COOLEY'S SINEWS PIPELINE
Once upon a time, I crossed the pathway of two people working in media. I needed guidance on how to read marketing and media in the digital world. I wanted input from he and she because men and women process information differently. She portrays a communications strategist and he depicts a digital advertiser. I was looking for free-spirited minds not predominately shaped by society. They share a unique common point: They gained sufficient notoriety to cherry-pick as freelancers.
I asked: «Why choose communications?»
He responded: «In the Western World, people are hooked to tech gadgets. Digital advertising brought a new dimension to conventional advertising where one can detect individual preferences for goods and services via algorithms. One can learn how society evolves by quantifying and studying trends in digital advertising.»
She responded: «My ancestors have settled in this region for centuries and I grew up in a religious household. Theology played a major role in shaping past society. After the introduction of the birth pill in the 1970s, the industrialization of many sectors and the modernization of minds shifted theology to play a secondary role in society. People use communications as mainstream to assess on their own what is going on in society without needing a church leader to do the job for them. The attitudes of people are immensely impacted by media. Obviously, technology brought a new facet to communications. I saw opportunities of growth for a lifetime in this domain.»
I asked: «Who is Cooley?»
He responded: «Charles Horton Cooley was a sociologist American professor. He was an ill child and had to put up with a dominant father overshadowing his dreams. His vulnerability as a child enabled him to feel more for the vulnerable. He introduced the idea of the "Americanization" of foreigners and their children due to a larger conception of what constitutes the self although it is ignited by the arrogance of self-aggrandizement.»
She responded: «Charles Horton Cooley was an American sociopsychologist who introduced the doctrine "looking glass self" where one's identity constitutes a mirror reflection of how others perceive us. This interactionist perspective cannot take form when individuals are deprived and isolated from society.»
I asked: «Is media impartial?»
He responded: «There are stakeholders that hold proxy in media. Although journalism and other media interveners hold a moral responsibility to connect and educate people, sometimes surveys show that people feel biased regarding the content presented. It is recommended that people use judgement to gather up information from various sources to assess what is going on in the world. In digital marketing, people are becoming more concerned about algorithms that easily spy on devices. I think the rules to govern ethics regarding the privacy of data and use of AI depict a necessary must in the digital world.»
She responded: «Things are not always as they appear. Yes, media content is used to shape the minds and attitudes of society. I have a saying: The truth is somewhere between the lines or between how 2 parties present the story. Sometimes, information is classified for a very long-time and some events are purposely hidden from society for a very-long time. Just like any sector, there are proxyholders in the communications sector as well. It is recommended that people navigate various sources of material to adequately analyze information presented to them.»
I asked: «Do numbers matter?»
He responded: «Yes! As a digital advertiser, we measure advertising strategies by quantifying parameters. Surveys in various forms are still used to understand human behavior in regard to various advertisements.»
She responded: «Yes! Numbers matter. There are analytical tools to measure viewership and monitor tendencies in media mainstreams used by the public.»
I asked: «Are people instructed what to say and do people lie?»
He responded: «Yes! Some organizations have communication are digital teams that already provide speeches to the interlocutor. People taking the stand are also provided lies to read out loud. It is part of the game. Lying schemes are sometimes quantified via patterns detected by algorithms.»
She responded: «Yes! The media business is a brutal one.»
I asked: «Are people who object to take the stand cowards?»
He responded: «No! Some people think quietly and might not take the stand for XYZ reasons to provide their point of view. It does not mean that they are cowards. They might be silently brainstorming solutions. Some people are verbomotors and make a living from taking the stand for anything and everything.»
She responded: «No! For a balanced society, we need people who take the stand and people who stay silent. One shall not quickly judge people nor undermine the power of silence. We also need brave people to take the stand to present a point of view.»
I asked: «What is your input regarding the current Arabian Peninsula turmoil?»
He responded: «I think we are past condemning both sides for wrongdoings. There is probably classified information that we do not know regarding the current war. For example, is it a premise to ignite other countries to embark in wars on a grander scale! I hope not. I do believe numbers matter. I do not think the new country can use past wars in the Dutch country as a leverage to morally dismiss casualties. The concept of moral superiority does not exist and every life matters. I think the future will depend on the younger generations: Both countries will need to compromise but history has already demonstrated that human behavior shifts when people are provided the same charter of human rights and freedoms.»
She responded: «I think there needs to be international actions to push for a ceasefire. Many international organizations have already condemned both sides. Things are not what they seem and there is probably information swept under the rug. I do not see the birth of a new country but rather the retaliation of a population that was done wrong in Europe and has relocated elsewhere. In fact, evicting or lashing out at people deprived of fundamental rights cannot correct the shot. I think it will depend on younger generations and if they can bury the past to look into the future on an egalitarian approach.»
I responded: «Thanks for a wonderful lesson in Cooley's Sinews Pipeline.»