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Modern Media Is a DoS Attack on Free Will

m.nautil.us

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Re: Modern Media Is a DoS Attack on Free Will

#511

Post by [deleted] »

unholiness wrote: post #122
rhizome wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It makes me wonder if there might be the possibility of a Netflix for news, where an 3rd party curates and allows ratings of lengthier pieces on long-term issues, interviews with important figures, and 20-minute investigative reports (like I remember seeing on 60 minutes) Isn't this essentially the model that HuffPo and other news aggregators (rewriters) use? Hasn't really panned out in that context, but maybe there…

The question of who creates the content is mostly orthogonal to what I mean. I'm talking about is a platform where my decision to click/watch content is based on reviews and recommendations, not loud design and attention-grabbing headlines. In that world, the subscription model could make sense and content aggregation could make sense, but neither is required, nor does either addressing the issue on its own.

[deleted]

Re: Modern Media Is a DoS Attack on Free Will

#512

Post by Danihan »

freebooter wrote: post #356
Rapzid wrote: post #351

The biggest shocker is anyone actually believes in "free will" anymore. Although, the desire to limit a particular stimuli's influence over our actions seems valid. In a way, the hyperbolic title seems to be an prime example of its own thesis..

Freewill exists, but it now comes with a cost. Let me provide a personal anecdote that is happening now with my job: - What with "rising" health care costs, my employer has decided to "force" everyone into getting a series of physical tests, to include those for high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and a fecal occult blood test. Failure to comply by year's end results in a financial penalty taken from your che…

You know who else values freedom above everything else?

The homeless.

The 25% or aren't substantially mentally-ill or completely enslaved to addiction are the most freedom-loving people ever.

Re: Modern Media Is a DoS Attack on Free Will

#513

Post by Retric »

ardillaroja wrote: post #503
eckza wrote: post #264

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love this, I love this, I love this. Right now, I am about a month along with no Facebook or Messenger. Previously I spent hours per day on both, running a pretty large community group and supporting its members. I disappeared; no explanation. Stress levels are down, I have so much more time to do things, and I have so much more attention for the things that really matter. Anybody that needs me, has my phone number…

> reasonably diverse backgrounds and worldviews Definitely agree with the rest of your comment. Not sure about this bit though, I love the HN community but I think we're a pretty homogenous bunch. I would guess a lot of us work in technology, relatively well-educated, relatively wealthy, left-leaning, english speaking etc. Disclaimer: I've no data on this...

I generally think of HN as far right not far left. But, I think it's bias in how we react to things not HN.

Granted, not an American Republican party sounding board, but in terms of actual right and left political spectrum.

Re: Modern Media Is a DoS Attack on Free Will

#514

Post by vram22 »

ozmbie wrote: post #343
greggman wrote: post #326

Earlier quoted context omitted.

interesting. I would have thought a watch would be worse because it's basically a "hey, look at your phone alarm". I spend too much time futsing around the internet but I have almost all notifications turned off. no Twitter notifications, no Facebook notifications, no Instagram notifications. I only have messenger like app notifications on.

I find the watch helps, because you distil your digital interactions down to a small number of important ones. Then go about your life without the constant pull of your phone nearby. The new Series 3 LTE watch has enough battery to get me through the day. The only notifications I have enabled are messages, phone calls, and reminders. I leave my phone at home but I'm still available for the important things.

>The only notifications I have enabled are messages, phone calls, and reminders.

>I leave my phone at home but I'm still available for the important things.

How do you reply to phone calls then? Via a public phone? Or do you not reply?

(I don't know about the capabilities of that watch, and whether you can call back on it.)

Re: Modern Media Is a DoS Attack on Free Will

#515

Post by vile »

free_everybody wrote: post #338
devmunchies wrote: post #336

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Reddit (Yes, all of reddit) ... Twitter (Follow helpful people only) I swap those. I only follow a few helpful subreddits to pick up things that don't make it to HN and I don't use twitter.

If that works for you, then cheers. I get so sucked into Reddit's front page that I just need to avoid it all entirely. With Twitter, I'm less inclined to explore.

I've found the personalized frontpage has been okay since I've unsubscribed from all the junk default subs and only subbed to useful/interesting ones.

Re: Modern Media Is a DoS Attack on Free Will

#516

Post by ako »

ako wrote: post #60
mobilefriendly wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>just as dangerous as governments Corporations don't have nukes or concentration camps.

Corporations have nuclear power plants that can be just as dangerous. Corporations can feed the masses miss-information, that may lead to destabilisation of a society by making them vote for the wrong person.

Corporations build unsave factories that kill 1000s when collapsing (see Bangladesh). Corporations will add addictive substances to food and sigaretes you increase sales, in the process killing millions.

Re: Modern Media Is a DoS Attack on Free Will

#517

Post by SoggyMike »

I now leave my laptop at home. I still do some Facebook on my iPhone, but not nearly as much as I did when I had my acer with me.

I heartily agree with the article's thesis.

If you agree with me, then you will also agree to copy and paste - do not just share - this post to your status.

Re: Modern Media Is a DoS Attack on Free Will

#518

Post by rado »

anigbrowl wrote: post #119
rado wrote: post #61

Yes. Media has been dead since the Kuwaiti girl testimony in 1990. It's done, it's over, today's scandals are just aftershocks of that turning point.

This hyperbole isn't helpful, with the implication that this never happened before in history. I'm guessing that's just the specific incident that led to you being more cynical. Deception and manipulation of public sentiment by either wholly fabricated or suddenly-scandalous news (ie digging up some old incident and setting up a great hue and cry like it just happened) is an old, old propaganda technique: https://en.…

Yes, precisely. Thanks.

Re: Modern Media Is a DoS Attack on Free Will

#520

Post by AmIFirstToThink »

free_everybody wrote: post #256

Stop carrying your smartphone. Leave it at home. If you must because your family/work depends on you, then delete every app. Use your laptop as your main driver. If you need to, get a laptop with better battery life. Start developing a personal philosophy of internet usage. Here is mine: Category 3 [Abstain from completely] Reddit (Yes, all of reddit), Facebook ... Category 2 [Check once every couple days ~15 min tot…

My categories...

1) Ditch traditional media completely. No CNN, MSNBC, Fox, BBC, NTY, WashPo, WSJ. Get local and world news on reddit. If it is worth it, it is being covered there. One page and you are up to date with most important things. These outlets are essentially "argument from authority", trust us because we are CNN. No thanks.

2) No TV (No breaking bad, no homeland, no NFL)

3) Facebook: I was never into it. Not searchable by google/duckduckgo, not interested. I am sucked into WhatsApp because of social circles.

4) Twitter: If it shows up as links in the web pages then I am reading those tweets. Same for Instagram.

5) Netflix: It's been a year or more since I had good couple of hours with Netflix. I pay just so that I wouldn't crave for it. I don't mind paying $2 or 3 for a movie rental and then watch it with family or friends. Paying for Youtube Red and Google Music is best value I get out of $9 these days. That use to be Netflix but then it stopped being best value once most of the past top movies were watched, and the new cookie cutter stuff that Netflix produces is not original, AI produced movies are not as gripping or flawed enough to relate to. And Netflix needs to learn about selective focusing, blurred backgrounds, bokeh etc. Everything in perfect focus all the time looks hyper-real and cartoonish at the same time.

6) HN/Medium/Blogs/Youtube/some-reddit/forums related to my hobbies: My peer-to-peer entertainment. Mostly consumed on laptop. Out of these Youtube is the only thing that I would use my phone for, and for youtube you need to pay attention to consume, you can't watch video when you are with other people, it just doesn't work. You can't get distracted by youtube as you do with facebook/twitter/whatsapp. No deals/shopping/promotions alert subscriptions, that wouldn't work of course.

7) Emails: Checked only when I know someone had sent me an email because that person told me so through other means, or when I want to send an email. Outside of work, email is no more a distraction.

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