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Capitalism Gone Wrong

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Re: Capitalism Gone Wrong

#31

Post by blooalien »

celeries wrote: post #30
blooalien wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Ads aren't really the problem, either. You're right. Ads are a different problem that just happens to finance this problem (and many others). > Meet people in real life and spend time with them and form mutual relationships. It's sad how hard that's gotten these days, what with so many folks havin' their faces glued to their little glass slab all the time. :(

Oh don't get me wrong, I agree. They are unreasonably effective, but I think that's in large part because people have lost touch with reality. People tend not to think very critically about ads.

And I agree with you as well, but the "industry" has sure gotten mighty good at training people to not think critically about ads (or much anything else for that matter). It's really been turned into quite the "mass-propaganda" machine overall. :(

Re: Capitalism Gone Wrong

#33

Post by Analemma_ »

simianwords wrote: post #29
Analemma_ wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is emblematic of a certain kind of foolish libertarian thinking where capitalism is treated as an end rather than a means. To normal people, the entire selling point of capitalism is that it is pitched as the best way to achieve a happy and comfortable life for the greatest number. If it's working against that end, what good is it? Toss it out and replace it.

You have zero theory of mind if you think the poster is a libertarian instead of making a tongue in cheek comment

I don't think the parent is being tongue-in-cheek, and even if he is, plenty of people have expressed that sentiment seriously. Robin Hanson famously thinks addiction is impossible (or rather, that it's a true expression of revealed preference), which he ideologically needs to do because to admit otherwise creates problems for his defense of unrestrained capitalism.

Re: Capitalism Gone Wrong

#35

Post by jmathai »

ericd wrote: post #28
Telaneo wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have very little faith that it will be very possible to rewind to that point. Not because the technology of today is different, or even the legal landscape, but simply due to the cultural landscape being different. Pandora's box has been opened, and it cannot be closed. To me at least, there seems to have been some cut-off point where nothing but money mattered, and someone realised that consumers will just take th…

I think more penalties involving "you aren't allowed to operate until this is fixed" rather than fines would help. Also, this is a pretty good take on a lot of related topics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTmpwVCC2So

Tobacco is a good example. Legislation that you could not smoke inside or nearby buildings did a lot to curb usage.

What’s challenging now is that corporate interest in government seems to have increased rapidly. It’s unclear if legislation is viable.

Re: Capitalism Gone Wrong

#36

Post by Timon3 »

ericd wrote: post #28
Telaneo wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have very little faith that it will be very possible to rewind to that point. Not because the technology of today is different, or even the legal landscape, but simply due to the cultural landscape being different. Pandora's box has been opened, and it cannot be closed. To me at least, there seems to have been some cut-off point where nothing but money mattered, and someone realised that consumers will just take th…

I think more penalties involving "you aren't allowed to operate until this is fixed" rather than fines would help. Also, this is a pretty good take on a lot of related topics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTmpwVCC2So

You know, it would be interesting to apply this to the whole company. Want to vertically integrate everything? Sure, but be ready for any infraction to bring everything to a halt.

Re: Capitalism Gone Wrong

#37

Post by dlcarrier »

changoplatanero wrote: post #14

How come legislators want to stop social media companies from using their power to manipulate consumers, but aren’t as interested in other industries doing the same? Like imagine how much harm is caused by the luxury fashion industry manipulating people to spend $20,000 on ugly leather bags? Or the jewelry industry in getting people to buy shiny rocks? Or sports gambling companies? That money could have been used for…

The entire media industry uses tactics like that, and has for ages. They probably only notice it with social media, because social media itself is new and different. More at 10:00, but really 10:50, because I'm going to make you stay up late watching a bunch of ads, before I tell you what'll be in tomorrows newspaper, anyway.

Re: Capitalism Gone Wrong

#38

Post by esnyder9 »

blooalien wrote: post #15
esnyder9 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Absolutely. Their plausible deniability died shortly after the like button rolled out. Cambridge Analytica was how long ago?

I know, right? And what did society learn from all that mess? Oh yea... Nothing. It was pretty promptly swept under the rug and forgotten. :(

Our society learned nothing. As we speak, Mark Zuckerberg is shaking hands with our world's lawmakers and politicians to push Chat Control through the EU to make sure Meta and co. can crawl into every last nook and cranny of your brain that they can for that sweet, sweet data.

Re: Capitalism Gone Wrong

#39

Post by blooalien »

esnyder9 wrote: post #38
blooalien wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know, right? And what did society learn from all that mess? Oh yea... Nothing. It was pretty promptly swept under the rug and forgotten. :(

Our society learned nothing. As we speak, Mark Zuckerberg is shaking hands with our world's lawmakers and politicians to push Chat Control through the EU to make sure Meta and co. can crawl into every last nook and cranny of your brain that they can for that sweet, sweet data.

> to make sure Meta and co. can crawl into every last nook and cranny of your brain that they can for that sweet, sweet data.

Just wait 'til Musk's brain-chip gets approved for general public sale. They'll find a way to get a law passed that says everyone has to get a hole drilled in their head (except of course the super-rich and their political pets).

Re: Capitalism Gone Wrong

#40

Post by rhelz »

bgun wrote: post #10
rhelz wrote: post #3

It's not capitalism gone wrong. It's a great example of a historic success of capitalism. You can't expect capitalism to solve your addiction problems.

Even if you are not the one addicted, other people’s addiction problems are still your problems. Being blind to that fact makes you both complicit in it and vulnerable to it.

Sure, they are your problems, but to expect capitalism to solve your addiction is just magical thinking.
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