Shopping Science

In The Science of Shopping, Malcolm Gladwell claims that shoppers are closely watched by "retail anthropologists" to the point that the customers shopping habits and body language are broken down to a science. Paco Underhill, a retail anthropologists, as described in the article is a person who studies shoppers from  the pace that they walk to how, what, and when to catch a customers attention. Simple techniques and modifications to a store by moving merchandise from one side of the store to the other could be the difference between a potential buyer and a window shopper. Also for example by spreading a variety of all items through a grocery store forces the customer to walk through the entire store allowing the person to view all other foods and not just limiting the customer to walk in and out with the minimum items that they intended on getting. This technique works in favor of the company allowing the owner/store to maximize profits.

I would agree with Gladwell in the claim that shoppers are being closely monitered on the things they look at, the location in the store they are in, and what tends to catch the customers eye. These methods among others are used by such people as Paco Underhill who study human behavior and catorgorize shoppers into certain stereotypes to figure out what the customer finds most appealing. I myself see these manipulations put into effect on a day to day basis from the mall to small company advertisements. Until I read this article I would have not realized on how in depth a company would go and extremes that are taken to attract consumers. Although it is somewhat of a cutthroat style business its what america is built on, consumers want more. Of what you may ask? no one knows for sure but put "shining sticker" on it and you got the buyers attention.

Not always what it seems

In Jack Solomon's You-Topian Dreams it discusses a variety of issues that stem from the use online networking. Ranging from social media sites like Facebook and other sites such as Youtube it has become relatively easy to post videos. Whether the video post is for entertainment purposes or important issues in our everyday life its easy for a viewer from the audience to misinterpret the message that is being sent. There are apps available now and new ones being produced that allow an individual to cut and crop out certain parts of a video to their liking. An example of such activity is mentioned in the article whereas a blogger clipped out a portion of a speech by African American USDA employee where her words were taken out of context to suit the bloggers liking.
The video would go viral. This action of cropping the video made the employee seem as a racist thus getting her fired from her job.

 

 

I believe that this idea of cropping videos and remaking them to the individuals liking is getting out of hand. These videos being re-edited an reposted on-line I think to be of a defaming nature. Since everyone nowadays seem to be computer geniuses and have too much time on there hands it is becoming seen more often a certain video or picture posted over and over time again. It gets quite annoying although I myself sometimes find the post funny, I myself would not like my words or actions taken out of context. Such actions might have negative outcomes like the one mentioned in Jack Solomon's article.

"Virtual popularity Isn't Cool-It's Pathetic

                  In the article "Virtual popularity isn't Cool-It's Pathetic" by Ian Daly he argues that social networking sites such as Facebook (new up-to-date version of Myspace) are attracting more people from an older age group, particularly middle-aged men. While there are benefits of being able to reach people all over the world at any given time it also causes the problem of the site taking up a lot of that persons time. Daly explains this by using examples of older men on social media sites who in short not acting their age but rather like little girls who can't get over this virtual world where they feel cool to gossip with strangers who they nothing about other than a picture and meaningless conversation all while ignoring his responsibilities at hand. In other words these people put their real life on hold while they distract themselves with the cyber-world. Daly believes that getting careless with the habit of social networking could eventually result in a disastrous outcome of ones personal life.

         I agree with Ian Daly, the reliance of social media sites has become somewhat of a drug. Where not only grown men but people of all age groups have become fascinated with the virtual version of ones self. I myself witness personally what these sites do to the average persons image and their self esteem. The thought of being noticed by many people is intriguing but it also draws the person to compare his/her current situation to that of others. I believe this is the downfall of social networking, where one is supposed to feel free to express themselves it also allows the user to be distracted or fascinated by another persons life thus drawing them away from their own responsibilities. This is a trend that does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon with celebrities, and other individuals that may be deemed as important, on the social networks as well ones self might feel closer to these people than they probably will never meet in their lifetime.

Blog #1

Summary: In Jack Solomon's "Masters of Desire" explains how American advertising has major influences on everyday people. By creating a make believe fanstasy of the product and what it can do for the consumer. Solomon also explains how the advertisers can instill fear into the viewer by simply showing what can go wrong by passing up the product. In such advertisements as he explains like macintosh computer. In this article solomon explains how the advertisers of the product try to manipulate the consumer to buy the computer as it will help in the process of getting their work done faster and have an upper hand over the other employees. Hence getting a promotion and becoming more successful than the rest. Response: As I read Jack Solomon's article about American advertising I realized how true his assumptions are. Too often do you people buying unnecessary things in hope of acceptance of other people hoping to gain approval even by strangers they know nothing about. All these things the consumers buy in hopes of fitting in is just a fantasy or illusion the advertiser fooled the person into believing. I find this to be true because in todays society it's all about making a quick buck at the extent of others money. Companys and advertisers will manipulate people by any means possible by even using sex to sell their products. In what we are seeing on an everyday basis sex is being used alot mainly targeting teenagers who are the more gullible.