tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4909417866707688271.post1322073793541165431..comments2013-08-19T04:45:26.220-07:00Comments on The Third Path: Outrage is the Desired OutcomeAdam Noelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14057918560170406493noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4909417866707688271.post-58491158312623657882013-08-19T04:45:26.220-07:002013-08-19T04:45:26.220-07:00Maintenance of social status is a major driving fo...Maintenance of social status is a major driving force in the mind of the average consumer making it therefore a major driving force in the increase in prices of many products. In reality, it's pretty unbelievable how much money is spent on social games.If you've ever met someone who does not allow themselves to be influenced by social expectations you'll know that they live life quite differently but those people are few and far between.<br /><br />Social media has changed the world in many incredible ways. Never before have people had as much exposure to things that would cause them to be concerned about their social status. Having the trendiest clothes, phone, car etc. is more important to people than ever. As a result, the functional performance of a product is taking the back seat to things like how many other people have that product and what kind of image that product will create for a person. I believe that a large component of marketing for many products is based on helping shape that image rather than convincing people that they will be provided some sort of practical gain. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734238220649492225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4909417866707688271.post-28090434638277964302013-08-12T07:09:24.665-07:002013-08-12T07:09:24.665-07:00It's an interesting point you made in the firs...It's an interesting point you made in the first paragraph. As you've said to me before how much of news watching/outrage at events/sports entertainment is merely participation in social games as opposed to concern about news/sports/other event. Perhaps we are so social that we largely do not care that the news is as I described.<br /><br />This fits into larger problems in society as a whole. Participation in social games (Doing what fits in) is, for most people, the dominant behavioural strategy. The intersection of participation in social games and our evolutionary history could be particularly interesting.<br /><br />We are largely not adapted for modern life. The news, cars, wide spread availability of addictive substances, night time light exposure and large population sizes are, from an evolutionary perspective, novel. Most people seek to participate in social games so they engage in social games that involve the above. What if the above just makes them unhappy? We have a need to participate in the above yet participating in the above, ultimately, is not fulfilling to us.<br /><br />Why does marketing work? Does it work because we are social not because it fulfils any particular need?Adam Noelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14057918560170406493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4909417866707688271.post-79134548104119275542013-08-12T06:40:19.513-07:002013-08-12T06:40:19.513-07:00Covering stories of people taking the minority sid...Covering stories of people taking the minority side in controversial topics is an extremely effective way to get people talking and news outlets want nothing more than for people to talk about what they heard in the news. Being able to share with others things they've heard about in the news is conveniently enough one of the main reasons people watch/listen/read the news which makes sparking outrage far from a challenge. <br /><br />I've heard of enough people noticing that news outlets are deliberately covering ridiculously jaw-dropping stories over ones that are important for people to hear that I am starting to wonder if seeing them get away with it is part of the appeal. I know most people don't notice but there are a lot that do and there's nothing anybody can do about it but keep watching/listening/listening. It is without a doubt a convenient scenario for the news outlets. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734238220649492225noreply@blogger.com