The ways we talk about the world

Stuart Henshall has another generative post on Skype and Mobile operators. Stuart's been pushing a valuable conversation about mobile and telephony technologies and communications experiences. This one continues that discussion.

But I was most struck by the language in the last paragraph:

Who is threatened?

- Mobile operators need help! Skype potentially turns off you and me from any "positive vibes" for our mobile services. The Wi-Fi handset becomes a "cheap" alternative. Only way to keep us.. put Skype on the mobile.
- Handset vendors that don't accomodate / embrace Skype are left behind. Outmoded UI's, lack of presence etc.
- The Landline operators become really desperate. They will look for a Skype killer. The problem is that the solution is even more challenging for them to embrace. (think Popular Telephony)

I agree with Stuart's assessment. But I just saw the following words in a new light: "threatened," "desperate," and "killer." It's probably always been this way, but it seems that almost all the news in business is about threats (to profits, revenues, growth), desperate measures (to increase profits, revenues, growth), and killer applications, or deals, etc. And maybe markets are all about aggression, winning, and losing. Is that it?

Valentine's Day seems to have put me in a soft mood. Definitely can't be good for business.