Collective Behavior

First things first..."Sociologists have been researching collective behavior longer than new media have been in use" is a ridiculous statement to make. Although this was a well written and interesting article, I laughed when I read that. Wasn’t the written word a form of ‘new media’ at some point long ago? Pretty sure it was ‘in use’ and is much older than sociology and sociological research, I’m thinking.

As for the ‘2 or 3’ main ideas about the article, although there were many, I only want to talk about one…the Producing Consumer concept, or ‘Prosumer.’ The case study of the ‘Bus Uncle’ incident does indicate that we now reproduce and reinterpret what we’re given on the web. But what about off the web? Aren’t we prosumers in our everyday lives as well?  I feel with the feedback from us (in the form of whether or not we buy) that companies are exposed to, don’t we, the consumer, choose what will survive in any given market? I believe we ‘prosumed’ (my new past tense term!) the gaming phones that are out today. And Netflix (bye bye, Blockbuster). Heck,  even Volcano Tacos at Taco Bell (they were supposed to be ‘for a limited time’ but made their way onto the permanent menu probably because I alone eat so many of them!).

Okay, back into focus. I’m simply trying to say although this is an interesting term, it is not a new concept. The web has simply made it much easier for us to offer feedback to companies and Youtube video producers alike. Actors have said “you know you’ve ‘made it’ when they parody you on Saturday Night Live’…now Youtube vids have ‘made it’ when a couple hundred strangers mock, rehash or in other ways regurgitate them. Gaming phones came about because people LOVE their phones, and many of us LOVE gaming, etc, etc.

Hope I didn’t lose you all! ‘Til next, Sharxjay : )