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Derek Young

Thinker and Experimenter,

TEDCRED 30+

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To what extent has everything become a popularity contest in the world?

My observation of America is as follows:

Many experts of their fields aren't recognized for their expertise/work like Diane Kelly making an obscure discovery of a taboo subject, but celebrity fashion, politician hair styles, Darwin Award worthy deaths, extremism, and the "perfect" --fill in the blank-- is always on the latest tabloids. I want to learn more about different parts of the world and how they function. Is it like a rat race for fame? Hopefully they seem less superficial.

Related Talks:
Topics: popular culture world
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    edward long 100+

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    Jun 10 2012: Just looking at TED's big three (Technology-Entertainment- Design), I think popularity is a factor in all of them. For example, Apple is popular in technology and many folks buy for that reason alone, having no technologocal knowledge or interest in the product. In entertainment, of course popularity reigns supreme! And in design, automobile manufacturers, for example, produce good sales numbers by advertising slogans like, "America's Best Selling Truck!" People respond by choosing their product solely because it is believed to be the most popular. My answer to your question is, "to an all-encompassing extent."
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      Derek Young 30+

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      Jun 10 2012: How might you change this "all-encompassing extent" to be exposing more light upon less popular subjects, whereas it becomes the new "popular".
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        edward long 100+

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        Jun 10 2012: I don't know.
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          Derek Young 30+

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          Jun 13 2012: Alright, that is a valid, but difficult to work with, answer. Thanks for the honesty edward. Any others reading this post can freely comment on my question for edward.
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        edward long 100+

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        Jun 13 2012: The task of working with something that is "difficult to work with" is a vivid example of something being not popular. You are welcome.
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          Derek Young 30+

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          Jun 13 2012: Possibly in your "I don't know" was an answer in disguise. ;)

          Nice! =)

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