A mechanism or tactic · 1950 · Retail
The retail clerk
A person who recognises you, remembers what you wanted, and has the right thing behind the counter when you come back.
The origin of the site mascot and the most parasocial job in retail, which nobody has ever written a paper about. It is also the most useful control condition: the same attention, delivered by a person who gets paid to give it.
Application. One-sided attachment put to work on purpose. Creator economies, community, fandom as infrastructure, and the things that genuinely help people. Not automatically good - a tool with an obvious use is a tool that will also get a bad one.
Where it sits
1950 1950-1999 · 1950 1999
Connected · 3 out, 5 in
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