Candidates send messages, avoid interaction using tech

By Jay Fidell

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, May 22, 2012

~~<p>In 1955, student elections at Forest Hills High School were memorable. The front-runner for president was Chester Brewsky. The cheerleaders extolled his virtues; posters and pamphlets praised his name. He was wildly popular, even though no one seemed to know him personally.</p>
<p>Chester won by a landslide, but when the principal went looking for him he couldn't be found. That's because he was fictitious. Those who created him, inspired perhaps by a popular beverage, had hijacked the election. They had used the mass marketing of the time to elect a nonexistent candidate.</p>
~~

In 1955, student elections at Forest Hills High School were memorable. The front-runner for president was Chester Brewsky. The cheerleaders extolled his virtues; posters and pamphlets praised his name. He was wildly popular, even though no one seemed to know him personally.

Chester won by a landslide, but when the principal went looking for him he couldn't be found. That's because he was fictitious. Those who created him, inspired perhaps by a popular beverage, had hijacked the election. They had used the mass marketing of the time to elect a nonexistent candidate. Login for more...