The Blindness of Social Wealth • Hacker News Board

Re: The Blindness of Social Wealth

#11

Post by rifung » Tue, Apr 17, 2018, 5:21 PM UTC

malvosenior wrote: post #4

"I was really struck by this last week, when Mark Zuckerberg came through Washington. Most of the questions he faced at the congressional hearings and most of the analysis in the press were about Facebook’s failure to protect privacy. That’s the sort of thing that may be uppermost on your mind if you are socially wealthy, if, like most successful politicians and analysts, you live within a thick web of connection and…

Why isn't it the role of the government to prevent loneliness if it's a serious issue? How is it any different from preventing disease?

Re: The Blindness of Social Wealth

#12

Post by ghostbrainalpha » Tue, Apr 17, 2018, 5:25 PM UTC

thisisit wrote: post #7

There is a growing culture of reaction videos on YT. People watch other people watching and reacting to stuff. That never sat well with me. And I always wondered - are people so alone or insecure that they need to watch other people's "reaction" to feel better? Given the rise of reaction channels on YT, I guess the answer is resounding - Yes.

I often wonder if "Kermit The Frog reacts to 2 Girls 1 Cup" was the sole reason reaction videos became a trend. I guess the answer is resounding - Yes.

Re: The Blindness of Social Wealth

#13

Post by malvosenior » Tue, Apr 17, 2018, 5:34 PM UTC

chongli wrote: post #10

malvosenior wrote: post #4

"I was really struck by this last week, when Mark Zuckerberg came through Washington. Most of the questions he faced at the congressional hearings and most of the analysis in the press were about Facebook’s failure to protect privacy. That’s the sort of thing that may be uppermost on your mind if you are socially wealthy, if, like most successful politicians and analysts, you live within a thick web of connection and…

If it's not the role of government to solve problems that are tearing apart the fabric of society, then whose role is it? Who is going to do it? Maybe no one. Maybe we're all screwed.

It's the individual's role to take care of their own mental health. No one is forcing anyone to use FB or Instagram. If it makes you feel bad, stop.

Re: The Blindness of Social Wealth

#14

Post by malvosenior » Tue, Apr 17, 2018, 5:34 PM UTC

rifung wrote: post #11

malvosenior wrote: post #4

"I was really struck by this last week, when Mark Zuckerberg came through Washington. Most of the questions he faced at the congressional hearings and most of the analysis in the press were about Facebook’s failure to protect privacy. That’s the sort of thing that may be uppermost on your mind if you are socially wealthy, if, like most successful politicians and analysts, you live within a thick web of connection and…

Why isn't it the role of the government to prevent loneliness if it's a serious issue? How is it any different from preventing disease?

Because it's deeply within the realm of personal responsibility. Look at the failure that is the war on drugs. You can't legislate behavior.

Re: The Blindness of Social Wealth

#15

Post by fogzen » Tue, Apr 17, 2018, 5:39 PM UTC

chongli wrote: post #10

malvosenior wrote: post #4

"I was really struck by this last week, when Mark Zuckerberg came through Washington. Most of the questions he faced at the congressional hearings and most of the analysis in the press were about Facebook’s failure to protect privacy. That’s the sort of thing that may be uppermost on your mind if you are socially wealthy, if, like most successful politicians and analysts, you live within a thick web of connection and…

If it's not the role of government to solve problems that are tearing apart the fabric of society, then whose role is it? Who is going to do it? Maybe no one. Maybe we're all screwed.

Here’s a radical idea: don’t use Facebook if it makes you feel bad!

Re: The Blindness of Social Wealth

#16

Post by crdoconnor » Tue, Apr 17, 2018, 5:40 PM UTC

malvosenior wrote: post #14

rifung wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why isn't it the role of the government to prevent loneliness if it's a serious issue? How is it any different from preventing disease?

Because it's deeply within the realm of personal responsibility. Look at the failure that is the war on drugs. You can't legislate behavior.

The war on drugs was never about legislating behavior. It was about criminalizing "undesirables" (blacks, hippies, etc.).

Re: The Blindness of Social Wealth

#17

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Apr 17, 2018, 5:43 PM UTC

thisisit wrote: post #7

There is a growing culture of reaction videos on YT. People watch other people watching and reacting to stuff. That never sat well with me. And I always wondered - are people so alone or insecure that they need to watch other people's "reaction" to feel better? Given the rise of reaction channels on YT, I guess the answer is resounding - Yes.

[deleted]

Re: The Blindness of Social Wealth

#18

Post by malvosenior » Tue, Apr 17, 2018, 5:43 PM UTC

crdoconnor wrote: post #16

malvosenior wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because it's deeply within the realm of personal responsibility. Look at the failure that is the war on drugs. You can't legislate behavior.

The war on drugs was never about legislating behavior. It was about criminalizing "undesirables" (blacks, hippies, etc.).

Regardless of the reason they did it, the end result was the same: failure to regulate behavior.

Re: The Blindness of Social Wealth

#19

Post by daodedickinson » Tue, Apr 17, 2018, 5:47 PM UTC

lainga wrote: post #6

quxbar wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I was socially isolating myself online WAY before facebook!

I see now: /r9k/ posters were internet hipsters, creating reality-distorting bubbles of isolation and despair around themselves before it was cool.

I managed that before r9k debuted... and I'm still socially bankrupt. There is no escape.

Re: The Blindness of Social Wealth

#20

Post by daodedickinson » Tue, Apr 17, 2018, 5:49 PM UTC

fogzen wrote: post #15

chongli wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it's not the role of government to solve problems that are tearing apart the fabric of society, then whose role is it? Who is going to do it? Maybe no one. Maybe we're all screwed.

Here’s a radical idea: don’t use Facebook if it makes you feel bad!

Quitting Facebook doesn't cure the social bankruptcy, though. The only cures seem to be joining cults and gangs and militaries and other groups with high costs and low standards.