I Spy ... Viral Videos

A few weeks ago we spent our Online Public Relations class discussing viral videos.  What is a viral video you ask?  Once again let's ask the genius that is Wiki.
"A viral video is a video that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through internet media sharing websites."
I'm a fan of viral videos, particularly those involving humour.  My personal favourites though, are brought to you by the creative minds at Saatchi and Saatchi and their guerrilla marketing tactics for T-Mobile in the UK.
See what happens when thousands of people receive the message to be at Trafalgar Square at 6 pm on April 9, 2009 or what would be a pleasant surprise during your daily commute through Liverpool Street Station at 11 am on January 15, 2009.
Enjoy!

Trafalgar Square Karaoke

Liverpool Street Station Dance

I Spy ... Responsibility

For a company who offers such wares as gold lamé boob tubes and body suits, lace dresses and thigh-highs, American Apparel has actually taken some responsibility in protecting my eyes from people who think these items are appropriate day wear. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Don`t get me wrong, I`m all for the tights as a layering option. They are comfy and as a girl blessed with a rather lengthy set of stems; they make my almost-too-short dresses appropriate for public appearances. That being said, as you pull those lovely leggings from your dresser and begin to build your outfit let us look to the wisdom of American Apparel and repeat after me:

THESE TIGHTS ARE NOT PANTS.

The eyes of the general public will thank you for it.

I Spy ... a Fact

The other day, I attended a presentation by Elmer Soto of Facebook. I often take Facebook for granted as a social media tool because it just seems like such an ingrained part of my daily life. Whose pictures can I creep? Who's commenting on my status?


What I did take away from Elmer's presentation, was that in the United States, Facebook now receives more internet traffic than Google.

So where does this leave us? Maybe you're thinking "umm gee, thanks for the random factoid Megs," or "that's great, now on to something important." But think about what this says about how people are gathering their information these days and just what kind of information we are now finding valuable.

Our curiosity now lies in what the people in our lives (or in some cases, on the fringes of our lives) are up to. We'd rather get a friend's opinion or advice then perform research.

Such is the trend with social media. We want to know what the people who we trust and admire are thinking or doing, not what the "experts" have to say. We don't want to read a book, we'd rather read status updates. I don't need to learn about the outside world, everything I need to know or am interested in learning is streaming through my Facebook homepage.

Welcome to the world of online learning friends. Watching the news now has nothing to do with politics but with whose relationship status has changed and who's posted a new album.

And we have the audacity to wonder why reality TV is so popular?

I Spy ... Creepers

Foursquare is creepy. I’m sorry people. It just is. It is also silly and worst of all, could potentially eradicate the need for any actual human to human contact.

The basic premise of this newest social medial tool is that you use your mobile phone to “check in” to your current location to let people on your network know where you are and what you think of the place. Over time, you accumulate points for revisiting places and can achieve “Mayor” status by visiting a place more than anyone else.

So here is what concerns me. First of all, is my life so exciting that people need to know where I am at all times? Am I such an expert on food and drink “hot spots” that I should be telling people the best places to hang out? Bless the heart of the poor individual who becomes “Mayor” of the free clinic ... why does no one else see this as a recipe for disaster?

My primary concern though? Each new social media tool puts another nail in the coffin of the casual visit. When was the last time you sat down at someone’s kitchen table with a pot of tea or curled up on their couch with a cold beer? Note: exchanging text messages, following someone’s twitter stream, or writing on their wall doesn’t count (even if you’re on the couch and beer is involved). You are still alone; your phone is not a person!

Foursquare describes one of its major benefits as follows:

“We’ll tell your friends where they can find you and recommend places to go and things to do nearby ... You’ll find that as your friends use foursquare to check-in, you’ll start learning more about the places they frequent. Not only is it a great way to meet up with nearby friends, but you’ll also start to learn about their favourite spots.”

Again, THIS IS CREEPY. Now foursquare will have your conversations with your friends for you! You will never actually have to speak to them. Forget face-to-face (so 2001) you won’t even have to call them.

Maybe I’m old fashioned, or maybe it’s the small town, east coast, girl in me, but if the tradition of social house-calls is dying I’m blaming social media, so forgive me foursquare for not jumping on the bandwagon.

I Spy ... Practical Fashion?

I have long held a special place in my heart for the wellington. It started with two beautiful pairs, one red and one blue. I can’t remember which were mine, as being the younger sibling I no doubt was lucky enough to wear my sister's as well. Those boots were amazing. The highlight of course was the smiley face on the bottom. That, and the fact that a could stomp that smiley face into any and all puddles within a 5 foot radius of the path I was walking and still keep my socks dry.

Less fondly remembered, Sorel winter boots still have a place in my heart. I remember “snow days” off from school and watching my dad step in to what wear impossibly large boots (I know because I had a thing for putting on other people’s shoes, what kid doesn’t?). Anyways, seeing those boots go on meant there was enough snow to require shovelling which would inevitably lead to an afternoon of building snowmen, snow-forts and my personal favourite ... the snowhorse.

Regardless of childhood memories, both these styles of footwear have made a cross-over from practical necessity, to trendy fashion. Of course this means having the correct brand (Hunter Wellies, and the original Sorel winter boot) and styles have been modified offering a wide range of colours, laces, no laces, patterns (whoop whoop plaid!) and of course the thick wool or fleece socks to line the suckers.

So here’s where I start to wonder. Have we finally grown up? Are we responsible, adult Canadians that realize that the climate within which we live dictates a practical take on footwear? Winter is cold, rain and snow, wet. I don’t care what the footwear looks like as long as I’m warm and dry. My optimism bubble tells me yes! This is the new wave of fashion! Practical geek chic! Whoo hoo!

Logic and past precedent burst that optimism bubble. I’m betting it’s a fad and come spring, impossibly high suede (obviously not waterproof) stilettos will be tip-toeing around the puddles I am happily jumping into.

Sigh.