4 ms·

Facebook is funny because I generally agree and disagree with everyone. But people make their points so poorly, they have no sense of objectivity or analytical

Facebook is funny because I generally agree and disagree with everyone. But people make their points so poorly, they have no sense of objectivity or analytical ability, that I’m dismayed by all sides by the lack of a principled approach. 90% of what people post about is a distraction and futile. I wish Facebook could motivate and inform people to attend local government meetings. Instead, it’s like an interactive tabloid magazine that we’re embedded in. We’re on the shelf in a Rite-Aid living in a world of ridiculousness as corporations pass by us and sell us stuff. 24 hours a day.

vorpalhex 6y ago
The goal isn't to confer change, it's to increase platform interactions. The best way to do that is to give you content that inspires strong emotions whether it's uplifting positivity or partisan hate. The entire reason to have reposts is for high-interaction content to get more traction while your Aunt Sally posting food pictures gets ignored. If Aunt Sally posts something divisive that gets lots of angry emoji faces and angry comments, then that will tend to spread more on the platform.
airstrike 6y ago
More people need to read The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck https://www.amazon.com/Subtle-Art-Not-Giving-Counterintuitive/dp/0062457713 https://www.amazon.com/Subtle-Art-Not-Giving-Counterintuitiv...
- catacombs 6y ago
  The book is terrible. Mark Manson is terrible. Yes, by all means people should read, but not this. There is plenty of good literature, especially fiction, that doles out the same advice but in more tactful manner, rather than the writings of a guy's lifetime of good fortune.
  - airstrike 6y ago
    > The book is terrible. Mark Manson is terrible. Ad hominem. > There is plenty of good literature Never claimed otherwise, and it's not a zero-sum game. > especially fiction Sure, but different strokes for different folks, and there's something to be said about the directness of a self-help book vs. fiction. > that doles out the same advice but in more tactful manner His blunt voice is precisely why many find the book valuable. It cuts to the chase. The title itself makes it clear that this is what you'll get, so opening the book expecting otherwise would be nonsensical. > rather the writings of a guy's lifetime of good fortune His good fortune has no bearing on the value of his ideas. Again an ad hominem.
catacombs 6y ago
> I wish Facebook could motivate and inform people to attend local government meetings. B...but that doesn't help with profits? Why bother?

vorpalhex 6y ago

The goal isn't to confer change, it's to increase platform interactions. The best way to do that is to give you content that inspires strong emotions whether it's uplifting positivity or partisan hate. The entire reason to have reposts is for high-interaction content to get more traction while your Aunt Sally posting food pictures gets ignored. If Aunt Sally posts something divisive that gets lots of angry emoji faces and angry comments, then that will tend to spread more on the platform.

airstrike 6y ago

More people need to read The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck https://www.amazon.com/Subtle-Art-Not-Giving-Counterintuitive/dp/0062457713 https://www.amazon.com/Subtle-Art-Not-Giving-Counterintuitiv...

catacombs 6y ago
The book is terrible. Mark Manson is terrible. Yes, by all means people should read, but not this. There is plenty of good literature, especially fiction, that doles out the same advice but in more tactful manner, rather than the writings of a guy's lifetime of good fortune.
- airstrike 6y ago
  > The book is terrible. Mark Manson is terrible. Ad hominem. > There is plenty of good literature Never claimed otherwise, and it's not a zero-sum game. > especially fiction Sure, but different strokes for different folks, and there's something to be said about the directness of a self-help book vs. fiction. > that doles out the same advice but in more tactful manner His blunt voice is precisely why many find the book valuable. It cuts to the chase. The title itself makes it clear that this is what you'll get, so opening the book expecting otherwise would be nonsensical. > rather the writings of a guy's lifetime of good fortune His good fortune has no bearing on the value of his ideas. Again an ad hominem.

catacombs 6y ago

> I wish Facebook could motivate and inform people to attend local government meetings. B...but that doesn't help with profits? Why bother?