Google and Facebook Have Failed Us

Google and Facebook have failed the Atlantic which is seizing on tragedy to imply only sanctioned media (them of course) should be available through Internet searches.

However most of the rest of us are not failed as we already know results from 4-Chan probably aren't accurate.

Please stop failing all of us with this desperate bid to get back in control of information dispersal there The Atlantic. I'd much rather see a smattering of nonsense and be able to make that determination for myself rather than you deciding what should be available for viewing.

Why is this getting downvotes? It's spot on. The "mainstream media" have been failing us for years, yet now suddenly it's all Google's and Facebook's fault that people are getting inaccurate information fed to them?

"The vast majority of people do not have the skills to use the internet as a source for good knowledge."

And this is known how?

The aristocracy considers the people ignorant and prefers it that way, but history shows this is not always objectively so.

The ideas of freedom of information, of freedom of expression are repugnant to the aristocrat (who always consider they know best), but these are founding principals of so far the most innovative and productive societies history has known. As opposed to aristocracies which are feudalism and stagnation.

“Scratch a conservative and you find someone who prefers the past over any future. Scratch a liberal and find a closet aristocrat. It’s true! Liberal governments always develop into aristocracies. The bureaucracies betray the true intent of people who form such governments. Right from the first, the little people who formed the governments which promised to equalize the social burdens found themselves suddenly in the hands of bureaucratic aristocracies. Of course, all bureaucracies follow this pattern, but what a hypocrisy to find this even under a communized banner. Ahhh, well, if patterns teach me anything it’s that patterns are repeated. ― Frank Herbert, God Emperor of Dune

The article is placing the blame on Google and Facebook when it should be placed on us, the "consumers" of media. We need to take a look in the mirror and understand who we are and what we want.

Ask yourself. Really ask yourself:

- What kind of information am I looking for and why? Am I just a digital rubbernecker? Do I want to break this story at the watercolor? Or do I need to know if a loved one was hurt?

- Do I need to know shortly after an event occurs or am I able to tolerate a little bit of delay in my gratification?

Shortly after an event, there are many stories and they haven't yet been synthesized into one narrative. There are people who want to capitalize on tragedy and their voices are part of the mix. Over time, the noise is stripped away and what we get is the official narrative and that is one we can "count" on. If you are willing and able to wait until the official narrative comes out then a) congratulations, you have will power unheard of in this day and age, and b) you get the benefit of skipping all of the intermediary chaos states.

If you understand why you need to know and when you need to know it, then you can control the quality of the news you expose yourself to.

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