I am human. I make mistakes. I did so yesterday in the video that we put outin the video that we put out. Instead of saying that proportional representation required the creation of larger constituencies, I said the first-past-the-post did. I did not notice it until the video video was out, when others drew it to my attention. I immediately posted a narrative correction, pointing out the very obvious mistake. I thought that was good enough.
Several commentators disagreed. In every case the theme was similar. The point they made was that I do, inevitably, have critics on the web, and they might jump on such mistakes and use them to suggest that I really do not know what I am talking about. I get that point. I think it might have reasonable in times gone by, when I might well have agreed with them.
On reflection, however, I decided to leave the video on the platforms where I shared it . Firstly, that was because the mistake was acknowledged. It's hard to really create capital of an acknowledged mistake.
Second, these TikTok orientated videos are not meant to be the ultimate answer to any question. Just like no blog post is intended to achieve that goal these are parts of an ongoing narrative. I think the world sees such content in that way.
Third, my critics will have a go at me even if I get things right. As a matter of fact, blogs ,tweets and other material saying that I am wrong is put out pretty much every day for those who want to believe it.
Fourth, soon if someone wants to make a video of me saying pretty much anything it will be possible for them to do so using AI, and apart from the fact that I will not have put it out it will be very hard to differentiate it from the real thing.
Fifth, perfection is the enemy of the good. If I spent forever trying to eliminate every typo on this blog the amount of content would go down considerably and my enjoyment from doing so would entirely disappear. Despite the fact that I sometimes am apparently unable to spot glaring errors, and have an occasional tendency when using the iPad to make really awful mistakes, the traffic has survived and, based on what they tell me, is the envy of many a publisher who would like returns equivalent to those I enjoy for the effort and cost expended.
Sixth, people were watching, liking and discussing the video and that seemed to be of benefit. Plus, I was out all day and had no alternative material to offer.
Seventh, it's a lesson learned. Just as this morning's video has some typos in the transcript ( which is normal almost everywhere as they are AI generated), mistakes happen. And we are only just over a week into this experiment in terms of putting material out.
It has been a massive learning curve. Thomas has worked phenomenally hard and has risen to the challenges, including a demand for speed whilst encountering new issues almost continually, and somehow we got well over 100,000 views in that week. I am pleased with that.
We've tried two cameras, and the iPhone is better. Now we need to master it in more environments. The intention is to make way from the desk sometime.
We have tried three microphones and there are strengths and weaknesses. This is a complicated area.
I never thought I would use a sound mixer, but I have.
We have learned a lot about lighting and avoiding glare in my glasses.
I now know why you wear make up when making video, because a little cuts down weird lighting reflections a lot. Oddly, no one seems to notice it if I forget to wipe it off either, so we must have got the balance about right.
And we've learned to reject what we've made. More attempts have been abandoned than got finished, by some way. We are trying to do well.
That said, we will definitely do better. The focus will be on getting the captions more accurate next. And yes, of course we will try to avoid obvious mistakes. More care will be taken. I/we get the message. But, so far I think the experiment is proving to be worthwhile.
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I really value your humanity, in ways that I cannot even begin, or would want to begin, to ennumerate.
What you and your contributors bring to the fore, for me, is what it is to be a living human compassionate being.
Thank you. Mistakes make us human.
Thanks Marc
I appreciate your understanding
I imagine you have used ring lights? Very impressed with content and delivery, though.
No, these are flat screen studio style lights. Ring lights always hit the glasses….
This experiment is costing serious money, but I think it will be worth it
Frankly, given your prodigious output I am not sure that you are human.
Reshooting videos is a hassle but one solution I see used on Youtube is where text is overlaid at the point of error correcting it. No idea how easy that is but it might work.
This we can do – and will
I should add that this week I also did a lot on the Taxing Weakth Report, worked on an academic paper, started work on two chapters furbthe Accounting Streams book, se5 up the PAYE scheme to pay Thomas, and more. Now I am going birdwatching….
So you made one small mistake contrast with the Starmer Party!
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/14/labours-first-100-days-what-is-their-grand-plan-for-government
We all make mistakes; that’s a human trait!
You are embracing the real world and the technology that changes the world. ‘I am learning a lot’ (you use the word at least three times) tells me how committed you are to the task, and that is impressive. Technology changes the world; and it creates the world, often without being noticed, or realised; often purposively to achieve real benefits; but often stealthily, because completely unnoticed and unwanted (so not allowed for), and for the worse; far worse. Adam Ferguson first grasped that point about change.
I say this only because i am sure you are aware of it; but just in case, in the middle of the frenetic effort…..
The medium can change the message, without being observed changing it.
Yes, I get that
And am thinking about it
To err is human
To really (insert profanity of choice) it up takes a computer
People who never make mistakes. Never make anything.
It wouldn’t be Richard Murphy without the typos, Richard, just as The Guardian isn’t referred to as The Gruaniad (by Private Eye etc) for nothing 🙂
Re the makeup. As long as you don’t end up looking like Donald ‘Orange Face’ Trump I’m not bothered (if you want a graphic illustration watch this clip https://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/lawrence-trump-s-face-lies-to-you-without-saying-a-word-208838213527.
And all credit to you for trying new ways of getting your material out there. I’m sure it’s much appreciated by most of those who see it.
Thanks Ivan
At least you didn’t claim to have saved the world!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iPaiylUYW0
Richard,
Please keep doing you. Even with some of the mistakes and most are very minor, you provide factual information that can be discussed and debated. Typos are really just the product of doing “real” work and most of the time are due to “auto correct”.
What really gets my goat are the supposedly “real” journalists who do not seem “know” the difference between the words “capital” and “capitol”. The Daily Mail and The Spectator are the worst for using incorrect works which boggles the mind as the journalists from those publications are paid and I am sure they have editors and proofreaders.
Again, keep up the good work for the good fight.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks
“Thomas has worked phenomenally hard and has risen to the challenges, including a demand for speed whilst encountering new issues almost continually”
He may be a paid employee, but a worker who strives to “get it right” is worth their weight in gold – and more. And just as importantly, the employer who instils the desire to “get it right” really is creating a team for a better world, where working for an external “good” is humanity at its best.
I thank you both from the bottom of my heart. (And I thank the family that supports this effort!)
Thanks Anne
Keep up the great work Richard, you’ve been smashing it this week. You and your son are outputting more content than some large organisations, and generating more engagements and press coverage. Brilliant work
The video shorts are just brilliant and I’m using them as a great way of sharing around what most would run away from as too complex into easier to consider ones, and an intro into your other works. Thank you enormously you really have hit on a winning formula in my opinion
Thank you
We are making more today. Eight are sketched out already…..
Richard,
The dedication you make to education is truly commendable. Your willingness to explore new avenues ensures that the message of learning and growth reaches far and wide. Thank you for your invaluable work and contributions.
Thanks
There’s a saying in Welsh: “Heb ei fai, heb ei eni.” (The Welsh ‘f’ sounds like the English ‘v’. )
Roughly translated, it says: “He who has no faults has not yet been born.”
Thanks for all your sterling work.
Thanks Chris
Welsh is a language I wish I knew more of
I have only seen two of three of your TikTok posts so far, but I’m thoroughly enjoying them. I can’t believe I’m able to say this, but I’m beginning to get to like TikTok! It is certainly a platform that we cannot ignore.
Thanks for all your do.
Thanks Mike
I admit to not properly understanding it as yet
We will be catching up with instagram this week.
If AI is worth any salt at all it should be able to find and offer corrections to your output, even to the extent of detecting output that is in conflict with your normal position on any subject.
I expect someone is working furiously on means of authentication while others are working furiously on means of defeating authentication.
And what if I have changed my mind?
If you were apparently changing your mind I would expect your AI advisor thingy to point that out to you.
You can then decide whether to edit the item to correct an error or make the change of mind clear to readers, or publish and deal with the flak.
Have you ever met a human being?
Or are you saying you have never changed your mind?
“Have you ever met a human being?”
I have.
“Or are you saying you have never changed your mind?”
I am not.
Why ask those strange questions?
Because you said that I would have serious probolems if I changed my mind and I wondered why this could be so problematic, as you clearly thought it was.
So let me ask the question in a differemt way. Why should I have a probloem with changing my mind?