Please Don't Like This

Key takeaways

Applause and 'likes' are complex social signals that can foster superficial validation and anxiety, both in art and work environments.
Authentic communication is often hindered by the desire for social approval, leading to superficial interactions that diminish meaningful engagement.
Glenn Gould’s approach to performance challenges the norm of seeking external praise, highlighting the importance of genuine connection and integrity.
Modern digital habits, including social media behaviors, mirror historical patterns of seeking validation, but they also risk amplifying stress and superficiality in professional settings.
Mindful engagement with social feedback mechanisms is crucial—recognizing their influence can help foster more authentic, less stressful interactions.

Summary

Glenn Gould and the Philosophy of Audience Response

This section explores Glenn Gould's 1962 performance at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival where he requested the audience not to applaud, aiming to create a reverent silence for Bach's Art of Fugue. The response was largely negative, revealing a tension between performers' intentions and audience expectations. Gould's views, expressed in his essay 'Let's Ban a Pause', criticize the social and superficial nature of applause and its impact on genuine musical communication. His reluctance toward live applause reflects a broader discomfort with social validation and the performative aspects of public performance, emphasizing the desire for more authentic, direct communication.

The Modern Workplace and Social Media Dynamics

This section discusses how social media features like applause buttons mimic Gould's ideas about audience feedback, but also introduce new problems. At Basecamp, the company experimented with removing the applause feature to observe reactions, revealing that such gauges can induce anxiety and promote superficial interactions. The podcast delves into the gamification of work and social media, highlighting concerns about how metrics like 'likes' and 'claps' can distort authentic feedback, foster competition, and create unnecessary stress among employees and users.

Personal Anecdotes and Social Media Impact

This part features interviews with Basecamp employees Tara Mann and others, who share their experiences with social media validation. Tara discusses how 'likes' and follower counts influence her self-perception and creative expression, drawing parallels to workplace applause. She emphasizes awareness of these patterns but admits the involuntary nature of seeking validation via social platforms. The discussion underscores the psychological effects of reward systems and the importance of mindful engagement with social media, especially considering its deep integration into personal and professional identities.

Gould's Artistic and Social Controversies as a Reflection of Modern Issues

The episode concludes by reminiscing about Glenn Gould’s playful, satirical projects that flipped expectations around performance and applause, such as his mock concert on a drilling rig. Gould’s disdain for superficial audience reactions and his pursuit of authenticity are paralleled with modern concerns about social validation, workplace stress, and the impact of digital interaction norms. The narrative suggests that Gould’s quest for genuine communication remains highly relevant in today’s social media age, urging listeners to reconsider the value and impact of external validation.

Show notes

At Basecamp, we're in the midst of a debate over an Applause feature that was designed to improve communication but might be stoking unwanted anxiety. In this episode, CTO David Heinemeier Hansson and iOS designer Tara Mann present different sides of the Applause debate and explore the ways behavior patterns in social media are trickling into the workplace. We also look at how world-famous pianist Glenn Gould challenged norms around performance, audiences, and applause.