CH. 1 Manifesto

The few sentences I do not agree with. He tells us that you will never hear the inevitable phrase, ‘We Die’ in a TV ad. ( Laura also comemnts on how the concept of 'We Die' is used) I say that's bullshit-we live in an uncensored society. For example, the photos taken by American soldiers of Iraqi prisoners at the Abu prison were up on display at the International Center of Photography in West Midtown (the exhibit is not listed on the website but here's the link anyway) last semester.
When approaching the display you could FEEL the shift of energy. Like an imaginary red light told each person that something was out of the norm in this one peticular section. The display was closed off with makeshift walls that looked like they were fresh out of an Ikea catalog. People knew it could be wrong to look at the pictures, but isn't that what was so intruiging about them? And secretly, they liked what they saw. Of course no one will openly admit this. 'Mrs. I came into the city today from Long Island' views the photos because she simply CANNOT. There is no way she can go back to LI without having seen ‘it’. We saw the pictures and as we looked at each humiliating pose and smiling private (that’s the soldier not the genitals) we desensitized ourselves. It’s now, “Oh, you HAVEN”T seen the pictures?” Like, shit, what’s wrong with you, why would you NOT want to see the people that killed hundreds of Americans withering in embarrassment? (Maybe because we are embarrassing ourselves by putting them on display? but that’s another post). Additionally, why is it that the outcry of artists get their voices heard. Here is a link (amoung others) found on BoingBoing about Baghdad artists speaking out against the torture that went on in the Abu jail.

Corporate-earth is interesting in earning it's next million or openning another factory in Mexico but there is much more going on in the world. There's hurt, suffering, torture, etc. But wait, buy a dell computer and you can forget all about these things. No wait, drink coke and have the good life. Better yet, buy McDonalds because they use 'recycled' paper bags. The fact that a ClueTrain Manifesto exists is a step forward. I shun corporations but we need them. I would like to see them change, maybe not be so greedy. It's a pipedream.

Ok. Fuck the idea of looking or not looking at the pictures and the reasons why. What I’m getting at is ‘We Die’ is indeed all over the media:

You’re going to get old and die: Buy our beauty product and slow down that process.

You’re going to die soon and that’s why you can’t get a boner anymore: Buy Viagra.

You’re going to die anyway: Smoke these cigarettes.

You’re going to die anyway: Pick our credit card company; although we do have the highest interest rates, we give you the biggest spending limit.

You’re going to die one day: Do what you can now for your family by buying our discounted life insurance/burial plot instead of spending extra time with them.


The basis of the Cluetrain Manifesto does give light to the negatives in the corporate organizational world and how it can change. This book was published in 2001 and much has changed since then. In 2011 there will most likely be another version of a Cluetrain. History repeats itself. We all die. Who cares? Try and change it for the next generation, right? Or try and change it so it’s better for you and all of mankind? Once again, I think it's all a pipedream.

Just to re-cap: 'We Die' has also presented other thoughts from different classmates. Jessica claims it is a pathetic attempt to get the reader to reflect on life. She also links to two other classmates who think the same.