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In the end, the Internet made us stupid.

by gfodor 5y ago

EdwardDiego 5y ago
Indeed, amid debates about whether or not he was visionary, you have to admit, looking at the past few years, he was spot on in this regard. At the very least, the Internet has enabled stupidity on a massive scale, and enabled the rapid spreading of ideas not backed by facts across borders. As evidenced when people turn out to protests in my country with signs referencing political talking points from a nation 12500km away.
- cbozeman 5y ago
  > the Internet has enabled stupidity on a massive scale No, it was making access to the Internet easy that caused this. Used to be in the Windows 95 / 98 (and earlier) era, you had to actually have a fucking brain and read directions and do what you were told, i.e., setting up TCP/IP settings for your dial-up Internet connection. You had to read, and to think, because there wasn't always 24/7 tech support to clean up after you when you legitimately fucked up some settings. So you learned, and like all learning, it was hard and painful. Once things became as easy as just plugging something in and turning it on, then you had people who were not only not that bright, but also lazy, joining in. From 1995 to around 2005 was, I think, my favorite time using the Internet. I find myself increasingly distancing from the large social media sites precisely because they allow low-effort individuals access, or they've dramatically shifted from their own stated ethos (Reddit being a perfect example, imo - the shift from nearly unlimited free speech to hilariously moderated).
  - gfodor 5y ago
    I mean, that filter had its benefits, but it is also a really bad filter in many ways. Plenty of people who are smart enough to set up Trumpet Winsock also took that to mean they knew everything, and at the same time, some of the greatest minds of the last generation struggle with email. I think more than the setup filter, the filter of having people learn what it takes to host their own content on the Internet is actually quite a bit worse. Since not only do we lose the quality bar, but it also has led to centralization.
JanneVee 5y ago
The Internet did no such thing. It just amplified human propensities. But if you see stupid people on the Internet constantly you should reconsider what for and how you use the Internet.
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- gfodor 5y ago
  Good advice. I am reconsidering right now actually.

In the end, the Internet made us stupid.

by gfodor 5y ago

In the end, the Internet made us stupid.

Indeed, amid debates about whether or not he was visionary, you have to admit, looking at the past few years, he was spot on in this regard. At the very least, the Internet has enabled stupidity on a massive scale, and enabled the rapid spreading of ideas not backed by facts across borders. As evidenced when people turn out to protests in my country with signs referencing political talking points from a nation 12500km away.

cbozeman 5y ago
> the Internet has enabled stupidity on a massive scale No, it was making access to the Internet easy that caused this. Used to be in the Windows 95 / 98 (and earlier) era, you had to actually have a fucking brain and read directions and do what you were told, i.e., setting up TCP/IP settings for your dial-up Internet connection. You had to read, and to think, because there wasn't always 24/7 tech support to clean up after you when you legitimately fucked up some settings. So you learned, and like all learning, it was hard and painful. Once things became as easy as just plugging something in and turning it on, then you had people who were not only not that bright, but also lazy, joining in. From 1995 to around 2005 was, I think, my favorite time using the Internet. I find myself increasingly distancing from the large social media sites precisely because they allow low-effort individuals access, or they've dramatically shifted from their own stated ethos (Reddit being a perfect example, imo - the shift from nearly unlimited free speech to hilariously moderated).
- gfodor 5y ago
  I mean, that filter had its benefits, but it is also a really bad filter in many ways. Plenty of people who are smart enough to set up Trumpet Winsock also took that to mean they knew everything, and at the same time, some of the greatest minds of the last generation struggle with email. I think more than the setup filter, the filter of having people learn what it takes to host their own content on the Internet is actually quite a bit worse. Since not only do we lose the quality bar, but it also has led to centralization.

JanneVee 5y ago

The Internet did no such thing. It just amplified human propensities. But if you see stupid people on the Internet constantly you should reconsider what for and how you use the Internet.

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gfodor 5y ago
Good advice. I am reconsidering right now actually.