May be dropping Facebook soon

[sadchild]

I'm trying to think if ANYONE I'm following on FB (friends, family, people who connected to me because of the band) are posting anything I care about lately.

...

...

...

Not really.

One of my wife's cousin travels a lot with her husband. It's neat but not necessary. I rarely see her in person.

Some ex-members of my bands, who rarely post, actually do post some good personal stuff like when they travel or their family accomplishes stuff.

But most of the posting is awful

 

[HecticArt]

I skim FB once a week to see what people I know are up to so that I don't actually have to talk to them.
I rarely ever post.

I wouldn't miss it.

 

[JHDK]

This is exactly why we have a country full of idiots. Whenever something happens, like the California wildfires, these opportunistic nutcases come out with conspiracy theories, and naïve people believe them and then take action or set policy based on bullshit. It happened with Covid, where hundreds of thousands of people died unnecessarily (including my best friend from middle-school) because of misinformation. It happened with January 6th, where police officers died, and Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi were nearly murdered.

We've had this argument before and this is just where we fundamentally disagree as American men and that's fine. I mean that's what the voting booth is for for both of us.

I could totally understand your point where you say that your middle school friend died because he was influenced by misinformation. Dude that fucking sucks. I mean you'd have to be a fucking asshole to disagree with that.

But like dude, I'm an idiot.... I just had a big long fucking discussion with you guys where I had to figure out that volume wasn't simply the measurement of the hole in something....

Yet it's not that hard for me or most anyone to figure out what is an extremist opinion compared to an opinion from a source that may be considered biased but is also filled with actual reporters.

Facebook or any social media not censoring extremist incorrect conspiracy theories is not the cause of people dying. That's the same thing as saying nine inch nails was the cause 0f Columbine or NWA was the cause of violence against police.

I think it's kind of a elitist view that oh, we have to protect the stupid among Us. So we have to Make sure we have privately held social media companies censor the opinions they think might be extreme or moronic so that dumb people don't believe them and maybe get radicalized.... Because we are smart and we know what's best for the masses.

I think the average American is probably like high school educated and a high school Educated person can figure out the difference between simply biased or extremist or straight up conspiracy news.

And for the few that are unable to do that and might be radicalized to the point of violence by extremist and conspiracy content. That sucks and we need to figure out a way to catch them before they act on that shit. Weed them out.

Ones who may be a little bit susceptible to cleverly written extremism or strong bias, we'll see the community note and take heed of that.

when I see a community note. I think it means something on Twitter right now. It doesn't always change my opinion, but it always at least gives me pause and a second thought.

Also, there's the whole thing about how we really can't trust any organization to decide what exactly is the truth And thus why I'm in favor of community notes but that's a whole different long post.

 

[HecticArt]

elitist

I don’t think that word means what you think it means.

 

[Channel98]

Isn't that part of the Lord's prayer? "Elitist not into temptation but deliver us from evil."

 

[JHDK]

I'm confused now. You know what I was trying to say... So tease me for it. But I don't know what I did wrong

Plebeans such as myself are willing to learn. Or if we say some dumb shit we deserve to be mocked..

I assume you disagree with me but you didn't delete what I said. So that's my entire point. My view may be entirely off base but so might yours. Neither one of them should be censored even if they're a little bit radical.

 

[sadchild]

Facebook or any social media not censoring extremist incorrect conspiracy theories is not the cause of people dying.

Disagree

That's the same thing as saying nine inch nails was the cause 0f Columbine or NWA was the cause of violence against police.

Disagree

I think it's kind of a elitist view that oh, we have to protect the stupid among Us.

Disagree

I think the average American is probably like high school educated and a high school Educated person can figure out the difference between simply biased or extremist or straight up conspiracy news.

Disagree, and I see it every day.

Look up the flat-earth society on Facebook. I think you'll have a new opinion on the whole thing.

 

[HecticArt]

I'm confused now. You know what I was trying to say... So tease me for it. But I don't know what I did wrong

Plebeans such as myself are willing to learn. Or if we say some dumb shit we deserve to be mocked..

I assume you disagree with me but you didn't delete what I said. So that's my entire point. My view may be entirely off base but so might yours. Neither one of them should be censored even if they're a little bit radical.

It’s not about censoring you that I mention it.
The word elitist has been getting used wrong a lot lately.

Elitists are traditionally considered upper-class rich people that look down on the little people. Poor uneducated commoners aren’t worthy of the same luxuries as they are, and are inconsequential. Think of Winthrop and Mortimer Duke from Trading Places. Think of rich country club society types that don’t allow little people like us to join their clubs.

To be educated doesn’t make someone an elitist. It’s what people do with their education that makes the difference. To say that someone with an expensive college degree that is trying to help people that have less is an elitist doesn’t jive. They may use big fancy words and have money, but if they are trying to lift people up and not put them down, the label doesn‘t fit.

Now, that’s not to say that those people don’t go too far sometimes, and get ridiculous with their agendas, but that’s a different label.

 

[scotchandcigar]

Looks like Koop got his political debating back, just minus the names.

 

[MonoStereo]

The word elitist has been getting used wrong a lot lately.

And by "lately", we're talking probably at least 30 years now. I've said a gajillion times that someone smarter than me is gonna go back & pinpoint exactly where the tide turned away from "reason" - & one of the possibilities is gonna be the moment people started using "elitist" in the pejorative.

 

[MonoStereo]

Do you really wanna see me use the C-word, Aunt Joan?

For the record, this was just a hypothetical.

I don't really have an Aunt Joan.

 

[JHDK]

Poor uneducated commoners aren’t worthy of the same luxuries as they are, and are inconsequential.

To say that someone with an expensive college degree that is trying to help people that have less is an elitist doesn’t jive.

.

Of course, elitists can be of any education level. Without looking up the definition. I assume an elitist Is someone who believes their opinions are unquestionably the correct point of view for all of society and anyone who descends or questions them are clearly inferior and not worthy of consideration. I only mentioned that my guess was the average American is high school educated

Also as far as Facebook censorship goes, it's pretty fucking simple to me...

If a crazy person posts crazy shit It will get community noted to hell immediately for everybody to see... So even those who may have been susceptible to the original post can see how they are a laughingstock to most normal people

Whereas if that posted is deleted, those same malleable users will then search out extreme sites that allow them to see what got deleted. And while they're there, they're going to see a bunch of other wild shit.....

All of a sudden you went from trying to protect people by censoring a radical's view to just creating more radicals.

 

[HecticArt]

Of course, elitists can be of any education level.

Sure.

I assume an elitist Is someone who believes their opinions are unquestionably the correct point of view for all of society and anyone who descends or questions them are clearly inferior and not worthy of consideration.

By that definition, everybody on the planet is an elitist.

If a crazy person posts crazy shit It will get community noted to hell immediately for everybody to see... So even those who may have been susceptible to the original post can see how they are a laughingstock to most normal people

Whereas if that posted is deleted, those same malleable users will then search out extreme sites that allow them to see what got deleted. And while they're there, they're going to see a bunch of other wild shit.....

Unfortunately, it doesn't really work that way. People see it printed (posted) and think it's real. People tend to be lazy on social media (self-included) and don't bother looking things up. The flood of incorrect information out there is astounding and it comes from all sides. Some of it is intentional, some misguided, some jokes that people don't get, and some taken out of context for one reason or another.

While there are a lot of useless arguments about it that aren't going to change anybody's minds, there are a lot of people that just won't argue about the posts that they don't agree with anymore. Common sense and civility are out the window these days.

I think that FB has some responsibility for the content on its forum. If they choose to let it turn into a complete cesspool, I can see going the way of MySpace. I don't miss that and I won't miss FB either.

 

[JHDK]

By that definition, everybody on the planet is an elitist.

Well that's a sad view of the world man. And I don't see things that way. I mean yes, Obviously the vast majority of Internet arguments are never going to sway anyone one way or the other. But arguments and debates with friends, family and reading a wide range of news sources can definitely change people's opinions. I mean the big change for me personally was shifting parties. You can see the change in my point of view by looking at my post in 2008 and then my ones in 2016. And that was due to the news I consumed and also family members, friends and maybe also just me getting older. That's the obvious one. I'm sure I have more examples if I think about it a little bit.

Common sense and civility are out the window these days.

This is also a sad way to view the world man. I don't think that's true at all except on internet forums like Reddit and whatever else but then it's still not totally true true. I know like we got out of hand with the political forum, but overall the vast majority of our arguments on this forum while heated are not like straight up,mean and vindictive

And in real life civility kind of reigns supreme with daily interactions. 95% of all my customers are really nice people and even when they're pissed they're civil when we argue. And I live in what I guess would definitely be classified as a working class neighborhood.

I think nowadays, we mostly want to be civil, respectful and friendly in all of our daily interactions but there's a part of us that would love to just be a dick head. But we're not animals so we don't like that part take over.... Instead we elect people to do it for us and then enjoy watching them express that part of us publicly while also holding serious positions of influence.

Unfortunately, it doesn't really work that way. People see it printed (posted) and think it's real. People tend to be lazy on social media (self-included) and don't bother looking things up. The flood of incorrect information out there is astounding and it comes from all sides. Some of it is intentional, some misguided, some jokes that people don't get, and some taken out of context for one reason or another.

Yeah, I guess you're right about this but I mean you can't see a radical post that's community noted without also seeing the community note, you don't even have to click an extra button or anything. It's just right there and it sticks out on purpose.

But also that's what I'm saying man. It is a little bit elitist to just say the general masses on the internet these days don't care enough to look something up. You mentioned you do it and I do it too, but I like to assume that most people who care enough about politics and world events to be looking at them on Facebook will also not let a couple of lines of text completely change their fundamental beliefs.

Also this is kind of how shit has always been done. I had that post The Penny press and how cool that shit was.... Well before that average people couldn't afford newspapers. So we would just listen to fucking wackos on the street ranting on about how they thought Quincy Adams was a moron or whatever else. And then they would talk with friends and families and bars and stuff and come to their own conclusion instead of taking whatever the Town crier said as gospel.

Weirdos on Facebook are simply the modern version of Street preachers.

 

[HecticArt]

Weirdos on Facebook are simply the modern version of Street preachers.

We don't allow religious debate here either.

This thread isn't going to get less political on our current path. It's time to move on.

 

[JHDK]

Yeah I apologize. You're right. I knew what I was posting was borderline political. So yeah I should have held back a bit so you're right Hectic. I mean we all know the rules around here.

So let's talk about how this dude is clearly doing shit to like his face and his hair and stuff to make him look younger.... He's the same age as me but he has like I don't know hair that a teenager has when their parents tell them they're allowed to do what they want. I don't know it's childish looking. I can't be the only one who observed this right? Or maybe I'm just an asshole?

 

[Jon]

I am off ALL forms of social media as of now (except Linkedin, and even that I'm questioning it's usefulness). The election did a lot to make that happen. Reddit, Facebook, X, Threads, Instragram, BlueSky, *poof*

The aforementioned Linkedin, and Youtube (which I use more for learning or entertainment than anything 'social') are still around.

I also did something I've been meaning to do, and gave up on Live TV services. Used to have Youtube TV, but since the aforementioned election, and the price going up, got rid of that too. I'll get back on some streaming services (non-linear) when the money is right and 'life' quits happening. Will make do with Apple Music and SiriusXM streaming (yes, I'm back on that too!)

 

[Aaron]

For same reason I dropped Twitter or X around that time. Never had Facebook. Still have Instagram

 

[scotchandcigar]

I am off ALL forms of social media as of now (except Linkedin, and even that I'm questioning it's usefulness). The election did a lot to make that happen. Reddit, Facebook, X, Threads, Instragram, BlueSky, *poof*

The aforementioned Linkedin, and Youtube (which I use more for learning or entertainment than anything 'social') are still around.

I also did something I've been meaning to do, and gave up on Live TV services. Used to have Youtube TV, but since the aforementioned election, and the price going up, got rid of that too. I'll get back on some streaming services (non-linear) when the money is right and 'life' quits happening. Will make do with Apple Music and SiriusXM streaming (yes, I'm back on that too!)

On Facebook, I've managed to gain nice people as friends, and drop the jerks. My Facebook feed is 99% innocuous, though often packed with a random hodgepodge of things.

Mrs. Scotch has had a tougher time lately. It's often a source of stress, and she will step away. I'm not on any other social platform, except for here. So I don't have a lot to deal with.

I have YouTube TV, and I was put-off about the price increase. But Hulu+ Live and DirectTV streaming are more expensive or offer less. And YouTube TV is generally a very good service, so I'm sticking with it.

 

[sadchild]

I haven't posted to Facebook since last summer. I'm posting more to Twitter and Bluesky where it will be largely ignored. I don't need to engage with anyone.

I did a live-tweeting to Bluesky during the Superbowl, getting a small smatterings of likes