Attention Nit
Len (who is brilliant) wrote something that really struck me: “Both leftist and elitist critiques of “consumer culture” have assumed a passive, powerless and easily manipulated consumer but that was never true.” It was a point I was trying to make on my panel about social media at PSFK. To assume that until now consumers haven’t been able to share media or it hasn’t been social is ridiculous (and even worse, elitist). Media has been social for all of time. I don’t even know if I’d say media is any easier to share now, after all, how hard was it to talk to a friend about that book you read?
Hi, I'm 
Wrong.(kinda.)
What we are seeing is a powershift in consumer behavior.
When folks went to the doctor 10 years ago they went to find out what was wrong. Now they go to the doctor informed with info and to get a particular drug or treatment.
The powershift is happening because of information.
It’s not elitist to say that consumers were easily manipulated. They didn’t have a choice.
Example: In the 80′s there were thousands of bands trying to make it. I only heard those that managed to be passed around via friends.
I listen to much more music now. I would have listened to more then if the tools available to consumers now were available. But the tools available (Radio,MTV) strangled what was heard. I was easily manipulated because my choices were few.
Now I have more choices, and power has moved from radio/mtv and corps. to me. Meaning Ladytron now gets my music dollars instead of what corps are pushing.
Very very true. I think it’s somewhere in the middle: They were neither as powerless as we tend to make them out to be nor as powerful as this quote may suggest. Thanks for setting me straight.
I still do think that, especially in social media, people think that consumers were unable to do anything until they came along and gave them permission.
That’s why I said “kinda.” :)