4 ms·

Anyone care to say why he's wrong? I'd like a bit more elaboration from his argument, but it's possible that he's right.

Jare 13y ago
For some definitions of "society", he's not wrong. The wrong is in wanting one such kind of society for his country.
- skylan_q 13y ago
  The wrong is in wanting one such kind of society for his country. Who decides that it's wrong or right?
  - derleth 13y ago
    Let's bash your head in. Would that be wrong? Who's to decide? You? You'll have a bashed-in head soon enough; people whose heads no longer contain neural matter don't have opinions. Does your necessarily brief opposition really count?
  - Jare 13y ago
    Hopefully, people who have educated themselves via history, philosophy, political science, etc. and look for the well being of a majority of the population.
smegel 13y ago
I somehow don't think he was referring to Facebook addiction and social alienation resulting from "virtual friends", which is about the only time I would agree with someone who says social media is "hurting society".
- derleth 13y ago
  Are pen pals "virtual friends"?
  - smegel 13y ago
    Its an interesting question, but I would have as much concern for someone who conducted their social life primarily via hand written letters as I would someone who spends 10 hours a day on Facebook.
InclinedPlane 13y ago
He's not wrong. The internet is an enormous threat to existing societal norms, power structures, and even governments, there's no doubt about that. However, he is wrong in believing implicitly that the existing status quo should be defended. The internet has the potential to empower disruption, and in it's short history it has proven to excel primarily at disintermediation. However, for people who support the ideals of liberty, of governments that are consensual and responsive to their people these trends are not alarming, indeed they are salutary. But for rulers who rely on oppression, propaganda, etc. these things are scary.

Jare 13y ago

For some definitions of "society", he's not wrong. The wrong is in wanting one such kind of society for his country.

skylan_q 13y ago
The wrong is in wanting one such kind of society for his country. Who decides that it's wrong or right?
- derleth 13y ago
  Let's bash your head in. Would that be wrong? Who's to decide? You? You'll have a bashed-in head soon enough; people whose heads no longer contain neural matter don't have opinions. Does your necessarily brief opposition really count?
- Jare 13y ago
  Hopefully, people who have educated themselves via history, philosophy, political science, etc. and look for the well being of a majority of the population.

smegel 13y ago

I somehow don't think he was referring to Facebook addiction and social alienation resulting from "virtual friends", which is about the only time I would agree with someone who says social media is "hurting society".

derleth 13y ago
Are pen pals "virtual friends"?
- smegel 13y ago
  Its an interesting question, but I would have as much concern for someone who conducted their social life primarily via hand written letters as I would someone who spends 10 hours a day on Facebook.

InclinedPlane 13y ago

He's not wrong. The internet is an enormous threat to existing societal norms, power structures, and even governments, there's no doubt about that. However, he is wrong in believing implicitly that the existing status quo should be defended. The internet has the potential to empower disruption, and in it's short history it has proven to excel primarily at disintermediation. However, for people who support the ideals of liberty, of governments that are consensual and responsive to their people these trends are not alarming, indeed they are salutary. But for rulers who rely on oppression, propaganda, etc. these things are scary.