G’day to Stephanie and the crew!

by Lee Hopkins on October 27, 2006 · 34 comments

Robert French invited me to chat with some of his senior students this morning and, seeing as how I was up late at the SecondLife launch party for crayon, I overslept and was 45 minutes late!

Gracious as ever, Robert had been keeping the students entertained by showing them SecondLife and discussing some of its implications for PR and business.

But when I finally got online he had a preprepared batch of questions that made me think — not easy after only 2.5 hours sleep!!

Like Robert, the students at Auburn were delightful. We talked about PR, marketing, business, the personal results I’ve experienced as a result of my involvement with Social Media (‘Web2.0′), Stephanie’s engagement, and we swapped a few really old junior school jokes that one girl was embarrassed to admit she even knew the punchline of:

“How do you make a handkerchief dance?” *

And the infamous “Did you know diarrhoea is hereditary? It runs in your jeans” brought many laughs and some nausea.

We discussed the Steve Irwin phenomenon, why SecondLife might be as big as some think it will be, how the internet has shown itself spectacularly adept at ‘blind-siding’ everyone (the next ‘Google Killer’ could be launching next week; we could have four ‘YouTube’ phenomenon’s by Christmas 2008); and a whole lot more.

There was much humour, ridicule, insults and compliments shared — much as good friends share. Which is what it felt like: the sharing of ideas with friends.

It’s the same with Jenkins and I — never met, but shared sense of humour and instant rapport makes for good conversations.

Many many thanks to Robert for extending the invitation to me to, initially, blog over at the Marcom blog and then to be a part of his class. Robert, you are a true pioneer and as some of the comments from your students attest, a man of heart and honour. It’s my pleasure to have you in my life, mate!

And if you want to see some of the students in action (including one of Miss Auburn University, and here’s why if you are male you possibly should), might I suggest you check out The Loveliest Village and their Flikr photos. Which raises for me another wonderful love story about the internet — not only can I read their blogs listen to their podcasts, but I can subscribe to their photos so that when they post new ones I can see them within minutes. Fantastic!

And I can’t believe the size of the crowd they get at their college football games — makes our AFL look positively kindergarten by comparison!

=========================

* You put a bit of boogie in it!

http://leehopkins.net/images/stephanie.jpg

Tagged as: blogging, humour, interviews, podcasting, pr

http://www.auburnmedia.com/wordpress/ Robert French

Thank you, Lee. The students enjoyed the chat. You’re one of their favorites.

It was fun and another example of new technology (although really not that new anymore) making conversations in class so easy today. We spoke on Skype and students were able to ask questions.

The last five minutes did get a bit goofy, but that was fun, too. I hope we can do this again in the future. Thanks.
http://www.auburnmedia.com/wordpress/ Robert French

Thank you, Lee. The students enjoyed the chat. You’re one of their favorites.

It was fun and another example of new technology (although really not that new anymore) making conversations in class so easy today. We spoke on Skype and students were able to ask questions.

The last five minutes did get a bit goofy, but that was fun, too. I hope we can do this again in the future. Thanks.
http://allanjenkins.typepad.com/ Allan Jenkins

You slay me, Hopkins. Auburn students are Southerners, Lee, just like me. We don’t defecate and we don’t do defecation jokes. Sheeesh. No more Vic Bitter for you.
http://allanjenkins.typepad.com Allan Jenkins

You slay me, Hopkins. Auburn students are Southerners, Lee, just like me. We don’t defecate and we don’t do defecation jokes. Sheeesh. No more Vic Bitter for you.
Christi

Lee, wish you could have chatted with our class. Robert never lets Style & Design do anything fun…it’s all work and no play for us. (But we still love him) Thanks for the Loveliest Village plug.
Christi

Lee, wish you could have chatted with our class. Robert never lets Style & Design do anything fun…it’s all work and no play for us. (But we still love him) Thanks for the Loveliest Village plug.
Tyler H.

Hi Lee,
Thanks so much for talking to our class last Thursday. As this is my first semester with Robert, this whole social media way of life is becoming rather cool to me. I do have questions about every single aspect we cover, but hey, there is no such thing as a dumb question, right? We all enjoyed getting a tiny glimpse into exactly what you do and I am sure it entails much more than I could fathom. SecondLife still leaves me slightly confused but maybe I will understand it all before I graduatue (crosses fingers hoping to graduate on time). We hope that we can talk to you again and good luck with all that you continue to do!
Tyler Herrin

P.S. – It runs in your jeans…
Tyler H.

Hi Lee,
Thanks so much for talking to our class last Thursday. As this is my first semester with Robert, this whole social media way of life is becoming rather cool to me. I do have questions about every single aspect we cover, but hey, there is no such thing as a dumb question, right? We all enjoyed getting a tiny glimpse into exactly what you do and I am sure it entails much more than I could fathom. SecondLife still leaves me slightly confused but maybe I will understand it all before I graduatue (crosses fingers hoping to graduate on time). We hope that we can talk to you again and good luck with all that you continue to do!
Tyler Herrin

P.S. – It runs in your jeans…
Kristina Wilburn

Thank you so much Lee for talking to our PR class this past week. It is always really helpful to hear professionals speak of their career experiences. I learned a good bit about secondlife as well- really interesting concept. I’m going to create an account to understand what all is happening in that alternate universe. Thanks again for chatting with us eventhough you were nursing a hangover. G’day
Kristina Wilburn

Thank you so much Lee for talking to our PR class this past week. It is always really helpful to hear professionals speak of their career experiences. I learned a good bit about secondlife as well- really interesting concept. I’m going to create an account to understand what all is happening in that alternate universe. Thanks again for chatting with us eventhough you were nursing a hangover. G’day
Rachel S

Hey Lee! Thanks so much for talking to us on Thursday! It’s always great to actually hear a voice of someone that has been so successful with social media and blogging. I have Robert for two classes this semester and it’s been extremely interesting. I have double the blogging and loveliestvillage duties, but it’s all worth it. I can’t believe how much I have learned and how much I can take with me into potential job interviews and perhaps a potential job! Of course I still have a billion other things to learn, but I think I’m off to a good start thanks to Robert and other contributors of Marcom blog. I know your days are booked, so we appreciate you taking time out and talking with us. Hope to hear from you again soon!
Rachel S

Hey Lee! Thanks so much for talking to us on Thursday! It’s always great to actually hear a voice of someone that has been so successful with social media and blogging. I have Robert for two classes this semester and it’s been extremely interesting. I have double the blogging and loveliestvillage duties, but it’s all worth it. I can’t believe how much I have learned and how much I can take with me into potential job interviews and perhaps a potential job! Of course I still have a billion other things to learn, but I think I’m off to a good start thanks to Robert and other contributors of Marcom blog. I know your days are booked, so we appreciate you taking time out and talking with us. Hope to hear from you again soon!
Stephanie’s Mom

Stephanie’s engagement has leaped continents – how cool is that? Mr. Hopkins’ comments will make a nice addition to the engagement scrapbook. She’s a lovely Southern girl, hard working, and makes us very proud! Glad to share her happy news with Aussie’s PR expert! G’day to you too.
Stephanie’s Mom

Stephanie’s engagement has leaped continents – how cool is that? Mr. Hopkins’ comments will make a nice addition to the engagement scrapbook. She’s a lovely Southern girl, hard working, and makes us very proud! Glad to share her happy news with Aussie’s PR expert! G’day to you too.
http://stephanie2006.prblogs.org/ Stephanie

Hey Lee,
Thanks so much for the engagement announcement and for talking with our class last Thursday. I especially like the picture! As you can see, your post even led my mom to write her first blog comment, wow! Thanks again for the time you took to chat with us. Hope to hear from you again very soon.
http://stephanie2006.prblogs.org/ Stephanie

Hey Lee,
Thanks so much for the engagement announcement and for talking with our class last Thursday. I especially like the picture! As you can see, your post even led my mom to write her first blog comment, wow! Thanks again for the time you took to chat with us. Hope to hear from you again very soon.
Amy

Hey Lee!
After reading your recap of our class conversation, I realize we covered quite a variety of topics didn’t we? Thank you so much for rolling out of bed so early after your night of partying to chat with us for a little while. I have had classes with Robert before, and I have to say that I agree with every description you give of him (but don’t tell him I said so!) I did have a question for you though. You advised us to read as much literature as we could to improve ourselves. I was wondering if you had any suggestions of books that you have read that you think we might enjoy as well. Thanks again for chatting with us!
Amy

Hey Lee!
After reading your recap of our class conversation, I realize we covered quite a variety of topics didn’t we? Thank you so much for rolling out of bed so early after your night of partying to chat with us for a little while. I have had classes with Robert before, and I have to say that I agree with every description you give of him (but don’t tell him I said so!) I did have a question for you though. You advised us to read as much literature as we could to improve ourselves. I was wondering if you had any suggestions of books that you have read that you think we might enjoy as well. Thanks again for chatting with us!
http://www.loveliestvillage.org/journal Danielle W.

Hey Lee! Thanks so much for waking up early to chat with our class. (So weird that it’s already tomorrow there!) We definitely covered a wide variety of topics from SecondLife to kangaroos!
It’s great that technology allows us to get information from an expert around the globe. This is my first class with Robert and getting acquainted with the world of social media is quite interesting! I would also appreciate any suggestions for great books to read! I hope the class can talk with you again!
http://www.loveliestvillage.org/journal Danielle W.

Hey Lee! Thanks so much for waking up early to chat with our class. (So weird that it’s already tomorrow there!) We definitely covered a wide variety of topics from SecondLife to kangaroos!
It’s great that technology allows us to get information from an expert around the globe. This is my first class with Robert and getting acquainted with the world of social media is quite interesting! I would also appreciate any suggestions for great books to read! I hope the class can talk with you again!
http://leehopkins.net/ Lee Hopkins

G’day everyone!

It was absolutely my pleasure to chat with “y’awll” (is that how you say it?). It was great fun and I only hope you can forgive me for two things:

1. turning up 45 minutes late
2. leaving you with an unshakeable image of me in my dressing gown, a webcam and some spotty teenage male somewhere in the world logging on to “Lee’s dressing gown cam” in the hope that he sees some foxy babe and instead finding me — LOL

Stephanie’s mum: hey, send me a few photos and I’ll blog about your daughter, her beau and the upcoming marriage!

Stephanie: as long as you name your firstborn after me we can still be friends {grin}; you may send me tickets to the wedding — I only fly First Class {huge laugh}

Anytime you want me to come back and disrupt Robert’s classes some more, just let me know!
http://leehopkins.net Lee Hopkins

G’day everyone!

It was absolutely my pleasure to chat with “y’awll” (is that how you say it?). It was great fun and I only hope you can forgive me for two things:

1. turning up 45 minutes late
2. leaving you with an unshakeable image of me in my dressing gown, a webcam and some spotty teenage male somewhere in the world logging on to “Lee’s dressing gown cam” in the hope that he sees some foxy babe and instead finding me — LOL

Stephanie’s mum: hey, send me a few photos and I’ll blog about your daughter, her beau and the upcoming marriage!

Stephanie: as long as you name your firstborn after me we can still be friends {grin}; you may send me tickets to the wedding — I only fly First Class {huge laugh}

Anytime you want me to come back and disrupt Robert’s classes some more, just let me know!
http://leehopkins.net/ Lee Hopkins

Danielle, as for books to read: anything that your local bookshop recommends, stay away from blockbuster bodice rippers and keep more towards the ‘literary’ end of the market. Your local bookshop owner will know exactly the right thing to get you — erudite, passionate, beautiful phraseology.

Off the top of my head people like John Irving (I remember reading ‘A Prayer for Owen Meany’ on a beach in Vietnam and sobbing my heart out at the end of it), Garrison Keillor, Richard Adams (‘Watership Down’), Julian Barnes, John LeCarre, Lawrence Block (especially his wonderful Bernie Rhodenbarr series), Pratchett and Gaiman’s sublime ‘Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch’ (but only good if you like subtle English dry humour; I do and I have cried with laughter on buses reading it and the good news is it’s about to come out in paperback!).

But start a conversation with your local bookshop owner and you’ll walk out with more books of varying genres than you can wave an Amex at! And all will be good for your writing, even if you don’t actually like reading the books themselves.
http://leehopkins.net Lee Hopkins

Danielle, as for books to read: anything that your local bookshop recommends, stay away from blockbuster bodice rippers and keep more towards the ‘literary’ end of the market. Your local bookshop owner will know exactly the right thing to get you — erudite, passionate, beautiful phraseology.

Off the top of my head people like John Irving (I remember reading ‘A Prayer for Owen Meany’ on a beach in Vietnam and sobbing my heart out at the end of it), Garrison Keillor, Richard Adams (‘Watership Down’), Julian Barnes, John LeCarre, Lawrence Block (especially his wonderful Bernie Rhodenbarr series), Pratchett and Gaiman’s sublime ‘Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch’ (but only good if you like subtle English dry humour; I do and I have cried with laughter on buses reading it and the good news is it’s about to come out in paperback!).

But start a conversation with your local bookshop owner and you’ll walk out with more books of varying genres than you can wave an Amex at! And all will be good for your writing, even if you don’t actually like reading the books themselves.
http://allanjenkins.typepad.com/ Allan Jenkins

Danielle, if I can add to Lee’s estimable list (and these are all Southern writers, by the way):

Pat Conroy, South Carolina/Georgia (Lords of Discipline, The Prince of Tides, the Great Santini). Even his cookbook is excellent: recipes interwoven with sublime essays on life, love, loss, redemption.

William Styron, Virginia (Sophie’s Choice, A Tidewater Morning, Lie Down in Darkness, the Confessions of Nat Turner). Writes slowly and publishes rarely, which may be why he has 60 years of bestsellers.

Peter Taylor, Virginia and Tennessee. Superb short stories, and his short novel “A Summons to Memphis” is one I read every year.

Ferrol Sams, Georgia. Sams is a retired physician who first published at age 60 or so. Tighter, edgier, funnier stuff than I’ll ever write.

And Flannery O’ Connor, Robert Penn Warren, Eudora Welty (the email program “Eudora” is named in honor of her hilarious short story “Why I live at the P.O.”), Faulkner (of course), Shelby Foote. And the tremendous Bobbie Ann Mason (Kentucky), whose short stories can only be read one at a time: two would be an overdose — they are that good.

Oh… don’t get me started!
http://allanjenkins.typepad.com Allan Jenkins

Danielle, if I can add to Lee’s estimable list (and these are all Southern writers, by the way):

Pat Conroy, South Carolina/Georgia (Lords of Discipline, The Prince of Tides, the Great Santini). Even his cookbook is excellent: recipes interwoven with sublime essays on life, love, loss, redemption.

William Styron, Virginia (Sophie’s Choice, A Tidewater Morning, Lie Down in Darkness, the Confessions of Nat Turner). Writes slowly and publishes rarely, which may be why he has 60 years of bestsellers.

Peter Taylor, Virginia and Tennessee. Superb short stories, and his short novel “A Summons to Memphis” is one I read every year.

Ferrol Sams, Georgia. Sams is a retired physician who first published at age 60 or so. Tighter, edgier, funnier stuff than I’ll ever write.

And Flannery O’ Connor, Robert Penn Warren, Eudora Welty (the email program “Eudora” is named in honor of her hilarious short story “Why I live at the P.O.”), Faulkner (of course), Shelby Foote. And the tremendous Bobbie Ann Mason (Kentucky), whose short stories can only be read one at a time: two would be an overdose — they are that good.

Oh… don’t get me started!
Elizabeth Wood Rodgers

It was so nice of you Lee to think of Stephanie during this oh so exciting time in her life! I thought it was very sweet. I liked the picture also. Thanks for the shout out for loveliestvillage.org website. Talk to you soon!
Elizabeth Wood Rodgers

It was so nice of you Lee to think of Stephanie during this oh so exciting time in her life! I thought it was very sweet. I liked the picture also. Thanks for the shout out for loveliestvillage.org website. Talk to you soon!
http://allanjenkins.typepad.com/ Allan Jenkins

Ooops… Bill Styron won’t be publishing any more best sellers:
http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,1937554,00.html
http://allanjenkins.typepad.com Allan Jenkins

Ooops… Bill Styron won’t be publishing any more best sellers:
http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,1937554,00.html
Virginia

Hey Lee,
Thanks again for “stopping by” last week for our class. That was my first experience with skype, pretty cool stuff I might add. Drop by anytime, it’s great to have a diversion from the regular class schedule and still learn something interesting. G’day mate!!! haha
Virginia

Hey Lee,
Thanks again for “stopping by” last week for our class. That was my first experience with skype, pretty cool stuff I might add. Drop by anytime, it’s great to have a diversion from the regular class schedule and still learn something interesting. G’day mate!!! haha
Sarah

Lee,
Thanks so much for talking with us the other day. It was so great of you to take the time to educate (and entertain) us so early in the morning. I hope you’ll post on marcom some more, and make sure Robert keeps us posted on your future plans.

If you ever come to Alabama make sure you stop by Auburn University. We should have recorded you saying, “Hey y’all. War Eagle!” Maybe next time, though.

Thanks again for your willingness to speak with us. I really enjoyed it!
-Sarah
Sarah

Lee,
Thanks so much for talking with us the other day. It was so great of you to take the time to educate (and entertain) us so early in the morning. I hope you’ll post on marcom some more, and make sure Robert keeps us posted on your future plans.

If you ever come to Alabama make sure you stop by Auburn University. We should have recorded you saying, “Hey y’all. War Eagle!” Maybe next time, though.

Thanks again for your willingness to speak with us. I really enjoyed it!
-Sarah