A few weeks ago, Prof. Williams opened our micro class with one of his random economic thoughts: do you own your reputation? Before you say "of course," ask yourself if you own other people's opinions about you as that's all a reputation is.
The concept is a little strange to wrap your head around because your actions strongly influence others' thoughts. When Tom Cruise acted like an arrogant prick with the Today Show's Matt Lauer a few months ago, the vast majority of the population started thinking of him as an arrogant prick. But that does not mean you own your reputation; if you did, no reputation would go bad. You can only influence it; the effects are ultimately determined by the minds of others.
Similarly, I ask "Do you know your name?" Before you shout back, "Of course, it's MY name!" recall that it's also YOUR reputation; if sementics were a determinant of ownership, I would own my parents. Anyone that's ever been to my house would know that is not the case.
A name is nothing more than a way for others to identify you. The only time you use your own name is to signal to people who you are. Just like repuation, you can influence what you are called, but the result isn't up to you. When P. Diddy renamed himself Diddy for the absurd reason that "the P was getting in the way" of his fans, we all went along with it. We chose to call him Diddy. Why should he own what other people choose to call him?
For contrast, suppose Castro wanted everyone to call him "His Holiness." Or if Mr. Bush declared his new name to be "Gandhi." I can't see society going along with it. You name is your name because that's what everyone chooses to call you. They just happen to call you the same thing.
Friday, October 07, 2005
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3 comments:
There is one way in which one can exercise a good deal control over his name: He can refuse to respond to anything other than his preferred name.
But reputation, I think, is totally beyond one's control.
I'll concede that allows for some degree of control, but not totally. Everyone else can just refer to you as something when they are talking amoungst themselves. I know I've done a similar things like that with friends.
But reputation is not totally beyond one's control for the simple fact that people's actions influence their reputation. I'll conceed that some actions you can't predict how the people will respond but with other actions you can. If I donated millions to the Humane Society, I know my reputation will improve. If I dress like Hitler while testifying to Congress, I know my reputation will go down the tubes, for society at large in both cases.
OH NO, YOU'VE TURNED THE CONSERVATIVE REPUTATION-OWNING THEORCRACY ON ITS HEAD! Oh my, I do believe I've lost my monocle!
Oh wait, fucking duh, David. A seven year old with a head wound could figure out that he doesn't own it.
PS: Also, do you really think someone would spam your blog, thus requiring the need for word verification?
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