Response to Shirky

Shirky's article brought up really interesting points about how to become a "star" on the internet that I have actually always wondered about...and somehow, in his own science-y, mathematical way, he makes sense out of it. I've never understood how some people can become famous through the internet and the entire concept seems very strange to me. However, Shirky addresses it in a smart way. Even still, it is hard for me to comprehend how, though everyone is free to choose what they want to visit, read, link, etc., certain people, ideas, whatever gain status while others of equitable quality do not.

I also find it incredible (relieving incredible or nerve-wracking incredible, i haven't quite decided) that it can all be explained, at least in some way, through math. It figures. What I'd prefer to boil it down to, however, is that the more you get out there-the more blogs you post, the more friends you add, the more self-promotion and networking you do-the more famous you have the possibility of becoming (of course it helps to be talented, as well).

This guy (whose video I chose because he had nearly half a million hits-not star quality, but some status in the Youtube world) discusses how people become famous on Youtube. It's kind of silly, but it's the kind of thing I would view normally (sadly) and I thought that made it a good choice.

Personally, I think the thing that is the best way to become internet famous, other than to get yourself out there as much as possible, is to be different. Different because your better, because your controversial, because you're funny, because you're just different-it doesn't matter. Being different gets noticed and when something is noticed, people are more likely to pass it on or come back to it.

Again, it's a hard concept to come to grips with, but many of the issues we have been discussing in class about what is going on in journalism right now is difficult to understand. The important thing, in my opinion, is that it is happening.

My question: As I've been thinking about the video I put up, I can't help but wonder to myself how many views, hits, comments, etc. does a person have to get to be considered "famous"? Is it even quantitative? What do you think...