Internets

I have to admit, that although i've been "on" the internet for a long time there are still plenty of things that amaze me. Mostly these come in the form of various memes, or in many cases just little things that are acceptable or common practice on the internet. Yet would be totally unacceptable anywhere else in the world, no matter what country or background you are from.

Also on the other side of that, internet in itself is aside from all of that. Thinking about it, it would be arguable that a man from Japan may automatically take his shoes off when entering a house, where as a man entering his house in England may not. Internet is another one of these, and in some cases, has its own little sub-cultures.

Certain message boards as an example, or auction sites may have their own etiquette. I think though, it's funny when you as an "experienced" user of the internet, well versed in various memes and subcultures and sub-subcultures see these abused or even misused.

An example i saw today, and the reason for this post in fact. Is while browsing ebay for trainers, i noticed that some auctions were being listed as "RARE".

Now, don't get me wrong a pair of shoes may well be "RARE" - but exactly how rare can a pair of Nike Air trainers, size 11 be? I could walk into town now and i'm sure i'd find the exact same pair on the shelf. Now looking back to the early days of ebay, RARE was used to describe something that was actually rare, or exceptional. A way of grabbing attention.

I'm sure, you like me put two and two together and realised that "RARE" has just become a marketing slogan, it's not really rare. But it's a way of saying "HEY COME AND HAVE  A LOOK!!"

Sad really, since now when i search for things that might actually be rare, they are all rare.