#dell deaton

[delldeaton]

Time is place.

Dell Deaton

[delldeaton]

Dry oats: Good enough for Mr Ed, good enough for me.

Dell Deaton

[delldeaton]

The moment your actions appear to show acceptance of behavior that you've previously characterized as unacceptable, you've difinitively proven your own assertion a lie.

Dell Deaton

[jamesbondwatches]

Make them show their work

Saw something on Google+ last week about an app to help school kids better credit research they source from the Internet.

Obviously a lot of websites, forums, and blogs that could only have gotten the content of their "definitive" James Bond watch lists from my original work could benefit from that technology.

Well-- that, after a course in ethics, and Common Courtesy 101.

Meantime, as a gesture of good will, I've started updating my primary James Bond Watches website with "validation" references. So, next time you see someone lay claim to a list of James Bond watches, have them tell you where they got their information.

Dell Deaton JamesBondWatches.com

[jamesbondwatches]

From the James Bond Watches Blog archives, February 2012.

[jamesbondwatches]

"Where Would James Bond be without His Wristwatch?"

Part 2 of presentation at the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors annual conference and convention, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2009, by Dell Deaton.

[delldeaton]

Why I'm respected, and they're not

Last Spring, I got an eMail from a fellow I knew only cursorily. He wanted to talk "news" and James Bond watches; gushing, profuse in what he shared. But (as usual), no documentation.

I was polite (my default). Wrote back something like, "thanks for sharing," maybe even, "look forward to hearing more."

To which he responded almost immediately, pressing for more. I re-read my reply immediately prior, scrutinizing it for clues that might suggest I wanted to become his pen pal. Implying I wanted close friendship.

Nothing of the sort was to be found.

In fact, it later became clear that friendship was the last thing he wanted from me. Friendship requires a high degree of transparency in motive, trust, and discretion. 

What he was voraciously looking for in Round 2 was a way to attach my imprimatur of expertise to his story. Something I've seen many times before; rather developed a nose for the scent now. With all due humility, I've found that someone being able to say, "Dell Deaton believes this to be the screen-worn James Bond watch in the movie [such-and-so]" improves both the potential for and sales price of items sold.

Deprived of this result, he settled for dropping my name into an angry Internet forum discussion viz our first interaction. "Dell and I are in conversation about this," blah, blah, blah.

And thus made my list of folks from whom I no longer take messages.

Here's yet again the essence of the Internet fanboy forum: It's the stories, the social experience; not pursuit of fact or confirmation or accuracy.

I have volumes more information on the Ian Fleming 1016 Explorer, the Sean Connery 6538, the George Lazenby 6235, and Dr No dress watches than I've ever disclosed. Than I'm ever likely to. In several cases, details that have gone on to develop as articles topping 1000, 2000, and more words in length. Only to be asked by my source not to publish. For whatever reason.

No worries. I don't have to publish any of that. Because my reputation for respecting sources, asking permission, keeping my motives focused on the story, as opposed to "look at me" flashes, means my pipeline will never dry up. In other words, I don't need to betray sources, because I'm not desperate, don't fear "this is my last chance."

That's why my record stands out as one of reliability and repeatability in James Bond watch discoveries. Because I'm uniquely trusted; and the vast majority of folks (deceptively posting under unaccountable, chicken-shit pseudonyms behind which they hide) are not.

It's about trust, stupid.

[delldeaton]

Initial attraction to tumblr

Two things. To concertedly enhance my social media reach. More importantly, to solidify my personal brand.

Prior to Google+ coming up on my screen, I'd always thought of internet communications in terms of silos. "Here's the focus I need to establish and maintain on Subject X, which is distinct from Subject Y."

At the same time, I've consistently posted under my own, real name ("Dell Deaton," or "delldeaton") believing that credibility is the number one shortcoming in terms of web-based information.

Starting with Twitter and then Facebook, I brought all aspects of my presence together under a single, overlapped (if not strategically designed) umbrella. The About.me page that I just created now solidifies that direction; Google+ will be coming up shortly.

Tumblr at first did not seem to have a fit or clear value proposition in all that.

Twitter is a rare exception as media that I do not own, yet support with original content. Otherwise, you'll see me less and less on so-called independent forums, and I no longer do WordPress.com or Blogger.

Now, and admittedly this is just a theory by definition with my first post here, I think Tumblr may well serve to support a "middle ground" between the polish that seems appropriate and required for my delldeaton.com and other blogs, but necessarily longer and more varied than what I can do with Twitter.

Hence, "notes en route from here to there."