You could balance one on your knee if you had to 
My point is there is no new technology, no new discoveries, no new science. Just re-imaginations of things discovered decades ago through improved production and miniaturisation. Einstein knew about spooky particles which went on to form the heart of quantum computing. A laptop is ultimately just a re-packaged ENIAC made possible by the creation of the silicon chip in 1959.
I’m not entrenched in my political opinions. I just like the idea of personal improvement. That’s not political, that’s human progress. It manifests itself as capitalism and is associated with the right side of politics.
This is far more subtle I think and at the same time more in your face. It’s also more targeted to the individual. News papers pandered to a wider audience. I’d also argue that far more people and these people, spend more time on social media than ever read newspapers.
I would however agree that it is a natural progression from one to the other.
Let’s revisit this when you’ve watched Social Dilemma. What I’d say is that you do have to understand that people are different, and what you are resilient to, other people might not be.
In this discussions, I think you tend to view things through the prism of your own capability and experiences. This idea of ‘well, that doesn’t affect me…’ or ‘I’m clever enough to see through this…’ or ‘I can navigate this challenge of life…’ Well, not everyone can. It’s the fallacy of assuming that because you managed to stop smoking easily everyone else should be able to as well.
Maybe you are particularly clever, resilient, mentally tough, focussed, empirical and therefore able to navigate social media with particular skill, but you’d be in a tiny minority (but if this forum is anything to go by, I’d say you‘re actually pretty entrenched in your opinions).
As highlighted above, I am convinced that we should all strive to improve ourselves, our lives and the lives of our loved ones. That’s what guides me. Not a bad trench to be in IMHO.
Yeah, stopping smoking was easy, 20 years and counting.
You might have seen skewered, I saw some fruits and a lump of tofu on a stick. Some vegan reference that I’m missing?
I HATED the labour party when I was a kid for reasons. Nothing to do with modern social media. Just for reference.
Time for the religion thread, I’ll explain my inverted road to Damascus and how a leopard can change his shorts.
At the time of writing, the current new technologies that are of most interest to sociologists are the information and communications technologies based on micro-electronics, the application of which is said by some to be revolutionizing the organization of work. Among the trends which have been identified as alleged consequences of these technologies are those towards de-skilling, proletarianization, automation, telecommuting, flexible employment, just-in-time systems, and the creation of dual or split labour-markets and a new international division of labour—all of which are dealt with separately in this dictionary. The assumed effects of new technology sometimes form the basis for apocalyptic accounts of wholesale social change—as, for example, in the theories of post-industrial and self-service societies.
JIT is from the 1970s. Thanks.
A religion thread
Coward 
I never started, but I know that I’m the kind of person who would struggle to stop if I had.
The point I was making is you seem the kind of person who assumes because something was, or is, easy for you, then you have little tolerance for people who have a different experience. We’re not all the same and we are all susceptible to things in different ways.
Good for you you find it easy to filter out the shit Facebook pumps at you. Most people can’t.
I would argue that Brexit and the US election are a prime example of some that can’t.
That can work both ways but I’d argue that in both cases some people were led up the garden path a bit
And? No one said that the computer or communication technology used today fell from the sky or that no one imagined them. Improved production methods are an example of a new technology though, as by the definition I quoted.
But it’s a moot point anyway. There was no Facebook or Twitter or a sophisticated mobile device in the hands of almost everyone in the world in the 70s so we’re all new at experiencing the realities it creates.
Not sure if this has been shared as this thread seems to have gone a bit ot lately. Anyway, in some ways it’s heartening, but the fact that 69% of Republicans think that ‘Antifa’ was involved, despite it only being an idea, and not a group, is deeply troubling and points to the power of a, propaganda and b, wishful thinking.
Looks a really clear split in a few questions on there depending on your political leaning.
No surprise there’s a huge divide over there
“Life or death, it doesn’t matter.” Having said that please, please, please can I get a pardon?
Hmm, so his own supporters are saying he incited them to riot. I hope senators are taking notes.
I was on Facebook briefly in the early days and quickly assessed that it is a shitshow. Since then it has become massively more sophisticated/worse. The Social Dilemma is a stark warning to our society. I read and improve myself in numerous ways. Engaging in social media is not one of them.
I have read some great articles in this thread from good reputable sources, so I’m not wholly against interaction and sharpening… but FB, Twitter, Tiktok etc. Nope. Shitshow.
And to keep the thread on track… that Trump, what a wrong ‘un!
I find it perfect to keep up with goings on in our family and with friends. Exactly as it was intended. Friend of mine is living and working in Dubai, loving the vicarious holiday