the first follower...

I was watching one of those Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation sponsored TEDtalks video a considerable while back and was fascinated by one of the programs. This short, five minute offering was titled, "How to Start a Movement" and it featured a short video of a man dancing like a crazy person at an outdoor type music festival. The camera shot was focused around the dancing man with an ancillary view of festival goers in various states of attentiveness. Now, the presenter is explaining the plight of the movement starter; having to stick it out alone among the masses that are probably thinking he's crazy, but because of his fierce and independent ambition continues broadcasting his pirate signal. After a couple of minutes of dancing, the inattentive ancillary masses become on-lookers, audience members, captivated, to some extent, by the hippy flailing, the crazy medium of his pirate message (whatever that is!). At some point a tipping moment occurs when, according to the presenter, the most important person or variable in the equation appears, the first follower. This first follower, we watch, begins immediately mimicking the free dance style, doubling the broadcast signal strength and most importantly, showing the now "potential movement members" that it is safe, easy, exciting and now, fun-looking instead of just aberrant. As the loquacious presenter continues, we watch a second follower, then a third, a group becomes followers four through seven and so on until more and more people join the dancing mass until it is a mob of flailing limbs, the leader lost in the whole.
At this point in watching the video of a video (this is a free i-Tunes offering) I felt triumphant like I had been apart of something...for a second, it was exciting for sure and easily observable and measurable in this case. The presenter concluded the exhibition juxtaposing the different qualities and virtues of the leader and the first follower. In a word, riveting. Now, my ever-crush and considered dear friend, Mggn took a ballerina's leap of faith and first followed my humble experiment. Thanks dear, for giving me the sweetest reason to write, your smile.
Now, with having a follower comes certain responsibilities (ie. prompt and interesting new posts). So as not to disappoint, that die is cast, and ad infinitum. Again dearest, I am so obliged.

"her metric sooths and smooths the cult, hers, molten and smooth."