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The problem with social media is it is a paralysis engine. It drives the most seemingly credible, brain-wormy and engagement-driving discourse to the top, promo

The problem with social media is it is a paralysis engine. It drives the most seemingly credible, brain-wormy and engagement-driving discourse to the top, promoting the most violent, exclusionary and aggressively undertoned rallying cries of trending angst-fueled ideologies. As a consequence, whatever your opinion, identity, or circumstances, you will surely encounter the echo chambers of people who want you dead or removed from society: calculated, memetically selected hatred that sows fear, uncertainty, and doubt in anything more that complete surrender and inaction.

mistermann 3y ago
The causality here (and the fact of the matter) is far more complex than it seems though - for example, each person's perception of what is going on is to a large degree a function of their culture and education, and those two attributes tend to get a free pass at least when it comes to oneself or the members of one's ingroups in all such discussions. Our wonderful, purely well-intentioned politicians could do something about this dire "need for more critical thinking", and yet what do they do to fulfill that need, despite it being literally their responsibility. https://search.usa.gov/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&affiliate=ed.gov&query=curriculum https://search.usa.gov/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&affiliate=ed.go... See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_cow_(idiom) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_cow_(idiom) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_disinformation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_disinformation (what my comment "is") For example: these terrible people you are referring to out there....are you sure they are as they seem (where did you learn these facts about their intentions from, etc), and that they are enemy number 1?
gwervc 3y ago
I don't agree. As far as I remember somewhat extreme opinions were present in the public discourse (for instance far left positions on university campus, far right ones at the local pub). Moreover, people who want me dead or removed from society because of my political views are in my immediate social or professional circle, no need for social media to meet them.
- atleastoptimal 3y ago
  > Moreover, people who want me dead or removed from society because of my political views are in my immediate social or professional circle, no need for social media to meet them. This is not the norm
deleted 3y ago
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mistermann 3y ago

The causality here (and the fact of the matter) is far more complex than it seems though - for example, each person's perception of what is going on is to a large degree a function of their culture and education, and those two attributes tend to get a free pass at least when it comes to oneself or the members of one's ingroups in all such discussions. Our wonderful, purely well-intentioned politicians could do something about this dire "need for more critical thinking", and yet what do they do to fulfill that need, despite it being literally their responsibility. https://search.usa.gov/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&affiliate=ed.gov&query=curriculum https://search.usa.gov/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&affiliate=ed.go... See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_cow_(idiom) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_cow_(idiom) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_disinformation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_disinformation (what my comment "is") For example: these terrible people you are referring to out there....are you sure they are as they seem (where did you learn these facts about their intentions from, etc), and that they are enemy number 1?

gwervc 3y ago

I don't agree. As far as I remember somewhat extreme opinions were present in the public discourse (for instance far left positions on university campus, far right ones at the local pub). Moreover, people who want me dead or removed from society because of my political views are in my immediate social or professional circle, no need for social media to meet them.

atleastoptimal 3y ago
> Moreover, people who want me dead or removed from society because of my political views are in my immediate social or professional circle, no need for social media to meet them. This is not the norm

deleted 3y ago

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