I control god.

I say this statement not as some may think from my awareness as a self-important American, and it is most assuredly not related to my mono-theist worldview.  This statement instead comes from my humbled position in the online marketing and technology industry.

Who is this god I blog about? It is a god we heap worship upon, a god we adore with our unceasing praise.  Our western society sends an average of 560 printed unaddressed prayers for favor each year to this god in the US (1), 290 requests to god in the UK (2), and 370 to god in Australia (3).  We erect signs and paint structures in the hopes that we may have some small impact on our god’s decisions (4).   We create temples in which our god can both worship and be worshiped (5).

This consumer god is not unique to one country, though perhaps America best exemplifies the ideal adoration model. As a child of the Reagan era, I placed my hand on my heart and committed my pledge to “one nation under god”, confident in the economic model for protection.  Americans communicate their commitment with each currency transaction, conveyed in the silent collaborative hope of “in god we trust”.  However, this god is not infallible, and as we have recently found in the recent financial crisis, can not always be trusted. Feelings of betrayal and mistrust prompt the global community to join in the cry for redemption and stimulus, shouting “Please, god bless America!!”

Unlike other deities we learn about, this god is not omnipotent, omniscient, nor omnipresent.  No, this god must be informed, persuaded, cajoled, and convinced. We as a commercial society have long understood that if we communicate, we can also communicate commerce (6).  More so, commerce then becomes the sole means for communication (7).  And if you want to communicate with most any audience these days, you will likely be doing it over the Internet (8; 9). It is here that I state my influence as part of the machine that creates online environments.

Others may protest my statement, saying it is actually they who control this god. Marketing certainly has influence, researching and predicting god’s desires and behaviors.  Sales is definitely important, acting as priests to plead on behalf of those desperate for god’s favor.  But once god has an intention to take action, it is those of us in the online industry who control god’s very actions.

It is a fickle god we work with, who may leave our carefully created environment at the slightest whim or the very hint of obstruction.  A spelling mistake on a form field, an incorrect reference in a security certificate, and god is on the run.  It is a vocal god, who makes displeasure known through carefully worded critique on forums, blogs and YouTube comments.  We brave the risk of displeasure, however, for the opportunity for mass propagation through the golden chalice of our cause “going viral”.

I take my position seriously, and I would encourage others in this honored profession to do the same.  My personal hope is that I may somehow use this control responsibly to help god realise its full potential, to become everything a deity is capable of being. This is often a frustrated hope, as commercial realities mandate my efforts to little more than satisfying base desires through mundane transactions.  I also struggle with my own learning journey, as a vengeful god corrects misdeeds with little compassion or care.  Yet there is still hope that I and those I work with may in some small way move beyond impacting god’s behaviour, even past god’s intentions, and speak directly to the very character of god.

Please join with me now in prayer …

References:

1. http://www.globaljunkmailcrisis.org/statistics.html;

2. http://www.stopjunkmail.org.uk/facts/volume.php;

3. http://www.nojunkmailsigns.com/fast_facts.htm

4. http://www.thaiphotoblogs.com/index.php?blog=5&title=billboard_kills_thai_woman&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shopping_malls_in_the_United_States

6. http://www.howstuffworks.com/banner-ad.htm

7. http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/news/2005/06/67723

8. http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm

9. http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1006813