Comments on: The Difference Between Enthusiasts, Experts and Evangelists

By: Don’t become the expert : HR india

Don’t become the expert : HR india — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:23:58 +0000

[...] Realised that my friend Gaurav had posted something similar by Gautam Ghosh|Follow on Twitter | Connect on Linkedin | Become a Fan on Facebook | Join the HR [...]

By: Gaurav Mishra

Gaurav Mishra — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:35:44 +0000

@Sriyansa/Ravi: You are right. As social media matures, we’ll see a more clear separation of enthusiasts, experts and evangelists. As of now, all three are mixed up.

@Duncan/Praveen: The biggest difference between an expert and an evangelist is the absence of the veneer of impartiality and the element of activism. The intention was not to imply that experts and arrogant and stuck up(and I haven’t used either of those words), just that there’s a bigger role for evangelists in the new media environment that in the media landscape dominated by TV and newspaper.

By: Ravi

Ravi — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:53:11 +0000

Nice post, most of the thoughts regarding experts, evangelists and enthusiasts would be right depending on the context (thought, product, etc.). Technology and Social Media, once they pass a critical mass of user reach will play a significant role in the Social, Political, Business landscape. Whether it will be beneficial or not remains to be seen as these will be used by the same people who form the composition of society. Till it reaches critical mass (not sure how to define this, most likely adoption, similar to the moble revolution) this will be a niche, elitist indulgence .. a nice way to show peers one is IN and GETS it.

By: Duncan Work

Duncan Work — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:10:14 +0000

I like twitteratti’s response best: “Enthusiast is interested. Expert is interested and knowledgeable. Evangelist is interested, knowledgeable, and shares.:

The word “expert” simply means “expert” – that is, someone who has a lot of knowledge and experience and a good reputation for that. The word “expert” doesn’t mean “arrogant” or “top-down” or “pre-Internet.” I think it’s fine to not like arrogance and stuckness, but why mix up those associations with the simple word “expert”?

By: Praveen

Praveen — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:39:47 +0000

Absolutely well said..Experts belong to the era of the Top Down Media/Government/Education , Enthusiasts/Activists belong to Age of Grass root Bottom up Revolution in Media/Govmnt/Education. They are two different paradigms.

Praveen
http://spraveenitpro.blogspot.com

By: Sriyansa

Sriyansa — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:45:26 +0000

My personal view is that enthusiast, expert & evangelist mean different things at different stages of an idea/concept/product/platform and sometimes the the very same thing

For something in a nascent stage, there is no difference because the early adopters i.e. enthusiasts are also fairly chatty especially amongst themselves i.e. evangelists. And since they are willing to try a new solution they are closest to the need that is being created or is unfulfilled i.e. they know of other potential ways to solve these i.e. expert. Social media is today (depending on whom you ask) is either just starting or on the verge of becoming big. But for this field I think all 3 roles are rolled into one.

However as the idea or product matures these three separate out … the first being the evangelists who drive further adoption & change; then experts & enthusiasts