Image via Wikipedia
I’ve noticed a trend on twitter recently. Why is Amy Winehouse/Xfactor/Big Brother trending when there are more important things going on in the world?
I find this quite sad. It implies that we can only be single minded in our pursuits on twitter (and by extension, in life) and to have room for interest in popular culture is somehow inferior.
A few weeks ago, there was an appalling and tragic event in Oslo. We all remember this. I believe the majority of us were shocked to the core, upset, full of empathy. The day after, Amy Winehouse had the audacity to die and somehow strip this sad humanitarian event of its “status” as Amy began to trend. The outrage on twitter from certain quarters was vicious. There was real hatred being poured out, from the same people who claimed to have genuine feeling for the people of Oslo. Now, I don’t know about you, but I have room for empathy on both situations. However, I felt very much affected by the death of Amy Winehouse; music is supposed to have an effect. Hers did on me, ergo her death has upset me. That’s how influence works.
I feel very sorry for the widow of the Red Arrows pilot; Flt Lt Jon Egging lost his life at the weekend, and messages of sympathy were abundant on twitter on Saturday; however, Xfactor was trending. I was watching the Xfactor. Does it make inferior in the eyes of twitter land? It would appear so.
Popular culture trends on twitter. The clue for this is in the title; it’s popular. It seems a shame when a self appointed moral compass on, let’s face it, a popular social networking site that is rooted in popular culture, can assert that I am only worthwhile if I tweet the tragic events in life to give me credence.
