MySpace was created, in part, to bring new independant music to folks who might like it. It continues to do that very well. It is not all teenagers and the old men.
Connections made on MySpace have provided me with significant opportunities, press, and sales. I have information about who listens to my music that is highly valuable to me (and useful as I negotiate deals with labels and plan tour stops). I rely on other people finding me there throught their networks and do not send unwelcome advertisements.
The site is open to abuse and traditional mass marketing, however. Friend-request bots, scrapers, and other automated marketing tools allow for the equivalent of MySpam. All media eventually become advertising venues, and the big fish come on-board eventually. So, no surprise there.
I think MySpace is a viable marketing tool. To me there is a difference between the "customer" supporting independant musicians and the customer being a part of a large corporate database used for mass marketing and who knows what else. I doubt the government will ever ask me for my mailing list. Speaking with little to no background in advertising, it seems that perhaps the real value of the site is that it provides a clear visual model of how people share information socially online. Perhaps it even holds the key to the mystery of why dumbass film shorts become must-see "viral videos."
Regardless, I predict that MySpace will be gone before we know it, especially if it is, indeed, largely populated by teenage girls. If there is one thing I remember about them is that they have a very short attention span (ok, there are two things I remember... they also aren't interested in freshman boys who play the clarinet and wear Hound Dog Taylor t-shirts).
If Gary's name was Muhammad, I wonder how that would change things. Even if he was just a nice suburban kid with no connections and no intentions to do anyone any real harm, a couple of good media pieces and you'd have instant enemy of the state. There is no responsible way to handle the power to convict without trial.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's said it best, "they've gone about at fur as they c'n go"
"I got to Kansas City on a Frid'y
By Sattidy I larned a thing or two
For up to then I didn't have an idy
Of whut the modren world was comin' to!
I counted twenty gas buggies goin' by theirsel's
Almost ev'ry time I tuk a walk.
'Nen I put my ear to a Bell Telephone and a strange womern started in to talk!
(Whut next! Yeak whut!)
Whut next?
Ev'rythin's up to date in Kansas City
They've gone about as fur as they c'n go!
They went and built a skyscraper seven stories high,
About as high as a buildin' orta grow.
Ev'rythin's like a dream in Kansas City,
It's better than a magic lantern show!
Y' c'n turn the radiator on whenever you want some heat.
With ev'ry kind o' comfort ev'ry house is all complete.
You c'n walk to privies in the rain and never wet your feet!
They've gone about as fur as they c'n go,
(Yes sir!)
They've gone about as fur as they c'n go!
Ev'rythin's up to date in Kansas City
They've gone about as fur as they c'n go!..."
(From "Kansas City")
Slashdot Mirror
MySpace was created, in part, to bring new independant music to folks who might like it. It continues to do that very well. It is not all teenagers and the old men. Connections made on MySpace have provided me with significant opportunities, press, and sales. I have information about who listens to my music that is highly valuable to me (and useful as I negotiate deals with labels and plan tour stops). I rely on other people finding me there throught their networks and do not send unwelcome advertisements. The site is open to abuse and traditional mass marketing, however. Friend-request bots, scrapers, and other automated marketing tools allow for the equivalent of MySpam. All media eventually become advertising venues, and the big fish come on-board eventually. So, no surprise there. I think MySpace is a viable marketing tool. To me there is a difference between the "customer" supporting independant musicians and the customer being a part of a large corporate database used for mass marketing and who knows what else. I doubt the government will ever ask me for my mailing list. Speaking with little to no background in advertising, it seems that perhaps the real value of the site is that it provides a clear visual model of how people share information socially online. Perhaps it even holds the key to the mystery of why dumbass film shorts become must-see "viral videos." Regardless, I predict that MySpace will be gone before we know it, especially if it is, indeed, largely populated by teenage girls. If there is one thing I remember about them is that they have a very short attention span (ok, there are two things I remember... they also aren't interested in freshman boys who play the clarinet and wear Hound Dog Taylor t-shirts).
Find an illegal immigrant online, then call your local chapter of The Minutemen to take em out.
If Gary's name was Muhammad, I wonder how that would change things. Even if he was just a nice suburban kid with no connections and no intentions to do anyone any real harm, a couple of good media pieces and you'd have instant enemy of the state. There is no responsible way to handle the power to convict without trial.
Sometimes its good to be a Mc.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's said it best, "they've gone about at fur as they c'n go" "I got to Kansas City on a Frid'y By Sattidy I larned a thing or two For up to then I didn't have an idy Of whut the modren world was comin' to! I counted twenty gas buggies goin' by theirsel's Almost ev'ry time I tuk a walk. 'Nen I put my ear to a Bell Telephone and a strange womern started in to talk! (Whut next! Yeak whut!) Whut next? Ev'rythin's up to date in Kansas City They've gone about as fur as they c'n go! They went and built a skyscraper seven stories high, About as high as a buildin' orta grow. Ev'rythin's like a dream in Kansas City, It's better than a magic lantern show! Y' c'n turn the radiator on whenever you want some heat. With ev'ry kind o' comfort ev'ry house is all complete. You c'n walk to privies in the rain and never wet your feet! They've gone about as fur as they c'n go, (Yes sir!) They've gone about as fur as they c'n go! Ev'rythin's up to date in Kansas City They've gone about as fur as they c'n go! ..."
(From "Kansas City")