Yesterday while we were watching TV, my husband was also scanning the Internet, looking for the blog "Stuff White People Like" (http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/), which he had heard mentioned on NPR and then told me about. I continued the cycle by going online myself, checking out the blog, then clicking on a link to "The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard" (http://www.storyofstuff.com/), which gave me the idea for this blog, and now I'm writing to you.
Think about how old (TV, radio) and new (blogs, Web sites, streaming video) media work together with face-to-face communication to generate a conversation. Can we doubt, as PR practitioners, that we must think about how people think (often as a "stream of consciousness") and make sure we provide information in many ways so that our publics can find our messages?
The blog "Stuff White People Like" started as a distraction for young author Christian Lander, who worked in advertising. It's described as being for "left-wing, upper-class Caucasians." While I don't fit into the "upper-class" category," I find his blog hilarious ... and right on the mark. Here are a few of the things he says white people like: hummus, sea salt, "The Daily Show"/"Colbert Report," being an expert on YOUR culture, public radio, New Balance shoes (that's all my husband wears), promising to learn a new language, grammar (ahem) and recycling (double ahem).
Of course, this is an oversimplification, but it does play into the idea of a buyer persona -- knowing whom you are targeting with your messages, products and services.
While scanning the blog, I saw a reference to "The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard" (http://www.storyofstuff.com/). I just had to click on it ... and then, I just had to keep listening to the 20:40 minute streaming video (because that's what guilt-ridden white people do). In the process, I found an answer to a question I'd posed to myself last week: How is it possible for a company to sell something (e.g., a cotton blouse made in China) so cheaply (e.g., $4 on super sale) and still make money? What about the cost of planting, harvesting and milling the cotton; cutting and sewing the blouse; packaging and shipping the garment from one continent to another; warehousing and then shipping the garment to the store; advertising, displaying and then selling the blouse, packed in a store-brand bag; and, somewhere along the line, paying rent, utility bills, wages and taxes? Well, "The Story of Stuff" answers the question.
As PR professionals, we must be aware of how people get information and how we can help them find what they need and want to know.
My Final Blog
15 years ago
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ReplyDeleteI think that this particular blog is hilarious in its indiscriminate and copious use of stereotypes! While searching the Web last semester, I found this blog and out of pure curiosity, I decided to read it and see what it said. The ridiculousness of it kept me coming back to see new posts. When I told my sister about this blog, she went and looked at it and the next time we met, she guiltily turned to me and said, “I like a lot of that stuff too and I know you do. So… what does that say about us”? I told her that I didn’t know and that I tried not to read too much into it, because, after all, it is a blog about stereotypes (some true and some false, but all are generalities and human beings by nature are fundamentally different).
ReplyDeleteAs to how we get our information, I think that it’s amazing that we have so many avenues to search and find anything that we could possibly hope for. In the advent of the Internet and all of its accompanying social media, it just boggles my mind to know that if I am looking for the most ridiculous topics, for research or just for fun, the odds of my finding information about said topics are great. All one must do is type in a key word or phrase into any search engine and multitudes of links will pop up directing one to websites related to that word or phrase.
In response to how it’s possible for a company to sell something cheaply and still profit, I think it all comes down to the amount that the company sells in order to break even on production/shipping/stocking costs and then the residual earnings, from the items sold, are then turned into profit. If you sell a lot of something, odds are, you will be able to make a profit regardless of the money it takes to create and distribute that item.
As you speak about these blogs and streaming video, i start to feel a little in the dark. I have rarely read a blog and streaming video to me is youtube. Though i have to step my internet knowledge and navigation up, i think it is a potential problem for PR practitioners to figure out how to find ways to effectively reach members of the internet generation that don't read blogs; those publics that do not use the internet to its full potential.
ReplyDeleteI find blogs such as “Stuff White People Like” particularly obnoxious. I’m not a big fan of stereotypes, even though I do realize that most stereotypes are part truth. But one thing that the blog had mentioned which I found interesting was the statement that upper class white people like New Balance sneakers. When I was coming back from Christmas break, I was waiting in the airport but there were too many people at my gate and no seats so I decided to sit at another gate until they boarded my plane. So I was sitting there in the gate for Los Cabos (wishing I was going there instead) and I was looking at the couple sitting next to me and they appeared to be pretty upper class. I looked down at this mans sneakers and he was wearing New Balances! I thought to myself why is he wearing those shoes. I never really found them to be too stylish. But then I started to look at other men who looked “upper class” just like him and they were wearing them too. So I guess this proves stereotyping is sometimes true, I just don’t find it too entertaining.
ReplyDeleteAs Porsche said, I also think its amazing how many avenues there are to get information. But I also find it sort of creepy on how easy it is to get information. When using the Internet you can type anything in and you will get results by the millions. When I’m doing research or just playing around on the Internet, I always end up being led somewhere that I originally would have never thought I would have ended up just because it wasn’t my original search.
And as for making a profit out of something that has been made so cheaply I find that it is somewhat simple to wrap your mind around. When you think about it, if you’re making something cheap you are probably making a great number of these items. If you’re making a great number of these items then you’re probably selling them at a good rate. And if you’re selling them at a good rate then you are probably making some sort of profit off of it.
I'm actually afraid of the technology craze that's taking over our society. Of course I agree that the internet opens up so many avenues. It connects people around the world. PR practitioners, and other companies now have the power to deliver content directly to audiences. But I feel as though old media is losing a leg. How many people our age read a newspaper daily? I honestly think the new generation may not know what a newspaper is. So yes, blogs and social sites like Facebook are great, but they also have their drawbacks (like most things in life). It's important not to get so caught up in the fascination that we forget the more practical forms of communication.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading the beginning of this blog I thought that my response was going to be about stereotypes and how I too enjoy things like hummus (when my white girlfriends bring some over), sea salt (which my health conscious mother got me into using; $1 @ the Dollar Store), the Colbert Report (which needs to be included on CNN), recycling and I’ve been learning Spanish for a total of five years now and I can only put a ‘very’ short sentence together. I enjoy telling people about their cultural history (shout out to the History Channel, National Geographic and PBS), public radio when it’s interesting and I like grammar, but the New Balance thing is definitely on point. I’ll leave those for your husband Dr. D.
ReplyDeleteAnnie Leonard’s “The Story of Stuff” is one of the best videos I’ve seen on recycling. I mean she really made me feel depressed about the materials economy, then antcey halfway through the video wondering how WE can help. A hand full of people can’t save this planet alone. Leonard must have spent months, if not years, finding all of the information needed to even present her argument on this terrible situation. My answer to the $4.99 question was nowhere near Leonard’s. It would behoove me to know where she began her research and how she retrieved it, especially with me being a PR student and all. I knew about the destruction of the planet by stripping it of its resources and dumping them back in after we’ve contaminated them, but I wouldn’t have considered putting that information into my answer to how a company could afford to sell its products so cheap.
The information about the government and large corporations being in cahoots was also a reminder. Leonard’s reference to tax payer dollars being wasted on war reminded me of the Blackwater USA scandal. When you examine the two neither one is worse than the other because they (the materials economy and blackwater) both destroy lives even to the point of death. While on the topic of destroying lives, I wouldn’t have to go too far to research how the toxins we put into our bodies affect our newborn children like Leonard points out. I have some family and friends who eat fast food just about everyday and wonder why their babies all have baby eczema. Guess what the babies eat? They go through different formulas because they can’t keep them down and the source of the problem (what the doctors always tell the mothers to STOP) is her breast feeding.
Informative enthusiastic videos or presentations like Annie Leonard’s “The Story of Stuff” inspires me on a personal level to help save our world that we live in (both the environment and the living that consumes it) and on a professional level to always research EVERYTHING. We will be surprised to know how and where some of the companies we love, patronize and work for get the resources to make their products, what they put into them, the conditions of the workers, their disposal process, subliminally ad addicting us and most of all how they use our money (customers and regular tax payers who aren’t consumers of the product) through the government to keep their companies afloat. One of the most important research vehicles we can use to research is social media. It’s the best thing since color television.
I look forward to doing some research of my own. I’ll start with companies that distribute a resource that we can’t but try to live without, water.
Nicole- I found the blog "Stuff White People Like" to be only half true. While reading through many of the entries I wondered if anyone ever thought that others like many of these same things and that some of the "stuff" is more so regional than racial. A prime example of this is New Balances, a sneaker that I have worn for most of my life and popularly called "Newbie’s" by friends and classmates. I would also say that I think facebook is loved by all! I guess that there is some truth to all stereotypes.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that there are so many different ways to obtain information. I love to watch television but usually don't have time to. The internet and its accessibility has created many avenues and many forms of disseminating information.
Companies will always make money, no matter how cheap the item is. If the item is cheap they will sell more which will cover their bottom line and if the product costs more they will sell less which will still cover their bottom line. Either way they're making money.
My first time visiting the blog "Stuff White People Like" I found myself being open-minded about the blog. That is until I came across a post called "Black Music that Black People Don’t Listen to Anymore." One of my pet peeves is when someone labels R&B/Rap as "Black Music." What does it mean to identify something as black? What associations are made when something is defined as black? Are we talking about the people who produce the music? Or those that listen to it? Because in that case, when it comes to both of those questions...all races produce and listen to R&B/Rap music. Same goes for so called "White Music" aka Rock and Country. There have been times when I've turned to CMT or mtvU and saw a black person participate in "white music."
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to the different ways we can gain information, I'm 50/50 on the topic. Mainly because it's kind of scary how easy it is to find certain information on the internet. For example, just by typing someones phone number in you're presented not only with their home address but how to get there! On the other hand, the internet can be used for good. Known as the "information superhighway," you can have access to virtually any book without even leaving your desk.
Companies will still make a profit off of discounted items because by the prices dropping more consumers will be persuaded to buy the product. In the long run, they'll be able to break even.
I think the "Stuff white people like" blog is pretty funny....of course there's only a little truth to it, but its still funny. I don't take anything dealing with race and ethnicity too seriously....that's one characteristic that I thank FAMU for. I can find the humor in the white people webste and keep it moving....but I would like to note that this is my fourth year here at FAMU and I am a white female, and my eyes have been opened to soooo much since I've been here. I understand in the end that there isn't shows or clothes that majority or ONLY white people like....but its sad to say, I'm sure if you cross the railroad tracks and go to FSU, they don't understand and aren't as open minded to different races and ethnicities. A lot of my friends have been in awe seeing me watch movies that they wouldn't expect a WHITE GIRL to watch (good example: I LOVEEE The Wiz) or listening to some music they thought the stereotypical little white girl wouldn't know anything about...and vis versa...I have friends of many different cultures and ethnicities that have shocked the HECK out of me by some of the hobbies they have or some of the music they listen to. When I first came to FAMU, my roommate was from Washington D.C., so I ended up meeting a lot of her friends who were also from D.C....and they ALL wore New Balance shoes and it just confused me and definately caught me off guard...but it helped me expell stupid stereotypes about new balances being for old white people (and yes, that's the only people I thought who wore them...lol).
ReplyDeleteI think people shouldn't take life too seriously...and they DEFINATELY shouldn't take this white people site to seriously. ;)
I think the availability of so many different ways to get information through TV, radio, the internet, etc. is amazing and I think its wonderful the way that all the media outlets work together. Every day that I watch CNN, my boo Anderson Cooper is ALWAYS blogging with viewers about the topics that he is reporting on....that is SOOO cool to me! CNN has just recently started this whole blogging on air with the viewers in the past few months (maybe even year?) and the only reason they are doing it is because they have been keeping in touch with what the people like and what they want while watching CNN. It is very important for PR practitioners to know how people find information because without the people/customer, there is no need for a business or any type of PR practitioner!