Lately it seems I’m always talking about how much context matters … and it does – whether we’re talking about getting marketing right on Facebook (facilitate meaningful connections between friends – that’s what people are there for!) or putting content on different platforms (consider what else your viewer is doing!) or just plain being funny (um … know your audience!).
But sometimes a complete lack of context is precisely what makes something entertaining. Everything that is NOT said is just as important as what is. We now live in a world where we can get our hands on tons of out of context info – not just with twitter and all of the related third-party aggregators, but also with sites like textsfromlastnight.com (warning: NSFW and don’t visit if you are easily offended or prefer your comedy more curated).
The (scary) point here is that with this new form of bite-sized communication (or rather, interaction), meaning is completely dependent on how the consumer interprets it. That’s part of the fun – but also a risk … especially if someone takes your message and sticks it somewhere else.
(212) You have no control.
Mental Orange: Tang for Your Head. 