Comments on: The Black Swan and Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches http://www.marketingtechblog.com/2007/12/02/nassim-taleb-wordy-black-swan/ conversation and resources on marketing, social media, development, and wordpress Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:04:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Bie http://www.marketingtechblog.com/2007/12/02/nassim-taleb-wordy-black-swan/#comment-69297 Bie Wed, 12 Dec 2007 06:46:03 +0000 http://www.douglaskarr.com/2007/12/02/nassim-taleb-wordy-black-swan/#comment-69297 I think <b>The Black Swan</b> may be appropriate for marketers because of its understanding the true risk we now facing in today’s market. In this book, you will learn more about power and control than anywhere else. Power and control get a bad blow - after all, marketers are convincing people every day and these are two pretty persuasive traits… I guess. Not an easy read though but would recommend this for decisions makers of all kinds. I think The Black Swan may be appropriate for marketers because of its understanding the true risk we now facing in today’s market. In this book, you will learn more about power and control than anywhere else. Power and control get a bad blow - after all, marketers are convincing people every day and these are two pretty persuasive traits… I guess.

Not an easy read though but would recommend this for decisions makers of all kinds.

]]> By: bmunch http://www.marketingtechblog.com/2007/12/02/nassim-taleb-wordy-black-swan/#comment-67998 bmunch Tue, 04 Dec 2007 09:59:12 +0000 http://www.douglaskarr.com/2007/12/02/nassim-taleb-wordy-black-swan/#comment-67998 I also got a "Junior High". How do I know if the site is working? Is there a blog that is known for difficult reading? I also got a “Junior High”.

How do I know if the site is working? Is there a blog that is known for difficult reading?

]]> By: Chris http://www.marketingtechblog.com/2007/12/02/nassim-taleb-wordy-black-swan/#comment-67947 Chris Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:51:27 +0000 http://www.douglaskarr.com/2007/12/02/nassim-taleb-wordy-black-swan/#comment-67947 As Derek mentioned about Newspapers etc, I read somewhere (famous las words right:) that TIME shoots for a 6th-7th grade reading level when writing their stories as to make it easier for all people to read. Some of the best posts I read on different blogs are a few short sentences that have meaning, I think Seth Godin is the master of this. As Derek mentioned about Newspapers etc, I read somewhere (famous las words right:) that TIME shoots for a 6th-7th grade reading level when writing their stories as to make it easier for all people to read.

Some of the best posts I read on different blogs are a few short sentences that have meaning, I think Seth Godin is the master of this.

]]> By: Bruce Allen http://www.marketingtechblog.com/2007/12/02/nassim-taleb-wordy-black-swan/#comment-67946 Bruce Allen Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:50:21 +0000 http://www.douglaskarr.com/2007/12/02/nassim-taleb-wordy-black-swan/#comment-67946 Bless you, Doug, and your commentor for your takes on The Black Swan. It has the same effect on me as a coupla Seconals--10 minutes with the book and I'm gone. Last night I went to bed at 8:45! Your boy Nassim is what I call a SAKIA--smart ass know-it-all. He also conforms to my working definition of a highbrow--one whose education exceeds his intelligence. Someone needs to bitchslap this smarmy punk--leaving $100 tips for cabbies. As a recovering econ major, we used to have a name for Black Swans. We called them "exogenous events", and they invariably crapped up all of our neat predictive theories. Econ majors have a more plebian understanding of these things--unpredictable events are unpredictable. Bless you, Doug, and your commentor for your takes on The Black Swan. It has the same effect on me as a coupla Seconals–10 minutes with the book and I’m gone. Last night I went to bed at 8:45!
Your boy Nassim is what I call a SAKIA–smart ass know-it-all. He also conforms to my working definition of a highbrow–one whose education exceeds his intelligence. Someone needs to bitchslap this smarmy punk–leaving $100 tips for cabbies.
As a recovering econ major, we used to have a name for Black Swans. We called them “exogenous events”, and they invariably crapped up all of our neat predictive theories. Econ majors have a more plebian understanding of these things–unpredictable events are unpredictable. ]]> By: Erik Deckers http://www.marketingtechblog.com/2007/12/02/nassim-taleb-wordy-black-swan/#comment-67934 Erik Deckers Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:24:08 +0000 http://www.douglaskarr.com/2007/12/02/nassim-taleb-wordy-black-swan/#comment-67934 Actually, according to writing experts, doing "better" would be writing at an even lower grade level. The average reading level in this country is 6th grade, and all newspapers are written at that level. Good Marketing Communication writers will also write at this level, rather than at a higher level. It makes their copy much easier to read and understand, so it cuts through all the clutter in our lives, and thus, it's more likely to persuade. (They also don't say "and thus.") I've also been reading Black Swan, and it's PAINFUL. I wish you had posted this blog about five chapters ago and saved me from this torture. Actually, according to writing experts, doing “better” would be writing at an even lower grade level. The average reading level in this country is 6th grade, and all newspapers are written at that level. Good Marketing Communication writers will also write at this level, rather than at a higher level. It makes their copy much easier to read and understand, so it cuts through all the clutter in our lives, and thus, it’s more likely to persuade. (They also don’t say “and thus.”)

I’ve also been reading Black Swan, and it’s PAINFUL. I wish you had posted this blog about five chapters ago and saved me from this torture.

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