4 ms·

Good article, but given the title, it's surprising that Facebook is only mentioned in the very last sentence: > We all hate Facebook, and Facebook (the corpora

by tailspin2019 5y ago

Good article, but given the title, it's surprising that Facebook is only mentioned in the very last sentence: > We all hate Facebook, and Facebook (the corporation) is, admittedly, terrible. But to a large extent, we hate Facebook because Facebook is other people. That said, I think there is something to this, and some parts of this article put some ideas into words that I think I'd previously subconsciously noticed, but had never quite fully grasped and crystallised into concrete thoughts. The description of his older relative who is just starting to get online was particularly poignant. It's easy to forget how hard this must be for so many people who didn't have the luxury of growing up with this technology like I and many others here did. This bit particularly hit home: > If he gets online, he is at serious financial risk; never very financially savvy, he will be defenseless against the legions of outright scammers, identity thieves and ransomware extortionists. And this rings true too: > And his presence as a consumer of online news will have negative consequences, both for himself and for the wider information environment. He is an embittered, lonely man, the perfect target for information fraudsters who will claim to explain that the source of his pain is some despised group (immigrants, the deep state). A lot of food for thought.

prox 5y ago
Reading the article I was suddenly reminded of this comment I once saved : whip up outrage -> increase alienation and segregation -> build up resentment that leads to violence -> violence used as a whip. Those who are in power know they can use the disenfranchised as their whip. The article correctly identifies imo that it’s paramount we need to start thinking inclusive when it comes to setting up society. Or like that quote, a society is measured how they treat their poorest.
- effingwewt 5y ago
  The problem is all-encompassing selfishness. I remember (being gen X), that they said that about my generation, but I've never seen anything like what I see now. Pretending to act on someone's behalf while belittling them (a recent case being changing Lantio/Latina to latinX because virtue signalling), all the lies everywhere (look at this perfect sponsored life I live). My city now sports nothing but black flags and stickers, or thin blue line flags. BLM were bullied from showing support publicly. People would rather complain than help the homeless. Home owners will screw over the rest of society to protect their 'investment'. Businesses treat their employees worse than ever while paying them the lowest ever. The rich oay nothing in taxes. The list goes on and on. The Internet isn't making people crazy. People have been fucking crazy this just lets them have the aforementioned megaphone. The solution at this point is starting over.
  - krapp 5y ago
    >The solution at this point is starting over. If you don't like what the mirror shows you, breaking the mirror or replacing it won't solve the problem.
    - effingwewt 5y ago
      Every one of our institutions is rotten to the core, none of it can be fixed as they all have evolved to protect themselves. Budgets are maxed to ensure more funding, education is terrible. Truly, I'm down to get together with some people, buy an island, and start from scratch. Putting bandaids on squirting arteries does nothing.
      - krapp 5y ago
        Okay, okay. Ease up there, edgelord.
        effingwewt 5y ago
        Twice now you came at me with ad hominem and nothing substantive, but I'm the edgelord. Refute a point or move along.
        krapp 5y ago
        > Twice now you came at me with ad hominem and nothing substantive, but I'm the edgelord. Yes, you are the edgelord. You literally refer to yourself as a jaded asshole in your profile, so don't be upset when people choose to see you as the persona you present. You get what you give. >Refute a point or move along. "Every one of our institutions is rotten to the core, none of it can be fixed as they all have evolved to protect themselves" is low-effort juvenile cynicism and hyperbole that deserves no more than the snarky dismissal I gave it. You're not making substantive, intelligent arguments in this thread, nor are you making thoughtful replies to anyone else. The only refutation I can offer is that you mature emotionally and stop seeing the world in such narrow-minded and reductionist terms. Assuming you're not just shitposting, I mean. And you don't get to tell me where to go.
- papreclip 5y ago
  The worst part is the outrage part is downright addictive. Trying to get people who are plugged into this loop to take a step back and consider others' perspective is like taking their favorite toy away

prox 5y ago

Reading the article I was suddenly reminded of this comment I once saved : whip up outrage -> increase alienation and segregation -> build up resentment that leads to violence -> violence used as a whip. Those who are in power know they can use the disenfranchised as their whip. The article correctly identifies imo that it’s paramount we need to start thinking inclusive when it comes to setting up society. Or like that quote, a society is measured how they treat their poorest.

effingwewt 5y ago
The problem is all-encompassing selfishness. I remember (being gen X), that they said that about my generation, but I've never seen anything like what I see now. Pretending to act on someone's behalf while belittling them (a recent case being changing Lantio/Latina to latinX because virtue signalling), all the lies everywhere (look at this perfect sponsored life I live). My city now sports nothing but black flags and stickers, or thin blue line flags. BLM were bullied from showing support publicly. People would rather complain than help the homeless. Home owners will screw over the rest of society to protect their 'investment'. Businesses treat their employees worse than ever while paying them the lowest ever. The rich oay nothing in taxes. The list goes on and on. The Internet isn't making people crazy. People have been fucking crazy this just lets them have the aforementioned megaphone. The solution at this point is starting over.
- krapp 5y ago
  >The solution at this point is starting over. If you don't like what the mirror shows you, breaking the mirror or replacing it won't solve the problem.
  - effingwewt 5y ago
    Every one of our institutions is rotten to the core, none of it can be fixed as they all have evolved to protect themselves. Budgets are maxed to ensure more funding, education is terrible. Truly, I'm down to get together with some people, buy an island, and start from scratch. Putting bandaids on squirting arteries does nothing.
    - krapp 5y ago
      Okay, okay. Ease up there, edgelord.
      - effingwewt 5y ago
        Twice now you came at me with ad hominem and nothing substantive, but I'm the edgelord. Refute a point or move along.
        krapp 5y ago
        > Twice now you came at me with ad hominem and nothing substantive, but I'm the edgelord. Yes, you are the edgelord. You literally refer to yourself as a jaded asshole in your profile, so don't be upset when people choose to see you as the persona you present. You get what you give. >Refute a point or move along. "Every one of our institutions is rotten to the core, none of it can be fixed as they all have evolved to protect themselves" is low-effort juvenile cynicism and hyperbole that deserves no more than the snarky dismissal I gave it. You're not making substantive, intelligent arguments in this thread, nor are you making thoughtful replies to anyone else. The only refutation I can offer is that you mature emotionally and stop seeing the world in such narrow-minded and reductionist terms. Assuming you're not just shitposting, I mean. And you don't get to tell me where to go.
papreclip 5y ago
The worst part is the outrage part is downright addictive. Trying to get people who are plugged into this loop to take a step back and consider others' perspective is like taking their favorite toy away