There was a time in history where there was no electronic media of ANY kind (Radio, TV, internet), when a large number of the population did not keep up with "what was going on" on an hourly (or shorter) basis, that did not live their lives watching a screen but actually.... living their lives.
We are constantly bombarded by how bad things are, all the (supposedly) existential threats that we face--and keeping our attention requires the media to go to greater and greater extremes. Because REVENUE drives media and to get revenue you need engagement.
One of the things that we are discovering--through a variety of sources--is that driving things through engagement data, on the basis of engagement data is bad for society. Engagement data and prioritization creates bad (but addicting) experiences... and like all addicts we need more and stronger as we get used to our drug.
Facebook is a primary example of this--but not the only example. There are a lot more out there if you look. Blizzard/Activision is another example (even before the sexual harassment stuff broke they were having problems). Fox news is another.
We need to be less "engaged."
We make a lot of noise about (for example) the danger to American democracy posed by Trump and the GoP. The threat is likely real. I fully expect the Republic to pass into history (at least in the form that we are used to).... but here is the thing--without the media to make noise about it after it happens (and we will see how long that lasts) I wonder how many people would ACTUALLY notice a major difference?
I am not sure if that is a bad comment on the citizenry or a bad comment about the "democratic" nature of our existing system.
The vast majority of people's lives would continue as they are now, barring noise, confusion, and hatred generated by the media.
The climate is going to continue to degenerate regardless of how much noise and fear is generated... because, human nature. Politics will continue to be corrupt (only more openly). Bad policies will continue to be followed.
Maybe too many people are paying attention and (in turn) too many politicians are busy playing for that attention, rather than THINKING and acting responsibly.
We have a political and media system that rewards the exact behaviors we are seeing now. When you reward people for something, they do it (and more of it).
People voted for this. They will continue to vote for this until their vote effectively becomes meaningless (if it isn't already)... then they will pretend to vote. 40% of the population didn't bother to vote.
Our society needs a good enema. Maybe the right wing authoritarian turn (or the outside chance left authoritarian turn) will provide it.
Social media specifically, and the internet more broadly, are a disaster for civil society in a democracy. Ubiquitous narration means we devote too much of our collective psyche to narrating, and not enough to experiencing. When I read the news, the world is falling apart. When I look out my window, the sun is shining through the autumn leaves, the birds are at the feeder, and it’s a lovely November morning.
It’s too easy to tell a story of calamity that just barely fits the carefully selected facts, and have it be persuasive notwithstanding what’s right in front of our eyes. That’s the problem Democrats are facing with public opinion. And the inverse problem is also aggravated, where truths that are not obvious from experience are undercut by anecdotes and personal testimonials. That’s the problem exemplified by Aaron Rogers and Ron Johnson.
How come none of the alternatives that vaccine refuseniks prefer involve a shot? Could it be that tough guys like Aaron Rodgers and Joe Rogan are afraid of needles? If we set 50% odds that refuseniks are actually just scared, I'm taking the over.
Makes you wonder where we'd be now if Fauci and Co. had said in the first place, "We know many people are very afraid of needles, but ..." If they had, every tough-guy pseudoscientist would be vulnerable to, "Oh, get over yourself and get the shot, ya big baby."
Now that little kids are authorized, I can think of some clever public service announcements along these lines.
To Betsy Clarke: Yes, yes and YES! I found myself reading the WaPo's second installment of their analysis of 1/6/21, entitled 'During.' I avoid watching too much of the video segments, 'cause, frankly, it makes me sick-to-my-stomach. Anyone who had even the smallest role in this repulsive act of pseudo 'patriotism' needs to be held to account...
In respect of optimism, those of us who don't spend our lives focused on the latest polls or who's been seen lunching with whom at the latest DC hot spot actually don't feel that badly about the country. It's the behavior of the political/media part of the world that is cause for concern since most of the "end of everything" predictions come from them and they, being in the best position to effect change, have instead chosen to do nothing effective. Passage of the BIF is potentially a step in the right direction but I'm going out on a limb to say that 6 months hence little or nothing material will have been accomplished and the whole mess will be tied up in studies, analyses and court cases arguing over whose ox has been or should be gored and who should get the premium for doing the goring.
I absolutely LOVE you, Charlie, but the Green Bay Packers are NOT America's Team. However, America's Team would like to thank selfish, bonkers Rodgers for probably costing his team a win that could jettison their hopes for Home Field Advantage throughout the playoffs. And sadly I say that as someone who up until this week admired Rodgers even though he has proven a potent adversary to the Cowboys. If his teammates, the NFL, the sports media, and/or his fans don't make him pay a price for his lies, perhaps Karma will step in and provide the lesson.
He certainly has seemed to enjoy primadonna status in the NFL. Now he appears to be a complete nut job. I think this whole thing is just getting started though. What is going to happen with all the covid protocols when he returns to the team? I imagine he will argue that he has enough antibodies and doesn't need to follow the protocols. But I don't believe the NFL allows previous infection to count. So if he has to go back to the same protocols as before this s*** show will continue all season and will fire up the anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers even more.
Thanks for writing about Rodgers. Could he look like any more of a schlub? I mean, I know he's allegedly sick, but.....I am seriously starting to wonder if he's in the early stages of CTE.
It's not believeable that his medical team (which I'assume have taken care of him for most of his career, but I could be wrong) is to a man/woman against the COVID vaccine, and provided him with 500 pages of the latest research that no one else, not even the NIH/FDA/CDC, has. Calling up Joe Rogan for advice seems out-of-character for someone we always assumed was an intelligent, thoughtful guy. We were obviously wrong, and maybe he's always been this way, but I think CTE could be an explanation.
There was a time in history where there was no electronic media of ANY kind (Radio, TV, internet), when a large number of the population did not keep up with "what was going on" on an hourly (or shorter) basis, that did not live their lives watching a screen but actually.... living their lives.
We are constantly bombarded by how bad things are, all the (supposedly) existential threats that we face--and keeping our attention requires the media to go to greater and greater extremes. Because REVENUE drives media and to get revenue you need engagement.
One of the things that we are discovering--through a variety of sources--is that driving things through engagement data, on the basis of engagement data is bad for society. Engagement data and prioritization creates bad (but addicting) experiences... and like all addicts we need more and stronger as we get used to our drug.
Facebook is a primary example of this--but not the only example. There are a lot more out there if you look. Blizzard/Activision is another example (even before the sexual harassment stuff broke they were having problems). Fox news is another.
We need to be less "engaged."
We make a lot of noise about (for example) the danger to American democracy posed by Trump and the GoP. The threat is likely real. I fully expect the Republic to pass into history (at least in the form that we are used to).... but here is the thing--without the media to make noise about it after it happens (and we will see how long that lasts) I wonder how many people would ACTUALLY notice a major difference?
I am not sure if that is a bad comment on the citizenry or a bad comment about the "democratic" nature of our existing system.
The vast majority of people's lives would continue as they are now, barring noise, confusion, and hatred generated by the media.
The climate is going to continue to degenerate regardless of how much noise and fear is generated... because, human nature. Politics will continue to be corrupt (only more openly). Bad policies will continue to be followed.
Maybe too many people are paying attention and (in turn) too many politicians are busy playing for that attention, rather than THINKING and acting responsibly.
We have a political and media system that rewards the exact behaviors we are seeing now. When you reward people for something, they do it (and more of it).
People voted for this. They will continue to vote for this until their vote effectively becomes meaningless (if it isn't already)... then they will pretend to vote. 40% of the population didn't bother to vote.
Our society needs a good enema. Maybe the right wing authoritarian turn (or the outside chance left authoritarian turn) will provide it.
Social media specifically, and the internet more broadly, are a disaster for civil society in a democracy. Ubiquitous narration means we devote too much of our collective psyche to narrating, and not enough to experiencing. When I read the news, the world is falling apart. When I look out my window, the sun is shining through the autumn leaves, the birds are at the feeder, and it’s a lovely November morning.
It’s too easy to tell a story of calamity that just barely fits the carefully selected facts, and have it be persuasive notwithstanding what’s right in front of our eyes. That’s the problem Democrats are facing with public opinion. And the inverse problem is also aggravated, where truths that are not obvious from experience are undercut by anecdotes and personal testimonials. That’s the problem exemplified by Aaron Rogers and Ron Johnson.
.
Sykes: "Rodgers also shared his deep thoughts about a horse-worming medicine popular amongst the idiocracy."
Horse-worming or horse-deworming?
I'd think the distinction would matter to the horse (though likely not to Rodgers)
Is this another peel/unpeel, loose/unloose, dust, fast, sanction, garnish, seed, etc situation?
Or is it . . . shudder . . . Orwellian?
.
How come none of the alternatives that vaccine refuseniks prefer involve a shot? Could it be that tough guys like Aaron Rodgers and Joe Rogan are afraid of needles? If we set 50% odds that refuseniks are actually just scared, I'm taking the over.
Makes you wonder where we'd be now if Fauci and Co. had said in the first place, "We know many people are very afraid of needles, but ..." If they had, every tough-guy pseudoscientist would be vulnerable to, "Oh, get over yourself and get the shot, ya big baby."
Now that little kids are authorized, I can think of some clever public service announcements along these lines.
LQ
To Betsy Clarke: Yes, yes and YES! I found myself reading the WaPo's second installment of their analysis of 1/6/21, entitled 'During.' I avoid watching too much of the video segments, 'cause, frankly, it makes me sick-to-my-stomach. Anyone who had even the smallest role in this repulsive act of pseudo 'patriotism' needs to be held to account...
In respect of optimism, those of us who don't spend our lives focused on the latest polls or who's been seen lunching with whom at the latest DC hot spot actually don't feel that badly about the country. It's the behavior of the political/media part of the world that is cause for concern since most of the "end of everything" predictions come from them and they, being in the best position to effect change, have instead chosen to do nothing effective. Passage of the BIF is potentially a step in the right direction but I'm going out on a limb to say that 6 months hence little or nothing material will have been accomplished and the whole mess will be tied up in studies, analyses and court cases arguing over whose ox has been or should be gored and who should get the premium for doing the goring.
I absolutely LOVE you, Charlie, but the Green Bay Packers are NOT America's Team. However, America's Team would like to thank selfish, bonkers Rodgers for probably costing his team a win that could jettison their hopes for Home Field Advantage throughout the playoffs. And sadly I say that as someone who up until this week admired Rodgers even though he has proven a potent adversary to the Cowboys. If his teammates, the NFL, the sports media, and/or his fans don't make him pay a price for his lies, perhaps Karma will step in and provide the lesson.
Humans natural bias towards positivity is being hijacked by provocative anger at others. It's a shame rage is so addicting.
He certainly has seemed to enjoy primadonna status in the NFL. Now he appears to be a complete nut job. I think this whole thing is just getting started though. What is going to happen with all the covid protocols when he returns to the team? I imagine he will argue that he has enough antibodies and doesn't need to follow the protocols. But I don't believe the NFL allows previous infection to count. So if he has to go back to the same protocols as before this s*** show will continue all season and will fire up the anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers even more.
Thanks for writing about Rodgers. Could he look like any more of a schlub? I mean, I know he's allegedly sick, but.....I am seriously starting to wonder if he's in the early stages of CTE.
It's not believeable that his medical team (which I'assume have taken care of him for most of his career, but I could be wrong) is to a man/woman against the COVID vaccine, and provided him with 500 pages of the latest research that no one else, not even the NIH/FDA/CDC, has. Calling up Joe Rogan for advice seems out-of-character for someone we always assumed was an intelligent, thoughtful guy. We were obviously wrong, and maybe he's always been this way, but I think CTE could be an explanation.