How social media gave me autism

I've enjoyed many benefits from social media. New friends, business leads, and great knowledge are some of the most tangible, but the thing I least expected to get is one of the most rewarding.

Last year, I connected with Robert Moran on Twitter (a.k.a. @aspiejourno). I traded occasional tweets with him about journalism, grammar, and TV; he was funny, smart, and likable. Robert quickly became one of my favorite people on Twitter.

One day, Robert and I had an awkward exchange and I visited his Twitter bio to refresh my memory on what this guy's background was. Turns out Robert has autism and Asperger Syndrome. I hadn't even realized it.

In the months that followed, I read Robert's incredibly candid tweets about the challenges that autism brings. He sometimes had what he calls meltdowns, he was occasionally so blunt in his tweets that it made me gasp, he shared blog posts about his life and how autism affected his interactions with people. I read and I learned.

Robert was so incredibly engaging and personable that I wanted to understand how to best interact with him. I soon learned that he's uncomfortable being touched, so I never hugged him hello when I saw him at tweet-ups. I came to understand that autistics frequently lack a self-editing button in their brains so they can sometimes be incredibly frank, which many people perceive as rude. I also learned that Robert forms bonds very quickly, which he says scares people away.

Robert Moran speaks with moderator Stacey Soleil at #140conf

I've known Robert for about 10 months now and today I was happy to share a very special day with him. He was one of the featured speakers at the 140 Characters Conference on Twitter (#140conf) that I attended at Los Angeles' Music Box Theater. Robert addressed hundreds of social media devotees and shared how Twitter has brought him out of his shell and into a community. He shed light on how Autistics think and act, and I learned yet another helpful bit of information. He has a hard time understanding sarcasm. Sarcasm is a major part of my DNA, so going forward I'll be sure to remember that when he and I speak or tweet.

One of the best things about social media, in my opinion, is that you are exposed to new people, folks you may have never met were it not for the social web. New ideas, different lifestyles, unique personalities. It's all out there, if you want to see it. And, maybe, if you open your mind--and your heart--wide enough, you'll meet someone who changes you for the better. Robert is one of those people.

Congratulations on your conference speaking debut, Robert. I'm proud to know you.

Is nothing sacred in the world of corporate sponsorships?

Today it was announced that the world-famous Tournament of Roses Parade, held on New Year's Day in Pasadena, California and broadcast across the globe, will change its name. Come January 1, the new name will be 122nd Rose Parade Presented by Honda. A new event logo is currently in the works, which will incorporate the Honda logo. Honda has also laid claim to the lead float in the parade.

I'm a traditionalist in many ways. And, a 121-year-old parade has a lot of tradition. Sure, it has evolved over the years, but it's basically remained unchanged in the major ways. As for acquiring a sponsor, I understand the necessary evil. It's an expensive event and a little corporate money is no doubt going to ease the stress on the organizers. However, incorporating the Honda logo into the parade logo is too much (the new logo has not been unveiled yet, but I anticipate a train wreck).

In addition, I have to question the change in the event title. Why not just leave it as the Tournament of Roses Parade (and then add "Presented by Honda)? The event headquarters in Pasadena is even called Tournament House. Or maybe it will seek a corporate sponsor and undergo a name change, too (El Pollo Loco House, perhaps?).

The next issue probably isn't PC to say, but I'm going to say it anyway. The parade is a long-standing American tradition which is now being sponsored by a Japanese company. Is it just a matter of time until tourists in Washington D.C. will enjoy "The White House Tour, Sponsored by Toyota"?

Please don't misconstrue that as a racist remark, it's not. It's just pro-American (and, yes, there is a difference). During this terrible recession, with so many people out of work and running low on self-esteem, Americans need to feel proud. The Tournament of Roses Parade is one event that unites us all on a day that represents hope and new beginnings. To have one of this country's most popular events sponsored by a company in another country, well, that's just sad.

I understand how event sponsorships work and, generally, it boils down to an issue of money. How much is a company willing to pay to be associated with an event? How much does the event want, or need, the company's moola?

I know I'm old-fashioned on the issue of sponsorships (really, I do know). Heck, I've lived in Los Angeles my whole life and grew up attending events at The Forum. When Great Western Bank secured naming rights on the facility in 1988, which lasted until 2003, I refused to call it The Great Western Forum. First off, tradition trumped sponsorship and it would always be The Forum to me. Secondly, Great Western wasn't compensating me to advertise for them, so I wasn't compelled to do so by using their name when I referenced the venue.

So, am I the only one bothered by The Tournament of Roses' new name, new logo, and new sponsor? I need a reality check.

Plancast: Your new social calendar

The day of Filofaxes and email calendars has gone. Evites are passé and even Meetup invitations are becoming less common. Today is the day of Plancast.

Plancast is a useful site that allows you to interact with your social network in a whole new way. Forget the formality of "inviting" people to an event or having to RSVP if you'd like to attend. When you sign up for Plancast, you are essentially announcing your plans to your social circle. It's an implied open invitation for your friends to join you.

Get started by connecting with your friends who are on Plancast (or invite them to join), add your plans to your profile, see what your network is up to, and then hit the road and have some fun! You always have the option of tweeting your plans out to your Twitter followers or posting them to your Facebook wall. Plancast can also be synced with Facebook so your Facebook Events are displayed with the rest of your plans.

Your EventBrite invitations can also be imported into Plancast (see the option under settings > external services) and you can also export plans to another calendar (e.g. Yahoo!, Google, Outlook, etc.) or get them via RSS feed.  Lastly, if you don't want the world to know where you are, you can lock down your account so your plans are only visible to people you approve.

In addition to an easy user interface, Plancast is continuing to add new features. It updated its homepage this month and now you can see local events that are happening outside of your circle. This opens up a whole new world. With a feed that is targeted to your city, you can connect with new people and discover events that you and your friends may not know about. 

I, for one, have become quite dependent on Plancast. It's easy to use, efficient, and a great social networking tool (and, no, I'm not being compensated to say so).

Already on Plancast? Share what you think with the newbies out there. Not on Plancast yet, why not give it a whirl by creating your first plan today!