I think it's extremely significant that a discussion on *Social Media* brought an overwhelming feedback. Makes it obvious that it moves people - whether you're in or outside of it.
First I want to make absolutely clear: I don't *dislike* anyone of the EC community who is using *Social Media*. EC as a community only gathers positive human beings in my view and from my experience. I also want to point out, that the basic idea of *Social Media* is of course a positive one. There can't be something wrong with people coming together..but... I think Hal came close when he wrote that it depends on one's age how one regards *Social Media*. For human beings now growing up, it is normal that people are beaten up just because they are non-white or non-heterosexual. Not *ok* (I hope) but *normal*. In Europe it was not *normal* some years ago - now it is, it happens every day - it is in the norm - it is *normal*. Regarding *Social Media* and your age, there are sure exceptions. I see 70 year old smart phone addicts in the streets - for example, and I see 20 years old people with NO smart phone in hand. I didn't grow up with it, so I see it with a (what I think) healthy distance. In the mid 1990s I studied multimedia in all forms, HTML, website construction, soundcreation, grafix, video, etc. With this knowledge I spent inspiring years of freelancing. The internet was in its very early days in Europe. It was an inspiring area and one could even make a very decent income. It was quite normal that one who was on the internet was learning new things, understood structures, got inspired and creative. One was automatically a creator not a consumer. I started using the internet to spread alternative culture. A first internet radiostation that webcasted my show regularly was Indieport.com (long forgotten). In the end I had four shows. Two online, two on air. One of the shows was a weekly show that was webcasted daily. In the beginning I sent the shows on CD-R via snail mail. No way of sending big files via the net in those days. I had an early website with all kind of alternative information, links, reviews, articles, etc. Electronic communication started and all was innovative and inspiring. A worldwide level of communication, experiment, creativity - it was called *The global village*. In those years I definitely experienced the attitude and *flair* I knew from the cassette scene in/on the internet. The whole internet was a *Social Media* like area. It was easy for me to go from *cassette culture* to *internet culture*. Slowly something else took over. I started teaching how to use the internet A new expression was *blooming*: e-commerce. I made quite some money teaching this to companies in Berlin. And more and more the *making money* aspect took over. The world was realising how much money was to be made with these millions of people that suddenly were on the internet. Slowly the internet turned into a money making tool. FB and the whole *Social Media* idea came alive in the early 2000s. Right from the start there was just one idea - create as many clicks as possible, this generates the profit. Yeah - this was the savior of those days: generating clicks! I remember this was a main aspect of my lectures - your website has to generate clicks - this will guarantee profit. This never changed and the whole internet today is slave to this rule. C U T ................. I remember an early Electronic Cottage info where Hal defines that NO hate, homophobia etc etc etc .. is welcomed at EC. - no such obvious call is known from FB (and the general *Social Media*) from the early days. So everybody was welcomed. I repeat again - clicks should be generated, clicks would guarantee companies placing advertisement. After a slow start the amount of money involved in this process became *scary*. People as human beings became irrelevant, they became units generating clicks. Ever since groups that so far had no worldwide *mouth*, started using *Social Media* to come together on a worldwide level and began to spread Death, Destruction, Hate, Lies, Racism, Fascism, Homophobia ... no one stopped them. Especially not the owners of *Social Media*, every click meant profit. Whether a peace loving hippie or a hate spreading Nazi. *Social Media* embraces and unites them all. Today - whether Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc etc, if you look behind it's all Zuckerberg - it's all there to generate clicks. He makes that much money that he can put billions aside *just in case* he needs them for being sued - billions. I painfully began to realise that every human being, who is not white and heterosexual, is now in danger in Germany and in general in the modern society. After decades of coming together (after the Second World War), we're again drifting apart because all negative hatemongers found a platform to come together worldwide. And I'm shocked and sad that all my non-white and non-hetero friends are back in a greater danger than they were when I started this life .. a part of the background is, because *Social Media* found a total uncontrolled playground on Planet Earth. One of the most dangerously insane politicians ever, rules (Planet Earth) via Twitter. .. rules Planet Earth via Twitter! Every time I realise this, I simply can't believe it. I really think we have to start to react - offer different ways, work on alternatives, start to shout, cry, and don't stop until a different movement is noticeable. Especially being part of *Social Media* makes us part of the mainstream of today. We feed and support today's mainstream. I once entered the *alternative underground* to get away from the mainstream and its devastating effect on culture to offer a counterweight. A very *clever* move made the *new* mainstream catch all *alternative* people in recent years. And again the mainstream teaches us how to think, look, walk, talk etc. .. The time to offer a *adjusted counterweight* is now. All over the world I see gentle small plantlets whispering *no* ... I'm one of those old trees, so I cry. NO!!! So again I repeat: *Social Media* (the way it is now) = Death, Destruction, Hate, Lies, Racism, Fascism, Homophobia A fact is that I'm definitely not the only one warning against this. One example. The inventor of the Like button, after realising what he has done, feels very guilty for inventing this tool of addiction, which was right from the start planned as a tool, of addiction...and that's really only one example. Too many people worldwide just live for this *feedback call* of *Social Media*. As soon as the bell rings they jump to the device and put their dose into the system, which sends the call to other people .. and so on. Sure there are also positive movements supported by *Social Media* - everyone who is not white and heterosexual found a mouth to say: "Here we are and we are *normal*". But what price have we paid to support endless greed and profit...plus many of these *mouths* were there long before *Social Media* .. like Christoper Street Day. What a chance we missed that the basic idea of *Social Media* was not used on pro-life movements.. And now please don't tell me, well - that is just the way it is, the way it always has been, business as usual - this is cynical and supports Death, Destruction, Hate, Lies, Racism, Fascism, Homophobia. All this is just the beginning, if we don't oppose to a algorithm ruled world. I just received a first example of what will happen now, that we have a new Europe copyright law, controlled by algorithm, and of course a first *victim* I heard of is a good old buddy from the cassette culture days - and of course it happens via a *Social Media* platform. I'll try to research this and I'm planning another article on this. PS: I barely *touched* the whole subject - I didn't even mention the expression *fake news* which is all a result and heavily supported by *Social Media*. And I didn't talk about GOOGLE - a whole planet led to search results by one company. This is horrible and terrifying - to say the least ... but it's *normal* to everyone. Yours Don Quijote better known as Lord Litter
42 Comments
Evan Cantor
5/8/2019 16:54:53
keep tilting at those windmills, Don Q--something in this world smelleth unsavory (and it's not Pancho Sanza this time...)
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I've been "addicted" to a certain website for years. An alternative to "social media". Plug.dj formerly turntable.fm is a platform where people can hang out and listen to tunes or view youtube videos (without advertisements) while chatting in real time. I created an electronic cottage room the other day and my hope is that E.C. community members will spin tunes and chat in real time. We could even plan times to all meet up and share videos or music focusing on a specific theme. An E.C. member could host a listening party for some of their new music in the plug.dj room. I may need to submit an independent article about this since there is so much positive potential here! See you in the E.C. room!
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Chris Phinney
5/9/2019 06:53:44
Jay,
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5/9/2019 07:22:07
... perfect example of what I mean!! .. it's all out there .. look for *alternatives* ..!
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Carl Howard
5/8/2019 17:22:14
Well... that was some sobering reading...
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Hal McGee
5/8/2019 17:44:31
Gosh, for a moment there it almost felt like the days of the EC print magazine, when you and Lord Litter were two of my lead writers and columnists!
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Carl Howard
5/8/2019 17:46:48
... wink emoji 5/9/2019 07:33:23
Oh - ya - we messed up many things decades ago - obvious things ..
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Rafael González
5/8/2019 19:16:59
I've read you again carefully, and I love that you do these articles. My opinion is still the same and I will not refute your article with my thoughts (since I already did it in the first part).
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5/9/2019 07:46:13
From your thoughts on the first essay:
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Rafael González
5/9/2019 14:02:39
Lord Littler. 5/10/2019 06:00:04
I hope this is the correct place to reply to your comment ...
Rafael González
5/10/2019 09:35:57
In this aspect completely agree. Always in favor of humanity, always in defense of all the peoples of the world, wherever.
Rafael González
5/8/2019 19:33:50
I have a 14 year old son and he is much more open minded, tolerant and has more knowledge than me at his age.
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5/9/2019 07:59:26
I applaud you! .. and I got one of those too - but - this does not rebut my general view on *Social Media* or the internet it is today.
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Rafael González
5/9/2019 14:11:49
It is possible that at that point you are right ... think about the First and Second World War, perhaps one of the greatest atrocities and perversions of humanity. There was no Internet. By this I mean that I do not think that the internet will turn humanity into something much more monstrous than it is. 5/10/2019 06:10:44
.. again I fully agree! .. to a certain extend ..
Chris Phinney
5/10/2019 20:08:40
Ha I got a 31 yr old girl married a year plus I moved her to L.A. years ago, a 28 yr old son who moved out while back lives in Heber Springs, AR near his mom, a 25 yr old son just moved to Heber, a 21 yr old daughter lives with me for now.
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Chris Phinney
5/8/2019 19:45:30
Carl,
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5/9/2019 09:21:27
It seems we had more or less exactly the same *internet history*. Your *russian example* is a perfect one to define this hunt for clicks based on theft .. same happened to my music. There are still russian websites where you can download my songs..
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Chris Phinney
5/9/2019 12:59:54
oh yeah same here on some russian sites where you can still download my songs.
don quixote's horse
5/8/2019 21:21:16
His name was Rocinante.
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Chris Phinney
5/9/2019 06:15:01
Thanks Don's 🐎
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Hal McGee
5/9/2019 06:26:10
Wow, your horse emoticon actually showed up here in a comment instead of only in the email notification!
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Chris Phinney
5/9/2019 06:44:17
🎹🎶
Curious
5/9/2019 06:49:17
👍🕵️☕️🤓
Hal McGee
5/9/2019 08:20:12
LL, Everyone who is currently using FB has decided that they will continue to use it because all of their friends and family are still there on FB. It is really that simple. Do not get me wrong: I think that your articles make a strong case for NOT using FB. I DO hope that people will think about the subject, and will consider your viewpoint, and will think more critically about their use of FB. Hopefully we will all begin to think about alternatives. I am of the opinion that anyone who currently uses FB is not going to stop using it. For us it has its legitimate uses. I think it is important, however, to always be wary, and to take nothing for granted. I will repeat: we should try to use alternatives as much as possible. Jay's suggestion is a good example. Alternative online spaces! EC is an alternative online space but it cannot replace FB for the people who now use FB. EC's scope is very limited, by design. It is small, by design. Rafael's son cannot have an interest in EC, nor my mom and dad. Also, I think it is important to note that a lot of our mutual friends who use FB do not take it seriously because their primary focus is on in-real-life interactions at local noise-music shows, for example. There is a real-life community aspect to these noise-family gatherings that EC simply cannot compete with. Some people look at it as a lark or time-waster or way to pass the time when they are bored at their jobs; or as a place where they can talk about their hobbies and interests outside of underground music (Star Trek, Twin Peaks, and other fave TV shows, history, politics, conservation and environmentalism); or as a place where they can share spontaneous expressions of thoughts and new artworks. EC is not designed for these things. EC cannot replace any of these purposes that FB is much better at. It HAS been my experience that discussion of any depth is prone to failure at FB.
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Rafael González
5/10/2019 10:33:35
Very good reflection and a good summary. I can only say that FB can not replace EC either
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5/9/2019 11:54:35
Yes..yes..yes!!
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5/9/2019 18:06:33
Rodney king said it best : Can’t we all just get along? And Waldo Faldo said it way worse on Family Matters: can’t we all just sing a song?
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Hal McGee
5/10/2019 08:20:28
Yes, we CAN all get along. There is no problem with that. We can all agree to disagree. Any community consists of individuals, each of whom has their own ideas, opinions and unique personal perspectives based on their life experiences. We learn from each other through the open, free exchange of thoughts and viewpoints. Being a part of the EC community does not mean that we all share the same opinions: that would be boring. If any of you have something to say, say it, fearlessly and with love and respect.
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Hal McGee
5/10/2019 08:24:44
We can all take Rafael as a good example in his comments and replies above. He expresses himself boldly and confidently in spite of the fact that English is a secondary language for him.
Rafael González
5/10/2019 09:31:02
Thanks Hal, I always try the best. I must admit that I have never studied English. I am learning it self-taught and thanks to many friends (Ohhhhhhhhhhhh thanks to Social Media again!)
Hal McGee
5/10/2019 09:36:28
jajajajajajahahahahahahahahaha!
Rafael González
5/10/2019 10:36:59
Hahahahahaha...Wait!!! I must also say that my written English has improved a lot thanks to EC!
Lumen K
5/10/2019 10:11:31
I have reduced my time on Facebook quite a bit lately. Sure, I still go. I want to interact with friends with whom I only interact on Facebook. Less and less do I feel like it is a place that I want to do more than interact on a surface level. Ideally I want to see people face to face and listen to all of their reasons, joys, and fears. Still, better to see them a little on Facebook than not see them at all. We live in a world that was built by stealing resources, inflicting suffering on others, extracting wealth, and selling, selling, selling. All of us are implicated in it. Even people who are repurposing the world's trash are dependent upon the trash to repurpose it. I am typing on an instrument of death. The dark side is always with us. Very soon we will experience a global reckoning when the oceans gasp their last and billions starve to death. We are killing the planet and ourselves, and yet we still worry about trivial things. What else to do when we cannot face the horror of our handiwork? We will whistle all the way into the pile of corpses we are inevitably joining. I am sure the smell of my corpse will be a little sweeter than the next person's if I show everyone how virtuous I am in this moment. LOL.
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Carl Howard
5/10/2019 11:53:40
I have to unsubscribe from this thread now. It's become so active it's flooding my inbox. I don't have the time and I don't even have the storage space in my inbox to hold onto so many notifications.
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Hal McGee
5/10/2019 11:55:45
Discussion always causes problems! Thanks for contributing to the topic!
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Juan Angel Italiano
5/15/2019 15:32:20
Excellent article! Agree 100%
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Rafael González
5/15/2019 19:00:08
I think the same. Internet should be used to spread positive messages, we can not let hate and darkness take over this space.
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5/16/2019 06:41:43
Many thanks for this comment!
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Rafael González
5/16/2019 11:07:53
We must do it. Leave a Reply. |
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