3 ms·

This is a standard media trick (and also common people's rationalization) - oh, it's not just X that's bad for you, see everything else - it's also bad for you

This is a standard media trick (and also common people's rationalization) - oh, it's not just X that's bad for you, see everything else - it's also bad for you too. You might as well stick with what you know. Suddenly, people feel they have no choice and the story is over in a day or two, everything's back to normal. The difference is these few days blew off the periphery of uncertain users. It won't hurt them now, but in the long run - it may be like tobacco. Annectodal example from here on. I've tried many times to quit Facebook, these latest ones threw me off board for good. I tried to do it smartly by contacting people I know and want to keep in touch with and then posted on my wall and my profile pic that I am going out of fb for good. I gave (I think reasonable) 72 hours and some people did reach out and most congratulated me. Which means a lot of people want it, they get its bad for them but "everybody is there" is the main argument. I don't try to convince them, I just tell them where they can find me. Tonight I am out for good.

HenryBemis 9y ago
It's the well known "whataboutitsm" (what-about-ism). Distract, divert, confuse and conquer!!! Works-every-time. In every (media controlled) topic!
- im3w1l 9y ago
  "If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them which will hang him." - Cardinal_Richelieu You need to ask yourself "what about..." and make sure your target truly is the worst offender and not just the most publicized offender, or you become the attack dog of the media.
- forgottenpass 9y ago
  Is this whataboutism? It reads like "its worse than you thought"ism. If the author is calling for regulation of the category that includes facebook, how is he distracting and diverting attention from facebook?
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
ikurei 9y ago
> [...] some people did reach out and most congratulated me. Which means a lot of people want it, they get its bad for them but "everybody is there" is the main argument. I wouldn't give much weight to those congratulations. When I went vegetarian a lot of people did the same. Most new acquaintances that discover my vegetarianism respond very positively, specially left-leaning people. Although I try not to preach, I'm too often the only one that orders a salad. But they always follow it with "I see that it's wrong, but I could never stop eating burgers/cheese/jamón". I'm not even sure they truly think it's wrong, but feel a need to say it. It's one of those things that many people associate with positive traits or stories. We've all seen the inspiring posts or youtube videos of the people who refuse to use a car because of pollution, or stop eating meat because of animal suffering, or will never use a device that runs proprietary software... We seem to like these stories, and sometimes even admire the commitment, while having no intention of doing anything like. We feel good for congratulating them of tweeting our support. (For example, many here admire Richard Stallman's commitment and honesty, and agree with a lot of what he says, but read him froma Mac. We are never going to switch to an old libreboot-able PC with gNewSense, but we sympathize with his cause.) Many people love Facebook, and many others hate it but can't be weaned off it. We won't get very far by abandoning Facebook and prompting others to do the same. We'll a alternative, and/or very strong positive and negative reinforcement to do so. > The difference is these few days blew off the periphery of uncertain users. It won't hurt them now, but in the long run - it may be like tobacco. Your comparison with tobacco is very apt. People stopped smoking when a) leaving it was applauded, and b) people still smoking were starting to be seen with some contempt. It took a long time to build those up though. We are very far away from that with Facebook, and even if us leaving is the beginning, I don't think we want to wait 10 or 15 years. Tobacco damaged lungs, Facebook damage could be much more insidious.
- pi-squared 9y ago
  You are probably right about the congratulations part, I try not to think about them too much for the same reasons you pointed out - but I am a human, bias myself and feel good. I did not try to take my friends out with me, I completely understand their reasoning for staying, that's probably why I stayed for about 10 years - it does provide value with everybody being in the same place. But some of my closest friends kept asking me how to reach me beyond the email and phone number I gave them and I said I will be on Signal. Some installed it just for me, I don't expect them to stay too long so I created reminders in my calendar to reach out via whatever means so that I don't lose them (I tend to live abroad from time to time like now).

HenryBemis 9y ago

It's the well known "whataboutitsm" (what-about-ism). Distract, divert, confuse and conquer!!! Works-every-time. In every (media controlled) topic!

im3w1l 9y ago
"If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them which will hang him." - Cardinal_Richelieu You need to ask yourself "what about..." and make sure your target truly is the worst offender and not just the most publicized offender, or you become the attack dog of the media.
forgottenpass 9y ago
Is this whataboutism? It reads like "its worse than you thought"ism. If the author is calling for regulation of the category that includes facebook, how is he distracting and diverting attention from facebook?

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

ikurei 9y ago

> [...] some people did reach out and most congratulated me. Which means a lot of people want it, they get its bad for them but "everybody is there" is the main argument. I wouldn't give much weight to those congratulations. When I went vegetarian a lot of people did the same. Most new acquaintances that discover my vegetarianism respond very positively, specially left-leaning people. Although I try not to preach, I'm too often the only one that orders a salad. But they always follow it with "I see that it's wrong, but I could never stop eating burgers/cheese/jamón". I'm not even sure they truly think it's wrong, but feel a need to say it. It's one of those things that many people associate with positive traits or stories. We've all seen the inspiring posts or youtube videos of the people who refuse to use a car because of pollution, or stop eating meat because of animal suffering, or will never use a device that runs proprietary software... We seem to like these stories, and sometimes even admire the commitment, while having no intention of doing anything like. We feel good for congratulating them of tweeting our support. (For example, many here admire Richard Stallman's commitment and honesty, and agree with a lot of what he says, but read him froma Mac. We are never going to switch to an old libreboot-able PC with gNewSense, but we sympathize with his cause.) Many people love Facebook, and many others hate it but can't be weaned off it. We won't get very far by abandoning Facebook and prompting others to do the same. We'll a alternative, and/or very strong positive and negative reinforcement to do so. > The difference is these few days blew off the periphery of uncertain users. It won't hurt them now, but in the long run - it may be like tobacco. Your comparison with tobacco is very apt. People stopped smoking when a) leaving it was applauded, and b) people still smoking were starting to be seen with some contempt. It took a long time to build those up though. We are very far away from that with Facebook, and even if us leaving is the beginning, I don't think we want to wait 10 or 15 years. Tobacco damaged lungs, Facebook damage could be much more insidious.

pi-squared 9y ago
You are probably right about the congratulations part, I try not to think about them too much for the same reasons you pointed out - but I am a human, bias myself and feel good. I did not try to take my friends out with me, I completely understand their reasoning for staying, that's probably why I stayed for about 10 years - it does provide value with everybody being in the same place. But some of my closest friends kept asking me how to reach me beyond the email and phone number I gave them and I said I will be on Signal. Some installed it just for me, I don't expect them to stay too long so I created reminders in my calendar to reach out via whatever means so that I don't lose them (I tend to live abroad from time to time like now).