TRENDING NOW
The dictionary defines the trend as "to extend in a general direction: follow a general course." The word "trend" is sometimes missused. On Twitter, the word trending is used to describe what is popular on twitter at that time, however, this is really a fad because a fad is something that is only popular for a short period of time.
The World wide web or internet is one of the biggest trends of the last 2 decades. As we all know, almost everything can be found on the WWW. Communicating with family across the country or overseas was never so easy. Everything from movies, to music, to news is easier for everyone to access. The internet has changed the world. I remember signing on to AOL 2.5 for the very 1st time in the 90's and I just couldn't beleive what was out there. Since then, I have always had internet in my home, at my office and most recently, on my phone.
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Sure, I was a kid once who just loved to bang my head to rock and roll and dance and all that. Since I've gotten older though, I've come to appreciate Talk Radio. I guess talk radio has been on the air since the radio 1st came out. My mother used to tell me how she used to listen to baseball games on her transistor radio all the time while growing up. I listen to music still, but at time, I do get tired of it and it's then that I turn the dial to my favorite radio show, "The Howard Stern Show". Sometimes I listen to the news in my car or sports talk. It's an easy way to get the information I need while driving to work or school.
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The Smart Phone....Internet, Instant Messaging, Weather, Apps, Games. I remember going to the DMV and having to wait and wait and wait for my number to be called. Now, when you go in and pull a number, most people also pull out their phone and start doing whatever they want to fill the time. Plus, getting email on the go and making phone calls from the same device is just amazing. Remember when car phones were fancy? I do.. now everyone, (well, amost everyone), has one.
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Social Media. Some people use facebook, some people use twitter, some people still use Myspace (I think). Most people have it. Chances are, if you are desperate, lonely and missing your first high school love, you can find them on one of these social media pages. While facebook may fade away at sometime, and the same with twitter and myspace, it will most likely be replaced by some type of social media. Same idea, different name, to connect socially over internet applications.
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It's coming on strong... apple, mac, ipad, ipod. Everything is I-something. I am a PC user. I am becoming the minority. The Iphone is proving to be the better smart phone. The Mac computer is far less virus susceptable, and the ipad and the ipod all sync up with both of these. It's not going to be long before I replace my kick@$$ pc with a mac. Why? because I want an iphone and if I get an Iphone, it's only gonna be a short matter of time before I get the Mac, and Ipad. Bill Gates was onto something when he founded microsoft. But Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak made it better!
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FAD-ing away
A fad is basically something that is currently popular and that most likely will lose it's popularity after a brief period of time. Below are some fad's that I dislike and some that I like. Some of them just really piss me off. But that's the beauty of a fad..It ain't here to stay!!
A fad is basically something that is currently popular and that most likely will lose it's popularity after a brief period of time. Below are some fad's that I dislike and some that I like. Some of them just really piss me off. But that's the beauty of a fad..It ain't here to stay!!
WOW or World of Warcraft. I debated on whether or not this was a fad. It seems to be super popular, it has been for a long time...my brother in law met his wife on World of Warcraft. It's very addictive. In fact, there is a World of Warcraft website for helping those who have lost loved ones to the game or that are gamers themselves and want to quit playing but can't. It's a game people!!!
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I know that Justin Bieber is a fad. But that's not the fad that I'm talking about in this picture. See the hat? Notice the sticker on the bill of the hat? UGH!! It's a "59Fifty" sticker indicating the maker of the hat. Rappers started leaving the sticker on after purchasing the hat. It's so Wannabe gangster/wannabe thuglike and it's worn off on a lot of our youth. Even the Biebs is sporting it. HELLO PEOPLE!! Take the sticker off!!! You don't see Major League Ball Players with the sticker still on their hat. Totally annoying fad to me.
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I used to play a lot of Words with Friends. It's a fun scrabble game with random people or your friends that you play on your smart phone or even on your computer. It can be extremely addictive if you're into puzzles. Maybe there is some educational value or cognitive brain improvement from working the word puzzles. I for one had a difficult time with it because at one point, I had 14 different games going with 14 different people and I got in my car one day, started the car, and stayed in my driveway for about 20-30 minutes trying to get all my moves in. My opponents kept making their moves and I of course, had to make mine. So after a while, I decided to put it down. It's popular now, but it will wear off.
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Lady Gaga is a fad in my opinion. I know she's a great role model for kids that were bullyed growing up or nerdy or different. Gaga and all her "Little Monsters" are really making a stand and helping promote acceptance of all human beings. I never was really a fan until she performed on the Howard Stern show. Truly beautiful voice. She won't be around forever though.
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2012!!!!
I saved this one for last. The dreaded 12/21/2012 fad. The Mayan Calendar (pictured at right) ends in December 2012. Also in December 2012, people beleive the planets in our solar system are supposed to line up.
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The truth is, the planets have been in a line many times before and nothing happened. However, there is Nostradamus' predictions, the Mayan calendar, and the planets lining up all creating a fear that the world will end in 2012. Well, I really hope that we get to find out that it is just a fad. For those of you believers of the 2012 conspiracy, here is a website you can go to.
I hope you have enjoyed my little blog about the Fads and Trends of my life!!
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I used to play a lot of Words with Friends. It's a fun scrabble game with random people or your friends that you play on your smart phone or even on your computer. It can be extremely addictive if you're into puzzles. Maybe there is some educational value or cognitive brain improvement from working the word puzzles. I for one had a difficult time with it because at one point, I had 14 different games going with 14 different people and I got in my car one day, started the car, and stayed in my driveway for about 20-30 minutes trying to get all my moves in. My opponents kept making their moves and I of course, had to make mine. So after a while, I decided to put it down. It's popular now, but it will wear off.
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2012!!!!I saved this one for last. The dreaded 12/21/2012 fad. The Mayan Calendar (pictured at right) ends in December 2012. Also in December 2012, people beleive the planets in our solar system are supposed to line up.
The truth is, the planets have been in a line many times before and nothing happened. However, there is Nostradamus' predictions, the Mayan calendar, and the planets lining up all creating a fear that the world will end in 2012. Well, I really hope that we get to find out that it is just a fad. For those of you believers of the 2012 conspiracy, here is a website you can go to.
I hope you have enjoyed my little blog about the Fads and Trends of my life!!
You are absolutely right that "trend" is often used to mean "fad." Many people don't make a distinction, but scholars of popular culture do, to distinguish between lasting behavior change (trend) and short-lived enthusiasms (fad.) I'm glad to see you make the distinction so clearly.
ReplyDeleteI am a HUGE fan of Gaga, I am not sure if she will fade away and just be a fad that no one cares for anymore. Madonna is still going strong and she has been around for awhile, she just performed on the superbowl and came out with a new cd. I am also a huge Howard Stern listener and her performance on his show was really amazing.
ReplyDeleteOMG I loved the WOWaholics Anonymous site :) that's hilarious. Just wanted to say that first.
ReplyDeleteI liked your fad of the baseball hat sticker. Very creative and good! 2012 is also great. But the World Wide Web? That's interesting. Its quite possible that it will turn from a trend to a way of life! We will see, eh?
I am so glad you listed 2012 as a fad. All this end of the world hoopla will fade once the date arrives, and they will all been paranoid for nothing. Great job on fads and trends.
ReplyDeleteI would have never seen that the world wide web as a trend, but can't imagine my life without it now. I enjoy talk radio, especially since alot of it has gone to satellite radio. I seriously see the local FM and AM stations going by the way side soon and being replaced with Sirius-type stations. As forthe 2012 prediction, if you are right, then what will all the Doomsday Preppers do with 16 tons of canned cucumbers, 40,000 rolls of TP and enough weapons and ammo to arm Cuba?
ReplyDeleteGood job on this Blog. I have never played WOW but I have several friends who you could say are addicted to the game. It sure has been around and been extremely popular for some time now. We will see if it eventually dies off like many other popular video games in our recent history.
ReplyDeleteThe company brand sticker fad that is currently so popular with the teenage population these days, mainly inner city teens or as you stated, wannabes; drives me nuts. Not only does the keeping the label sticker attached to the bill of the baseball cap drive me crazy but the wearing of the hat bill flat also does. Baseball caps have always until recently been worn with the bill of the hat "shaped." Again as you said, you don't see baseball players (who the style of hat was originally designed for) wearing their hats in this fashion.