Influx Insights Tag Feed: society

the real power and threat of social networks

Influx Insights — 2007-08-12T12:47:26Z

"The deep structure of future human connection is being contrived, now, on the web, and it will slowly unseat other systems, like an oak tree growing in a churchyard, encroaching on the cathedral's foundations with roots that are deeper and stronger than artifice can achieve. This is in us, it is in the wiring, and social tools are allowing us to rechannel our ancient tribal past in a post-industrial future. Nothing can stop it."

Stowe Boyd

Posted by Ed Cotton

us twentysomethings growing up faster

Influx Insights — 2007-04-27T09:07:18Z

“There is evidence that the 25-29 year olds have grown up quicker than previous generations as a result of 9/11, terrorist threats and two wars. As a result they have adopted so-called ‘mature products,’ such as premium scotch whiskey, earlier than usual. Additionally, 25-29 year olds are switching from quantity to quality further fueling premiumization and further benefiting our brands.”

Diageo Investors Conference- April 26th-2007

dissecting the commute

Influx Insights — 2007-06-14T14:06:20Z

The New Yorker reports on "the daily commute", showing that it's taking up more and more of our time and turning some of us into unhappy loners.

"Roughly one out of every six American workers commutes more than forty-five minutes, each way. People travel between counties the way they used to travel between neighborhoods. The number of commuters who travel ninety minutes or more each way—known to the Census Bureau as “extreme commuters”—has reached 3.5 million, almost double the number in 1990. They’re the fastest-growing category, the vanguard in a land of stagnant wages, low interest rates, and ever-radiating sprawl. They’re the talk-radio listeners, billboard glimpsers, gas guzzlers, and swing voters, and they don’t—can’t—watch the evening news. Some take on long commutes by choice, and some out of necessity, although the difference between one and the other can be hard to discern. A commute is a distillation of a life’s main ingredients, a product of fundamental values and choices. And time is the vital currency: how much of it you spend—and how you spend it—reveals a great deal about how much you think it is worth."