If anyone had any doubts about the power of the internet, social networks, or the spontaneous order that emerges from them, those doubts must be fleeing as quickly as Cook’s Source’s advertisers. In one awe-inspiring day, a dumbfounding, but otherwise somewhat un-newsworthy episode goes from humble blog post to instant internet meme. As the story spread, people shared in the disgust and indignation of the original victim. By the very nature of the interactive and networked nature of new media, as people expressed their disapproval, their network of friends were exposed to the story. The emotion generated (mostly shock at the gall of one astoundingly arrogant editor) seems to have hit just the right nerve with people.
But, interestingly, the incident very quickly went “meta”. Once it had reached a tipping point, not only were people expressing their reactions to the original content, but quickly became amused by the phenomenon itself. Everyone tweeted a collective, “Huh, look at that!” Amusement and novelty being another quintessential trigger emotion for the internet, this seems to have pushed the exposure level to the point that it created a positive feedback loop, spinning the story ever faster and farther through the social networks of the internet.
So, all at once, the focus of some untold (but undeniably large) number of people was brought to bear on one pitifully arrogant, ignorant, scamming editor. Justice was dished out generously and has catalyzed a process that will see the matter through to a just conclusion through established channels.
But, perhaps most fascinating, the internet today seemed to have had a flash of meta-cognition.