Comments on: Will Social Software Mutate Blogosphere into Mob Rule?

By: Deep Jive Interests » USA Today Furiously Trying to Evolve — May Work, Needs Secret Sauce

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:27:36 +0000

[...] As much as crowds can be wise in their decision making, they can also be down right stupid if prompted in the wrong fashion; a mob mentality can erupt. [...]

By: Gratis Erotikratgeber » Blog Archive » Am I being fair to Patricia Dunn

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 11:49:26 +0000

[...] Update: Blog Herald goes further and asks “Will Social Software Mutate Blogosphere into Mob Rule?” [...]

By: Am I being fair to Patricia Dunn » BlueBoxSystem dot com

Am I being fair to Patricia Dunn » BlueBoxSystem dot com — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 21:20:44 +0000

[...] Update: Blog Herald goes further and asks “Will Social Software Mutate Blogosphere into Mob Rule?” [...]

By: Deep Jive Interests » BlogHerald: Mob Rule and The Evolution of Marketing

Deep Jive Interests » BlogHerald: Mob Rule and The Evolution of Marketing — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 21:23:42 +0000

[...] One post asks the question — with the controversy around Digg, the debacle around Facebook — and even the hubaloo around Lonelygirl15, what role do social networks have in disseminating information? Is it the wisdom of crowds? Or will they act like an accelerant — mutating the blogosphere into mob rule? [...]

By: Tony Hung

Tony Hung — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 16:42:19 +0000

Thanks! Its corrected now.

By: Rob Hyndman

Rob Hyndman — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 16:04:24 +0000

Same mob. Just now paying attention to what it wants to, not what the TV and newspapers tell it to. Or at least, less so. My more detailed comment at Don’s site.

BTW, it’s “Robert” Scoble.

By: Big Roy

Big Roy — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 14:35:16 +0000

One of my biggest complaints about mainstream media has always been, who polices them? They are quick to vilify a government official even someone as low on the totem pole as a single police officer. They are quick expose the mistakes of doctors and teachers. Who for the most part are simply trying to do the right thing. Who holds the media accountable for their mistakes and their hidden agenda?

While the power of bloggers, even so called A-List bloggers may be something we can look at. The real problem that needs to be dealt with is mainstream media. Who after all does what the do for one reason, shareholders, they are concerned with the bottom line and nothing else.

By: Jim Grisanzio

Jim Grisanzio — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 07:28:57 +0000

Well, I think it’s perfectly appropriate to be concerned about mob rule in any part of a free society. Freedom is messy at times, no question. But you don’t need the latest “social software” to start a mob. Word of mouth, letters, telephones, radio, and television all work rather well, too. And I’ve seen mob mentality in every profession I’ve ever been in and at every school I’ve ever attended. I think it’s part of being human. Sometimes it escalates to violence, but more commonly it simply influences thinking and behavior, which is more insidious. But getting back to who’s watching the bloggers. Well, I can just as easily ask the following: Who’s watching the marketers? No one. Who’s watching Hollywood? No one. Who’s watching the advertisers? No one. And who’s watching the media? The American media is the biggest and most sophisticated communications distribution mechanism the world has ever known. Who watches them? No one. True, laws come into effect when things get illegal in any of these professions, but in general no one is “watching” anyone. And the notion that the media watches (checks is probably a better term) the government has always fascinated me since the media is made up of corporations supported by the sale of advertising. So, profit-making companies selling soap and perfume are checking the government? Wild world we live in, eh? I’m not at all worried about the bloggers. The mainstream media is far more powerful and that power goes largely unchecked.