The Internet Is Evil! WAKE UP!

[ShaneAnthony]

http://thechive.com/2015/06/07/go-compl ... -9-photos/

[Cupz]

Give it wheels and I'm sold. Btw all the article headlines on that website sound like Kinesthetiac song titles.

[pianoforte]

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/10/opini ... sease.html

[Mexicola]

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/10/opinion/foreign-affairs-the-y2k-social-disease.html

Jesus, written in 1999. Sixteen years ago. Scary.

[Valotonin]

I think a good handful of people who think beyond the moment they exist in realised the implications of what is happening/ has happened. Good find (:

[drillkicker]

That's how technology is. It grows and grows and constantly controls the world more with every advancement, through the false illusion of convenience. It's a mirage. Beware the friendly stranger.

[jcnporter]

When a wee while ago I said this -

That's all very well and you're undoubtedly taking a sensible approach, however part of the problem is that it's not really possible to for you to determine what's 'innocent' and what's not in the future - this will be decided by the government and media and others as they see fit.
Nor is it necessarily the government you need to be concerned about. Mentioned a health problem or drug use in a passing comment online? Employers and insurance companies will pay someone to mine that information - let's see what that does to future insurance policies or mortgage or job applications. This is only one example.
Also, you'd better watch out for anyone with a camera phone. And what are your friends doing? You're a registered 'associate' of them on social media, even if it's just through a photo (which remember the social media providers own and can use for whatever they like in the future - advertising for example).
Maybe you've got rid of all your social media use as a precaution - unfortunately some employers are apparently seeing a lack of a Facebook account as something to suspicious of - what are you trying to hide?
I'm not saying we should all stop using the net, however it's easy for people to get complacent and they already have done.

I didn't realise that it was actually happening. This is from a BBC article about credit scores (highlights are mine) -

"But several new companies believe that lenders could get more up-to-date information by analysing social media.
One of them says that the number of friends someone has on Facebook could be a useful credit score indicator.
Someone with lots of friends is likely to be more trustworthy, the company claims, as their profile will probably be genuine.
Other clues can be gained from what people post about, and whether they plan spending in advance.
"From organising going for drinks in the pub, to booking a holiday months in advance, people who plan ahead tend to be better at managing their finances"
"Regularly going out for lunch or coffee indicates higher income."
Another company has said it might even count the number of times someone uses the word "wasted" on Facebook.
The companies say they only access data they have permission to use. Nevertheless, you have been warned."

[Cupz]

A family member of mine who works at one of the biggest IT companies in the country is actually working on something that lets physical stores know what you're going to buy through social networks where they'll present you with offers on the spot. This is already already a real thing now. People that are still STUPID and IGNORANT enough to still have a facebook or twitter account and use google....I'll hate to be the one to say I told you so...but you're now officially to late and damn fucking stupid because it's your own stupid fault. You deserve it, hope you enjoy it. Stupid stupid stupid. Didn't your daddy not teach you not to use your real name on the internet?

[ShaneAnthony]

Everything is becoming so confusing, which is only creating more fear, etc. You truly have no idea what to believe anymore. The best thing to do in my opinion, is just shut it off, and enjoy life. Even if you use fake names, they still know who you are "if" they want to look. Society is so fear based now, thanks to corp media. It's just a huge mind fuck. All of it. Modern technology sucks! I was watching this the other day https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ftqkP3n2qLU and it reminded me of a time where my own family used to shoot on VHS, and we would gather as a family to watch. Now, most people I know just put their whole life on Facebook, which disconnects. Everything is so instant, and with digital, anything can be manipulated to seem a certain way. The internet is a valuable tool, but for me it's becoming more and more like a MASSIVE distraction. It's seriously time for me personally to let it go as much as I possibly can, even twoism. I love you all, God Bless!

[jcnporter]

Everything is becoming so confusing, which is only creating more fear, etc. You truly have no idea what to believe anymore. The best thing to do in my opinion, is just shut it off, and enjoy life. Even if you use fake names, they still know who you are "if" they want to look. Society is so fear based now, thanks to corp media. It's just a huge mind fuck. All of it. Modern technology sucks! I was watching this the other day https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ftqkP3n2qLU and it reminded me of a time where my own family used to shoot on VHS, and we would gather as a family to watch. Now, most people I know just put their whole life on Facebook, which disconnects. Everything is so instant, and with digital, anything can be manipulated to seem a certain way. The internet is a valuable tool, but for me it's becoming more and more like a MASSIVE distraction. It's seriously time for me personally to let it go as much as I possibly can, even twoism. I love you all, God Bless!

I know exactly what you're saying but don't reject a valuable resource. The internet, particularly forums, have changed my life in many ways, given me knowledge and inspiration and opened me up to viewpoints and ideas that I simply wouldn't be exposed to otherwise.
Sorting the what from the chaff is better. Quality, not quantity. Dump Facebook and keep Twoism.

[valleaux]

Have you guys ever read the book 1984? It's basically this.

[jcnporter]

Yeah, it's funny, right wing 'libertarians' still go on about the evils of big government, but what big business has achieved in terms of getting people to voluntarily hand over personal info (social media), submit to, or even celebrate propaganda (advertising and marketing), voluntary psychological slavery (consumerism), or police their own or other's behaviour (fear mongering mass media) is beyond even the wettest dreams of the most authoritarian regime.
You'll hear most 'libertarians' talk about how it's different because you have a 'choice' whether to buy something or not, but they're pretty much useful idiots.

[Negamuse]

Those chickens haven't come home to roost yet. There's going to need to be a big catalyzing event to really make people question the danger they've put themselves in through social media, I don't think this slow creep, boiling frog thing is really going to wake people up. Stories like the (possibly apocryphal, but probably not for long) mortgage companies analysing people's Facebook feeds to determine (algorithmically, natch) whether or not people are lending risks based on how they've posted - that kind of thing might jolt a few, but not enough. It's funny to me to watch, as a comparative old-time user of the net, when it was drummed into me to stay anonymous, all the people that have clamoured to de-anonymize the web, which culturally at least seems to have happened. I've been lax over time, I'm trackable as anyone else now. I really hope it doesn't go bad for people, but I can't help smile a bit, having warned time and again about these things.

I used to think the connection with like-minded people was worth the price, but recently beyond the matchmaking side of things the better experiences I've had hanging with people I've met online have been offline. Plus there's just so much... shitty opinion out there, it's not good for me to read it, but for some reason I can't stop myself. I need to get off these places just to practice some mental hygeine, rather than beat myself up over what some idiot teenager in Nebraska thinks over something they know nothing about. I *should* be wise to the fact that the internet is full of all sorts, but faced with anonymous users you tend to by default fill in all the blanks with your own identity, and assume by default that you're talking to people a lot more like yourself.

[d e n]

Plus there's just so much... shitty opinion out there, it's not good for me to read it, but for some reason I can't stop myself.

you are not alone. i experience this majorly as well... the 'not being able to stop myself' part is why i deleted my Facebook around three years ago after a period of compulsive deactivating/reactivating.

its a really interesting process... I almost think it comes out of empathy and wanting to hear what other people are thinking or doing... but it doesn't play out like that digitally.

I may have mentioned this, but Jaron Laniers book You Are Not A Gadget, which boc has mentioned in a more recent interview, has been influential in providing the vocabulary to articulate this process.

Nonetheless, just letting go of it has been the best thing. Growing the discipline has taken time but I am letting go more and more each day and it feels like a relief.

Email seems like a perfect social network for me... much cleaner, simpler, and intimate. Totally leaves no excuse to feel a deficiency in 'staying connected'.

I feel like I get a hangover after consuming too much information and it ultimately feels like it leaves me with NOTHING but a headache. Totally compulsion based. Life doesn't feel like it should be lived in our heads.

[drillkicker]

When I was falling I was still dreaming of menstrual winters. WAKE UP

[Solynth]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYbe-35_BaA

I saw this video recently and it made me kind of sad. Just seems like everyone's much friendlier than they are today. I hate how people can just look down at their phones now when they're out to dinner or lunch, instead of talking to each other.

I deleted my Facebook about a week ago and my friends are trying to get me to come back. It's true that you need it for things like event invitations. I hate that. I've been much happier without it, but I wish it wasn't so essential.

[valleaux]

I saw that video a long time ago and I'd forgotten about it. Reminds me of the stories my dad tells me about when he went golfing and worked in a library in the 80's.

[MAXIMUS MISCHIEF]

i think the internet is as evil as we make it and we should do good work not try 2 escape it

heres a good interview and music video by hero john maus which may b related

phpBB [media]

phpBB [media]

[Torn n Frayed]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYbe-35_BaA

I saw this video recently and it made me kind of sad. Just seems like everyone's much friendlier than they are today. I hate how people can just look down at their phones now when they're out to dinner or lunch, instead of talking to each other.

I deleted my Facebook about a week ago and my friends are trying to get me to come back. It's true that you need it for things like event invitations. I hate that. I've been much happier without it, but I wish it wasn't so essential.

Ahh, that's unfair!! In this part of Texas we no longer have 7-11!! They were bought out by Stop n Go ages ago, I miss 7-11 sulrpees!!

[MAXIMUS MISCHIEF]

guys did u know the facebook is actualy a really good way 2 share ur views n opinions it is actualy a lot better than here because on facebook u are talkin 2 local community friends/family and ur voice in the mixture matters dont retreat 2 the silence ur wisdom and voice power wil be lost and the villains will find u eventualy
reach out change it from inside dont b afraid