Not just political, or other world issues related, but do you remember what life was like before social media? Do you ever 'disconnect' for a period? I've been reading more on the effect of the 'blue' light on the mind/body. Overall I don't use my phone nor do I have a flatscreen or laptop in my bedroom, but every once in a while my phone comes with me. This is an interesting read.

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by Jaron Lanier – review
Lanier was there for the creation of the internet and is convinced that social media is toxic, making us sadder, angrier and more isolated
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any of the ideas in Jaron Lanier's new book start off pretty familiar – at least, if you are active on social media. Yet in every chapter there is a principle so elegant, so neat, sometimes even so beautiful, that what is billed as straight polemic becomes something much more profound.The concept of random reinforcement, for example: addiction fed not by reward but by never knowing whether or when the reward will come, is well known. But Lanier puts it like this: "The algorithm is trying to capture the perfect parameters for manipulating a brain, while the brain, in order to seek out deeper meaning, is changing in response to the algorithm's experiments ... Because the stimuli from the algorithm doesn't mean anything, because they genuinely are random, the brain isn't responding to anything real, but to a fiction. That process – of becoming hooked on an elusive mirage – is addiction."

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The restless scrolling, the clammy self-reproach afterwards ... we could recognise that as addiction quite easily, but the mathematical mechanism for having created it makes horrible sense (Lanier isn't that interested in culprits, though he finds all of Silicon Valley pretty callow)...

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[His most dispiriting observations are those about what social media does to politics – biased, "not towards the left or right, but downwards". If triggering emotions is the highest prize, and negative emotions are easier to trigger, how could social media not make you sad? If your consumption of content is tailored by near limitless observations harvested about people like you, how could your universe not collapse into the partial depiction of reality that people like you also enjoy? How could empathy and respect for difference thrive in this environment? Where's the incentive to stamp out fake accounts, fake news, paid troll armies, dyspeptic bots?]

read further here: https://www.theguardian.c...ron-lanier

https://www.youtube.com/w...J1MIDTi9h8
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Why you should delete your social media accounts
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The NewsmakersThe Newsmakers

90.5K subscribers Subscribe

Jaron Lanier is considered one of the fathers of virtual reality and a veteran of silicon valley. In his book 'Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now', Lanier contends that sites like Facebook and Twitter are dopamine farms that are reprogramming how you think and feel. He says they're also causing political instability, and are changing the global economy for the worse. Guest Jaron Lanier – Silicon Valley pioneer

I don't have any social media accounts. I do visit a few sites (including this one) where comments can be posted, but I've never used FB, Twitter, Instagram or any others - thankfully.

Empress said:

I don't have any social media accounts. I do visit a few sites (including this one) where comments can be posted, but I've never used FB, Twitter, Instagram or any others - thankfully.

I had a twitter account a while ago, but it was too weird to communicate with. It feels too disjointed.

One thing that troubles me is the way I can look something up on the internet than my phone and FB page is presenting me everything I just looked it. Sometimes having seen something on TV I google it on my phone and the subject just comes up immediately.

I've definately been talking more on the phone with people this year than texting.

EmmaMcG said:

I have one for friends and family only.

Hudson said:

I 'waste' enough time on this site-JK.

I do not have other accounts.

Social media is disturbingly powerful, though; it controls the narrative in too many ways.

The algorhythms are more powerful and addictive than we are aware.

EmmaMcG said:

Oh i've read that book, it's alright, a few good points but very basic in its analysis. I'd recommend New Dark Age by James Bridle if you want something a bit more thoughtful and in-depth.

OldFriends4Sale said:

Empress said:

I don't have any social media accounts. I do visit a few sites (including this one) where comments can be posted, but I've never used FB, Twitter, Instagram or any others - thankfully.

I had a twitter account a while ago, but it was too weird to communicate with. It feels too disjointed.

One thing that troubles me is the way I can look something up on the internet than my phone and FB page is presenting me everything I just looked it. Sometimes having seen something on TV I google it on my phone and the subject just comes up immediately.

Yes, you should Do, capital D, something about this kind of thing. My humble advice, being a Net guy, (though I have no idea of your software set-up) is - use websites instead of apps. It would go some way in preserving your privacy. The BRAVE web browser might help, in doing this too - www.brave.com

Empress said:

EmmaMcG said:

I don't see the point in any social media site for "normal people". I get that it can be used as a great publicity tool for celebrities and companies. But for the average Joe, it's just nonsense.

Completely agree!

Yes, heartily - as I've said before, I still don't really get what these (FB, Twitter etc), things ARE! Like, how are they different from THIS site? What're you getting there that you don't here?

domainator2010 said:

Empress said:

EmmaMcG said: Completely agree!

Yes, heartily - as I've said before, I still don't really get what these (FB, Twitter etc), things ARE! Like, how are they different from THIS site? What're you getting there that you don't here?

FB and Twitter are much different from posting on a site like the Org

Not only do you have access to so many different media postings, whether you want it or not, but FB especially somehow can configure things you search out on the internet and then give you suggestions.

FB is much different than Twitter, in that way, and definately the Org is not 'listening' to your searches and helping you think.

The main one is it makes us bad people and makes us group up into warring factions. It also introduces us to awful conspiracy theories: Trump vote robbed on the right, Russia Gate on the liberal side.

OldFriends4Sale said:

domainator2010 said:

Yes, heartily - as I've said before, I still don't really get what these (FB, Twitter etc), things ARE! Like, how are they different from THIS site? What're you getting there that you don't here?

FB and Twitter are much different from posting on a site like the Org

Not only do you have access to so many different media postings, whether you want it or not, but FB especially somehow can configure things you search out on the internet and then give you suggestions.

FB is much different than Twitter, in that way, and definately the Org is not 'listening' to your searches and helping you think.

"media postings", you mean like, newspaper articles??

domainator2010 said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

FB and Twitter are much different from posting on a site like the Org

Not only do you have access to so many different media postings, whether you want it or not, but FB especially somehow can configure things you search out on the internet and then give you suggestions.

FB is much different than Twitter, in that way, and definately the Org is not 'listening' to your searches and helping you think.

"media postings", you mean like, newspaper articles??

sorta, but you can be bombarded with so many from so many angles.
I've been working at 'unseeing' and 'unfollowing' so many things.
I was pressured to join FB by my godsisters mother. I really just didn't want

any more distractions. But back then it was simpler. And it was a good way to

stay in touch with people who lived in other cities, states etc, but later FB news suggestions, breaking news, you might have missed this news increased times 5.

and If I look up something like a book or article or music, somehow FB gets it and starts showing suggestions. The 'news' feed gets chaotic.

And if you share an article/video etc, now there are the 'fact checkers' that will flag or note your post (even if you make it for your own viewing) the Fact Checker thing is unnerving. Is this a person actually watching your FB page or what?

Nah, they track the links themselves. They'd only look at your account if a post of yours was reported to them. Obviously though if the NSA or the FBI or similar want to track your account directly they can and they they will.

Psychology Today

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You have trouble getting out of bed. You think to yourself, "Why should I?"
There’s nothing to look forward to. Today will be the same as yesterday.
Yesterday was the same as the day before, and the day before that, and the day before that, etc. "Is it possible to die of sameness?" you wonder.
You check your phone — more bad news. The virus, the economy, the environment, politics, the world is coming apart. Why are you the only one who seems to notice? You scroll through social media and discover that your friends are living on another planet. They’re riding bikes, picnicking, traveling — and you haven't been out of your pajamas for a week. How do you go on living when you feel so hopeless?

...

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/when-kids-call-the-shots/202010/3-traits-breed-hopelessness-and-5-ways-create-hope?fbclid=IwAR0Df7mLR-2Xi7a5LhxRHec_i3OMcoRoWuOuSYkmaG8HRNbF7Y2nVr0bjmc

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The Science of Hopelessness When you lose hope in one area of your life, it slowly bleeds into others and colors everything you see. Viewing the world through the lens of hopelessness results in blocking out hopeful events and only seeing the hopeless ones, a process psychologists call “confirmation bias.“ In other words, you seek out situations that reinforce your outlook while ignoring those that challenge it. 3 Traits That Destroy Hope

1. Extreme thinking. Always/never, good/bad, right/wrong, hero/villain. You divide the world into extreme fractions and ruminate on the negatives. You are quick to label others who are different from you or disagree with you, a choice that drains you of humanity. Sadly, in the world of relationships, labels block out hope by suggesting that people are one-dimensional and incapable of change — including you. Such extreme thinking ultimately leads to narcissism: You're a cult of one.

2. Resignation. Convinced that nothing will ever change, you sink deeper into cynicism. Rather than take action, you blame and complain and resign to your hopeless outlook; you even take pride in it on some level. Such cynicism robs you of energy and prevents you from listening and learning from others or exploring new experiences.

3. Isolation. The more you isolate, the more deluded your thoughts may become. When you shut out the world and live in seclusion, anxiety increases whenever you leave your home. Distrust spikes. Depression takes root. And the more entrenched you become, the more hopeless you feel.


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Creating Hope Psychologists have long held that hopelessness is a learned state from early childhood that we carry into adulthood. It's like a baby elephant tied to a post: He learns to stops struggling; he can’t break free. By the time he is full-grown, though he could easily break the rope, he doesn't even try. Experience has taught not to. In the same way, adults frequently remain emotionally tethered to childhood traumas when they were trapped or powerless. Naturally, new choices, new behaviors, and healthier habits could help them break free. By carrying the hopelessness that we felt as children into our adult lives, we make an error in time that keeps us stuck and mired in our emotional past. One of the key ways of creating hope is to disrupt patterns that promote hopelessness and challenging the behaviors that feed it. Here are five ways you can start to break free:

1. Engagement. The opposite of isolation is engagement. Casting off passivity and negative thinking requires that you engage more in the world around you. Even if you don’t want to, it’s essential to push yourself to try. If hopeless is a virus, engagement is the antibiotic you need.


2. Acts of Service. Altruism is one of the least recognized and more powerful weapons against hopelessness. As the Buddhist saying goes, “When you light a lantern for another, it will also brighten your own way.” Stop fixating on your problems and making them worse. Devote some time to helping others less fortunate than you and learn to value yourself more. When you give others hope, you receive it as well.


3. Humor. Laughter is good medicine for the spirit. A hearty laugh also releases endorphins and adrenaline, raises metabolism, and reduces stress hormones. There are even studies that suggest that laughter strengthens the immune system.


4. A Mindfulness Practice. A lack of mindfulness is frequently at the core of a hopeless outlook. Mindfulness practices such as meditation, yoga, or prayer pause our tortured thoughts and inspire us to live more fully in the moment. Self-reflect also disrupts emotional reactivity that so often breeds negative thinking.


5. Determination. The most important and challenging tool for undoing your hopeless outlook is determination. No matter how much therapy, medication, counseling, or life coaching you engage in, at a certain point, you have to decide the person that you want to be and redirect your thoughts and actions in that direction. Short-circuit your complain-and-blame process by giving yourself an order and following it. For example, "I'm going out today. I'm calling an old friend. I'm going to look into volunteering in my neighborhood."

Hey, talking of social, why don't we use THESE? :

https://palava.tv/

https://jitsi.org/

(as the Org's resident Net/Web guy, I really feel like Doing something to help!... )

OldFriends4Sale said:

domainator2010 said:

"media postings", you mean like, newspaper articles??

sorta, but you can be bombarded with so many from so many angles.
I've been working at 'unseeing' and 'unfollowing' so many things.
I was pressured to join FB by my godsisters mother. I really just didn't want

any more distractions. But back then it was simpler. And it was a good way to

stay in touch with people who lived in other cities, states etc, but later FB news suggestions, breaking news, you might have missed this news increased times 5.

and If I look up something like a book or article or music, somehow FB gets it and starts showing suggestions. The 'news' feed gets chaotic.

Algorhythms are set up to keep a person engaged and online for a long time.

Anything that has ads is suspect....BECAUSE, er, IT HAS ADS!! (the main reason I use the Org!). So we need to find replacements. I've posted these before, these are, er, "nerdish", but check em out anyway:

https://diasporafoundation.org/

https://friendi.ca/

This is like Twitter:

https://mastodon.social/about

....love to know what your experiences were

I saw this guy on the news here (England). He's amazing. I don't go on any Social Media apart from here occasionally and You Tube. I have started having "dopamine holidays" on Sundays--no TV, phone, computer etc. It's so relaxing. I read, do things I wouldn't normally do--start doing little projects etc. I just enjoy my own time. It's very relaxing and apparently helps with anxiety, over-thinking things.

Isabel said:

I saw this guy on the news here (England). He's amazing. I don't go on any Social Media apart from here occasionally and You Tube. I have started having "dopamine holidays" on Sundays--no TV, phone, computer etc. It's so relaxing. I read, do things I wouldn't normally do--start doing little projects etc. I just enjoy my own time. It's very relaxing and apparently helps with anxiety, over-thinking things.

I'm not very social media connected, but there are times when I'm online a bit too much.
And there is such a difference in not being online vs being 'organically' connected. The world isn't being thrust into you consciousness. Peoples complaining and preaching isn't being indirectly presented to you.

Most of my online time, is connected to art, searching for ethnic, cultural, spiritual, animal, etc

But even that can take up a lot of time.

People who are easily triggered, or emotional shouldn't spend a lot of time online

OldFriends4Sale said:

Isabel said:

I saw this guy on the news here (England). He's amazing. I don't go on any Social Media apart from here occasionally and You Tube. I have started having "dopamine holidays" on Sundays--no TV, phone, computer etc. It's so relaxing. I read, do things I wouldn't normally do--start doing little projects etc. I just enjoy my own time. It's very relaxing and apparently helps with anxiety, over-thinking things.

I'm not very social media connected, but there are times when I'm online a bit too much.
And there is such a difference in not being online vs being 'organically' connected. The world isn't being thrust into you consciousness. Peoples complaining and preaching isn't being indirectly presented to you.

Most of my online time, is connected to art, searching for ethnic, cultural, spiritual, animal, etc

But even that can take up a lot of time.

People who are easily triggered, or emotional shouldn't spend a lot of time online

Yes, I totally agree. I also can spend a lot of time onine and the time just disappears, and you're like, where did all that time go, it's like when you're eating in front of the TV and suddenly all your chocolates have gone and you don't remember eating them all. So I am trying to be more and more mindful in life, really taking in what I see and appreciating it all. I feel I took Prince for granted when he was alive and regret that. But now I just try to be grateful that he was here with us and that I experienced so much of his music when he was here.