I was reading a post about a great person being unheard of , not getting known to public in spite of his yeoman service to society and exemplary achievements in life. This anomaly is not uncommon; it is quite frequent and has been there historically over ages. In contrast many a mediocre rules the roost by hook or crook and become well known in public. But why is it so? Does it mean people don’t want to remember excellence or are they indifferent? The question has been lingering in my mind for quite some time To be heard of in public constantly therefore appears to require certain conditions to be fulfilled; manipulations to be in place.
Clappers and Slogan shouters are hired in public speeches to draw the attention of public thus manipulate gaining mileage to popularity of the speaker or to decry him or his speech/ idea that he tries to propagate
In a lighter vein I recall in our school days we used to see debaters each keeping their own gangs to clap and draw attention of audience to highlight a point! This type of manipulation of public attention and hence popularity takes advantage of psychology that if ten people express one opinion the eleventh will normally follow them than try to differ! Call it mob psychology, herd mentality or whatever term; it plays a major role in forming public opinion and more so, public popularity!
Nowadays print and broadcast media plays a major role in manipulation of Public popularity. Selective exposure in social media makes or breaks one’s popularity and public image. Likes or dislikes of media houses about a person/group or about an idea manipulates the extent and way exposed to public is made.
It looks, therefore, if any one or a topic is popular it means a conscious effort to garner it is in place, lest it wouldn’t be popular.
Essays