bus' blog
The attention economy existed before the Internet.
The attention economy existed before the internet. I think the most obvious example was hollywood. I mean, why is it that everyone accross the globe watched American movies. You don't find many in the British Isles who consciously watch Bollywood movies or HK movies. The exception is, of course, Britons who are ethnically South Asian or Chinese.
I just think that more Britons should look in another direction once in a while. For example, if I attatched a string to every movie or tiktok video people watched in Britain that led to the location of its origin almost all would head straight to the USA. I mean they're all just looking in the same direction if you think about it. It's compulsive really.
A more intriguing example is Pottermania. Pottermania was a phenomenon that saw teenagers accross the world become obsessed with the Harry Potter book series, particularly as it was coming out. I often hear digital rumours that this was once all they discussed on myspace back in the day. That and, i don't know, solja-boy or something. I think people of my generation do not particularly comprehend the gravity of the Harry-Potter series to the formation of our modern attention economy. Or even our post-millenial psyche. One comment on a reddit thread expressed this succinctly:
"It was the only time in my life where I went to a bookstore to stand in line for hours waiting to buy a midnight release of a book.
And to top it off, that was normal - nearly everyone I knew was doing the same thing. The lines circled around Borders multiple times.
This never happens on that scale for a book, maybe occasionally for a new video game console, but never a book.
Just that alone shows how crazy unique it was."
That was a long time ago innit. Now J.K. Rowling, the British Author richer than the King, has alot of opinions about transgender people, for some reason or another. And people are mad at her for using her large platform and following to broadcast and advocate this unpopular and honestly quite contrarian message (reasonably so). It's rather reactionary, if its alright to say that.
How does one control their attention in this day and age? That's the million-dollar question (would you like that in pounds?). Certainly not by getting raige-baited by billionaire authors on 'X.com', i feel. What else is there to do? You could read a book or learn a language.
But remember, the attention economy isn't just the internet, so you still need to make sure you are reading the right book or learning the right language. You don't want to end up just reading something or learning something because other people said its worth it, if it isnt.
You're always paying attention to that damn screen!
8月8日26年.