This week is crazy, and I might not get any real posts created. I have three papers due next week, a debate for class, a book to read by two weeks from now, and a concerto competition on Friday. geez.
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Sunday, September 19, 2004
notes on popularity
I have been thinking about popularity lately. Popularity in three fashions: people who know lots of other people, people that lots of other people know, and people who both know lots of others and are known by lots of others. It seems that the type of person that is popular is not as clear as I had thought it was.
In early years of school the term athletic is synonymous with popular. The athletic kids have the most visible positions in the school. This tends to create the ‘known by lots of others’ scenario, where a person is greeted by many others, but likely does not know and/or greet them.
It is in business where I find an example of ‘knows lots of others.’ A businessperson needs to have many contacts in order to assure that they can get what they want, when they need it. The one who knows lots of others will greet many people, but will not be greeted by many.
The final type of popular person is the one who both knows lots of others and is known by lots of others. This person is as likely to be greeted by another person as to greet the people. It is this type of person that is the inspiration for this post; I can’t seem to figure out who this person is.
I am not sure that popularity falls into the moral realm. Therefore, I am equally unsure that any sort of value can be appropriately applied to any of the three types I have mentioned. Nonetheless, I am inclined to say that the third version of popularity is somehow superior to the other two.
What do you think?
I’ll follow this one up when I have pondered it a bit more.
pax.
In early years of school the term athletic is synonymous with popular. The athletic kids have the most visible positions in the school. This tends to create the ‘known by lots of others’ scenario, where a person is greeted by many others, but likely does not know and/or greet them.
It is in business where I find an example of ‘knows lots of others.’ A businessperson needs to have many contacts in order to assure that they can get what they want, when they need it. The one who knows lots of others will greet many people, but will not be greeted by many.
The final type of popular person is the one who both knows lots of others and is known by lots of others. This person is as likely to be greeted by another person as to greet the people. It is this type of person that is the inspiration for this post; I can’t seem to figure out who this person is.
I am not sure that popularity falls into the moral realm. Therefore, I am equally unsure that any sort of value can be appropriately applied to any of the three types I have mentioned. Nonetheless, I am inclined to say that the third version of popularity is somehow superior to the other two.
What do you think?
I’ll follow this one up when I have pondered it a bit more.
pax.
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