Got playlist anxiety? You're not alone.
The Georgia Institute of Technology has done a study on how people' playlists in offices affect their perceptions of their co-workers.
Sharing playlists on an office network turns out to be something like a peacock spreading his feathers for display. The researchers found that people actively work to create an image of themselves through the music they make available to others, just as they might by buying a new car or showing off a cell phone.
I'll be the first to admit that, yes, I have judged people on their iTune playlists before. For example, I frown upon whoever has Britney Spears collective works. And the Backstreet boys? Oh, let's just no go there.
However, I am secure with my own playlist. Yes, that's right, I have both of the Dawson's Creek soundtracks and I like them. Eve 6? Yup, like them, too. Lilith fair soundtracks? A necessity of life. Avril Lavigne? Okay, I have no justification for that, but every girl's got to have a guilty pleasure or two.
Another interesting phenomena:
...researchers said people became attached to other people's libraries, and felt a sense of loss when their computers went offline.
This is definitely true. Someone should have been around to witness the distress the roommate and I went through when Josh, the Mark Twain iTunes Mecca, failed to reappear after Spring Break. It was a stressful time.
Yeah, I've got everything from Disney to Offspring and I love it.
Posted by: Drew | April 11, 2005 at 06:32 AM