I recently had several fine discussions on Twitter about the value of conversation. In this case, I mean Conversation with a capital C. The type of Conversations that boosters of the Web 2.0 mythos say is changing the way that society is being run.

While I do agree that new tools are making it easier and more valuable for consumers and businesses to start a dialog, I have always had a hard time buying into the entire backstory that is being woven around conversation. With this in mind I asked the question, and here are some of the responses.

Twitter Talks

Leah Jones is a digital evangelist at Edelman. She also blogs here and Twitters here.

Leah Jones: I think it Conversation is about companies getting people out front and letting them be humans. Chatting, everyday and business stuff.

Leah Jones: I’m in PR at Edelman, each year we release Trust barometer. Trust is businesses is rising, as is trust in a person like yourself.

Me: Though I have to question the “real world” effect. Once you step outside of a microcosm like this, does this boost in trust translate into mom and pop buying an iPod for the kids?

Leah Jones: Yes, I think it does. I hope the trickle down is that the people on the ground can also be more human. People selling iPods, too.

Christine Cavalier is a writer and blogger who can be found on Twitter, here.

Christine Cavalier: what does that mean? isn’t conversation ALWAYS for its own sake?

Christine Cavalier: I don’t try to wrap my head around any social media ‘concept’ – because I just don’t get it. It’s all just life with new tools.

Me: Which might be exactly right. Why then does it seem that there is a push towards calling it something entirely new and different?

Christine Cavalier: New terms make things feel fresh and exciting. It’s easier to sell services when things sound different. Tools are new though.

Christine Cavelier: If you could present it like a better, more efficient and fun way to do the same old things, then ‘regular’ people would buy in.

Web 2.0 Roundup

These are only segments of much more involved discussions, nay, conversations on the subject. What I am interested in now is what you think. Is conversation as important to business as Web 2.0 wants you to believe it is? Answer here or find me on Twitter.

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