When I first read Bill Gates' quote (1995), "We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten", I somehow knew that he was onto something, but I couldn't picture back then what the world would look like today; not for lack of trying, though.
What the Hell Is Going On? Effects of Information Abundance
121–130 of 232 posts
Re: What the Hell Is Going On? Effects of Information Abundance
#122Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think you proved OPs point.
I don't think that is the case. You can make any two disparate groups look similar by leaving out crucial details. For example, suppose I describe a "Band of misfits from the middle of nowhere, working against the Empire that brought war to their homeland, striking against a symbol of that Empire." That could describe either the Star Wars Rebellion, or the 9/11 terrorists. The key is that I left out critical details…
I don't see step 4 in the article. Pointing out a similarity between two different things is only a false equivalence if you try to draw conclusions that are not supported by the abstract descriptions you have reduced them to.
For example, a band of misfits attacking an empire would be expected to use guerilla tactics and execute concentrated attacks against high-value targets. It only becomes a false equivalence if you try to argue that the 9/11 terrorists were capable of interstellar travel based on the Star Wars analogy.
Re: What the Hell Is Going On? Effects of Information Abundance
#123Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Celebrity isn’t just harmless fun – it’s the smiling face of the corporate machine" - George Monbiot https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/20/celebr...
Yes if you were to apply the Mcleod Corp pyramid they would be he clueless layer, happily indoctrinating the loser layer at the behest of the sociopath top.
It was my understanding that the loser layer understands what's going on though, which should inoculate them from indoctrination. Celebrities would then be the ones who keep the clueless from becoming losers.
Re: What the Hell Is Going On? Effects of Information Abundance
#124There are roughly two kinds of responses to this article: openly disdainful and partisan, and not openly disdainful and partisan. I find this interesting against the backdrop of the article itself, a microcosmic image of the effect in the HN-sphere. To complete the meta-circle I guess that puts this comment in group 2.
Re: What the Hell Is Going On? Effects of Information Abundance
#125This is a garbage post. I read as much as I could but it is full of basic errors like this: "The cost of a university education grew linearly, as the number of global college graduates grew exponentially. As a result, college degrees aren’t as valuable as they once were." The number of anything grows exponentially because population grows exponentially. It doesn't mean anything. Earlier they say "big brands are in de…
Your response does not change his point. It seems to me you did not read the article carefully.
Re: What the Hell Is Going On? Effects of Information Abundance
#126This article would have been more interesting if it didn't premise itself on such an inflammatory opening example.
I think the initial joke was kind of a filter to only let people who doesn't instantly react and rage about it to continue with the article.
As a Korean who's viewing things from the outside, I found the hook hilarious and totally made me continue reading it...
Re: What the Hell Is Going On? Effects of Information Abundance
#127On the one hand, some very good points. I think a survey of 20th century history strongly supports the idea that Big Media helped determine what kinds of leadership we got, and so it must be the case that 21st century internet media are doing the same. The comparisons of similar trends in education and commerce are worth reading (if over-long). On the other hand, the underlying assumption is that the revolt against e…
> On the other hand, the underlying assumption is that the revolt against elite policy preferences, not only in the U.S. but in Europe and elsewhere, is entirely devoid of rational motivation. It discounts without comment the possibility that the pre-internet style of governance had substantive problems which the working class didn't like (e.g. globalization leading to a race to the bottom in manufacturing wages).
I didn't get that from the article at all.
The article was purely descriptive, without ascribing any value judgment.
Re: What the Hell Is Going On? Effects of Information Abundance
#128The legacy, industrial-era institutions are what support abundant and cheap access to information. If belief in our traditional institutions crumbles due to cheap information, information asymmetry once again will rise, returning us to the prior era.
Care to back up your assertion? If not most will either mentally nod or shake their heads and move on
Re: What the Hell Is Going On? Effects of Information Abundance
#129Definitely well written and well researched. Interesting that this is also a culmination of multiple not professionally bound people's ideas, editing, insights and feedback. Below is towards the end of the article, so just in case any one feels more inclined to read it, here it is - > I’m indebted to the following individuals for conversations that led to this post and feedback that improved it. I’d like to thank Arj…
It's interesting on a meta-level that these kinds of essays could only be published (and publicized) because of the Internet.
Re: What the Hell Is Going On? Effects of Information Abundance
#130What's been happening with getpocket.com? Pocket fails to make articles out of the latest articles I added. I need it so I can read stuff on my kobo, but it seems to be failing miserably lately.
Pocket fails to make an article out of this url.