"My Misspent Youth"

Hello all,

There seems to be some confusion about the assignment that's due tomorrow, so I'll just post the instructions here (copied from D2L), and hope it clears things up!
***

“My Misspent Youth” instructions

1. Read "My Misspent Youth" by Meghan Daum.

2. Write a reaction paper (~2 pages, double spaced) about this essay, thinking about these types of questions:

• What motivated the author to make the consumption decisions that she did?
• Does she remind you of anyone you know (including yourself)? How?
• Do her decisions seem rational? Why/why not?
• Do you think she could have predicted/averted her financial crisis? Why/why not?
• Did you enjoy reading this story?

3. Bring paper to class and be ready to discuss your answers.

4. Turn it in to me at the end of class.

***

Good luck!

Photo source: http://img1.blockshopper.com/story_images/20199/4/master.jpg

Your amazing classmates

Hi everyone,

It's Thursday! It's almost the long weekend! Hooray!

Some of your peers have hit the ground running and already set up their blogs for this class. Not only are these brand-spanking-new websites exciting, they're gorgeous and funny and interesting.

Take a look for yourselves, and get inspired! (And don't forget to feed Danielle's fish while you're reading her posts...)

http://c-noceti.blogspot.com/
http://consumingbehave.blogspot.com/
http://danielleblogstoday.blogspot.com/

If someone sets up a blog that you think is particularly great, you can choose to follow it -- the link is in the upper-left corner of the screen. You can also follow this blog, which will give you a feed in your own Google dashboard, for easy access to the class material.

Photo source: http://windsormedia.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/cartoon_blogging2.gif

How to beat the bloggy blues

Are you dreading the blogging assignment for this class?

I understand! I confess that I am, by nature, a procrastinator who is also subject to fits of laziness...

However, I've found some tips from a fellow blogger about how to be successful in one's online journaling adventures. I hope they'll help me stay on track -- maybe you'll find some (or all) of them useful too.

Happy writing!

UPDATE: Adding a YouTube video to a blog is slightly tricky, but I managed to refresh my memory of how to do it.
1) Find the video you want to use.
2) Click the "Share" button under the video.
3) When the sharing menu pops open, click the "Embed" button.
4) Copy the HTML code that appears in the text box.
5) Paste this code directly into your blog post.

That's all! You've done it!

Photo source: http://weidnerappsych.wikispaces.com/Dec+13

The wiki is now open for business!

Hi everyone,

I hope your second day of classes is going well!

I've established a wiki for this class to use during the coming semester. Please feel free to link on over and electronically request permission to edit it. I'll give you a quick (but thorough) lesson on how to use it tomorrow during class.

(I've added a permanent link to the wiki in the sidebar to the left...)

Hey, hey, hey!

It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights...

Welcome to the 2011-2012 academic year! Check back here for all the information you need for Consumer Behavior, as well as for info, tips, and fun, fun links to marketing and CB-related stuff.

Money, money

Click here to access a podcast of This American Life's story on philosophies of money (i.e., currency) -- it's fascinating stuff when you have an hour!

One response to hypercommercialism and hyperchoice

The Burning Man festival, held annually in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, emphasizes experiences, interpersonal communication, sacred consumption, and playfulness. It's a "brand-free zone," meaning that any commercial brand names, logos, etc. are forbidden from being displayed. This doesn't prevent people from engaging in barter or other forms of trade, nor does it keep them from engaging in displays of "personal brands."

There's a consumer behavior researcher named Rob Kozinets who has written excellent essays & papers about this phenomenon.