What we can achieve

**witnesstheday** · 10-28-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

(CGM) originated as a reference to posts made by consumers within online venues such as internet forums, blogs, wikis, discussion lists etc., on products that they have purchased, questions they have or problems they are trying to solve. Shoppers who are researching products often use other consumers' opinions when making buying decisions, people with health care challenges will find online forums to learn about their conditions and meet others and consumers passionate about their car or sport will use online forums to connect and discuss. The term has evolved to include video, audio and multimedia posts created by consumers in support (or negative parody/in-protest) of products, brands and corporate institutions.

The idea has evolved from its early roots of consumer feedback via online letters and email to encompass new media such as video, pictures and social networking sites, as well as consumer-fortified media to describe the use of programs such as Digg.[citation needed]

The implication of all this is that people watch us, forum posters, bloggers etc,

and devise ways to take money from us and the people like us (our peers, our consumer group)

Therefore we the generators of this media can do 2 things

1. manipulate them back, by using our wits to create an underlying message that drives them toward serving us instead of their margins (by making our needs seem like their margin, even if we have to lie)
2. take them to court for violating basic human rights... to use our forum posts as a way to target us for what we will buy or be upset at etc... is surely not too far away from the methods of social control in 1930s in germany?

just thought someone should bring this up on a webmaster forum - there's a lot of blogs and forums that are constantly watched by big companies' "researchers" - and what we say shapes much

knowing this can help us screw those people who are clearly using us for a quick buck

let's take em for all they have, that's what i say

**Learning Newbie** · 11-12-2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by witnesstheday

1. manipulate them back, by using our wits to create an underlying message that drives them toward serving us instead of their margins (by making our needs seem like their margin, even if we have to lie)

This assumes that the interests of people selling things and of the people buying them are not aligned. In other words, it assumes that by making a product better, less expensive, or whatever else, a company will not be able to sell more items.

Quote:

Originally Posted by witnesstheday

2. take them to court for violating basic human rights... to use our forum posts as a way to target us for what we will buy or be upset at etc... is surely not too far away from the methods of social control in 1930s in germany?

I think there's a difference (very far away!) between reading text posted in public on the internet - and killing 12 million people.

**vangogh** · 11-12-2008, 05:20 PM

Quote:

The implication of all this is that people watch us, forum posters, bloggers etc, and devise ways to take money from us and the people like us (our peers, our consumer group)

I disagree that the idea is to take money from people. It's like John said above. Your assumption is that the interests of people buying and selling are not aligned. That's a big assumption and often incorrect.

For a simple example let's say you sell widgets. You make them in blue and red. You pay attention to what people are saying in forums and other social communities and you hear over and over that people buy the blue widget not so much because they like blue widgets, but they do like widgets and don't like red ones. You also hear many people wish widgets came in green.

You'd take that information and start creating green widgets. You might even decide to drop your line of red widgets. You win because you sell more widgets. The community wins because they can now purchase the color widget they really want. There's no taking going on. Just a way of listening to what people want so you can make it for them. The transfer of money ends up being one both parties are happy with.

**juliensimon** · 11-12-2008, 07:51 PM

With the rist of sounding like a ho so liked "me too" post, I must say that I agree with LN and VanGogh.
I don't think we are being taken from - if people tell their optiion on blogs, forums and companies upgrade/improve their products after "watching" those reviews, then great. No one forced anybody to give their opinion. People get what they want and companies sell more, forums get traffic and sell ads, ads buyer get...alsmost nothing. It's a win-win situation(expect for one...but who cares about them?)

Quote:

Originally Posted by witnesstheday

s surely not too far away from the methods of social control in 1930s in germany?

However, comparing that to social control methods from the 30s in germany is pushing way over the line. Again, no one is being forced into posting in forums and blogs.