Comments on: Why do things go viral? http://veryevolved.com/2009/02/why-do-things-go-viral/ The hidden biology behind everything you do Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:15:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: rick http://veryevolved.com/2009/02/why-do-things-go-viral/comment-page-1/#comment-340 rick Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:21:05 +0000 http://veryevolved.com/?p=264#comment-340 I think the herd mentality has been with us throughout our evolution. When one person in the herd starts to get tired, this starts to influence the others and they proceed to get tired. If everyone was on completely different sleep cycles then some would get seperated from the herd and killed. There is strength in numbers and it helped us survive throughout our evolution. This combined with our need to belong are powerful influencers that can strongly impact our decisions. It is difficult to go against the crowd, especially when you have developed some trust with that crowd. Thanks for the though provoking article. I think the herd mentality has been with us throughout our evolution. When one person in the herd starts to get tired, this starts to influence the others and they proceed to get tired. If everyone was on completely different sleep cycles then some would get seperated from the herd and killed. There is strength in numbers and it helped us survive throughout our evolution. This combined with our need to belong are powerful influencers that can strongly impact our decisions. It is difficult to go against the crowd, especially when you have developed some trust with that crowd. Thanks for the though provoking article.

]]> By: Denis http://veryevolved.com/2009/02/why-do-things-go-viral/comment-page-1/#comment-221 Denis Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:27:25 +0000 http://veryevolved.com/?p=264#comment-221 After reading this article or blog (you name it) I can honestly say that I am happy to stumble upon it. Of course trough a good advise of a good friend. For now I can honestly just say that, time is chasing me. So till next time.. Regards from Slovenia, denis After reading this article or blog (you name it) I can honestly say that I am happy to stumble upon it. Of course trough a good advise of a good friend. For now I can honestly just say that, time is chasing me. So till next time..

Regards from Slovenia,
denis

]]> By: Bob F http://veryevolved.com/2009/02/why-do-things-go-viral/comment-page-1/#comment-179 Bob F Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:50:15 +0000 http://veryevolved.com/?p=264#comment-179 Wonder if there have been any studies of viral marketing with those of us deemed to have social deficits like Asperger's Syndrome. So much of what becomes popular we just don't get. Is there anything viral in our "community?" If there were, would I even be able to recognize it? Wonder if there have been any studies of viral marketing with those of us deemed to have social deficits like Asperger’s Syndrome. So much of what becomes popular we just don’t get. Is there anything viral in our “community?” If there were, would I even be able to recognize it?

]]> By: Art Mealer http://veryevolved.com/2009/02/why-do-things-go-viral/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Art Mealer Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:45:59 +0000 http://veryevolved.com/?p=264#comment-178 Sounds like Purple Cow was right on... Sounds like Purple Cow was right on…

]]> By: Paul http://veryevolved.com/2009/02/why-do-things-go-viral/comment-page-1/#comment-143 Paul Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:07:57 +0000 http://veryevolved.com/?p=264#comment-143 Hmmm, thinking about the kinds of things people do forward, it seems to me, people forward things that look like gifts: things that are fun, things that are valuable, things that are useful. Also, people forward warnings. Also, people forward things that extend conversations they've been in with the other person -- news about a rock band we both like, ofr example. Of course, we won't forward things that we think the other person has already seen -- that would waste their "attention currency" -- so we end up forwarding things that appear novel within familiar categories. Hmmm, thinking about the kinds of things people do forward, it seems to me, people forward things that look like gifts: things that are fun, things that are valuable, things that are useful.

Also, people forward warnings.

Also, people forward things that extend conversations they’ve been in with the other person — news about a rock band we both like, ofr example.

Of course, we won’t forward things that we think the other person has already seen — that would waste their “attention currency” — so we end up forwarding things that appear novel within familiar categories.

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