“… Human communities are coming together in a very limited capacity. Interest communities are coming together on a large scale, but that’s not moving us toward the Gene Roddenberry Utopian society. This paradoxical effect was caused by text communication technology moving faster than video communications.

If connected video conversations were as easy as connected text communications, the next generation of humans would perhaps be in less of a pickle. Sure, you can argue the evil characteristics of humanity always existed, but it’s never been easier to connect with millions and seek affirmation from likeminded, erroneously self-inflated and largely misguided morons.

Nine of 10 dehumanizing ‘text conversations’ wouldn’t exist if digital social predators were forced to meet and interact with their online prey. Video communication on a large scale may have slowed the spread of dehumanizing interaction but it certainly would not have stopped it.”

Kevin Ryan
http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=3629624

I particularly enjoy his rant on what amounts to a core value set of the “affiliate marketing culture/lifestyle” (my words)

“… it seems the latest group coming into the world is extremely adept at sending e-mails, blogging about every minuscule detail of their lives and, in general, communicating — as long as they aren’t asked to speak to anyone.

They run from spoken communication. They fear any interaction that can’t be clicked or typed in some way. They don’t know how to interact, and when they do, they don’t understand civil interaction.”

I have no idea what he’s talking about!!

Somewhere in the past Sam Harrelson and I rattled metaphorical sabers over the precept of labels http://www.wayneporter.com/2007/08/05/metrics-never-birthed-and-understanding-incentives/ . and I lobbed in a very bad Crowley pun to boot.

I think labels e.g. people as targets or consumers create negative “behaviors”. I realize some will see this as sort of “pinko marketing” but I think it really is about conversations and developing relationships. How relationships are formed from the onset are impacted by a label. One of the problems with “consumerism” perhaps?

If you disagree I proffer up the much maligned term “affiliate” and the connotations of the label Am I remiss?

In regards to Threadless’ customers I think Ken Evoy (remember him) tried something along the vein about 8 or 10 years ago with a form of demand driven price curve- except I think he forgot the key ingredient- community interaction. I think Glenn Sobel took him apart for the record.

There was another site that operated using “flash mobs” to affect pricing years ago but the name evades me…I know it was covered at Revenews…somewhere under the eons.

Good reading. Thanks…yes it is vital for business’ of the future and a good demonstration of where “Web 2.0″ meets the proverbial road… just give it more time. We are only seeing the very beginning of a titanic and long overdue shift.

-Wayne