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I am proud to say I essentially shun all socia media. I have never had a Twitter or Instagram account. I do have Facebook, but I essentially never use it - I

I am proud to say I essentially shun all socia media. I have never had a Twitter or Instagram account. I do have Facebook, but I essentially never use it - I haven't posted anything in years other than "happy birthday" to a few people. Social media has always been incredibly self-centered and narcissistic. But over the last few years it has become a truly nasty place with all the flame wars and political crap going on. Everyone has something to say. And no one listens to anyone else. I have no use for such a medium in my life. Twitter is by far the worst of all social media because of the limited message length. No well-reasoned arguments can be expressed in that short limit so we are instead left with a battle for the snarkiest, most sarcastic comments people can muster. The so-called "discourse" in America (and probably the world) has reached a new pathetic low. I am confident I am not missing out on anything of actual value.

BuuQu9hu 10y ago
But you're on HN, a social media site; worse, you're boasting about how you don't use social media as a signal to others, while making your boast on a social media site. Why are you so proud?
coldpie 10y ago
> Twitter is by far the worst of all social media because of the limited message length. No well-reasoned arguments can be expressed in that short limit so we are instead left with a battle for the snarkiest, most sarcastic comments people can muster. You're not wrong, but I do think it's fun and cathartic. But you do have to keep it in the context of "this is just people being pithy" and not use it as a primary source. This is more difficult than it sounds, and maybe not worth the damage it causes when people get it wrong.
wpietri 10y ago
No offense intended, but what you're doing here, a performative version of your life described in a way that makes you look good, is a big social media activity. As is the broad critique of society and particular things in it. I'd add that I don't think current social media tools are much different than my experience of Usenet and Listservs of yore. Or HN. Or the offline world where a lot of people are thrown together, like schools and workplaces. People are people. As an introvert, I pretty easily get tired of people, so I can sympathize with your reaction. And I go through periods of seeing the worst in people. But that's more about what I'm seeing than about what people are.
- dwaltrip 10y ago
  You can't tell the difference between Facebook and HN? C'mon. You actually have a good point, but by overstressing the similarities of social behavior on different sites you make the point weaker. We do some similar self promotion and efforts to improve how others perceive us in face-to-face interactions as well, but no one would refer to that as "social media".
  - wpietri 10y ago
    No, then they just call it "social". Which is my point: the differences between the social media platforms, HN included, are relatively small. The commonalities are vast. People are people.
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]

BuuQu9hu 10y ago

But you're on HN, a social media site; worse, you're boasting about how you don't use social media as a signal to others, while making your boast on a social media site. Why are you so proud?

coldpie 10y ago

> Twitter is by far the worst of all social media because of the limited message length. No well-reasoned arguments can be expressed in that short limit so we are instead left with a battle for the snarkiest, most sarcastic comments people can muster. You're not wrong, but I do think it's fun and cathartic. But you do have to keep it in the context of "this is just people being pithy" and not use it as a primary source. This is more difficult than it sounds, and maybe not worth the damage it causes when people get it wrong.

wpietri 10y ago

No offense intended, but what you're doing here, a performative version of your life described in a way that makes you look good, is a big social media activity. As is the broad critique of society and particular things in it. I'd add that I don't think current social media tools are much different than my experience of Usenet and Listservs of yore. Or HN. Or the offline world where a lot of people are thrown together, like schools and workplaces. People are people. As an introvert, I pretty easily get tired of people, so I can sympathize with your reaction. And I go through periods of seeing the worst in people. But that's more about what I'm seeing than about what people are.

dwaltrip 10y ago
You can't tell the difference between Facebook and HN? C'mon. You actually have a good point, but by overstressing the similarities of social behavior on different sites you make the point weaker. We do some similar self promotion and efforts to improve how others perceive us in face-to-face interactions as well, but no one would refer to that as "social media".
- wpietri 10y ago
  No, then they just call it "social". Which is my point: the differences between the social media platforms, HN included, are relatively small. The commonalities are vast. People are people.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]