A propos of my last post on feedback, I thought I’d share this little event that happened to me today:
Greenpeace had it’s envionazis stationed about every other block today on Michigan Avenue, as they do from time to time. I approached one of them, purely because he was in my way, and he pointed his Bic ballpoint at me and proclaimed, expectantly, “Environmentalist!”
Now, no one in their right mind can look at a wasteful SUV and say, “That’s good.” maybe we rationalize to ourselves that we’ve “earned” a the right to be a little wasteful at times, but on the whole, I think we’re probably all environmentalists at heart. I think that’s what he was thinking, too. But our kindred interests didn’t make it so that I want to stand outside and discuss this on Michigan Avenue, in a suit, with my first meeting of the day behind me and my next three still in front of me, breathing bus fumes from the 156 that kept inching along up the block.
So I looked at this poor guy and said, “No. I’m an asphaltarian. I think the whole world should be paved.”
From his body language, I think he thought I was being serious.
I can’t even begin to imagine what that feedback meant to him.
Jason Seiden is Co-founder and CEO of Ajax Social Media, a training company that shows professionals how use social media to work more effectively.
I'm the CEO of Ajax Social Media. We're helping 1 million people shine by making their online stories better. 
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Just came across this post through some convoluted set of clicks, but wanted to tell you that you’re not alone. I too am an asphaltarian. What better way to protect our fertile fields from erosion and contamination than to cover everything with asphalt?
@Josh—You have to admit, the solution’s not quite concrete.
(Oh, I can’t believe I did that.)