memetrollsandgrievers

Last class the question was asked, What makes an successful Web 2.0 website? During the readings, I asked myself what makes a good meme? Why do some things like Charlie goes to Candy mountain or Second Life become such hits and other things just don’t. Is there a magic formula, or just the luck of the draw? I am certainly no expert, and initially thought it was just luck, however I am starting to think there is really something to it. Weather its YouTube or another video site, or Facebook vs. MySpace, there is usually a reason that one is preferred to another, and for me at least it seems to be more about the format than the content.

Also the Nike ordeal was eye-opening and sad at the same time. I like how someone really confronted Nike about their practices, but at the same time most of us are guilty of supporting it. Just about everyone has a pair of Nike shoes, or shorts or something, including the guy who bought a pair even after all the melee.

The whole trolling article was just sad? How are people so heartless as to do that to someone whose kid just committed suicide? They are going through quite enough without people calling them up and harassing them. Would people do that if they actually had to do it face to face, I would like to think not. To go along with this is the grievers who just go around and generally make things miserable for everyone else. What is their motivation for this? People reactions. They are just like the school bully, who one people stop reacting to, has much less fun and eventually moves on to someone who will react. What a sad world this is.