Social media: The Death Knell of Society

[XeRocks81]

I found it interesting but the "dramatic" segments were pretty bad honestly.   Also I rolled my eyes a lot of some these tech people being all oh we had not idea this tech would be used this way.

[Stadler]

Gotta watch that documentary sooner or later.

I still think however that, if done correctly, social media can be a nice thing. Especially Facebook - it's cool to have all your friends / acquaintaces / people you actually care about in one place. How else would you keep up with everyone else from jobs you don't have anymore and schools you don't attend to? do you take a day off work in December and spend it from morning to noon to write a mail to someone, "hey 'sup dude merry Xmas this year I've done this cool trip"? and frankly, do you have that much to say to every ex collegue or random dude you know from concerts to the point that you have to keep up personally and singularly with every one of them? having them all together is more convenient, and you actually interact with those you know better and see what's up with someone you actually care about. Maybe you reconnect over some mutual interest.

Furthermore, all the events being there are another great thing. I don't certainly need Facebook to remind me that 7 months from now I have an Iron Maiden concerts (ha.... if only!), but what about the dozens minor events in the local scene that I enjoy so much? I'd have to browse 25 different sites to know and track them all. On Facebook all the event are an "I'm interested" button click away.

So, if everyone would use Facebook just to keep track of people they actually care about - they're not called "contact", they're called "friends", add, if not literal friends, people you actually know and that are worthy on a generic basis of that name - and follow the events they like and the things they're interested about, it would be so much better. That's how I do it anyway.

Some of those you don't need "social media" to accomplish.  I'm a broken record here, but I'm not on the social media other than reviewing Twitter because some of the artists I listen to are on there, and I use Facebook Marketplace, but I don't use any of the other things, and yet, if I want to reach out to my high school friend, or the girl I had a crush on, I can.  I don't need "Facebook" for that.

I think the INTERNET is a great thing, unequivocally (even with the dark side of it) but I'm struggling to see how the upside of finding out if Josephine is still hot 30 years later outweighs the divisiveness, the tribalism, the insecurities, the "addiction", that has emerged from the actual PRACTICE of "social media-ing".   

[Ben_Jamin]

Great and insightful article, relating to Social Media. This time, with the mob attack against Parlor.

"In my recent article ‘Power Is An Illusion, Control Is A Facade’ I outlined the realities behind power structures and how people dominate other people by conditioning them with false assumptions and misplaced fears. For example, many people make themselves easy to control by remaining dependent on governments during crisis events and emergencies; if you actually believe the government will protect you from any and all eventualities then why would you ever learn to protect and provide for yourself? The infantization of a society makes citizens easy to dominate.

Another example would be instilling a fear of “standing out” among one’s peers – Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of being seen as aberrant or in opposition to the “majority” and will seek to fit in, even when they fundamentally disagree. A ruling elite merely need to manufacture the assumption or impression that the “majority” of the population are in agreement with oppressive measures. Even if this is not the case, the perception of a majority can be used to control those people that would otherwise rebel.

Controlling a population is more about thought control or “perception management” than it is about direct force. Power is an illusion, no large group of people can be controlled by force alone; eventually, they will find a way to wear down the totalitarian system and destroy it. So, the people must be tricked into enslaving themselves and each other. The people must police the very prison they are trapped in, otherwise they could simply walk away anytime they wished. It’s the only way a tyranny can survive in the long term."

https://alt-market.us/the-leftist-obsession-with-parler-reveals-their-infatuation-with-thought-control/


It's a great article, because as people are seeing the Trumpists as a Cult, so are they viewing the Social Justice Warriors as the same.

[Stadler]

Some of the language is a little inflammatory for me, but as someone that has been targeted in that way (called a racist for simply not agreeing with the narrative, called/dismissed as a "bot" for similar reasons), it's a problem, and it's not going away.   You see the impacts of it every day; not the big ticket protest kind of thing, but the little things: the increasing divisiveness, the increasingly aggressive language on both sides of the debate, the increasing level of "take it or leave it" in the debates... even, existentially, the diminution of the debates; how many people do you know that rather than engage in the heavy lifting of discussion with someone with fundamentally different viewpoints, just opt to "ban" or "block" or "ignore"?   

[kingshmegland]

And would most say what they type to your face like in social media?  I think not.

[Ben_Jamin]

Some of the language is a little inflammatory for me, but as someone that has been targeted in that way (called a racist for simply not agreeing with the narrative, called/dismissed as a "bot" for similar reasons), it's a problem, and it's not going away.   You see the impacts of it every day; not the big ticket protest kind of thing, but the little things: the increasing divisiveness, the increasingly aggressive language on both sides of the debate, the increasing level of "take it or leave it" in the debates... even, existentially, the diminution of the debates; how many people do you know that rather than engage in the heavy lifting of discussion with someone with fundamentally different viewpoints, just opt to "ban" or "block" or "ignore"?

Yeah, I was hesitant to post it because of the Language, and that might turn some people off. But it brings up a good point. It's on both sides, and it's pretty much what you described with people wanting to automatically "block" or "ignore" you. I relate it to getting into an actual physical argument. The argument can escalate to the point of fisticuffs, and back then, you would fight, and then after, maybe have a drink together and discuss it more, or become enemies. But now, instead of actually squabbling out the issues, you have people reaching for the weapon (in our case a gun) and just getting rid of the nuisance all together. It's a really, sinister mindset, when you really dwell into it, as it's as if those people don't value life at all. While back then, you still valued the life of whomever you squabbled with, or became enemies with.

It's even more of...I don't know the right term to use...a confusing issue, for us people of color, as they say "You're fighting for the wrong team", "you're a traitor"...When we are trying to tell them, "No, I agree with you, I just don't like the way you're going about it" I myself, offer my solutions and ideas, but they sometimes just roll their eyes, because I don't agree with everything they do. It's why I am hesitant to actually volunteer with some Resistance movements, or more Cultural Rejuvenation is the term I just now figured is more correct. I don't feel we need to go all "Whitey is bad/evil", because not all are. Yes, their ancestors were pretty messed up people, but that's due to their mindset of the time, which is what I term the Colonial Mindset, it's a mindset of an era, and it was really spiritual as well (the Colonial Mindset, as an example, being based on Roman Catholicism). And when you look through Native American History, especially Southwestern United States history, you will find, it hasn't even been a century since that Colonial Mindset has started to dwindle. There are old people, still alive, born in that time, and have that mindset implanted into them still, but yet at the same time, you have their Children beginning to become more compassionate and respectful moral people, more so than they are. But, also, those children will still have that mindset implanted into them. Therefore, it'll take a couple of generations before that mindset can shift into the more compassionate, respectful, moral mindset. And I see that, not just in the White Mindset, but in all the other Mindsets as well, people becoming more compassionate, respectful and more moral.

I found the word....Frustrating. It's like I want to try and share my ideas, and my thoughts about issues, but when I do, usually they don't align with "the way they want to do things". Like, my perspectives about LGTBQ movements ("Movements" in general), Abortion, and many other "Taboo" "Forbidden" topics of discussion. It's like why can't I. I let you babble on about your bullshit, but you won't let me babble on with my bullshit. I had to listen to your noisey ass, but you can't be bothered to also, listen to my noisey ass.

It's really fascinating, and I really do invest time, as you can see, into understanding these topics. In reality, with some of my friends, I do discuss these topics with them, and they enjoy talking about it with me. Because we come to agreements, and we also disagree, but come to an understanding of why we feel the way we do about those topics. It's like people are disconnecting from each other. It's like we all just need one big gigantic group hug, ironically fitting for the moment right?

[Jaffa]

Thanks for sharing that article, Ben.  It's a lot to chew on for me.  Within it, there are some ideas I am inclined to agree with and some I pretty definitively disagree with, and then some I'll be mulling over for a while.  At this time, I don't have any meaningful response to the article itself.  However, I did want to touch on a specific point brought up by Stadler and Ben. 

how many people do you know that rather than engage in the heavy lifting of discussion with someone with fundamentally different viewpoints, just opt to "ban" or "block" or "ignore"?   

But it brings up a good point. It's on both sides, and it's pretty much what you described with people wanting to automatically "block" or "ignore" you.

*snip*

It's like people are disconnecting from each other.

I'm curious about what kind of scenario you have in mind when you mention blocking and ignoring people over opposing political views.  In my experience, there are (generally) two types of people who tend to frequently block and ignore other on social media: people who want to express their own views without being contradicted, and people who don't want to talk about politics at all.  Out of curiosity, which type of person do you have in mind?

I ask because I myself draw some pretty significant distinctions between the two (the echo chamber seeker and the silence seeker, if you will), so I'm wondering if you are lumping them together. 

[Stadler]

Of your two choices, the vast majority of the "blocks"/"ignores" are those that don't want to be contradicted.  I'm ignoring - fo purposes of this conversation - those that just aren't interested in discussing it.  I think that's not quite right, though; "my mileage varies", if you will.   I don't know if it's as simple as "don't want to be contradicted"; I think there's another layer there.   There's all this talk about a certain bloc of our coutnry (I can only speak of my country) being "stupid", and from a pure "objective fact" standpoint, that's a hard position to argue against.    But if you broaden the definition of "stupid" to include those that aren't interested in facts that don't fit nicely into their world view, I think the universe of "stupid" is far broader.   

I have hundreds of conversations that start with the common narrative (pick a topic; Obamacare, guns, Trump, Fox News), have me asking where a certain fact or fact pattern fits in, and then end with some ad hominem response, be it "bot", or "racist" or banning (thankfully that's been an exceedingly rare circumstance).   It's fascinating to me, frankly.  "Science" is awesome, we need a President that embraces the "science", but it is just as likely that it's only the science that supports the narrative.   I was in a discussion over on Quora about Fox News and how they were dangerous to democracy, and I posted about five or six links (the same ones I've posted here over the years), refuting many of the points.   And it almost became sport for me (it had to).   I'd post the links, and I'd get one of several responses ranging from questioning the sources, to nitpicking the one line that DOES support their narrative, to "bot", to "well, I can only go by what I see" as if their anecdotal evidence was superior to the science.  And then it would repeat; I'd make a reference to the previous data and someone would chime in that my position was unsupported, and "did I have any evidence to support that?", as if I was dealing with an open mind, thirsting for knowledge.  I'd post it, and........  "what are these sources?", "there's one line in there that does support Fox News' bias!", "well, my cousin's wife's sister watches Fox News incessantly, and we can't even talk to her anymore", or "who are you, Sean Hannity's agent?".   And that would repeat - to the point I had the links in a file for cut and paste - and it dawned on me that these people are no different, no more interested in REAL knowledge, than the "fuck your feelings" people.

It's a short leap from there to "this is who we are", more alike than different.  Now, I haven't given up hope; if we can evolve on other fronts, we can evolve here if we put in the effort, but like anything else, we have to WANT to put in the effort and we have to DO it.   As long as it's easier to point at the other guy, the other side, and say "stupid!", "deplorable!" or "libtard!", that's going to be a long shot.  To King's point, some of this the nature of the medium.  It's far easier to tell someone to fuck off - figuratively or literally - than to do it in person, but even those walls are crumbling.  Road rage; that's a "conversation" of sorts that is anonymous at first, when it's two nameless, featureless heads in a car, that is increasingly evolving into interpersonal interactions.   I've written tens of times that for me the shocking part of the mass killings has been the willingness of otherwise relatively normal (at least within the bounds of what we're told is normal in other contexts) people to willingly and with aforethought watch so many people die in close proximity. 

[jingle.boy]

I want to catch up on the current discussion, particularly around The Social Dilemma, but don't have time right now.  I also want to watch The Great Hack - just to prove TSD didn't frighten me enough. 

But for now, I had to share this.

https://twitter.com/brittlestar/status/1335324065935011840?fbclid=IwAR35qJeeIcCpqyRI7kx1LpAOy6__nwgrH4Hoc7LxenEHqjMuvZZc4rhefHg

[Ben_Jamin]

Thanks for sharing that article, Ben.  It's a lot to chew on for me.  Within it, there are some ideas I am inclined to agree with and some I pretty definitively disagree with, and then some I'll be mulling over for a while.  At this time, I don't have any meaningful response to the article itself.  However, I did want to touch on a specific point brought up by Stadler and Ben. 

how many people do you know that rather than engage in the heavy lifting of discussion with someone with fundamentally different viewpoints, just opt to "ban" or "block" or "ignore"?   

But it brings up a good point. It's on both sides, and it's pretty much what you described with people wanting to automatically "block" or "ignore" you.

*snip*

It's like people are disconnecting from each other.

I'm curious about what kind of scenario you have in mind when you mention blocking and ignoring people over opposing political views.  In my experience, there are (generally) two types of people who tend to frequently block and ignore other on social media: people who want to express their own views without being contradicted, and people who don't want to talk about politics at all.  Out of curiosity, which type of person do you have in mind?

I ask because I myself draw some pretty significant distinctions between the two (the echo chamber seeker and the silence seeker, if you will), so I'm wondering if you are lumping them together.

To me, People can have many different reasons for blocking and ignoring someone, some justified and some not. This is just another brick in the Social Media wall.

But the type of person I am talking about are those people who won't bother even listening to an opposing viewpoint, and are conceited and stuck in their mindset, basically their mind is already made up and set in stone. Nothing, will convince them otherwise.

[gmillerdrake]

I want to catch up on the current discussion, particularly around The Social Dilemma, but don't have time right now.  I also want to watch The Great Hack - just to prove TSD didn't frighten me enough. 

But for now, I had to share this.

https://twitter.com/brittlestar/status/1335324065935011840?fbclid=IwAR35qJeeIcCpqyRI7kx1LpAOy6__nwgrH4Hoc7LxenEHqjMuvZZc4rhefHg

While I 100% agree with what that guy was saying.......the 'way' he was speaking and his presentation was so contrived and condescending he made me want to throw the first punch at him in a bar fight 

[jingle.boy]

I want to catch up on the current discussion, particularly around The Social Dilemma, but don't have time right now.  I also want to watch The Great Hack - just to prove TSD didn't frighten me enough. 

But for now, I had to share this.

https://twitter.com/brittlestar/status/1335324065935011840?fbclid=IwAR35qJeeIcCpqyRI7kx1LpAOy6__nwgrH4Hoc7LxenEHqjMuvZZc4rhefHg

While I 100% agree with what that guy was saying.......the 'way' he was speaking and his presentation was so contrived and condescending he made me want to throw the first punch at him in a bar fight 

True... but that's his schtick.  I've gotten used to it.

[gmillerdrake]

I want to catch up on the current discussion, particularly around The Social Dilemma, but don't have time right now.  I also want to watch The Great Hack - just to prove TSD didn't frighten me enough. 

But for now, I had to share this.

https://twitter.com/brittlestar/status/1335324065935011840?fbclid=IwAR35qJeeIcCpqyRI7kx1LpAOy6__nwgrH4Hoc7LxenEHqjMuvZZc4rhefHg

While I 100% agree with what that guy was saying.......the 'way' he was speaking and his presentation was so contrived and condescending he made me want to throw the first punch at him in a bar fight 

True... but that's his schtick.  I've gotten used to it.

I’ve never seen him before. I guess he’s a comedian or something?

[jingle.boy]

I want to catch up on the current discussion, particularly around The Social Dilemma, but don't have time right now.  I also want to watch The Great Hack - just to prove TSD didn't frighten me enough. 

But for now, I had to share this.

https://twitter.com/brittlestar/status/1335324065935011840?fbclid=IwAR35qJeeIcCpqyRI7kx1LpAOy6__nwgrH4Hoc7LxenEHqjMuvZZc4rhefHg

While I 100% agree with what that guy was saying.......the 'way' he was speaking and his presentation was so contrived and condescending he made me want to throw the first punch at him in a bar fight 

True... but that's his schtick.  I've gotten used to it.

I’ve never seen him before. I guess he’s a comedian or something?

Something mrs.jingle shared with me a few times.

[Stadler]

I want to catch up on the current discussion, particularly around The Social Dilemma, but don't have time right now.  I also want to watch The Great Hack - just to prove TSD didn't frighten me enough. 

But for now, I had to share this.

https://twitter.com/brittlestar/status/1335324065935011840?fbclid=IwAR35qJeeIcCpqyRI7kx1LpAOy6__nwgrH4Hoc7LxenEHqjMuvZZc4rhefHg

While I 100% agree with what that guy was saying.......the 'way' he was speaking and his presentation was so contrived and condescending he made me want to throw the first punch at him in a bar fight 

HAHA, I was going to say something similar, but I figured Chad would bust my balls for "pointing out the unfunny". 

I was going to note that I get it was part of the routine, but it wasn't lost on me that he was advocating walk away while STILL calling opinions he didn't agree with "stupid" and the people that held them "idiots". 

[jingle.boy]

I want to catch up on the current discussion, particularly around The Social Dilemma, but don't have time right now.  I also want to watch The Great Hack - just to prove TSD didn't frighten me enough. 

But for now, I had to share this.

https://twitter.com/brittlestar/status/1335324065935011840?fbclid=IwAR35qJeeIcCpqyRI7kx1LpAOy6__nwgrH4Hoc7LxenEHqjMuvZZc4rhefHg

While I 100% agree with what that guy was saying.......the 'way' he was speaking and his presentation was so contrived and condescending he made me want to throw the first punch at him in a bar fight 

HAHA, I was going to say something similar, but I figured Chad would bust my balls for "pointing out the unfunny". 

I was going to note that I get it was part of the routine, but it wasn't lost on me that he was advocating walk away while STILL calling opinions he didn't agree with "stupid" and the people that held them "idiots". 

Killjoy.

[Stadler]

You kill me.   

[Cool Chris]

[Ben_Jamin]

In real life, I'm more like this...

[Cool Chris]

Believe it or not, Ben isn't at home...

[Ben_Jamin]

Believe it or not, Ben isn't at home...

Where could I be?

[Implode]

Wanted to recommend this video rant by Hank Green. He's written two books now about an allegory for the rise of social media how it's affected our society. His politics aside, I think what he says is very important to think about. It's really important to consider how we and others are using social media and the many ways in which it's harmful. Not that it's completely harmful, but the fact this is still new and not completely understood is leading to a lot of destructive behavior that's worth considering.

https://youtu.be/rj0VLfljf2k

Disclaimer: Not posting this to imply that he is The Authority on the internet and we need to agree with everything he says (this is an unorganized opinion piece after all). But it is 100% a message worth thinking about.

[Ben_Jamin]

That's interesting. As listening to the first thing he says about his post and how he wanted a jumpy tweet, what I got from it is it comes into Emotions taking control of what we say and do, and Social Media is not immune to us humans and our emotions taking control.

People get mad, they post.
People get sad, they post.
People feel lonely, they post.
People feel like causing destruction, they post.

And you have people reacting to these Emotions....

With posts of support.
With posts of love.
With posts of Understanding.
With posts of Hate.
With posts of anger.
With posts of Misunderstanding.

All in turn being caused by a persons emotions at the time. I think, it has to do with also wanting to let your voice and thoughts be heard. It's kind of why we talk to each other, to understand what we are feeling, thinking, wanting, and needing, at the point in time, or moment of the day.

Social Media, is a tool, and a much easier way to get our voices and thoughts heard to whomever will listen. Isn't that why people Follow.

It's a reason why I don't see how people still follow people they don't like, or do not want to hear their voices or thoughts anymore. They continue to follow them and be subjected to the others voice and thoughts, why? Wouldn't you just unfollow and want to follow and connect with people whom share the same voice and thoughts as you.

[XeRocks81]

Wanted to recommend this video rant by Hank Green. He's written two books now about an allegory for the rise of social media how it's affected our society. His politics aside, I think what he says is very important to think about. It's really important to consider how we and others are using social media and the many ways in which it's harmful. Not that it's completely harmful, but the fact this is still new and not completely understood is leading to a lot of destructive behavior that's worth considering.

https://youtu.be/rj0VLfljf2k

Disclaimer: Not posting this to imply that he is The Authority on the internet and we need to agree with everything he says (this is an unorganized opinion piece after all). But it is 100% a message worth thinking about.

That was excellent.  Hank and his brother John are veterans of this (they were on youtube back in the pre-historic days of 2006) and have great insight

[Stadler]

Wanted to recommend this video rant by Hank Green. He's written two books now about an allegory for the rise of social media how it's affected our society. His politics aside, I think what he says is very important to think about. It's really important to consider how we and others are using social media and the many ways in which it's harmful. Not that it's completely harmful, but the fact this is still new and not completely understood is leading to a lot of destructive behavior that's worth considering.

https://youtu.be/rj0VLfljf2k

Disclaimer: Not posting this to imply that he is The Authority on the internet and we need to agree with everything he says (this is an unorganized opinion piece after all). But it is 100% a message worth thinking about.

I'm about half way through, and while I'm sticking in, I took three minutes, went to Amazon, and bought him a camera stand. The camera keeps shaking in rhythm to his speech and it's distracting.

EDIT:  He makes a good point, theoretically, but his focus on Donald Trump undermines that.   He's not the ONLY one whipping followers into a destructive frenzy.  He also makes an oblique reference to "one side doing it better than another" but since I'm 99% sure we fundamentally disagree on what side that really is, that doesn't make the causal connection.  He referenced Hitler and radio, and for better or worse, we don't look back at radio and consider it "cigarettes".   I wish he drilled down deeper in the "feels good" aspect; I think that's the tip of the iceberg here.

[Ben_Jamin]

Wanted to recommend this video rant by Hank Green. He's written two books now about an allegory for the rise of social media how it's affected our society. His politics aside, I think what he says is very important to think about. It's really important to consider how we and others are using social media and the many ways in which it's harmful. Not that it's completely harmful, but the fact this is still new and not completely understood is leading to a lot of destructive behavior that's worth considering.

https://youtu.be/rj0VLfljf2k

Disclaimer: Not posting this to imply that he is The Authority on the internet and we need to agree with everything he says (this is an unorganized opinion piece after all). But it is 100% a message worth thinking about.

I'm about half way through, and while I'm sticking in, I took three minutes, went to Amazon, and bought him a camera stand. The camera keeps shaking in rhythm to his speech and it's distracting.

I didn't even watch the video, I just listened to what he said. So I didn't notice.

That is distracting, and makes me lose focus a bit because I'm to busy focusing on his shakey camera.

[Implode]

I'm about half way through, and while I'm sticking in, I took three minutes, went to Amazon, and bought him a camera stand. The camera keeps shaking in rhythm to his speech and it's distracting.

  It's even more funny because he's been a professional vlogger for 12+ years now, and those videos have great production. This is his random rant channel where you can tell he's fallen deep into tik tok in the past year.

And yes, i wish he did drill deeper into that. Though he really gets into that part of it in his first book. It involves the main character becoming increasingly internet famous throughout the book, and with his first hand experience with a level of that, I think it captures perfectly how the social internet feels good and becomes unhealthily addictive.

But this has made me consider how i use it all. And usually I consider myself good at using these sites. But now I'm noticing more just exactly what content I really wish weren't served to me. Then that brings me to questions like, "this friend and I follow each other, but I really don't like any content they like or share. But also i do care about hearing about their life. What do I do?" Unfollow or not? Cut them out for nothing or worsen your experience?

[Stadler]

I'm wresting with that last part myself.  I lived most of my life as someone that didn't really go deep with my close friends regarding politics and who didn't really care about people's beliefs (I'm closest to my college friends, and of the, say, 10 closest, I can only tell you with certainly who two voted for, and the vast majority (all but one, if I do a quick count) of the women I've dated are significantly to my left politically).  It was never a problem, because there was always respect.   The "us versus them", the adversarial nature of most of our politics is permeating.   The normalization of the political comment into real life has made it difficult to maintain some relationships.  Not because I disagree with them, but because I'm now defensive as to what I can or cannot say without recrimination.   I'm sorry to overshare (and it's not like I have a deep hidden closet of fetishes) but it used to be I was shy about really being open about things like sexual preferences; I'd save that until I was sure it was a trusted relationship (again, we're not talking about anything way out on a limb, either).   Now, that's almost easy, almost the ICE-BREAKER compared to politics. 

There are simply too many intolerant people - many of whom would presume to wear their "tolerance" on their sleeve as a badge of honor - making spot judgments about other people based on their political musings/leanings, and social media feeds that.  It's really facilitating the echo chamber, and it's not going to end well.

[Chino]

I'm wresting with that last part myself.  I lived most of my life as someone that didn't really go deep with my close friends regarding politics and who didn't really care about people's beliefs (I'm closest to my college friends, and of the, say, 10 closest, I can only tell you with certainly who two voted for, and the vast majority (all but one, if I do a quick count) of the women I've dated are significantly to my left politically).  It was never a problem, because there was always respect.   The "us versus them", the adversarial nature of most of our politics is permeating.   The normalization of the political comment into real life has made it difficult to maintain some relationships.  Not because I disagree with them, but because I'm now defensive as to what I can or cannot say without recrimination.   I'm sorry to overshare (and it's not like I have a deep hidden closet of fetishes) but it used to be I was shy about really being open about things like sexual preferences; I'd save that until I was sure it was a trusted relationship (again, we're not talking about anything way out on a limb, either).   Now, that's almost easy, almost the ICE-BREAKER compared to politics. 

There are simply too many intolerant people - many of whom would presume to wear their "tolerance" on their sleeve as a badge of honor - making spot judgments about other people based on their political musings/leanings, and social media feeds that.  It's really facilitating the echo chamber, and it's not going to end well.

I did a purge of my social media feeds about 3-4 years ago. Any mention of politics, regardless of side, got you hidden from my feeds. I was left with just pages for space stuff and my hobbies. It was bliss, but even those are getting ruined now. I've lost a lot of my desire to do RC cars over the last two years because of politics. I was at an event (large outdoor space) last November 6th when Biden was officially declared the winner, and you would have thought the world was coming to an end. People showing up to races with bodies painted with Trump graphics and names like Trump Train, just looking to get a rise out of people, or the race team FYF that runs only red, white, and blue paint schemes. Facebook pages filled with photos of people making scaled on infowarrior rides just looking to start shit in comment sections. There's no escape. I can't stand it. Why can't we just be adults that like to play with toy trucks? Why do you have to come to the track looking to instigate. I don't care that they're republicans. I care that they take some level of pride in just trying to stir the pot. They're out looking for a confrontation.

[Stadler]

That's the real crux of this; it's not even a fair discourse on wildly dischordant views.  It's much more base than that.  They - and your example is about Trump supporters, but my experience is more broadly across the ideological divide - aren't at all looking for debate, they're looking for conflict and adversity. It's not mending the divide, it's actually looking to increase the divide.

I sometimes speak here with vehemency, but it's not at all about conflict.  I don't really like conflict all that much to be honest; I'm honestly looking to plant seeds, so that two diverse sides can find something to meet on and still save face.   It's shocking to me how many people have a more scorched earth policy towards their fellow citizens and neighbors.

[Implode]

Right. In the past it was easy to filter out the annoying/problematic people. But it's gotten to the point where people I genuinely like and want to keep up with are annoying to follow on social media, many of them on the same side as me politically. It's like that has now become the default subject of all of social media. And for some that is expected. People want to use the platform to spread their beliefs and better the world or whatnot. But the degree to which it's everyone yelling about things they don't have the full picture or nuance to, it's exhausting and ruining 9 out of 10 sites.

[Ben_Jamin]

Right. In the past it was easy to filter out the annoying/problematic people. But it's gotten to the point where people I genuinely like and want to keep up with are annoying to follow on social media, many of them on the same side as me politically. It's like that has now become the default subject of all of social media. And for some that is expected. People want to use the platform to spread their beliefs and better the world or whatnot. But the degree to which it's everyone yelling about things they don't have the full picture or nuance to, it's exhausting and ruining 9 out of 10 sites.

You know what happened in the past when people didn't like the current climate of the people around them. They gathered, formed their own group, and then moved somewhere else and built there own town.

I doubt Americans can do this now because of the "Comforts of life" we have, and no one wants to give that up.

Also, exiling people only made them deserters, and then would form another outskirt town called, The Wastelands, or Ravenskill. It's the entire world of The game The Outer Worlds, that whole premise is why I am enjoying the story of the game.

But, if you can't handle the current climate, what do you do? Do you stay and suffer, just to be able to do this? Or do you leave it behind and continue living without it? Nobody is forcing anyone to stay and deal with all these people wanting to talk about their beliefs, and what not. People have thoughts, and sometimes people want to talk about these thoughts, for many different reasons as well, to get another's perspective, to see if someone has the same thoughts about something, to see if someone feels the same way as them, all these thoughts and more people want to express to others. Some people, have no one around so they speak to their Pets, Animals, and even to objects around them. The way we do this is to speak our minds.

I think it's a problem that they just don't want to talk or discuss these thoughts or subjects. The internet is an escape from the harsh realities of life for them. That's how people can get upset when that escape gets infiltrated with the outside problems. They don't want to accept it and face the harsh facts of life. It's also why people go out and do things "For Fun", to escape from the harshness of reality they face.

And now since that fun is shut down, many are now stuck with these thoughts, as their means of escaping these thoughts are now gone. So they turn and find other ways to escape those thoughts. It's why some turn into alcoholics, drug users, and even depressed because they are now stuck with thinking about those thoughts and can't find a way to escape them. So you have people coming onto the internet for that escape and release of those thoughts, as they can easily find a connection with someone through Social Media, even total strangers.

But it's gotten to the point where people I genuinely like and want to keep up with are annoying to follow on social media, many of them on the same side as me politically.

This right here got me thinking about...How well do you truly know these people you like and want to keep up with, if they are annoying you with their thoughts on their beliefs, and many other things.

To me, Are people really afraid, or for some other reason, of discussing these thoughts, because it brings them to face the Reality they subconsciously want to escape from?

[Ben_Jamin]

Someone posted this video, and It felt like I was watching a Twitter/Facebook thread happen in real life.

1988 Ron Paul on Morton Downey Jr.

[Stadler]

You know what happened in the past when people didn't like the current climate of the people around them. They gathered, formed their own group, and then moved somewhere else and built there own town.

I doubt Americans can do this now because of the "Comforts of life" we have, and no one wants to give that up.

Also, exiling people only made them deserters, and then would form another outskirt town called, The Wastelands, or Ravenskill. It's the entire world of The game The Outer Worlds, that whole premise is why I am enjoying the story of the game.

But, if you can't handle the current climate, what do you do? Do you stay and suffer, just to be able to do this? Or do you leave it behind and continue living without it? Nobody is forcing anyone to stay and deal with all these people wanting to talk about their beliefs, and what not. People have thoughts, and sometimes people want to talk about these thoughts, for many different reasons as well, to get another's perspective, to see if someone has the same thoughts about something, to see if someone feels the same way as them, all these thoughts and more people want to express to others. Some people, have no one around so they speak to their Pets, Animals, and even to objects around them. The way we do this is to speak our minds.

I think it's a problem that they just don't want to talk or discuss these thoughts or subjects. The internet is an escape from the harsh realities of life for them. That's how people can get upset when that escape gets infiltrated with the outside problems. They don't want to accept it and face the harsh facts of life. It's also why people go out and do things "For Fun", to escape from the harshness of reality they face.

And now since that fun is shut down, many are now stuck with these thoughts, as their means of escaping these thoughts are now gone. So they turn and find other ways to escape those thoughts. It's why some turn into alcoholics, drug users, and even depressed because they are now stuck with thinking about those thoughts and can't find a way to escape them. So you have people coming onto the internet for that escape and release of those thoughts, as they can easily find a connection with someone through Social Media, even total strangers.

I think you're missing a key component though:  I think my post count and word count would tell you I'm willing to discuss anything, and share ideas on anything.   What I don't do, though, is attack your person, your character, for your views, and that's what so much of the "dialogue" (in quotes because it's a loose use of the word) is.  The "deplorables".  The "libtards".   I was watching Below Deck, a reality TV show about a private yacht in the Caribbean (bear with me here; it's trash, but it's fun, and there's a girl on there - Ashling - that is top five or even three most beautiful women I've ever seen) and one girl was fired. And she was whining about being "disrespected", because she personalized it so much that no one could criticize her work performance without it being an assault on her character and her person.  There is no discussion that can be had when abstract independent ideas are personalized to the degree that merely holding that idea is symbolic of who you are.

Look, you don't have to agree with my positions on, say, healthcare, but you don't also have to make it a moral judgment either.     

This right here got me thinking about...How well do you truly know these people you like and want to keep up with, if they are annoying you with their thoughts on their beliefs, and many other things.

To me, Are people really afraid, or for some other reason, of discussing these thoughts, because it brings them to face the Reality they subconsciously want to escape from?

Personally, I think it's a deep, systemic level of insecurity, that we're seeing across our society.  The amount of faith we put into what others think of us and whether others agree with us is startling in it's depth.   But this isn't me just judging; I'm neutral on that; it's supported by facts.  We, the United States, lead the world in prescription drug use (primarily opiates and antidepressants).  We lead the world in illegal drug use.  We lead the world in television watching.  We lead the world in suicide.   This is a society that is running from itself and I don't think that's really that controversial a statement.