Boring or Obnoxious? Pick Your Poison.

“If people aren’t talking about you, there’s a reason. You’re boring – your products are boring, your services are boring, your message is boring, your marketing is boring . . .”

via Seth Godin Thinks You’re Boring | Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing.

I can rarely handle anything that commands more than 30 minutes of my attention. I did, however, listen to this entire interview (while doing homework). It’s pretty good. I suggest listening to it, downloading it, then listening to it again once you think you’re no longer boring.

I like a lot of what he says in the context in which he says it. However, I feel like this is the sort of thing that people would misinterpret and then apply to the rest of their lives, and become obnoxious failures. They may not be boring, but they are definitely going to be obnoxious.

So which is worse? Being obnoxious or being boring?

A lot of people and things in this world annoy me. I won’t even attempt to list any of them, as it would take far too long and I would come off as a severe bitch.

In any case, I cannot stand people that bore me. Like it’s more than uninteresting to me… it’s actually painful. I have a good friend that will look at a simple, boring girl and say “I just want to punch her in the face.” What? Why? She’s so sweet and nonabrasive! “Just to see how someone that boring would react to something so not boring.” She’s a champ. I love her.

On the other hand, even if someone has something worth saying, hearing or seeing it all the time is just as bad for me. I actually cannot stand people or things that have too much hype. Get it out of my face, please. People talk about things because (a) they think it will make others listen, (b) they think it’s what people want to hear, or (c) they’re desperate for attention. Either way, that’s ugly. And annoying. And due to lack of substance, boring as hell. I’m sure you’ve heard all the quotes (many of which I have tweeted) that basically say to be leery of those who talk to much or are always the center of attention. They probably have alterior motives. Or they’re just douchebags that want to be heard for the sake of being heard. Either way, annoying.

I will be the first to say that I don’t know a whole lot about successful blogging or marketing strategies, etc. But I know what actually sparks my interest. And I’m probably the harshest critic I know. I find fault with almost everything. But here’s what I think:

If you don’t have something really really REALLY worthwhile and unique to say, please don’t say it. You’re wasting your time as well as your audience’s time. Don’t be boring. It’s annoying.

If you’re saying something primarily to get attention or to be talked about, don’t say it. Just please don’t. You’re still wasting everyone’s time, but it’s even more annoying because it’s more visible.

So unless you have something of substance to communicate AND you have a good reason for communicating that something, just stop. Don’t reconsider, don’t even save it as a draft. Just delete it. And stop being annoying.

And with that, I will return to studying for my first exam over international accounting policy–something that is, dare I say it: Boring and obnoxious. Pray for my soul.