Fads and Trends

Fads and Trends are very much a part of everyday life.  They are seen from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep.  But, for the typical person, defining these things in our daily lives as either category does not often come up.  I view fads and trends as being very similar, but with one major difference.  A trend lasts long-term, a fad grabs our attention and disappears just as quickly as it came.  I also find it easier if I think of fads as being subsets of trends, for instance listening to music has become a major part of our society, but specific genres can sometimes last for very short amounts of time.  In this example, listening to music would be a trend and but the mix of rap and country would be a fad ( and thank goodness that one passed quickly).

So, without further ado here are some fads and trends from my own life.



1. Soccer vs. XFL

Soccer has been growing in America quite a bit, last year it surpassed both the NBA and NHL in average seats sold per game and is catching up to MLB.  In 2011 MLS average attendance was 17,844 while MLB average attendance was 25,993. (I expect that they will surpass MLB attendance soon). 

The XFL would show the opposite side.  It boomed into existence as a mix between football and wrestling but only lasted one season because it did not really catch on with a large group of people.

2. Reality TV vs.  Witty Comedies

Unfortunately, not all trends are good.  I have noticed a trend in the programming on television.  We moved from short lived comedies to reality shows based on "real" people and their various problems.  One reality show in my life (through my lovely wife's viewing habits) is Teen Mom, a show that highlights just how stupid people can be.  Unfortunately witty comedies such as Arrested Development are a passing fad that we  rarely see on TV these days while the popularity of reality television is soaring.

3. Facebook vs. MySpace

These days it seems as though everyone and their mother (and their mother's mother) has a Facebook.  Facebook exploded once it was changed to an open format rather than being restricted to college students.  However, this explosion led to the demise of fellow social networking site MySpace.  The use of Facebook has become an everyday trend whereas MySpace has become an often ridiculed fad of the past that continues to attempt to be important by connecting to Facebook.



4. Music vs. CRap

For me, listening to music is as much a part of daily life as breathing.  This is the same for many people, which identifies music enjoyment as a trend in today's culture.  Not all music is still being listened to however.  One past fad is the hybrid of country music and rap music, also known as hick hop which didn't catch on with either crowd and rightfully has mostly stayed unnoticed.

5.  Casual Video Gaming vs. In-Depth Strategy

Video games have become a large part of my life since I was a child playing Super Mario Bros. on Saturday mornings.  However, many game companies are catering to the casual gaming crowd which has grown exponentially with the release of user-friendly systems such as the Nintendo Wii.  This trend has been mirrored by the fad of more "hardcore" games.  The time for complexity in video games has come to an end for the most part because of this rise in easier, less complicated games.