Comments on: 10 Things I Hate About So-Called Gurus!

By: 10 Tips to Ensure That You’re NOT A Social Media Sucker! | Thoughtpick Blog

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:37:18 +0000

[...] you think you are some kind of social media guru or simply just someone who is special just because you use social media, you are mistaken! You are [...]

By: Lavanya

Lavanya — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:08:47 +0000

This is so true. Many calls them as Gurus but fail to behave as one.

By: Roland Hesz

Roland Hesz — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:58:57 +0000

Spot on article.
I think you can spot the false gurus easily – they have the word “guru” in their profile.
And to answer your question
“If there are more than 7,000 gurus alone on Twitter, how many of them are real and how many are just guru-wannabe’s?”

None.

By: Top 10 Social Media Golden Posts: Rules, Tips & Know-How’s! | Thoughtpick Blog

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:49:11 +0000

[...] Rules, Tips & Know-How’s! At Thoughtpick, we don’t claim to be social media gurus – because… don’t get me started! However, we place a great deal of our time and [...]

By: Username: @xadultfinder – Action: Unfollow! More Twitter Tips… | Thoughtpick Blog

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:36:56 +0000

[...] Should Be Sincere: If you are not a guru, don’t claim to be one in your user name! This applies to everything else ranging from claiming to be a doctor to [...]

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:28:32 +0000

HI Beirut,
It's been a while since I've seen your posts on Twitter. Glad to be here to comment on one of your blog posts especially this one. #6 is the one that irks me the most. Emailing several times on different occasions about ideas or comments and even some questions i wanted to get a response to never got an answer back. This well known “guru” had a TV show last year. He's pretty quiet lately but last year he sent me offers after offers that I just got sick of it. Do you think these “gurus” have been lying low from all the guru-bashing going on?

By: Top 10 Tips to Avoid Getting Blocked on Twitter… | Thoughtpick Blog

Top 10 Tips to Avoid Getting Blocked on Twitter… | Thoughtpick Blog — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:57:32 +0000

[...] Humble: Don’t pretend you are a guru or act as if you know more than you do. “Wannabe’s” are not welcomed [...]

By: Krud

Krud — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:39:34 +0000

I think I'm going to start calling myself a Fake Guru. Help people on their journey of spouting off hypocritical opinions with no basis in experience or education. (Except if I'm really a fake guru, I shouldn't have to call myself one, people would just know, right? ':D)

Okay, in all seriousness, I agree with your article. At the very least, people are rendering the word “guru” as worthless and/or meaningless as the words “promise”, “love”, and “bargain.” (”At Value Guru, we Promise You'll Love Our Bargains!”)

I noticed, however, that someone on your linked list was a “time travel guru.” I give them kudos for creativity…

By: Krud

Krud — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:39:34 +0000

I noticed, however, that someone on your linked list was a “time travel guru.” I give them kudos for creativity…

By: Social Media & Medical Diagnosis: Could Your Online Doctor Kill You? | Thoughtpick Blog

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:52:55 +0000

[...] almost every little piece of news we read and advice we need, social media has become a place for “self-acclaimed” gurus in every field, even the critical field of [...]

By: leila

leila — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:11:05 +0000

Nice article, Beiruta. I have some problems with the world guru too, and find it embarrassing when people self-proclaim themselves. Good job, keep it up.

Thanks for following me on twitter too.

Leila

By: jwashburn

jwashburn — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:21:10 +0000

Guru-ism is annoying, yes. Anyone who calls him/herself a guru should be smacked.

One thing: I think you're a little harsh in your first example, that clearly being some kid who's playing 'grown up' and was probably a little kid in '95. Not to say that his site isn't really silly, but finding an example of someone who's old enough to know better might sell your point better. Just sayin'

By: Toyaisme

Toyaisme — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 05:50:24 +0000

I think and believe that a real guru is called a guru by other people. A real guru wouldn't agressive advertise and claim the knowledge but leave it all up to yourself.
Interesting blog and subject!

By: misscj

misscj — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:41:50 +0000

I liked this post a lot. I couldn't agree more. “Guru” means “spiritual teacher” at its base and you're quite right, “Gu” is darkness and “ru” means destruction so “destroyer/dispeller of darkness”. It's pretty rare to meet a guru in a lifetime, what with having to be laden with divine consciousness and all that to qualify.

Brian is right, Gurus are not self-proclaimed. Wally says that now we apply the term loosely and although we do, it doesn't change what the meaning of it is. When we call someone a “Golfing Guru” it's tongue in cheek. It's pretty funny how people self-appoint themselves seeming to have completely not understood this. I mean “Dr Dre” was not a doctor as far as I know.

I would estimate that about 100% of people on the internet right now are not “Gurus” :)

By: Amer Kawar

Amer Kawar — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 07:43:30 +0000

I agree with you since I noticed that trend of self-proclaimed gurus more than a month ago, and it got on my nerves! I tweeted: "My work requires me to surf 100's of pages/profiles a day. In my opinion, anyone who calls himself a "guru" is a knob-head!"

http://twitter.com/amerkawar/status/1950152376

Great article, Beirut :)

By: Amer Kawar

Amer Kawar — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 07:43:30 +0000

By: avidadollars

avidadollars — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:50:39 +0000

To tell you the truth, I wanted to write a similar kind of article, but I'm glad you did :-) I'm an historian, I have to claim my YouTube channel as a “guru” because there're different videos there, and underlining the expertise feels like a right thing to do. But – as to why I mentioned my degree subject – it doesn't cease to amaze me that people don't even look into the definitions of the words, neither do they know what happened to those who were called by those names. I had to write a paper once about the Hindu Gurus – as it happens, half of them were martyrs! What's so great about calling yourself by the name that isn't actually that good?

And don't forget “evangelists”. I'm relieved they don't use the word “gospeller”, though. The entire religion would be rewritten by now.

Thanks for your great post.

By: avidadollars

avidadollars — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:50:39 +0000

And don't forget “evangelists”. I'm relieved they don't use the word “gospeller”, though. The entire religion would be rewritten by now.

Thanks for your great post.

By: Beiruta

Beiruta — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:59:05 +0000

Thank you for the example you have mentioned and thank you for your feedback as well :)

By: Beiruta

Beiruta — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:59:05 +0000

Thank you for the example you have mentioned and thank you for your feedback as well :)

By: Beiruta

Beiruta — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:58:10 +0000

That is exactly what I wanted to do: NAIL THEM :) Glad I was able to :)

No need to thank us for this post or any other :) Our main purpose is discussing issues and topics of value to our community and readers :)

By: Beiruta

Beiruta — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:58:10 +0000

One more thing: glad to have you as one of our reader :)

By: Beiruta

Beiruta — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:56:05 +0000

That's exactly what I meant to do: NAIL THEM :)
You're more than welcome! You know it's our aim and highest objective to try and provide unique topics and content to our readers through our humble blog :)

By: Beiruta

Beiruta — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:56:05 +0000

By: Beiruta

Beiruta — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:54:45 +0000

Welcome to our blog :) and my post in specific!

You're definitely right, it's crucial to have a list of real and trusted credentials whenever there are other people involved; people you are going to teach and interact with.

Hope to see you here more often :)

By: Beiruta

Beiruta — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:54:45 +0000

By: Wally Bock

Wally Bock — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:40:29 +0000

In the beginning, there were the religious gurus. Then the term was applied to Peter Drucker, whom many of us showed wisdom beyond even the excellent authors, consultants and teachers. In both those cases, the community awarded the guru appellation based on their perception of value. Now, gurus appoint themselves. You've outlined the result of that quite well.

By: Wally Bock

Wally Bock — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:40:29 +0000

By: Wally Bock

Wally Bock — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:39:53 +0000

By: S K Jain

S K Jain — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:57:00 +0000

You've nailed them very well, thanks a lot for a posting on the subject… these guys can't remove shadows but add more to them in different colors…

By: S K Jain

S K Jain — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:57:00 +0000

You've nailed them very well, thanks a lot for a posting on the subject… these guys can't remove shadows but add more to them in different colors…

By: Marc A. Pitman

Marc A. Pitman — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:34:56 +0000

I love it. Great points!

The hardest one for me it #3. People need to know your credentials to feel comfortable hiring you. And to justify their hiring you to their bosses or boards. That's why I like getting someone else to draft something. They can be more objective.

But as I said in my tweet, #1 really resonates. I was shocked to find "experts" quoted in an article on Twitter only had 70ish follower and 4 updates! *sigh*

By: Marc A. Pitman

Marc A. Pitman — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:34:56 +0000

By: Beiruta

Beiruta — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:02:08 +0000

Loved the proverb! Good one :)
I really enjoyed your comment especially the part where you said: “others will do a far better job of singing your praises that you can ever do”… It's true and I very much agree! If you do something great, people will spread the news, but if you spend time trying to prove you are great, eventually no one will care to listen to you or talk about you :)

By: Beiruta

Beiruta — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:02:08 +0000

By: Beiruta

Beiruta — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:59:28 +0000

I am more than glad to see your positive feedback :) You're more than welcome :) Stay tuned to more and more articles that tickle the mind and tease the senses :)

By: Beiruta

Beiruta — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:59:28 +0000

I am more than glad to see your positive feedback :) You're more than welcome :) Stay tuned to more and more articles that tickle the mind and tease the senses :)

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:50:05 +0000

Enjoyed this post and echoes my irritation at so many self-styled experts. “Show not tell” springs to mind – if you are great at what you do, others will do a far better job of singing your praises that you can ever do. Reminds me also of the old proverb “An empty vessel makes the most sound”.

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:50:05 +0000

By: gloxpolguard

gloxpolguard — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:37:56 +0000

This is an excellent article and I fully subscribe to the content. In my opinion, you have described the situation to a tee. In a world where everyone claims to be a guru, you never know who you can trust until you find the real thing. Thank you for a great topic selection.