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.
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.
The most frightening thing about where we are now is I'm finding myself thinking the same thoughts that a good old fashioned strong man is the best we can hope for.
The problem is that it isn't really a solution when you look at historical examples. They usually end badly unless the strongman is actually hyper competent and is surrounded by other competent people.
The problems usually do not get fixed--and the person that follows the strongman is usually not competent. It is a recurring problem in authoritarian societies (finding actual competent authoritarians).
You see this in the cycle of the Chinese dynasties or European monarchies, Rome... or the oligarchs in the USSR or the PRC.
There have been more incompetent or marginally competent authoritarians that competent ones... but I guess people sometimes need a reminder about how screwed up things can actually get. The primary skill of an authoritarian is NOT ruling well, it is getting and keeping power. These are not the same thing.
You are correct, it's not a solution, it's just the etiology of how the fatal sickness kills its victim. The people grow so weary of the venality and stupidity and cruelty and idiocy they throw up their hands and say, this is inevitable anyway, might as well skip the intervening events of the novel and jump right to the last page-- where the boot is smashing the human face forever and we decide to love big brother. The scary part is when people like me have these thoughts, it means the mass not only has the thoughts, but actually loves the idea. It means we've crossed the event horizon, no worldlines from here lead anywhere but to the final singularity.
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.
The most frightening thing about where we are now is I'm finding myself thinking the same thoughts that a good old fashioned strong man is the best we can hope for.
The problem is that it isn't really a solution when you look at historical examples. They usually end badly unless the strongman is actually hyper competent and is surrounded by other competent people.
The problems usually do not get fixed--and the person that follows the strongman is usually not competent. It is a recurring problem in authoritarian societies (finding actual competent authoritarians).
You see this in the cycle of the Chinese dynasties or European monarchies, Rome... or the oligarchs in the USSR or the PRC.
There have been more incompetent or marginally competent authoritarians that competent ones... but I guess people sometimes need a reminder about how screwed up things can actually get. The primary skill of an authoritarian is NOT ruling well, it is getting and keeping power. These are not the same thing.
You are correct, it's not a solution, it's just the etiology of how the fatal sickness kills its victim. The people grow so weary of the venality and stupidity and cruelty and idiocy they throw up their hands and say, this is inevitable anyway, might as well skip the intervening events of the novel and jump right to the last page-- where the boot is smashing the human face forever and we decide to love big brother. The scary part is when people like me have these thoughts, it means the mass not only has the thoughts, but actually loves the idea. It means we've crossed the event horizon, no worldlines from here lead anywhere but to the final singularity.
Sadly, I think you are correct... and I am kind of in the same spot.