This comment on this morning's Slashot story on the latest Facebook infraction got me thinking about how it meshes with Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point." It's been a while since I read it, but I remember the gist of it well enough: The cool kids set trends and move on when its played out. Gladwell's examples were scooters and hush puppies. It used to be that Wayne and Garth would define the new and cool lexicon, cha! That worked until they themselves realized they weren't "worthy." (Oh, yeah! Hangin' with Alice Cooper! We're not worthy...we're not worthy!)
Social media sites are all about tipping points. If not enough people participate, then that amounts to a few empty voices crying into the wilderness. They all strive to reach "critical mass," where "everyone" is online (everyone has a telephone, has a television, has a myspace account, etc.). If you're a straggler, then you're just late to the party. Whatever you have to say must not be that important afterall. I was thinking about this, then the realization hit me: I have the power that William H. Macy's "Berny Lootz" had in the The Cooler. If I were to join Facebook, the whole thing would come crashing down. They'd better consider paying me to stay away! (I hope they don't send Alec Baldwin after me with a baseball bat...)
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Funny post and all; but seriously, why are you not in London?
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