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