Pirates and the power of ideas

Yo, Ho, Yo, Ho,
It's "Talk Like A Pirate" Day!
That time in September when sea dogs remember
That grown-ups still know how ta play!

    Today is, believe or not, the 10th Anniversary of International Talk Like a Pirate Day. I've blogged on this phenomenon before, citing it as an example of how an idea that resonates with people can grow through the power of the Internet. The celebration started as a joke between friends but if you go the official website you'll see a map showing celebrations happening all over the world. And these are just the ones the organizers know about.

    Talk Like a Pirate Day has grown because people want to participate: it's fun, it's harmless, and it makes us laugh in a world with too little laughter these days. For a brief moment, we can escape the mundane to a world of dashing rogues who bear no resemblance whatsoever to the real pirates of old. It's a fantasy world, peopled by memories of our child heroes from the silver screen. And a little imagination and fantasy in our lives is a good thing.

    So for just a few moments today, return to that childhood world, where the skies were blue, the waters calm and adventure was just over the horizon. Raise a glass of rum (pirates actually preferred brandy), pop in a pirate video (Erroll Flynn, of course!), and ruminate on the power ideas amplified by the Internet and social media.

    Aaaaaaaargh!