The Attention Economy - Thoughts
We’ve created a social hierarchy based on attention. In a way, that has always been the case, but it was based on actually doing something of note, even if it was only throwing a ball really, really fast.
Our current social hierarchy distributes attention differently. It is based on volume and brashness, shock and stupidity. This is why I don’t think yelling and wailing about every dog whistle is a good idea. It gives attention, and therefore elevates, people who would otherwise be largely ignored. Our focus feeds them.
Outrage is an attention strategy these days, and is used skillfully by several political candidates right now. And while their fans - because that’s what they are - delight in offending those Student Council types, that can only happen if we wring our hands and lament about the Fall of Man.
A Yawning Victory
I propose another tactic: the yawn.
“Oh brother, here he goes again, using the same stuff from 80 years ago. Wake up, buddy, it’s the 21st century.”
“1930s Germany called, they want their strategy back, it’s getting tired.”
“You know the last guys who used this lost, right?”
“That’s what Benjamin Franklin said about German immigrants.”
“Have you heard of DNA tests?”
I invite all my Tellions to add to the list.
I loved this. Exactly right. Hard to know how to implement. The military did it when they turned their backs on Biden when they were lining a road. I like your humorous suggestions. Comedians can make
jokes like they do with hecklers….that’s all they are really anyway, aren’t they?