Comments on: Around the Web

By: Lauren

Lauren — Tue, 25 May 2010 17:38:15 +0000

I would like to encourage you to address the (non)issue of race in your class. As you stated, for many students this is the only exposure they will have to anthropology and I think dispelling the race myth will stick with them long after they have forgotten about what make us different from Neanderthals. If you teach them that race is a cultural construct, rather than a biological fact, it will spark more debate and, potentially, in the greater scheme of things, create more change. I believe we need to begin to appreciate the similarities between people before we start to dissect the differences between us. That is what I have always valued most about my education in anthropology.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:10:01 +0000

I forgot to thank all my friends for sending me links over the past week. I really will figure out a methodology for acknowledging all the folks that contribute to this column.

And thanks for reading!

By: MTBradley

MTBradley — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:10:54 +0000

I became a fan of Duke losing

I’m a fan of the Tarheels losing. I got to cheer sooo much this past season.

By: Kethryvis

Kethryvis — Tue, 25 May 2010 02:51:54 +0000

i see where you’re going with the “pleasure principle” thing vs. cultural capital, but i have to respectfully disagree. Users already know what they like (and dislike, even if Facebook won’t give them that outlet), clicking on a “Like” button i don’t think would give them much pleasure… does your acknowledgment of something you already know give you pleasure? i like Eddie Izzard and have “become a fan” or “Liked” him on FB, but that action didn’t really give me pleasure.

i think the “Like” button is cultural capital, and also conspicuous consumption/production. Few people keep Facebook profiles for their own sake, instead Facebook is of course part of Social Media, and it takes more than one person to be social. FB profiles are more about showing the world (or at least your Friends) who you are, and part of it is status building as well. Therefore you like certain things because you know your Friends (note the capital there) will know you’re cool/with it/etc. Depending on the “me” i’m allowing my Friends to see, i may not admit to my love of the Bee Gees because it wouldn’t seem “nifty.”

i think the more interesting question is how real FB profiles are, in the end. But that’s me. 🙂 (i’m slowly dragging myself back into scholarly thought after a year away, be gentle with me oh fellow savage minds :))

By: Keith

Keith — Tue, 25 May 2010 02:35:05 +0000

Re: Dislike button, The Like button can be used by Facebook to court advertisers; the dislike button, not so much (“I’m not advertising here, 1,393,583 people don’t like us!”). As for why people click it, it’s the same reason private communications (“Hey awesome party!!!1!”) are written to people’s public walls: it shows everyone that you’re a active social person. It’s a public performance of your own importance in the world which helps build our social connections.

Liking things via button has an added social benefit: it helps people broadcast their views in order to attract/confirm friends of similar ideology. The latest American Scientist as a great related article on forming kithgroups: people want to form, and do better in, groups of likeminded peers. The Like button is a simple tool which is used to satisfy this need in our collective brains.