I think Linus is right. It's a bit ironic, though, him calling Facebook a 'disease' when Steven Balmer famously called Linux a 'cancer'.
Linus: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Are “A Disease”
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Re: Linus: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Are “A Disease”
#22Not that I disagree with the idea, but aren't these communication tools highlighting or magnifying some basic human behavior traits? I would imagine this happens on a smaller scale through face to face interaction. Is it just the scale of it all that is the issue?
My opinion is that, while those traits are there, Facebook et al actively manipulate people to express those traits. Yes, similar things happen in face yo face interactions... with psychopaths. In this way, social media is more like a predator than a disease.
This example is fresh in my mind but might be crude
Every public bathroom is a mess. Urine on seats and the floor. But I've never gone to someone's house and seen their bathroom in that condition.
People act badly when no one is watching and they have reason to believe their badness won't be discovered.
I'm skeptical of the value of anonymity to the collective where it's obvious to see the value to the individual
Re: Linus: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Are “A Disease”
#23"Creator of Linux", just in case Linus Torvalds doesn't ring a bell
you can never be enough clickbaity.
Re: Linus: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Are “A Disease”
#24I've never been much engaged in FB,TW or Instagram or too many Social platforms. But I still have to disagree with Mr Linus, after all where would we be without the Slashdot effect? Social media simply accelerates aspects of what we are as humans. Its well known that we humans are genetically more attracted to the negative than the positive for obvious reasons ... and just to be circular: when was the last time somet…
I have spent some time studying genetics, and really have no idea what you mean by “Its well known that we humans are genetically more attracted to the negative than the positive for obvious reasons”
This thesis is from psychology, not genetics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negativity_bias
Re: Linus: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Are “A Disease”
#25I've never been much engaged in FB,TW or Instagram or too many Social platforms. But I still have to disagree with Mr Linus, after all where would we be without the Slashdot effect? Social media simply accelerates aspects of what we are as humans. Its well known that we humans are genetically more attracted to the negative than the positive for obvious reasons ... and just to be circular: when was the last time somet…
I have spent some time studying genetics, and really have no idea what you mean by “Its well known that we humans are genetically more attracted to the negative than the positive for obvious reasons”
There were a number of studies in psychology related to the negativity bias. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negativity_bias .
Re: Linus: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Are “A Disease”
#26I've never been much engaged in FB,TW or Instagram or too many Social platforms. But I still have to disagree with Mr Linus, after all where would we be without the Slashdot effect? Social media simply accelerates aspects of what we are as humans. Its well known that we humans are genetically more attracted to the negative than the positive for obvious reasons ... and just to be circular: when was the last time somet…
I have spent some time studying genetics, and really have no idea what you mean by “Its well known that we humans are genetically more attracted to the negative than the positive for obvious reasons”
This is the kind of thinking social media enables. When everyone in your group already agrees with what you say, the standards of thought fall due to lack of challenge.
Re: Linus: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Are “A Disease”
#27"Add in anonymity, and it's just disgusting," Torvalds said. "When you don't even put your real name on your garbage (or the garbage you share or like), it really doesn't help." Except when you see people you knew and respected before social media existed posting and "liking" the same garbage. They either just do not care or they do not know any better. The lack of anonymity lends itself to the emergence of countless…
Anonymity made for a healthier internet in my opinion. Nobody cared if xXNinja_420Xx said he was going to kill you or that all left-handed people deserve to be in concentration camps. Everyone still runs their fool mouth same as they used to except now you know it's your cousin Drew or Samantha from accounting saying it. Putting a name and a face on internet bullshit was a horrible development.
Re: Linus: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Are “A Disease”
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
Agreed, it seems a casual observation that's heading toward universal opinion. Though I agree with the sentiment, I'm not sure Linus carries much authority in speaking about social media.
I'm not so sure a lot of people outside of HN view social media as a disease …
its becoming quite a common take on social media, especially all the "look at my blog post on how i quit social media" posts on reddit
youtubers/ig accounts are very open about the effects of social media, maybe you should check some other sites to see HN... isn't that unique in this view
Re: Linus: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Are “A Disease”
#29I've never been much engaged in FB,TW or Instagram or too many Social platforms. But I still have to disagree with Mr Linus, after all where would we be without the Slashdot effect? Social media simply accelerates aspects of what we are as humans. Its well known that we humans are genetically more attracted to the negative than the positive for obvious reasons ... and just to be circular: when was the last time somet…
I have spent some time studying genetics, and really have no idea what you mean by “Its well known that we humans are genetically more attracted to the negative than the positive for obvious reasons”
I agree that attributing this to genetics is somewhat abstract - it would normally be attributed as a phenomenon of psychology. And "more attracted to the negative than the positive" is an ambiguous way of putting what I guess the OP meant - that fear is a more compelling emotional driver than "positive" things such as the desires to consume or procreate. But in the very long run, since this is all the result of evolution (leaving aside for now the possibility that it is all God moving in His mysterious ways, which, whilst I certainly can't disprove, isn't the thrust of the criticism) and considering that these same behavioral preferences are readily observable in all animals and indeed many plants and bacteria, then the suggestion that they are indeed ultimately transmitted and shaped by genetics seems reasonable?
Re: Linus: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Are “A Disease”
#30"Add in anonymity, and it's just disgusting," Torvalds said. "When you don't even put your real name on your garbage (or the garbage you share or like), it really doesn't help." Except when you see people you knew and respected before social media existed posting and "liking" the same garbage. They either just do not care or they do not know any better. The lack of anonymity lends itself to the emergence of countless…
Anonymity made for a healthier internet in my opinion. Nobody cared if xXNinja_420Xx said he was going to kill you or that all left-handed people deserve to be in concentration camps. Everyone still runs their fool mouth same as they used to except now you know it's your cousin Drew or Samantha from accounting saying it. Putting a name and a face on internet bullshit was a horrible development.
Given today's culture anonymity is even more important than it ever was. Someone across the world can boycott your place of work and get you sacked for voicing unfashionable opinions. Who will provide for your family then? Don't expect to lean on your partner either, they'll probably push to get her/him sacked too for associating with you.