4 ms·

> The first major annoyance I had was the constant flow of 'breaking news'. I uninstalled my news apps, ... I don't even think about it anymore... This week I

> The first major annoyance I had was the constant flow of 'breaking news'. I uninstalled my news apps, ... I don't even think about it anymore... This week I read people on average take between 2 and 3 hours a DAY on there phones. That sounds like alien to me News isn't just "information" anymore, it's a signal of social norms. If you stop thinking of breaking news as "this is important", and rather that "this is what people want me to think is important", it is far easier to dismiss in substance, but still value as contributing to your understanding of what constitutes common knowledge.

Loughla 7y ago
Also, at least in my part of the US, it's become (and pardon the crudeness) just another societal dick-measuring contest. So now it's 1. What's your job, is that good enough for Mr. Jones to judge? 2. What's your house look like, and do you have curb appeal? 3. Do you have the proper level of outrage over the latest news stories? It's fascinating. Watching societal norms take hold. Honestly.
- speedplane 7y ago
  > [Social norms have] ... become (and pardon the crudeness) just another societal dick-measuring contest ... It's fascinating. Watching societal norms take hold. It is fascinating, but these norms are crucial to meeting and interacting with new people. Even if you disagree with some social norms, if you don't understand them and the positions behind them, then you can't effectively communicate with new people you interact with. Saying, "you heard X today, total BS" is far superior than saying "what is X?" Social norms allow folks who have never met to still know each other to some degree. They are not terribly helpful with building meaningful relationships (eg close friends, etc), which is why so many dislike them as they seem superficial, which they are. However, they are instrumental in building early relationships and trust with someone who is unfamiliar. If you think of norms more as a tool to help you connect with folks that would otherwise be strangers, and less as a "dick-measure contest", they seem lest distasteful, even beneficial.
Communitivity 7y ago
I think it may always have been a signalling of social norms and expectations. I also think many people view it as 'this is what people like me (or that I want to be like) want me to think is important', which makes it harder to dismiss.

Loughla 7y ago

Also, at least in my part of the US, it's become (and pardon the crudeness) just another societal dick-measuring contest. So now it's 1. What's your job, is that good enough for Mr. Jones to judge? 2. What's your house look like, and do you have curb appeal? 3. Do you have the proper level of outrage over the latest news stories? It's fascinating. Watching societal norms take hold. Honestly.

speedplane 7y ago
> [Social norms have] ... become (and pardon the crudeness) just another societal dick-measuring contest ... It's fascinating. Watching societal norms take hold. It is fascinating, but these norms are crucial to meeting and interacting with new people. Even if you disagree with some social norms, if you don't understand them and the positions behind them, then you can't effectively communicate with new people you interact with. Saying, "you heard X today, total BS" is far superior than saying "what is X?" Social norms allow folks who have never met to still know each other to some degree. They are not terribly helpful with building meaningful relationships (eg close friends, etc), which is why so many dislike them as they seem superficial, which they are. However, they are instrumental in building early relationships and trust with someone who is unfamiliar. If you think of norms more as a tool to help you connect with folks that would otherwise be strangers, and less as a "dick-measure contest", they seem lest distasteful, even beneficial.

Communitivity 7y ago

I think it may always have been a signalling of social norms and expectations. I also think many people view it as 'this is what people like me (or that I want to be like) want me to think is important', which makes it harder to dismiss.