Published on 12, July, 2020
Discussion topic for today - Social Media. I would be interested to hear people's thoughts on this. I believe social media has destroyed the fabric of civilisation. We have lost the ability to "agree to disagree" and to tolerate opinions and beliefs contrary to our own, screeching names and insults at anyone who disagrees with us and calling for them to be cancelled.
We have become extraordinarily self obsessed and narcissistic, endlessly taking photos of ourselves and posting our every thought to the world. Most of all though I believe we have become incredibly unhappy and unable to experience real life. Most people I see are far more interested in filming and posting their lives to curate a perfect online profile of themselves than in actually living those wonderful moments that make life worth while. For instance, if you see a beautiful sunset is your first instinct to stand there and contemplate its wonder or to post a picture of it online? There's lots more that could be said on this discussion, especially the effect on young people.
Would be interested to hear everyone's opinions
Billy87 said:Most people I see are far more interested in filming and posting their lives to curate a perfect online profile of themselves
It probably p*ss*s people off but my profile on social media is a 'warts and all' one, especially so on Twitter. I have no desire to make out that I'm ppiew. I have comparatively good and bad days.
Billy87 said:For instance, if you see a beautiful sunset is your first instinct to stand there and contemplate its wonder or to post a picture of it online?
I personally can't see what the problem with this is. Indeed the problem might actually be that it's seen as being a 'problem'. People will respond in different ways to such a sunset. There is no right or wrong way to respond. There is no malign intent involved. There are far greater things to criticise social media for.I use the block function on Twitter a lot. Polite disagreement is fine. Not being the sharpest tool in the box is fine. Being nasty, and deliberately saying things that are untrue, on the other hand.... For a very short while I also used a supposedly better alternative to Twitter called Mastodon. For all its shortcomings,especially since Musk took over,in the 10 years I’ve been on Twitter I’ve never been treated as badly there as I was on Mastodon. I was totally naive, and stupid, to buy into the hype about it. When you have several people having a go at you because you’ve stated that both women and transwomen should be treated decently and respectfully, then without any doubt you’re in a toxic environment. Even more toxic when you point out that being treated as having done something wrong when you haven’t is a major trigger,one that’s due to a childhood experience, and your account gets ‘limited’.
Twitter is a burning dumpster fire now.
Without a doubt it's far from perfect. I had hoped that Mastodon would be a better alternative. Unfortunately it turned out to be more pro abusive behaviour than X/Twitter.
I've never been able to join Bluesky, as I can't use a smartphone. Can't get the swiping right.