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We’ve all seen episodes of the “Jersey Shore”, MTV’s surprise smash-hit TV series last year that followed eight 20-something Italian self-proclaimed “guidos” and “guidettes” as they pranced around the NJ shore over summer break wearing little clothing and drinking copious amounts of alcohol.
If you missed the series, surely you’ve seen clips of the show.
(If you shook your head “Nope!” to both of those above statements, then I’d bet you lie about other stuff, too.)
The success of the “Jersey Shore” was inescapable to most Americans this past year. As a nation, we were suitably briefed on Italian-American culture. We saw outrageously large biceps that would dare make Arnold Schwarzenegger blush. We can now empathize with the single 35-year-old man that still lives at home. We made G-T-L part of our vernacular (actually, maybe that was just me). But universally, the phrase “The Situation” will never be used without creating a powerful visual of the ultimate male torso. Ever.
And the stand-out character of our eight new friends was no doubt the shortest, spunkiest, black-outiest of them all, Nicole.
Oh, you don’t know who I’m referring to? Perhaps you know her better by her nickname, Snooki? Yes, you’re with me now…
Don't Hate Me Because I'm Orange
Snooki was just featured in a NY Times article about her ability to both captivate and repulse America. We all felt her pain when we saw her get sucker-punched by a lame bar-goer, yet at times we could very well have wanted to punch her ourselves. We got a kick out of her signature “poof“, the Amy Winehouse-esqe hairdo she popularized, yet we wouldn’t be caught dead wearing our locks like that in public. We saw her wander drunk and aimlessly along the boardwalk, pick fights with women, tan her skin to an awe-inspiring shade of tangerine, make-out with weirdos on the beach, and drunk-dial her parents only to have them hang up on her. And all awhile the cameras rolled.
But through all the debauchery we fell in love with Snooki, and the only reason I haven’t set the DVR to record the second season (starting this Thursday!) is because my husband beat me to it.
So what is it about Snooki that pulled at our heartstrings?
I believe that there is a lesson to be learned for all of us bloggers.
Our audience wants to know us. Not only that; they want to know us intimately.
Readers want to feel like they are our very friends and confidants. This goes too for our prospects and downline in our network marketing organizations, too. To reveal ourselves publicly is an act of bravery that most don’t even broach, for fear of criticism and judgment by others. Or, perhaps we feel somethings are best kept private.
But Nicole Polizzi is a master at revealing who she is, and a disaster at holding anything back. And for that we admire her.
I know I can do a better job of this, and started last week with a post on my spirituality. While that was stepping out of my comfort-zone, Snooki could easily one-up me and publicly puke in a hot-tub. Baby steps (sigh)…
Readers, what do you think about revealing the innermost details of your life online? What are your limits? What privacy controls do you favor?
Please comment below, and thanks for re-Tweeting this post to your network!
26. July 2010 at 7:44 pm
Who knew I could learn so much from Snooki? LOL I totally agree with you Melissa. I find it hard to reveal so much of myself, but when I do it through a blog post, the reactions are always numerous and positive! I am working on doing more of that myself. Bravo!
Debbie Stevens´s last [type] ..Diamond in the Rough
26. July 2010 at 8:14 pm
bravo, i love learning about you too debbie! it must be our innate voyeuristic tendencies
26. July 2010 at 8:17 pm
I am afraid I have no idea what this show is or who Snooki is. I grew up an MTV child and remember well The Buggles ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ the first video ever played on MTV and am still appalled today by what MTV has done to a good idea. It is a sacrilege to my childhood. I still today remember my childhood years by what video was out on MTV and the small crush I had on Allen Hunter. J.J. Jackson is dead and time moves on to Snooki and a show I have never heard of. I do not understand what MTV is because it is not even a channel about music anymore but about propaganda and bling. So sorry Melissa you got me on a soap box and maybe I am revealing way too much here but isn’t that the point. Maybe I am being way to passionate about this. Who the hell is Snooki and if anybody asks me who the hell Allen Hunter and J.J. Jackson are they need to take brief history lesson. What was once considered a strange and break-through moment in history of adding videos to music and playing them on television has now been reduced to a lack of creativity and reality programs. I thought the writers strike was over. I hope you don’t take me too seriously. I really love your blog posts but this one has me revealing another side of myself!
Nicole Rushin´s last [type] ..Stretching and Leaping to Reach Your Goals
26. July 2010 at 8:34 pm
ah yeah i got you going girl, wooo hoooOOOOooo ! ! !
may i take a moment and reveal how i am the epitome of Gen Y, and i have a feeling you are Gen X, yes? i guess that would explain a lot…
now that you’ve heard about Snooki, i guarantee you will see her or hear her mentioned another time this week. and when you do, RUN ! ! !
26. July 2010 at 8:56 pm
I’m with you Nicole, at what point in time did the M change from MUSIC to MONOTONOUS TV
27. July 2010 at 7:36 am
lol i see Snooki has caused quite a stir!
26. July 2010 at 8:57 pm
Well, in line with Nicole’s comment (although I would tend to say it a bit less blatantly), I had never heard of Snooki before reading this blog post. And I never watched Jersey Shore. First, I am not a Gen X or a Gen Y. I am a Baby Boomer, in the process of creating an entire blog devoted to that generation. And the “shores” I most identify with are The Hamptons and Fire Island (having originated in New York.
However, I found this blog post intriguing. You have captured the eseence of what made Snooki so irresistible to those who watched that series. She let herself be seen. She got down and dirty and very, very real. And people are attracted to that. I am learning to let down and open up gradually, as I continue to write and connect with others online. It is really so freeing.
Dr. Erica Goodstone´s last [type] ..Healing Through Words
27. July 2010 at 7:37 am
freeing is the perfect word! yes, we are all learning together to let our guards down online. thanks erica
26. July 2010 at 9:51 pm
I’ve heard of Jersey Shore, but I have never watched it. Your post was very informative and I will definitely pass it one to my list of people. Thanks for sharing.
~ Tim
Empowered Tribe Member
Tim Colletti´s last [type] ..Great Social Media Tool For Twitter And Facebook!
27. July 2010 at 7:44 am
i gave you the cliff notes tim… no need to watch it yourself. i admit, it’s garbage!
27. July 2010 at 4:04 pm
Melissa,
I don’t watch TV at all anymore. Yes, I’ve heard about this show and what I heard was enough to decide not to. But that’s not your point.
Another Baby Boomer weighing in here!
I agree whole heartedly with Erica that you did a great job of taking the main point of being yourself from this show and used it as an analogy for us online business people. THAT is a great notice! The way to connect is to be open and transparent. You explored that key element with originality and fore sight. Love that.
BTW, if you want to talk about the original Saturday Night Live…. I’m there,
Val
Val Wilcox´s last [type] ..What’s Your Focus
27. July 2010 at 7:55 pm
vintage SNL is so awesome val, you’re so right!
i agree, you don’t need to watch snooki to “get it”… and i love learning about you through your blog val =)
30. July 2010 at 5:35 pm
Melissa,
Thanks for a great post. I freely admit that Jersey Shores is a not-so-guilty pleasure, but I grew up in Brooklyn, so what can I say? It’s so bad, it’s good. In regard to revealing ourselves more fully, it is a dilemma. While I continue to find my voice as a blogger, as a psychologist, I’m always weighing the impact of how much self-disclosure is helpful for my patients and how much might get in the way of our work. It’s a tough dance.
Adam
Dr. Adam Sheck´s last [type] ..The 3 C’s of Relationship- Chemistry- Compatibility & Commitment
31. July 2010 at 8:34 am
yes, i imagine you can’t cross a certain line with your clients to retain your professionalism… luckily in the blogosphere some of us abhor professionalism!
i really enjoy the stories you share; i think it’s what humanizes our content even if it’s not about you personally. you are doing awesome in your endeavors here dr adam!
4. February 2011 at 8:42 pm
Melissa,
I laughed all the way through this.
Don’t hate me cause I’m orange!
Priceless!!
I never miss Jersey Shore!
DO you expect anything less from a Jersey Boy who grew up on Staten Island, lol
.
Tommy D.
Tommy DiPietro | Social Networking With The MLM Blogger´s last [type] ..Facebook Power Tip Easy Squeezy Steps On How To Leverage Tagging and Sharing Your MLM Blog Content