People are social animals. So it has been said. The socialization of the species has taken many forms over the eons. Religion has been the oldest guard where people flock to for variety of reasons but more for affiliation with like minded individuals.
It is beneficial to the extent that the herd has a larger sway than a single person or even a handful of people. To change public opinion or to make regulation or demand change to status quo.
Political affiliation is another popular cult. In today's day and age the polarity of thought is even more pronounced world over with financial security defining the views of the left vs. right and all the spaces in between.
In modern times there have been variants of the above in the form of special interest groups, yoga retreats, Amway advances, ponzi schemers, artists of living, et al.
Then there are the not so obvious but immensely popular versions (of the cult) like those created by the ultimate yogi - the Apple fans. Lining up outside their shrine (local Apple store) every year for the newest piece of magical silicon, glass and copper ever assembled (if you ask them) these species of believers relish the whole experience.
The secondary and tertiary economies that benefit from this soon going global event herald the coming of the new idevice with much fanfare and free advertising. Its like Hawaii promoting tourism and cruise companies doing it for Hawaii - good business for all. Every one wants to say something about it so as to have the rub off effect. Today Fedex and UPS announced a significant bump in projected revenues purely due to all the Apples being shipped.
Never did the farm community see that take off for the real fruit. So if you feel left out don't despair - just hang out at the local Apple store and soon you will have plenty of company.
Today's world is hyper connected. I am not so sure what it means but you hear it a lot. It is probably hyper but not sure how connected it is. Sugar (fermented or not) is available in many ways than before and so getting hyper is easy. It is probably more a threat than cocaine since it is sold legally. And what is this connected stuff? Most people I encounter seem disconnected from reality. So going back to this assumption that we are connected there are subtle and no so subtle instances of how brands and companies and middle men try to portray someone - A linkedin profile for somebody working for X years at a place advertises to the connected network that so and so is CELEBRATING X years @ Such and Such Inc. Do we know if (s)he is celebrating or cringing? Perhaps a better way to portray will be - So and So LASTED X years @ such & such inc. Then it exhorts the readership to go ahead and congratulate them for this lasting effe...
An Apple (launch) a year keeps the couriers gay (as in happy).
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