Social Media = Death, Destruction, Hate, Lies, Racism, Fascism, Homophobia

4/29/2019

I recently had an ongoing Email exchange with Anton Barbeau where we talked about what being on Facebook does to you. One of his comments "... the red "like" of FB etc does take something away. Not just time, but focus and clear-thinking." (Yes he struggles to get away from the vicious circle) I'm totally sure (and other *official* investigations proved that) being on FB dominates your way of communication - and communication is living. Being on FB and being a vivid member of EC the way you want it is kind of opposing. With every *I like* click a whole *communication* is done on FB. On Electronic Cottage one needs to think, research, work, act, react, reconsider, etc etc etc. All this is very unwanted in *Social Media* land.

43 of 55 EC Community members being on Facebook is the majority. It's a miracle EC works at all.

I'm spreading the following with every mail:

>> Social Media 2019
After recent events ... Social Media became the driving force on planet earth for Death, Destruction, Hate, Lies, Racism, Fascism, Homophobia and many more society corroding effects.

All this is based on a system that works with addiction of the individual partaker.
Addiction caused by structures, that use the longing of the human psyche. For example, "Likes" in Facebook use the longing of the humans for appreciation. After a while the call of the "Likes" becomes your heroin.

The only argument pro Social Media I often hear is "I can keep in touch with my loved ones". There are so many ways on the modern internet to keep in touch, without feeding a system that a pro life person simply can't like to support.

Every move within the Social Media structure, every message, every smiley, every click supports a system that became the driving force on Planet Earth for Death, Destruction, Hate, Lies, Racism, Fascism, Homophobia and many more society corroding effects...makes it stronger, tighter.

I imagine a world where all these people would work on small personal networks, where are (all ) these people keep in touch with their loved ones. Systems where you really only are in touch with the selected loved ones you choose.

I really wonder how much all the already obvious disastrous effects of Social Media have to increase before people will even start to learn.

I'm not spreading Social Media links via my network.

71 Comments

C. Goff III

4/29/2019 18:35:34

As too many of you already know, I've never used Falsebook or Tweeter or Instangram or Etc., so I can't speak from first hand experience how many social ills are bred in those ovens. But as bad as the "like" option might be for the human race, I'm guessing that the "not like" option spreads even more hate than the "like" option does. Either way, there's a few people getting very wealthy from all this microwaved interaction, and they're gonna try to force everybody to want it until we strays are stampeded into an optionless corral by a dizzy herd.

Humanity is a scary species to be a part of, and before the century's over, there's gonna be 11 billion of us scaring each other with technologies we have never even dreamed of. Imagine a future where 3D holograms are projected into your house through the world wide web... What sort of internet virus spam goblins will be produced in that universe? I genuinely fear reincarnation...

Lord Litter link

4/30/2019 05:19:03

Imagine a future where 3D holograms are projected into your house through the world wide web...

>>> you are thinking exactly in my direction - the *ear* is already there - Alexa ... and really friendly, intelligent people I know, have this spy in their living room.

I'm totally shocked how blind all are following the pied piper.

I have some much more direct descriptions for the smart phone, social media checkers you see in the streets. These people are no longer with us, they live in another reality.

... and every click enriches people like Zuckerberg who can put billions aside *just in case* ...

Chris Phinney

4/29/2019 21:16:26

Well LL you know my feelings on all this, I dont use em never have. Ha my loved ones have email or phones, I was quite shocked myself how many members of EC are on Facebook I knew a good bit were though. Thanks for the post.

Lord Litter link

4/30/2019 05:28:02

shocked

>> yes .. I felt this shock too ..

Aimee Naworal

4/30/2019 17:28:37

I really admire your work "LORD" so please don't hate me for being on Facebook that would really suck <3

Ditlev Buster link

4/30/2019 16:29:46

I fully agree on facebook! But i gave Instagram a chance and there is nowhere near the negativity wich thrives in facebook. I think that is because Instagram is all pictures and video, none of the lame opinions people might have, and none of the hate i experienced from people i have “mutual friends” with. Instagram might have FBI surveilance too and all these negative things, but i discovered after quitting facebook, that most people dont use their phones as phones anymore (scary, i know) and they don’t answer calls and texts. I think Instagram is an ok middle ground for me, and i encourage EC people to try it and just leave facebook behind. Instagram is definately not for everyone either, but try checking it out, unlike facebook it’s easy to delete

Aimee Naworal link

4/30/2019 17:18:42

I can't get too mad at facebook because had I not been on it I doubt very much I would have met my husband. I have also met so many wonderful people from it as well I don't know that I would have met anywhere else.

I communicated with friends and family (mostly family) via email from the 90's to the early 2000's (I was 15 in 1995 when I got my hotmail account "rockchic80" go ahead and email me I don't mind XD ) then they tried a blogging site I think it was xanga, now they are all on either facebook or instagram. Before facebook I was on Myspace and Livejournal from like 2003 to 2008 I joined fb in 2008 and I have learned a lot since then on how not to let social media effect me negatively.

Social media is the new blame-everything-on-it boogeyman in much like TV and internet as a whole was and still is.I do believe the algorythems are so crappy now that you can't see what you want to see in the feeds you see whats advertised to you. I also think there is some sort of social engineering that might be at work which is creepy but I just go on for my own reasons keeping in touch sharing music, art and memes.

I do prefer Instagram for the pictures and videos. facebook and twitter have like some of my old emails become a dumping ground for links I want to share bookmark and find again. I am also on snapchat and youtube. I am a very social person apparently and so I believe I have an account on many websites. Just google AimsterSkitz0rz I am everywhere. LOL!

I do think it can mess with your mental health if you let it. I choose to delete block and disconnect from toxic people and then go create something or go outside and commune with nature.

I do have conversations on fb and I have met negativity on it ...lets just say my husband and I have long block lists.

Seriously though if I had not been up at 1 am on that fateful November morning in 2016 tagged in a facebook post about goth rock and post punk I would never have known of Adam Naworal's existence. I would have a very different reality now. I like it just fine. I am not leaving fb at this point I may soon if more people are found elsewhere.

Judge me if you must but I wish you wouldn't. I can't make you understand my reasons for why I do what I do. At least I am here and I want to see electronic cottage thrive I like learning from you all. you all inspire me. Be kind. Be Patient.

Ditlev Buster link

4/30/2019 17:24:22

I don’t judge :) its not my job to be a judge. It’s my job to spread joy! You and Adam, Fyodor and Babushka give me hope that love is real.

Aimee Naworal

4/30/2019 17:26:28

I also can't spell all that well and there is no edit button like on social media ...and I forgot to check it before I clicked enter so oh well XD bite me.

Aimee Naworal link

4/30/2019 17:34:53

I also want you to know that I am fully against Racism, Fascism, Homophobia and people who are not get blocked from my fb account.

Lumen K

4/30/2019 17:53:36

Facebook has been an off and on addiction for me. I am able to keep up just a little bit with the lives of my friends in the experimental music world and share with others the works of artists whose works I enjoy. One interesting thing about it is the way it brings together so many diverse people in my life. That can also be dangerous, as it results in clashes.

I have found, however, that Facebook really depresses me with its ceaseless onslaught of bad news. I also agree about the likes. Communication on Facebook is deeply problematic. The whole environment is designed to breed addiction and, ultimately, human despair. Use sparingly and at your own risk, if at all. Digital communications are destroying our consciousness. If you want to stay human, limit your time online. We are being digested by the cyberworld.

Aimee Naworal link

4/30/2019 19:40:14

text is a cold medium too ....and the addictive downer
ways of digital social media is why Adam and I go hiking in forests and why I like to play in the soil that's better for your health than staring at a computer screen all day ... I love technology for music purposes more than I want to be addicted to social media ...don't worry to much about me I like to avoid the negative and focus on the positive and on NATURE which is the main inspiration for my art!

Fad Gadget - Back To Nature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PySsErAILE

Lumen K

4/30/2019 21:40:49

I have read about the benefits of working with the soil. Natural anti-depressant, right? I believe it. I love spending time outdoors. I try to go for a nice, long walk every day. Some of my favorite sound art uses samples from nature. I should create more using such sounds and images. I love taking video of fish at aquariums. I should set this footage to sound!

Aimee Naworal

4/30/2019 22:21:24

Oh yes nature field recordings I am waiting for some loud frog noises myself, I currently have lots of water sounds.... field recording is fun!

Hal McGee

5/1/2019 01:02:29

Hello everybody, as many of you know, I myself have mixed feelings and emotions about social media, and especially Facebook. I do NOT, obviously, feel that there is anything wrong with social media per se. I created the Electronic Cottage website as an alternative to Facebook, for those who want an alternative. An alternative: without the brainwashing and mind control and addiction, without the politics and endless bickering that comes with that. And no advertising! More than that, I have wanted EC to be a COMMUNITY where we can feel safe online, where we don't need to worry about who is using our data for their nefarious reasons. It's okay with me that EC is a small community because I want it to feel like Family. For those of you who do use Facebook, I commend you for trying to find ways to make it work for you in positive ways. I think this is a good thing. Alternative-minded DIY artists have always made a habit of finding ways to use corporate-controlled media and other technology in ways that have not been intended or conceived by those corporate entities. Circuit bending and modification of toy and consumer keyboards is an excellent example. The trick is to make it work for you and not you work for it. If you can find ways to make Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram meaningful and personal, without selling your "soul", I say bravo and the more power to you. Facebook is making money from you and your data. There's nothing wrong with making money from you. It's a trade-off: you use the service for free and they try to sell stuff to you. Anyone who uses the service understands this and tacitly accepts it. Hell, if you watch TV programs they sell you products in commercials. That's how it works, right? My main beef with Facebook is that they are irresponsible and ethically-challenged, to say the least. Using your data to sell stuff to you and thereby make money is one thing: being careless with that data and selling it or allowing it to be used by criminals and hostile government entities and HATE groups is another! MY question is this: Sure, Facebook is useful, but are we so ethically blasé that we can overlook the fact that FB is being used by Hate groups?! Lord Litter is very upset because FB allowed Nazis to use FB to promote their political campaigns and there are now Nazis in the German parliament, legally-elected. I think another valid criticism of Facebook is that the entire system is et up to addict you. Anyone with with any sense in their heads understands this. Sure, it's another trade-off. Smart people understand that it goes with the territory. And most of us are smart enough to resist it, and work around it and use FB for our own positive ways. The problem is that we are overlooking that portions of the population who are less-educated, less savvy, and generally economically less-advantaged are prone to manipulation and exploitation by the addictiveness of FB. What I do NOT understand is how people who consider themselves to be politically PROGRESSIVE can turn their heads and watch this happen. These same people go on and on and on ad nauseam in their posts on FB about Trump, and Climate Change, and abuses against women and minorities, etc., but don't stop to think about the consequences of their using FB. Oh, moral and ethical relativism are fine things as long as they suits one's laziness while one posts endless garbage and brain-dead memes all day long on FB. Some people I know use FB because they think they are being clever and ironic. That's fine too, if that's your thing. Let me ask you a question: if there is a local restaurant that you enjoy going to, let's say that one day you found out that they use their profits to support Fascists and Nazis, would you continue to go there and eat just because you can't live without their yummy food? If you knew that they were lacing their food with mind control drugs, would you continue to eat their food? Yeah yeah, I know, I'm exaggerating to make a point, and some of you are going to say/think that I'm just full of shit... Here's one more thought for all of you: One of the only reasons that I personally continue to use Facebook is to promote Electronic Cottage -- promote it not only to the outside world, but to the EC Community itself. Sad but true. It seems to me that if I don't make a post on FB every time that a new article is published at EC nobody will look at the new article. For people who use FB on a daily basis there can be great value. They can keep track of the activities of family members, old and new friends and discussion groups on their fave topics and interests (for me, it's Twin Peaks!). Everything is there in one big bulletin board like format. The basic concept of FB can be beneficial! The Internet is not bad! But we really seriously need to consider the impacts and detriments of using systems that are operated by unethical people to whom we are nothing more than data.

Hal McGee

5/1/2019 01:07:20

One final thought: I understand that EC cannot fill everyone's online needs. It is limited by design. Use it for what it does best! Come here when you want to share thoughts and sounds and your art and want feedback and interaction in a safe, loving, supportive family of artists. We can talk and discuss to your heart's desire. You make EC what it is. Support your INDIE-PAIN-DANCE!

Hal McGee

5/1/2019 01:33:15

I also understand that every single one of us make ethical trade-offs each and every day. It's unavoidable. Smartphones themselves are not bad things. I use mine as a tool. I create art with it and I communicate with all of you with this iPhone and with my iMac desktop computer on which I composed my lengthy reply above. Apple does a great job of protecting me from people who want to steal my data. Their products are built to last. But I realize that Apple uses cheap overseas labor to make their products. Everything we use and touch every day is possibly tainted in some way. That synth you and I use: what ethical compromises were made to produce it? The food on your table: some being somewhere suffered to enable you to eat. It just goes on and on, endlessly. I don't think anyone should stop using Facebook if it brings them joy! We all make choices and then live by those choices! I think we all just need to pause and think about these choices.

Lord Litter link

5/1/2019 08:01:35

"... let's say that one day you found out that they use their profits to support Fascists and Nazis, would you continue to go there and eat just because you can't live without their yummy food? If you knew that they were lacing their food with mind control drugs, would you continue to eat their food? Yeah yeah, I know, I'm exaggerating ..."

---------->> NO NO!! This is just a colorful picture to show how it really works - again - I REALLY can't understand how people can keep on with all this knowledge.

And now I get real mean: In Germany after the war people said: "Well we did'nt know". Today it's: "Yes we know but .."

And again: the world suffers with Death, Destruction, Hate, Lies, Racism, Fascism, Homophobia since a completely uncontrolled profit driven *social media* exists on planet earth.

Rafael González

5/1/2019 13:56:02

Hal, it's possible that everything you say is true. The extreme left groups also use FB ... everyone can use FB, for good and bad things ... like a mobile phone: you can call your mother or prepare an explosive device. What is the use of FB for me? You know ... being in touch with people around the world ... this really opens the mind too

Rafael González

5/1/2019 17:09:02

I do not want my words to be misinterpreted. I know the negative part of what is spoken here. But I do not think it's something exclusive to FB (for example). I remember the Second Gulf War. I was not in FB (I do not know if this existed). I remember all the communication media insisting that Saddam Hussein was a super villain, that he was related to Al Qaeda, that he had weapons of mass destruction and that he was a danger ... and everything was a lie or a farce (at least the reasons for the war they were others). And I believed everything. And we could not do anything, just swallow, because even if you knew the truth you could not communicate or expand because the communication media were absolutely vertical and you could only swallow. Another day I will talk about a story I read: how some citizens of Israel managed to stop a war with Iran using FB. It was an event or something similar called Israel loves Iran and we are not going to attack you, or something similar.

Evan Cantor

5/2/2019 12:21:08

Hal! If yer full of shit, well... it's good shit!

Penny

5/1/2019 01:55:43

Cut and pasted from ..post on FB.. I had surgery when this was posted on fb..
I would say .. In life.not just on blogs, facebook, instagrams, emails, texts and other spaces of social media...the worlds we live through.. The words we say and the actions we do to each other are vital to living a healthy, whole, loving life. All we do really has impact on someone..even down through the next generations. Yes.. On Electronic Cottage we should think, reasearch, work, act, react, reconsider, etc...
But. Even more in the offline world.. How we act out online should be lived offline as well. Unless u are a serial killer in an online story..Then please be one in real life..cleaning up the blood ..oi vey..so messy.. Lol..

Hal McGee

5/1/2019 02:13:02

Thank you for these thoughts, Penny.

Wolfgang Dorninger link

5/1/2019 04:17:00

Hallo!

I use facebook. Sounds like being at an AA meeting. It does not make me that happy because I don't like how the beast works. I've read so many articles and seen some many features - it's a monster.

my facebook story in short: I quit some years ago but some of my US-friends brought me back. Now I keep FB going because of the Cassette Culture Node.Linz group at FB.

Sure I decide who is in my pool dancing with me. I know 70% personally from face to face and all other I know and respect their artistic work. i like my community a lot. Great people.

In Austria we had a political turn from left/mid to mid-right and far-right (including nazi scum). my facebook network keeps me informed about this political downgrading to the primitive, inhuman and criminal.

when leaving FB I lose this very nice digital lounge with my friends. I am not driven by the fear of missing out but it works so great for me. at the other hand I hate the structures behind so I have to leave and I will.

EC is a great lounge where I get in touch with sharp edged music and sound art from great artists but the topics within represent only a small part of my live.

At servus.at - an artist driven server in Linz, Austria where I live servus.at installed mastadon - an open, decentralized and save twitter like thing. no one is using it.

EC is a bunch of work - maybe mastadon could be a great tool to create a EC-mastadon-community to meet at a free and open source virtual-space.

https://joinmastodon.org/

me at mastadon: https://social.servus.at/@fadimat

I can ask the servus people if it is possible to get something like a EC mastadon channel.

best wolfgang

Chris Phinney

5/1/2019 07:04:05

I work outside most of the time, not soils but paint, carpentry etc, its an art form for me 38 yrs running. By myself. Therapuetic, still.

Lord Litter link

5/1/2019 07:50:59

It's really good to see that there is feedback.

I could write a whole new arcticle (and probably will in the future) today just this:

I sure think there are various ways to handle FB - and I would never really blame a active DIY artist for using the structures of *social media* - BUT - what I REALLY can't understand why all these alternative artists are not looking for alternatives..

For example I don't *google* (we all should know where Google sends us!) - there are several alternative searchmachines
1. http://www.duckduckgo.com
2. http://www.startpage.com
... there are more

There are several alternative *social networks*
https://joinmastodon.org/
https://human-connection.org/en/
https://www.vero.co/

It seems obvious that the digitalism maelstrom devours absolutely everything - but for analytic intelligent people it should be possible to resist...that was part of being *alternative* not that long ago - yes - we took cassette players, not to play the new Fleedwood Mac cassette but to create our own sound/scene.

from Aimee Naworal's feedback: "I do believe the algorythems are so crappy now that you can't see what you want to see in the feeds you see whats advertised to you. I also think there is some sort of social engineering that might be at work which is creepy"

(to be honest, the thought to *live* in such an environment is abolutely horrible > social engineering that might be at work > it IS at work! It brought the Nazis into the german parliament.)

The next step seems obvious - take your FB friends and go to search for an alternative - so it's not that *they* pull you to FB but *you* pull them to a healthier alternative.

Well - like I wrote - I could write a whole next article ..

Don Campau link

5/1/2019 11:40:50

Some very interesting takes on social media here, the good and bad. My two cents below and some of this I have mentioned before but it seems in context with this post.
It is a complex issue and one worth thinking about and I do like Litter's idea of creating an alternative...heck, that's what Cassette Culture ( or whatever you want to call it) was, a new way to communicate outside of the official, accepted channels. Alternatives are generally a good idea although over time these "alternatives" can become much like their hated predecessors.

Even though I make my case for social media below, the fact is I don't use it all that much myself. OK, I'll use FB ( and Instagram and Twitter ) for easy contact with bands and artists for my radio show ( easier than any search engine including the ones Litter mentions) and to check on friends new music links ( soundcloud,bandcamp, etc ). I also post my own art and music because it is a good way for people to see or hear it. I am NOT trying to sell it, I am trying to share it or trade it. I am not against other people selling or doing whatever they want. It is just not something I am interested in. You can certainly go to my bandcamp page and buy it but I always offer the "pay what you want" option.

The bottom line for me is communication, connection and closeness. That is what pleases and interests me.

...............................................................................
So, my original post below.

Wow...so much to respond to by Herr Litter. Such great radio presentations and championing of truly creative worldwide artists.

I think most everyone on EC knows the work Litter has done over his illustrious "career"...his own personal and energized music is often overlooked by his amazing, long time radio work. So many artists owe him a debt by his constant, relentless work finding and airing so much quality music.

Now, I don;t want to be a mouthpiece for social media and I have probably said some of these things before but I tend to disagree with the social media assessment of Litter and others.
Now, I am not saying they are wrong with all of their comments, not by any means. The endless agonizing crap that is dealt out and the horrible "look at me, look at me" posts is wearying. The corporate bullshit is to be expected I'd say and I tend to do pretty good at overlooking it. I am not one for devious conspiracy theories or those things. I am well aware of the huge profits these people and wretched corporate hierarchies are making but the bottom line to me is...as always...does it work for me? And, as I have said before, yes it does, generally.

Sure, 90% ( or more ) of the internet as a whole ( not just social media) is crazy and life sucking. Even most search engines ( including the so called indie sites like , duckduckgo ), are almost impossible to use now.It's all about selling something and giving you the links.

As a matter of fact, I often go to facebook to find info about a band, or even wikipedia. To me, this information is good and I ignore the baloney ( which comes in cubic tons of course). I have compared it to billboards on the side of the road. I'm not giving up driving because there are advertisements. I keep my eye on the road while listening to my underground cassettes in my outdated Toyota.

People who use social media are not necessarily evil, or self centered idiots simply out for ego trips. That kind of sweeping generalization is silly and does not match my experience. Of course there are plenty of idiots, don't get me wrong.

Certainly, there is no reason to use The Internet, or email, or Social Media if it doesn't work for you. I have no need to defend any of it. But, it does help me many times in showing people my art, sharing and finding out about new artists, discovering old friends, posting new songs, wishing someone a happy birthday or congratulations on their marriage. In fact just today I got invited to send my art works to a gallery in Wales to display. And I send them FOR FREE because I can and prefer it that way.
I don't feel like an automaton if I reply or even "like" someone's post.

Social media, email, old fashioned phone calls, snail mail, wells fargo delivery in the old west...did they bring us closer together? Is one inherently "better" than the other. I'd say no. But I also feel that it wasn't just Cassettes that created Cassette Culture, it was people wanting to be closer and more connected.The format and style of delivery is basically meaningless, to me at least.

Also...
I have taken serious criticism because I give my art and music away for free. Others have claimed that I devalue theirs by doing so. Am I not free to do what I please?
And this was happening BEFORE the internet.

Again, I am not arguing about many of Litter's claims but these over generalizations seem reactive and not well informed. However, I am not denying his experience. And this is my primary point. Can you overlook the bul

Lord Litter link

5/1/2019 12:15:18

"...Alternatives are generally a good idea although over time these "alternatives" can become much like their hated predecessors...!

>>> YES!!! ... the best example is the german green party which started as a real *alternative* .. then the main figure of the early days > Joschka Fischer > became worse than any figure of the politicians we wanted to get rid of. The party then became similar and if you're looking for a real alternative is something to avoid now.

One has to check again and again .. and then move on all the time.

Like, last Zuckerberg news: all his property will become *one pool*, so whereever you are FB, Instagram etc, all these will be 100% profit driven, no remorse ..

Mike Nobody link

5/1/2019 12:08:08

FB is just a means of communication.
I find as many decent people on FB as anywhere else.
The human turds that occupy it are elsewhere, too.
Toxic people are EVERYWHERE.
Allow them into your life, or not.
Don't friend Nazis.
Don't join groups with fascists.
Don't like it?
Create an alternative.
You get what you put in.
As far as business practices go, that's capitalism.
Enjoy!

Lord Litter link

5/1/2019 12:25:52

... no offence and totally obsequious .. BUT - I did'nt join an alternative underground to *enjoy capitalism* ..

Aimee Naworal

5/1/2019 12:33:56

I believe that was sarcasm XD

Rafael González

5/1/2019 13:46:21

I'm very sorry, but I do not agree with most of your opinions about social media. Believe me, they have their use. I do not agree either to compare EC with a social media, they are completely different and have a completely different function, from my point of view. I love EC but this is not going to stop me from using FB (for example), since the function is completely different. I love EC and... what the hell, FB too!

Neal Retke

5/1/2019 14:05:51

Regarding my relationship w/ Social media in general and FB in specific, well - As they would say, " It's Complicated " -

On one hand, I've been in movies & have organized the vast majority of my artistic output since the early 2000s via Facebook. On the other hand, I've actually had to call the police ( Something which I've never been particularly eager or happy to do ) because of FB - and have had a lot of really negative things I'e been exposed to due to that as we.

There are lots of thoughtful reasons why FB & Social media is " Bad " just as there is for the Internet in general - But to my way of thinking, it's a tool just like any other tool and the primary concern should be in how it's used and what the end results are -

I've been on several occasions ( Ello, Mastadon, Ect ) courted to join other social media sites. Due to their own limitations, I've not found them to be as engaging as FB is - One cannot deny the omnipresence of FB - If you want to reach out to large numbers of people, that's how you do it. But as is alway the situation where there's a " Gateway " to reaching this, there wil be gatekeepers who either try to enforce their own worldview or arbitrators of taste, ect - It's problematic. but as the saying goes, it's a poor craftsman that blames his tools.

If you are to participate in social media, it's prudent to create boundaries & barriers. I've been much happier using FB since keeping almost all of my " Real " or personal stuff out of there, and redacting much of the personal information that was there - I like going to shows, and evites, print media & other ways of finding out about them aren't as effective as FB is - On the simple basis of this I'll be staying on FB. I have met & connected with amazing people & creatives there - In fact Hal, I would not be in touch with you here or on EC were it not for FB.

That being the case, I do think it's creating a lot of problems in how people communicate and related issues, but I think the main problem in this regard is actually the fact that it's replaced so many other things - Yes, it's socializing but a very truncated & myopic version thereof. Kind of like learning about sex by watching porn - Not ness. the way it is or should be IRL - And that I think is the cruz of the matter.

People are living too much of their lives by proxy. This applies specifically here to social media but is also a real " Modern Problem " or spirit of the times sort of issue in my view. I'm less affected by it because I'm not much of an armchair player - If I'm invested in something, I tend to go out there and get involved in it. But with Social media & online in general, it's so easy to get virtual momentum, where it feels like you are doing a lot of different things but in reality are just moving your hands a little bit & starting at a screen -

I think it's important to realize that there's flaws with social media, but to blame it for wide social change is misguided in my view - It's a symptom morseo than a cause - While it's not making things better with a lot of this, I also don't think it's making things worse. There's been a shift in how people socialize post internet, and it's been to a less open dialogue based group and more a closed ideology based loner - And the I feel is very problematic indeed. There are basic human skills that are not being honed or developed or even introduced into this new Hentai universe.

I don't have any solution to offer other than be aware that the internet is forever, everything you put on here will be archived & accessible to everyone forever, and be very mindful of how you present yourself & what your goals are when using it. I'm just glad that so much of my life occurred before this juggernaut was the deciding factor, so that in may ways it's a non-issue for me.

An Aside : I I'm convinced that in the near future the internet will become a sort of " Retirement home " for us old codgers and all the " Real " stuff will be happening elsewhere with just the veneer of it being applicable or relevant.

But isn't that already the case ? Isn't most of what you are interested in really existing outside of tech anyways ?

I wrote this post off the cuff, with little thought & no revision. In the moment if you will. Or alternately, IRL -

I encourage myself & perhaps you to more of that sort of thing. I think the biggest antidote for FB is taking steps ( Going to parties, calling old friends, creating a written work off line, doing more art, ect ) that decrease the amount of importance that it has in your life.

Better in my view than pretending it's not there ( Because it VERY MUCH is ) or wringing one's hands worrying what it all means.

Good luck to us all.

bonk 2.0

5/2/2019 09:10:48

ironically enough, a lot of hate groups are rapidly being deplatformed from big social media and crowdfunding sites (fb is definitely behind technologically on that) and end up making sites exactly like this one. Hate groups use the internet. They have been using the internet since way before social media.

I also think people tend to blame their own interpersonal issues on social media when they have negative experiences with people.

i read the articles here. but i also enjoy garbage, goofy stuff, and "braindead memes" so i don't really belong here as a contributor. But i do read it.

A Discord chat could be interesting.

Hal McGee

5/2/2019 09:20:04

I am actually not nearly as strident in my dislike of FB as Lord Litter is. I plan to continue to use FB for two purposes: 1) to promote EC and my personal art projects — 2) to indulge my own braindead pop culture interests in Twin Peaks. A big personal shortcoming is that I don't allow myself to have FUN fun. I need to take more personal time to indulge in my own braindead pop culture likes — and the TP World is LOADED with memes, GIFs, Funko Pops, tie-in books, music, even video games.

Hal

5/2/2019 09:50:47

And TP collector cards, of which I have more than 200

Leslie Singer

5/2/2019 10:20:54

Lucy, I’d really enjoy reading your articles and ideas if you posted them on the EC site. I know others would too as well. I’m not a FB user and I really support sites like the Electronic Cottage to keep the flame of life, liberty and the pursuit of art (to quote the legendary German film director, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, “Happiness is not always fun.”) alive!

Lumen K

5/2/2019 16:37:01

Twin Peaks is brain dead pop culture? Who knew?

I don’t think this place is too elitist or snooty for anyone. In any case, Lucy Bonk is a great artist. I hope Lucy Bonk does not feel like leaving EC. I want to follow LB’s contributions here.

Rafamigo

5/2/2019 16:55:42

Lumen K, no one is going to leave here without my permission! You are all arrested!

Evan Cantor

5/2/2019 12:29:05

This is quite the discussion, debate, argument, analysis, or whatever and it all appears to me to be true and accurate. I disdain FB and spend as much time outdoors as possible... as a confirmed Luddite, I'm doing oil painting and playing the acoustic guitar more than anything else. What could I possibly add to this discussion? One thing: Keep Re-reading Orwell's "1984". He got it right.

Mike Nobody link

5/2/2019 12:44:42

Double-plus good.

Aimee Naworal link

5/2/2019 16:07:08

I love my "braindead" pop culture "memes" in fact I make some of those ...it's a form of absurdist art to me.... lol to each their own ....I love microblogging it's quick and easy ....somehow my personal/public account has over 1k followers on instagram ...they must find my nature photo's and creative output interesting for some strange reason ...I am still not sure how it happened besides the use of #hashtags I am going to keep doing what makes ME HAPPY which includes supporting this great website and I will also create accounts on as many websites / :alternative's as y'all want to make me aware of I have no reservations....

Also I got my degree in multimedia design and I work in marketing so ...um I guess knowing how to use the internet and social media to my advantage and my friends advantages .....um has a purpose

Rafael González

5/2/2019 16:09:57

:) LOL

Hal

5/2/2019 16:18:49

It's obvious that everyone must follow their own path(s). My opinions are mine only. I don't expect anyone here or anywhere else to think the things I do. I have my preferences and hopes and desires for this site, but I do also believe that everyone should do what makes them happy. Art and music are two of the best things out there and in here for making life more bearable. Like the title of one of my assemblages with Rafa, "Life sucks less with Art"...

Rafamigo

5/2/2019 16:50:11

I love this title! Hal, many of us have a very similar opinion to yours ... in fact no one of us wants EC to disappear. Without EC, life sucks much more!

Lord Litter link

5/3/2019 06:00:23

where and who would we be if there was no BRAINDEAD Pop culture??

Hal McGee

5/3/2019 07:02:14

All opinions are welcome here, even if and especially if they are different than mine or different than Lord Litter's opinions. There's no way that we are going to learn from each other if we don't share our thoughts. I think that there is a bit of conflict between generations going on in the comments on this and the other HOT TOPIC right now. That's okay. But EC Community members who are younger than me need to understand that I am highly opinionated (as if you haven't noticed already). But my opinions are just that. They are MY opinions. And opinions are like assholes: everybody has one, and I am not going to apologize for my asshole. Please understand that my personal opinions are NOT condemnations of you personally, unless you perceive them that way. I love all of you and I'm glad that you're here! I am also open-minded enough to be able to value the expression of differing opinions. I always read every comment and opinion on this site. I consider and think about what everybody says. That's part of the job that I have taken on as EC Editor. I consider myself enriched after reading opinions different than mine.

Aimee Naworal link

5/3/2019 11:24:56

Oh the Irony of #adulting
2 hours after I left that comment (saying I work in marketing) I was brought into a meeting where I thought we were discussing what position title they decided to give me.

I found out yesterday that by no fault of my own my last day at my job will be next Thursday my position will be eliminated due to restructuring of the company I have been working 5 months for. I mentioned this on fb and relieve massive support.

Why did I want to be an adult so bad. On the flip side the job market is looking good.

Hal McGee

5/3/2019 11:30:34

Hang tough, Aimee! We will all be wishing you the best in your employment search!

Chris Phinney

5/3/2019 11:33:50

Aimee,

Dang that sucks about your job, good luck on the hunt. You have my support here at the EC!

Leslie Singer

5/3/2019 14:29:21

Aimee, I'm so sorry to hear your latest news but you are definitely correct that the job market for you and your skill set is good. I was just in a meeting about staffing and digital marketing associates are in high demand. In the meantime, sign up for unemployment asap so you can get those benefits rolling in right away.

Aimee Naworal link

5/3/2019 20:31:13

Thank you that is the line of work I am looking to get into if I can. You better believe, I will put in my claim for unemployment next Friday which will be when I am officially not working, first thing that morning.

Jay Peele link

5/4/2019 00:34:38

Truth be told. I have not dedicated that much time to E.C. "Social media" like fakebook is a completely different platform. I don't think the E.C. community wants to hear about every time I am playing an acoustic gig, DJing vinyl, dropping by a spoken word open mic, or even improvising noise or ambient music. That being said, perhaps my friends and family who are not part of E.C. do want to know about these gigs or events. I have read or skimmed some of the content on E.C. and enjoy listening to music or watching videos that the contributors post. Most of the time I do this, it is without comment, but that can change. The matrix is real. I am glad I do not have the internet or social media on my phone and do intend to devote more time and effort to the Electronic Cottage community. :)

Aimee Naworal

5/4/2019 02:08:20

<p style="color:red;">TEST</p>.

Aimee Naworal

5/4/2019 02:18:49

Penny and I are up late trying to find ways to make commenting on posts more creative :)

Aimee Naworal

5/4/2019 02:24:18

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ HAHAHAHAHA ♥YAY!

Aimee Naworal

5/4/2019 02:28:59

ØⱧ ₥Ɏ "ⱠØⱤĐ" ₮Ⱨł₴ ł₴ ⱠØØ₭ł₦₲ Ⱡł₭Ɇ ɎØɄⱤ ₮Ɏ₱ł₵ⱠɆ ₮ⱧⱤɆ₳Đ Ø₣ ₳ ₱Ø₱ɄⱠ₳Ɽ ₣₳₵Ɇ฿ØØ₭ ₱Ø₴₮ ₦Ø₩ ....₮ⱧɆ Ɇ₦Đ ł₴ ₦ł₲Ⱨ

Aimee Naworal link

5/4/2019 04:21:32

click my name for another characters-symbols link

Adam J Naworal

5/4/2019 09:49:12

Can't say I completely or even mostly agree with this, but I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and mindset with us, LL :D

Lord Litter link

5/6/2019 09:45:42

..there will be a another article on this where I put all on a *wider* scale ... and sure noone has to agree with what I say..

we're all free to think our own thoughts of course excluded are Death, Destruction, Hate, Lies, Racism, Fascism, Homophobia supporters. Everybody who excludes humans caus the are non-white and non-heterosexual have to be excluded - I'm totally strict with this.

But .. it sure would have been much more helpful for me to reconsider my thoughts if there were arguments and thoughts why you don't agree.

Rafael González

5/6/2019 10:06:33

This is true. All people who are against humanity must be excluded. In this I completely agree.

Adam J Naworal

5/7/2019 04:07:32

Absolutely, I am opposed to all the evils you listed as well. I suppose I just don't agree that social media as a whole is corrupt due to those presences.

Judith link

5/11/2019 11:18:54

Another discussion on the well-known economization of society?

I am not familiar with the debate in EC. Not only with regard to previous debates on this punk. I have been observing EC for a short time and respect the will to live, the willingness to irritate. For example, I liked the April Von Hal and Rafael very much. It is a signal for dividing lines. An impressive invitation to self-forgetfulness.

I find the debate about participation or refusal to facebook less promising. The initiative certainly has very respectable motives. With great respect for the initiator of the debate only so much:

There is no longer any need for clarification on these aspects.
A debate conducted in this way cannot go far in any other way either.
The reverse is true. Where does a "real" debate, whose actors no longer leave the houses, take us?

Of course, I will spare myself the tedious (old European) quotations about the question of the "right life in the wrong". A question of discipline. Smile.

But: I share Rafael's tendencies. Society is everywhere. I would like to add critically. Economization traps also do not stop at niches. "We have to live everywhere. Or with Bert Brecht "First comes the food...".

One can refuse to participate in society and remain among oneself. But this is only as effective and resounding as deciding not to collect or accept one's pension.

Like all minorities, critical minorities with options for the future belong on the Corso!
This alone as a possibility for younger people, others, later.

Who speaks of the claim to cosiness? To whom should this claim be directed?
Are we entitled to forms of positive change that we, of all people, are allowed to experience in our lives in the same way as it was before our eyes in our generation?

I ask you to excuse my bad English.

It is a form of coarse world English. I never learned it. I learned old languages. Many of us speak this English using imperfect machines because we want to communicate. In the absence of a more blessed signal language, we are overcoming obstacles. So strong is our desire.

That is why we will continue to speak it until the digital translators help us into a linguistically low-threshold culture. We could still experience THIS.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator

Rafael González

5/12/2019 06:32:17

These machines help us a lot. Very soon it will not be necessary to learn any language. This gives me some idea ... thank you very much Judith!

Lord Litter link

5/12/2019 15:18:24

.. many thanks for some food for thought! I can sure go with it - still I think that escpecially today this discussion has to go on and the subject must not become *normal* ..

.. as we also still have to talk (again unfortunately) about nazi concentration camps and all the horror from those days, as it seems to become *normal* these days to ok all this..

.. and a BIG thanks for the www.DeepL.com/Translator link! This really works pretty well! .. and it's not Google (I hope) ..

Penga

10/11/2019 17:57:19

I only signed up to FB to get a free download I used my nickname and gave a made up birthday, I hardly ever post and generally rely on texting for communication. Mainly like the ability to find long lost people and a few of the groups.
So when I get post to Mr Pen Ga or notification on "my birthday" April Fools day I know I can ignore it

Lord Litter link

10/12/2019 05:39:41

Yes, I guess many people use FB *undercover* - and again I have to emphasize I'm not blaming anyone from the EC crew to be on FB.

Still it is truth, that every click on FB strengthens a system that helps to spread hate and disaster on planet earth.

The so called *Social Media* has to be reformed heavily - the way it is, it helps to kill.

The right wing killings in Germany on the october 9th, 2019, are sad proove.

Rafael González

10/12/2019 08:10:34

In Syria, Yemen, Iraq ... they don't have so many problems with social media

Lord Litter link

10/12/2019 09:04:13

I don't want to get into this kind of discussion, because that doesn't minimize the devastating effect of *Social Media* the way it is, at all.

Rafael González

10/15/2019 14:38:51

The discussions are good, if they are made in a polite and constructive way .... but ok.

Lord Litter link

10/16/2019 05:15:02

Sure - always polite and constructive! Not like too often on *Social Media* with hate and disgust.

What I wanted to say is that I/we can't get to the bottom of truth by discussing (for example) why Germany has more problems with *Social Media* than Syria. All this would have been the task of the *people in charge* - but they are basicaly only serving the aim of profit and that (in the end) allowed people like Mark Zuckerberg to do whatever he likes with his *property*.

So hate and disgust was able to *gain a huge level of communication* on planet earth via *Social Media* while everybody knew it and saw it.

This is a well known fact and I'm very tired to keep talking about it. If you' re there, you strengthen it .. just like if you have a car you pollute the planet. Not saying that I condemn all people with cars .. but it's a fact that *old fashoined* cars pollute the planet. Like one and one equals two.

Social Media = Death, Destruction, Hate, Lies, Racism, Fascism, Homophobia

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