[Sigia-l] Hmmmm (IA/interaction)

[Derek R]

Sean wrote:

>| What marketing does, and hence commodity 
>| and service markets do, are create an image of
>| what people should do [...] Whether this is 
>| therapeutic is _highly_ debatable


Well, to stroll slightly into a discussion of human behavior (Human
Factors) . . . . what you are suggesting is absolutely correct, but, is
missing a distinction of endurance (duration). 'Self-preservation' will
still always reign.

Using your example above, some people can be *momentarily* mislead or
distracted by circumstance, 'ego inflation,' marketing, etc. One can see
this at work with the use of buzz-words, or other flavors-of-the-week
(bubbles), which gain 'momentary currency,' but ultimately fizzle and
die because these things serve particular ends, as opposed to
*endeavoring to preserve one's being* (i.e. preservation of that which
one certainly knows to be useful/beneficial to them -- user-centered
approaches).

In short, there exist many commodities and services which are useful to
consumers, and therefore will be sought-out by them. Of these things,
however, none can be considered more excellent (i.e. with more marketing
power $$$) than those which agree with the individual customer's nature
(i.e. that which is 'therapeutic' -- user-centered).

It follows from this that, as humans, consumers desire nothing because
it is deemed good (i.e. to "create an image of what people should do")
-- but on the contrary -- consumers deem a thing good *because* they
endeavor, will, seek, or desire it (i.e. "self-preservation" at work).

The Wisdom of this message is the Wisdom of continuity (i.e.
duration=success) and underscores the importance of vernacular
understanding of one's business/market.

Look no further than the endless marketing-barrage of Hollywood movies
to test this axiom of self-preservation. No matter how much money and
marketing one puts behind a film to 'create an image' that it's good,
ultimately, consumers will deem the film good or not *because* they
actually go see it or stay away. 

You cannot, a priori, make a thing what is sought (i.e. 'findability'),
but must work with what is (i.e. what actually exists). Working with
'what is' results in *accomplishment* (i.e. revelation).