Over Empowered?

Image: tonync. From the 1972 Red China Children's Story Book

An article on the BBC about the lack of respect in the classroom got me thinking that perhaps this is one the dark sides of consumer empowerment.

There are situations where the establishment of law and order is useful; the interviewee this morning - I didn't catch her name - cited the need for it in the classroom for example. And whilst the need for law and order may be putting it a little strongly for a classroom situation - 'respect' might do just fine - the point is well made. 

Another dark side of consumer empowerment is companies poses as activist sites in an attempt to 'sell' consumers off a certain choice. We would feel duped if we found out that an anti- McDonalds site that appeared to be run by activities complaining about everything we don't like about McDonalds was actually run by say, Burger King or Wendy's.