OT New Random Thread 4

[Sterling von Shimmer]

I keep telling people to watch The Social Dilemma on Netflix when this stuff pops up. There is incredibly extreme information out there and big tech employees answer why that is happening in this documentary. People are less apt to argue, spew hate, and call people idiots once they realize we are all being manipulated for SM advertising dollars. We are all being fed what keeps us on our screens the longest and they don't filter for truth. They don't care. Artificial intelligence knows your race, politics, religion, sexual preference, causes, what triggers you, your relationships, etc and is programmed to keep you on your screen for as long as it can. Everything you watch, read, or respond to on your screen is being timed. One person is fed "Climate Change is a Hoax" while another is being fed "The World Will Burn in Twelve Years if We Don't Go Green Now." One is being told "Kids are Locked Up in Cages" while the other is being told "Kids are Being Taken Over the Border for Trafficking" and people are calling each other idiots and arguing while SM rakes in billions in advertising money. Watch it, it will open your eyes to all this anxiety and divide that has happened in the past 10 years. The sad part, those of us that can remember life pre-SM will understand the impact it has made on our mental health and relationships, but kids now will have nothing to compare it to.

FB is a cesspool. I stopped about five years ago and haven’t looked back.

I feel like you can’t blame SM for all of this rabid hate though. The common denominator is stupid people (on both sides) who take the bait and believe even the most ridiculous claims to fit their worldview. SM can put all kinds of crap out there but people don’t have to believe it at face value. Yet they do, and that’s a problem. Because critical thinking in this country is a lost art. I’m a lib, but if I read that Trump kicked a puppy on his way out of office, I’d be smart enough to think, “Yeah that’s fake.” It’d bring a small amount of comfort to me to believe it and know that I was “right all along” about him, but not at the cost of deluding myself.

Unfortunately it seems like not enough people practice this discipline.

 

[Nikaa]

This post is exactly why Europeans has been laughing at Americans for the last 4 years.

 

[catlady]

FB is a cesspool. I stopped about five years ago and haven’t looked back.

I feel like you can’t blame SM for all of this rabid hate though. The common denominator is stupid people (on both sides) who take the bait and believe even the most ridiculous claims to fit their worldview. SM can put all kinds of crap out there but people don’t have to believe it at face value. Yet they do, and that’s a problem. Because critical thinking in this country is a lost art. I’m a lib, but if I read that Trump kicked a puppy on his way out of office, I’d be smart enough to think, “Yeah that’s fake.” It’d bring a small amount of comfort to me to believe it and know that I was “right all along” about him, but not at the cost of deluding myself.

Unfortunately it seems like not enough people practice this discipline.

Unfortunately, I wish what you were saying were true. Psychologists, social scientists and other countries are seeing the direct link between increased hatred and violence starting with the beginning of social media. It began as a way to connect to old friends, timeline our photos and experiences and has quickly morphed into a platform for those that want to spew hate, intolerance and real time violence. Russia, nor any other country has to hack anything, they can just put stories out there and if it gets enough attention, artificial intelligence will keep posting it for ad money and eventually there's a feeding frenzy. The old adage, say it enough times it becomes truth has never been so valid. Add to that, tweens and teens constantly seeing Snap Chats and Instagram pictures of friends and exes doing things without them, and artificial intelligence recognizing that's what they are spending time watching, so it keeps feeding it to them for ad money. Psychologists state there's a direct correlation between increased anti-anxiety meds and social media with our youth, but here's the kicker.....If parents take away social media, there's an increase in anxiety and if they keep allowing social media, there's an increase in anxiety. This much negativity, extreme thinking, and constant knowledge of what everyone is doing at every minute of day and night is not normal.

 

[Keep_Believing]

Not sure if it was already mentioned, but they talk about it in Social Dilemma on Netflix.

 

[catlady]

Not sure if it was already mentioned, but they talk about it in Social Dilemma on Netflix.

I mentioned The Social Dilemma a couple posts above and I'm really hoping people will watch it. People need to know what they're up against with social media and its intelligence to fight back when it comes to their mental health and to have some moments of calm and clarity.

Side note, about 8 years ago I was talking to a military friend and they said no one has to drop a bomb anymore, they just need to be strategic, patient and use social media to their advantage. If you can divide people by politics, economics, race, religion, color, sex, generation and causes, they will implode on themselves without spending a dime. We've got to stop drinking the kool-aid.

 

[kristenthegreat]

Worked as an election poll worker for the first time! It's a really interesting experience, one I recommend trying once (although maybe not in a major election for your first go 'round). You really appreciate what it takes to make an election work and it gives you a TON of insight into how people vote/human behavior. SO fascinating!

Also exhausting. So, so unbelievably exhausting and I wasn't even in a contentious area! If you know a poll worker, buy them a coffee- they deserve it!

 

[SpacedCadet]

Has anyone noticed the crazy amount of astronaut and space stuff that has come out this year?











We haven't seen such a pop culture obsession with space like this since the 1960s!

 

[SpacedCadet]

 

[XtremeWpg]

Worked as an election poll worker for the first time! It's a really interesting experience, one I recommend trying once (although maybe not in a major election for your first go 'round). You really appreciate what it takes to make an election work and it gives you a TON of insight into how people vote/human behavior. SO fascinating!

Also exhausting. So, so unbelievably exhausting and I wasn't even in a contentious area! If you know a poll worker, buy them a coffee- they deserve it!

I've worked local, provincial and federal elections here in Canada in the past. They are the most peaceful, calm, reasonable things haha. I cannot imagine the contentious energy at a poll in America last week. Thank you for giving your time to support the democratic process!

 

[catlady]

I've worked local, provincial and federal elections here in Canada in the past. They are the most peaceful, calm, reasonable things haha. I cannot imagine the contentious energy at a poll in America last week. Thank you for giving your time to support the democratic process!

I can only speak for ours, but there was absolutely no contentious energy and I live in a very diverse area which is generally split politically pretty equally. Election results for our county this year were 56% Biden/44% Trump and while people were socially distanced 6 feet apart, it didn't stop people from talking and laughing in line. Contrary to what social media puts out there, the majority of us American's are still civilized and kind people. ;)

 

[emo_wifey]

I can only speak for ours, but there was absolutely no contentious energy and I live in a very diverse area which is generally split politically pretty equally. Election results for our county this year were 56% Biden/44% Trump and while people were socially distanced 6 feet apart, it didn't stop people from talking and laughing in line. Contrary to what social media puts out there, the majority of us American's are still civilized and kind people. ;)

Same. We are still very red but I am in one of the counties close to turning blue. Some lines took four hours to get through, mine about two hours. I saw multiple stories of people letting elderly or injured cut towards the front, bring waters and snacks for everybody, and just being super friendly.

 

[cac4life]

CAC had their showcase yesterday...And you best believe we are coming into our 31st season HARD!
Watch out for CAC STEEL in the medium junior coed 4 devison!

 

[Sterling von Shimmer]

Oh no.

 

[cac4life]

....NO
.....NO
......NOOOOOOOOOOOOO
whyyyyy

 

[CLynn]

CAC had their showcase yesterday...And you best believe we are coming into our 31st season HARD!
Watch out for CAC STEEL in the medium junior coed 4 devison!

A division all their own huh? Junior 4 can have males or females but is not considered co-ed.