Peas, Breast Cancer, and A Case Study by Michael Allison

Michael Allison is a young man with a grasp of what works in the world of communication. and more important, he's got a handle on why it works, as he proved today when publishing: Frozen Peas: A Case Study Young Blood PR.

He talks about the Frozen pea phenomenon on Twitter, and my interaction with multiple groups of people who  have become involved in an amazing grass roots campaign of awareness and support for the breast cancer cause. Among his observations:

"... breast cancer has a relatively significant public awareness. It is very likely that any given person within any of these communities has been touched by the disease in some form or other."

"Accordingly, the large numbers of people with whom Susan interacts day-to-day aren’t blank slates waiting to be told what to do (as the bullet model states), but genuine friends who feel emotion toward one another.

Michael contends that it is Twitter which serves as the catalyst application for this case of remarkable interaction and communication, astutely observing that

"Twitter acts as a sort of stream of consciousness between groups of asymmetrically reciprocal followers. . ."

"Twitter, or similar critically-massed application, is valuable and can convey meaning to communities that can affect real-world change."

I can tell you that from my seat Michael has it just right. Twitter has changed my consciousness, or what passes for it these days. And I've seen the change in others. When I talked with Tris Hussey and Jim Turner on the phone yesterday they DID feel like genuine friends.

Now Don't Get Scared!

I'm not implying that twitter is some kind of scary futuristic group-think, but it does pass information lightening-fast and makes it easier to come to the relatively quick conclusion like: we have to do something for that family of the young mother killed in a car accident or the guy who lost his job in such a nasty way, or yes - even the woman with breast cancer who is scared and in need of a hand in friendship.

I'll never forget it, even if twitter is pasee' in a year or two it will always seems to me like a breakthrough in communication that happened at just the right time to do tremendous good for me. Now I am never surprised when it enables people to do great good for others.

Comments

[Michael Allison]

Whew! It passed the test. :)

I don't think people should be afraid of Twitter. For some, it might not be the right thing, but they should at least try it.

Thank you for the kind review, and I hope some of your readers will decide to jump in!

Michael

[anna]

What's interesting to me is the sense of community on twitter. We were made to live in community, but our culture has conditioned that out of us, in the main. Twitter is our community escape valve. The pressure of independence and self-sufficiency has caused a community explosion on social networks.

[Rosie]

Susan, I don't know you but I definitely am glad that somehow I have found your story. I'm also glad that you find support from so many people!! My aunt has been through breast cancer 2 times already and has kept her experiences very private. My heart broke for her and not letting me know what was going on with her. When I read your updates, I feel like I can fight with her better. Because I can at least get a small picture of what maybe she has gone through, by reading your experiences and what she will go through a 3rd time. I hope to try and open up dialogue with her this round. But I wanted to comment and thank you for being so open about your experiences and allowing me as a stranger to find your blog. :)