Thoughts from Kevin Weisner

Recently, I have had the good fortune to have several delightful conversations with webtreepro Cofounder and VP Marketing, Kevin Weisner. During our last chat – Kevin touched on something I thought worth sharing and pondering over.

Kevin’s friend asked him the following question:

For all the social networking that goes on, how come no one seems to have social skills anymore?

And this is his thoughtful reply:

Maybe it should be called “Non-Social Networking.”  In fact, there’s a lot of technical ability that passes itself off as skill. Example: anyone with a Mac can call themselves a Graphic Designer, but many are just “technicians.”

As a former film photographer, I see digital manipulation as a substitute for in-camera thought about composition, lighting, and conservation of frames. Viewfinder art direction (a skill, like painting) has been replaced with “shoot like hell” and hope for the best (luck, as in winning at roulette).

Don’t get me wrong… I’m in software design so computers are my world, but even the best tool can’t turn a dilettante into an expert. It’s not the camera that takes really good pictures. It’s not the Mac than makes really nice design. It’s not the Facebook that makes for effective and thoughtful interaction.

As you can tell this is a topic I feel strongly about. As an ex-photographer, I often heard “Your camera takes really nice pictures” or “You must have a really nice camera.”

While I understand it was meant as a compliment, it illustrates the lazy thinking about the difference between talent and tools. I could buy the biggest, baddest set of tools down at Sears, but that won’t make me a mechanic…just a tool owner. Tools are neither mystical nor intelligent. Ownership does not confer education or expertise.

- Kevin Weisner