| Has collective collaboration taken the power | | | | can be questioned, the questioners, |
| from the top of the pyramid and dispersed it | | | | questioned.Search Engine results are up for |
| among the participants?There is no one | | | | grabs. Top placement is achievable by those |
| overseeing camera that records our every | | | | who won't settle for static content. The |
| move. There are millions of them, in the | | | | long tail of search results is made up of the |
| hands of the public and on the walls of | | | | many many active voices. The more they say, |
| private businesses. The Mainstream Media | | | | the more they are heard, the more they are |
| cannot get the news to us faster than the | | | | networked, the more Google loves them.The |
| masses of bloggers do. In addition, if they | | | | once coveted access to MLS listings is |
| push something based on an agenda, it is | | | | becoming less of a compelling offer to |
| swarmed by truth seekers. New stars and | | | | generate leads. As the barriers soften and |
| celebrities are created by choice, not force. | | | | the public have access to that which was once |
| Peer to Peer file swapping changed the | | | | locked away in a private, powerful book, |
| entertainment industry forever. Google Video | | | | service, education and trust define the |
| and YouTube have leeched television | | | | attraction to an agent. One's ability to be |
| viewership significantly, and foreshadow the | | | | heard among, and supported by the critical |
| future of video entertainment.Hopefully, my | | | | mass will replace the gatekeeper mentality |
| lack of example doesn't spoil the point of | | | | and influence.Reputations, the cornerstone of |
| the article.To me it seems that the power, | | | | any long-standing business, depend on the |
| once controlled by the few, is now slipping | | | | collective voice. It can take years of |
| into the hands of the masses. Not that | | | | success to be 'talked about.' One negative |
| Orwell had it wrong, but the transmutation of | | | | blog article can wash it all away.Soon |
| his novel's message, and the prediction of | | | | sellers and their listing agents will be held |
| greater totalitarian control in accordance | | | | accountable by the collective audience for |
| with the development of technology, is | | | | the "facts" they present about a property.The |
| wrong.How does this affect the real estate | | | | future of listing a home?: Listing goes |
| industry?Hundreds of thousands of voices can | | | | online. The audience participates in its |
| question the leadership, decisions, policies, | | | | description and perception. Property values |
| management and opinions of those above and | | | | become influenced by the community's |
| beside them. These voices can and will be | | | | comments.With great power comes great |
| heard whether anonymously, individually or | | | | responsibility.Jim Cronin is the creator and |
| collectively. Accountability is now the | | | | author of The Real Estate Tomato: To Provide |
| highest priority for those that took their | | | | Realtors With A Destination For The News, |
| power for granted. The NAR can be | | | | Knowledge, Technology and Service They Need |
| questioned, MLS's can be questioned, large | | | | To Be Successful. |
| brokerages can be questioned, top producers | | | | |