I never took to social media for some reason. Never used Facebook or Twitter or any of them. This is not a boast, I just never understood the attraction. I don't think I have a strong need to be liked either, so the role of conformity in people's lives is a factor.
I agree free speech is crucial but we also have to recognize at any given time only a tiny number really care. The majority are indifferent, and a sizable minority are desperate to control the world, including speech and thought. America is lucky as it still has enough energetic people in that small minority to retain it. But I suspect the future may be different.
As a Briton I can tell you most like the notion of free speech and are baffled how we got to this stage. The absolute control of a central government is probably the answer. They wield power and the traditional media are totally onboard. I doubt it will help them in the end given how steep our decline is.
As for the interwebs being slop, absolutely. Lots of good stuff of course, but the masses like it easy and slop goes down very easily. The harsh reality the internet more or less reflects the average person. Funny videos, ever shorter content, nothing too challenging, plenty of gossip and sport, longform and its variants too boring to consider. It was ever thus.
Such a good article. I quitted X for lent. I also don’t miss it. Our brains are more influence for the bad when we don’t control what comes inside of it- This is what people used to go to college for, to network with brilliant minds. Who do we network on X? A looser?
We need an elite social media app. The masses are boring. They were meant to be control.
I don't think an elite social media app is possible. The nature of social media means it trends towards slop to survive. The further away from slop the less social media-like it becomes. 10,000 word articles on Substack on some substantial topic might be an example. The comments give us a basic method to interact although it is not the same as social media.
Social media reflects social media users in my view. When I see people using their phones and scrolling through their feeds they look like small kids or even chimps in a zoo with some toy. I find it disturbing. When I see they are entranced by five-second fail videos or sensationalist crap I am repelled.
I do think there is a place for the likeminded to meet and converse. That ties in with the author's views on free speech. We do need to connect with others who want more. I just suspect the point made is correct, places full of ordinary people will reflect their preoccupations; being liked, conforming to social norms, following sports teams, not reading books, talking about movies etc.
Helps me filter who I want to follow and who i mute. If you are born with a soul that is meant to rule your own world , the peasant class will never stop you. This is why I pay to have access to interesting writers like Med even if i disagree here and there.. Those of us who want quality thinking will pay for it. This is why I used to pay for X. But not anymore. If I’m paying I don’t want to be harassed by Chinese/Indian folks larping as American. I shouldn’t be harras by porn bots.
I am a great believer in paying too. Subscriptions for written content and visual content always made sense to me. Leave the advert-driven crap for others.
On one hand, we got "Slop World" you're pointing out, which, truthfully so, fits your characterisation. I agree, that's a big chunk of human nature which is the most commonly manifested. And it's the most obviously "bad" part of human nature.
On the other hand, we got the superiority of "intelligent" or "elite", at least that's how we love to think about ourselves.
Unlike the first category, it's less common and more subtle. But it's the same human nature manifesting itself. The ego, the narcissism etc.
Almost feels like the same qualities in men that enabled them to do all kinds of atrocities (think Hitler as the most obvious example). Blindsided by our ego, we consider ourselves so important than we're entitled to fix "the others" or fix the world.
I do appreciate your sincerity about your tendencies. Few would openly admit it.
ANOTHER outstanding and timely essay/article. Ty, Med. 🙏❤️🔥
“Escape from reality” nailed it for me. Since my parents died, escaping that reality has been filled via X. I miss them too much. It’s gotten to a point, however, that I’m escaping Husband, too. And I don’t wanna do that. So…as an addictive-type, I have yet another addiction to overcome. Woohoo! 😭
😅
Anyway, I’ve managed the slop by only reading the closely-curated accts I keep on notifs for. As a non-poster, that works for me.
I STILL hope to see you back there, at some point, soon. Before I log off permanently. If ya know what I mean. ☠️😉
I never took to social media for some reason. Never used Facebook or Twitter or any of them. This is not a boast, I just never understood the attraction. I don't think I have a strong need to be liked either, so the role of conformity in people's lives is a factor.
I agree free speech is crucial but we also have to recognize at any given time only a tiny number really care. The majority are indifferent, and a sizable minority are desperate to control the world, including speech and thought. America is lucky as it still has enough energetic people in that small minority to retain it. But I suspect the future may be different.
As a Briton I can tell you most like the notion of free speech and are baffled how we got to this stage. The absolute control of a central government is probably the answer. They wield power and the traditional media are totally onboard. I doubt it will help them in the end given how steep our decline is.
As for the interwebs being slop, absolutely. Lots of good stuff of course, but the masses like it easy and slop goes down very easily. The harsh reality the internet more or less reflects the average person. Funny videos, ever shorter content, nothing too challenging, plenty of gossip and sport, longform and its variants too boring to consider. It was ever thus.
Such a good article. I quitted X for lent. I also don’t miss it. Our brains are more influence for the bad when we don’t control what comes inside of it- This is what people used to go to college for, to network with brilliant minds. Who do we network on X? A looser?
We need an elite social media app. The masses are boring. They were meant to be control.
I don't think an elite social media app is possible. The nature of social media means it trends towards slop to survive. The further away from slop the less social media-like it becomes. 10,000 word articles on Substack on some substantial topic might be an example. The comments give us a basic method to interact although it is not the same as social media.
Social media reflects social media users in my view. When I see people using their phones and scrolling through their feeds they look like small kids or even chimps in a zoo with some toy. I find it disturbing. When I see they are entranced by five-second fail videos or sensationalist crap I am repelled.
Yeah good point. Not such thing as social media apps. Maybe we should go back to social clubs lmao…
I do think there is a place for the likeminded to meet and converse. That ties in with the author's views on free speech. We do need to connect with others who want more. I just suspect the point made is correct, places full of ordinary people will reflect their preoccupations; being liked, conforming to social norms, following sports teams, not reading books, talking about movies etc.
Helps me filter who I want to follow and who i mute. If you are born with a soul that is meant to rule your own world , the peasant class will never stop you. This is why I pay to have access to interesting writers like Med even if i disagree here and there.. Those of us who want quality thinking will pay for it. This is why I used to pay for X. But not anymore. If I’m paying I don’t want to be harassed by Chinese/Indian folks larping as American. I shouldn’t be harras by porn bots.
I am a great believer in paying too. Subscriptions for written content and visual content always made sense to me. Leave the advert-driven crap for others.
Isn’t that Substack?
This reminds me of the Osho quote, "Democracy is Of the People, By the People and For The People. But the People are fucking retarded."
Also summarizes why Twitter isn't great anymore.
Absolute gold.
On one hand, we got "Slop World" you're pointing out, which, truthfully so, fits your characterisation. I agree, that's a big chunk of human nature which is the most commonly manifested. And it's the most obviously "bad" part of human nature.
On the other hand, we got the superiority of "intelligent" or "elite", at least that's how we love to think about ourselves.
Unlike the first category, it's less common and more subtle. But it's the same human nature manifesting itself. The ego, the narcissism etc.
Almost feels like the same qualities in men that enabled them to do all kinds of atrocities (think Hitler as the most obvious example). Blindsided by our ego, we consider ourselves so important than we're entitled to fix "the others" or fix the world.
I do appreciate your sincerity about your tendencies. Few would openly admit it.
ANOTHER outstanding and timely essay/article. Ty, Med. 🙏❤️🔥
“Escape from reality” nailed it for me. Since my parents died, escaping that reality has been filled via X. I miss them too much. It’s gotten to a point, however, that I’m escaping Husband, too. And I don’t wanna do that. So…as an addictive-type, I have yet another addiction to overcome. Woohoo! 😭
😅
Anyway, I’ve managed the slop by only reading the closely-curated accts I keep on notifs for. As a non-poster, that works for me.
I STILL hope to see you back there, at some point, soon. Before I log off permanently. If ya know what I mean. ☠️😉
Fact: X IS WAY MORE FUN W/YOU ON THERE!
Sorry about the wall text, all.😅💕💕💕
😂