3 ms·

(In American media, but also elsewhere) It was calmer than today but it has become pointless to lament the loss of serenity in an age where attention spans are

by RGamma 4y ago

(In American media, but also elsewhere) It was calmer than today but it has become pointless to lament the loss of serenity in an age where attention spans are measured in days/few weeks and no voices speak above the loudest (I have tried many times, but got drowned by the social media opinion tsunami). It crushes the soul and it has spread. Heck, it's like those who are sensitive to this phenomenon have left or got sucked into it (sadly this includes me at times) and those who remain have no idea what has even happened (generally speaking). Like when we used to say, woah this whole social media thing is a giant experiment, wonder whether that'll go well. Yeah, apparently 90% didn't wonder; they just did. P.S. my earlier comment is an instance of this https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31270985 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31270985

wolverine876 4y ago
> it has become pointless That's certainly a trendy thing to say today, about everything. I'm interested in what we are going to do. People who say it's hopeless are present for every problem in every time.
- RGamma 4y ago
  More correctly I should have said "It feels to me like it has become pointless". But meh, fortunately I have plenty of other stuff to do and at least I can self-select against these places (and towards better ones). It's just strenuous to watch the dynamics that be at play with little recourse, 's all.
  - wolverine876 4y ago
    > It's just strenuous to watch the dynamics that be at play with little recourse, 's all. I agree it's strenuous, very strenuous. But I think the notion of 'little recourse' is a product of modern social media. SV, the US, the civil rights movement, women's sufferage, etc. etc. weren't built on 'it's pointless and there's nothing we can do'. The modern reactionary movement - the far right tide - certainly doesn't think that and didn't think that when they were far on the fringe. Sometimes you get punched in the mouth, hard; you thought you were safe and now you're on the ground, stunned and traumatized. The question is what do we do then? The number one thing to do is get up, have faith in who you are and what you believe, and get into the fight. I've just stopped reading that crap; it's amazing how a little distance can remind you of who you are and what you believe.
    - RGamma 4y ago
      Honorable attitude. I guess it really is hopeless to wait for self-regulation, when those who get to gain most have no incentive (or sense?) for it. No (behavioral) rules without (social) enforcement and consensus. I've understood some time ago, that dismissal, even when appropriate, will not change anything in certain environments, especially where crowd dynamics rule, and that generally speaking not everyone is waiting for the wisest voice to lead, even when it would matter. It's a starting point to go on from towards a more proactive/affirmative course of action, so thanks for your confirmation.
- bonoboTP 4y ago
  It will have to implode somehow. The pressure cooker has its limits. People will one way or another have to reduce their social media intake. Obviously all financial interest is firmly on grabbing eyeballs and not letting go of them, so they won't be onboard. Perhaps there will come some big wave of burnout, mental health issues, general health issues etc. Of course it's not all due to the media. It's a back and forth, cause and effect game also with the economic situation, cost of living, uncertainty about the future, ever fiercer competition, people always being scrutinized, etc.

by RGamma 4y ago

wolverine876 4y ago

> it has become pointless That's certainly a trendy thing to say today, about everything. I'm interested in what we are going to do. People who say it's hopeless are present for every problem in every time.

RGamma 4y ago
More correctly I should have said "It feels to me like it has become pointless". But meh, fortunately I have plenty of other stuff to do and at least I can self-select against these places (and towards better ones). It's just strenuous to watch the dynamics that be at play with little recourse, 's all.
- wolverine876 4y ago
  > It's just strenuous to watch the dynamics that be at play with little recourse, 's all. I agree it's strenuous, very strenuous. But I think the notion of 'little recourse' is a product of modern social media. SV, the US, the civil rights movement, women's sufferage, etc. etc. weren't built on 'it's pointless and there's nothing we can do'. The modern reactionary movement - the far right tide - certainly doesn't think that and didn't think that when they were far on the fringe. Sometimes you get punched in the mouth, hard; you thought you were safe and now you're on the ground, stunned and traumatized. The question is what do we do then? The number one thing to do is get up, have faith in who you are and what you believe, and get into the fight. I've just stopped reading that crap; it's amazing how a little distance can remind you of who you are and what you believe.
  - RGamma 4y ago
    Honorable attitude. I guess it really is hopeless to wait for self-regulation, when those who get to gain most have no incentive (or sense?) for it. No (behavioral) rules without (social) enforcement and consensus. I've understood some time ago, that dismissal, even when appropriate, will not change anything in certain environments, especially where crowd dynamics rule, and that generally speaking not everyone is waiting for the wisest voice to lead, even when it would matter. It's a starting point to go on from towards a more proactive/affirmative course of action, so thanks for your confirmation.
bonoboTP 4y ago
It will have to implode somehow. The pressure cooker has its limits. People will one way or another have to reduce their social media intake. Obviously all financial interest is firmly on grabbing eyeballs and not letting go of them, so they won't be onboard. Perhaps there will come some big wave of burnout, mental health issues, general health issues etc. Of course it's not all due to the media. It's a back and forth, cause and effect game also with the economic situation, cost of living, uncertainty about the future, ever fiercer competition, people always being scrutinized, etc.