FRIDAY, NOV 1, 2019: NOTE TO FILE

Your 15 Seconds of Fame

Say what you will, do what you will

Eric Lee, A-SOCIATED PRESS

"In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes" —Andy Warhol, 1968

"You have 15 seconds — the time it takes to read 35 words — to grab a reader's attention.
After that, 45% of readers will stop paying close attention."
—Harvard 'communication coach' Carmine Gallo 2022

TOPICS: SPEAK FOR YOURSELF, FROM THE WIRES, 57 WORDS, WORDS, WORDS

Abstract: Script your 15 seconds of fame now.

Coos Bay (A-P) — Fifteen minutes? That was then, this is now.

Today you can maybe hope for 15 seconds, given the reduced attention span of those who distract themselves with nine-hours per day of screen time [on average among whom 18.5% of those aged 2-19 are now clinically obese].

So the premise is you have 15 seconds of humanity's attention, of their screen time. What are you going to do and/or say to enrich yourself or save the world (or both)?

For example, in 15 seconds you could say:

Twelve score and four years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Self-interest, and dedicated to the proposition that all Hu-mans are superior to Nature. Now we are engaged in a great ecocidal war, testing whether that nation, or any empire so conceived and dedicated, can long endure—beyond the 21st century.

So maybe 50-60 words if not talking fast. What percentage of humanity would use their 15 seconds to serve Self, i.e. their short-term self interest? What percentage would use their 15 seconds to serve the planetary life-support system, to 'save the world'? Enquiring minds want to know. Below, enter your words and/or a link to your 15 second (or less) video.

But you need a viable plan to 'go viral'. Here's my plan (as an example): First boil down five years of typing that nobody could possibly read, to about 300 characters (more than could fit on my tombstone) that, like a 2x4 against a blindered head, will get people's attention. I assume I have one accomplice who has a smartphone to take a video. We go to the National Mall in DC, USA, for a good background (millions do each year). I quickly pour, from a just opened pitcher of unleaded gasoline, a gallon over my head, say what I say, and flick my Bic (I've already done so but in the end I just turned the hose on myself instead of making sparks).

Would the video go viral? I'm betting it does. My wife doesn't want me to do this now, so as she is my only dependent and better-half, I'll wait a while; there are always delays and there is no predicting when the 'teachable moment' may arise, so maybe the delay will be fortuitous. Since I'm not interested in enriching myself, you can assume I'm interested in saving the world (or immortalizing my ego).

If you have a better idea, then you bet your 15 seconds. Think you'll get more than 15 seconds? Don't count on it.

And Your Claim to Potential Influence?

And the rough draft scripts/links are:

...none yet...

 

 

 

 

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