.362007,6.1105</coordinates> </Point></Placemark>
Google requires a “Geo Sitemap”
Geo-protesting
Google & Microsoft both use much user content
Yahoo Maps and others are lagging on this
Good for geoprotesting:YouTube
Flickr
Bad for geoprotesting:PanoramioWikipedia
(edited sites)
futures
Microformat: hReview
(microformats.org)
Restaurant, movie, web site reviews
hReviews can be tied to web site and/or geographic
location
Yahoo search starting to support
hReview now
Questions?
whatstheharm.net
skeptools.com