Disruption

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Lifestyle

It's the order of the day. We live in a totally networked world where anyone and anything is connected. It would seem all of our traditional hierarchical structures are in crisis or decline. That includes states, churches, parties and corporations.

 

Money is being challenged by cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin).

Party establishments are being replaced by viral messaging.

Cyberspace has changed into a realm of "ideologial polarization, extreme views and fake news."

 

Evan Williams, co-founder of Twitter, in an interview with the NY Times said, "I thought once everybody could speak freely and exchange information and ideas, the world is automatially going to be a better place, I was wrong about that."

 

Recent research, this past year, has uncovered the psychological harm inflicted by social media on young people. More upsetting is that cyberspace has morphed into an environment where Russian trolls to pro-ISIS users can work to subvert the institutional foundations of democracy with little or no repurcussions.

 

Since this new public sphere has no effective gatekeepers, the advantage is now in the hands of misleaders not leaders.

Comments

Submitted by VincentPetraro on Sat, 01/06/2018 - 00:51

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Vincent Petraro

Too bad Twitter (and Facebook too) does not let everyone speak freely! Start there Evan!
Cayce Crown

Advantage is that we all can be participants in the creation of whatever world we want. Continue to tell me bad news, I’ve got 100x more good news.
Gideon Schein

I find it incredulous that the creators of the digital revolution did not see the destructive power of their discovery and take more time to evaluate the potential misuse. It seems clear to me that the lure of greater profits trumped (pun somewhat intended) common sense.
Gideon Schein

I find it incredulous that the creators of the digital revolution did not see the destructive power of their discovery and take more time to evaluate the potential misuse. It seems clear to me that the lure of greater profits trumped (pun somewhat intended) common sense.
Corey Bearak

The lack of gatekeepers makes it so interesting.
In theory we become our own.
We accept or refuse Friends (Facebook), become Followers or get followed (twitter), we connect (LinkedIn). We like things, comment -- all platforms.
Of course those who choose to monitor their pages and tags and posts by others on their platforms exercise their own control.
The problem is how folks or entities (including those pesky Russians) can create false profiles and handles etc and help perpetuate Fake News and the link.
How do we know the profile is real? How do we know a page is real. A page I created for an org got verified on Facebook. It included providing utility bills. Twitter verifies certain users (not all). People can create false websites too. Its done a lot in politics. (Not by me)

Submitted by NeilHollander on Sat, 01/06/2018 - 07:45

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Neil Hollander

I live in a remote wilderness as most of you know . The caveat is that as the crow flys I'm about 20 miles or so from the heart of Silicon Valley where all this cyber mania was born . It takes little time most days to get into the Redwood wilderness from Google land . As a result many of the tech billionaires have bought ranches surrounding mine . To the point then . I've never seen a bunch of intelligent people with so little common sense in my life . Hence no vision as to consequences of actions . Where do we go from here ? Where will this take us . Do I wind my ass or scratch my watch ? When things go south up here weather wise which happens it seems all winter and if you head over to the Summit Center you can find people like Steve Wozniak handing out two dollar bills that he prints in the basement of his Llama ranch . Or perhaps aiming his green laser pen at incoming airliners landing in San Jose . Ultimately we need to remember that genus and species Homo Sapien are mere animals . As long as we inhabit the planet the world will never be a better place . We are warmongers and the other species of animals make us look embarrassingly weak . This plus Artificial Intelligence left to the creators of such doom us to destruction . The animals in the woods around me tell me this . They wink , snort and run with the wind while we waste away allowing our body parts to become more and more vestigial every minute . Chew on that . Or don't .

Hollander Sends

Submitted by MarilynGenoa on Sun, 01/07/2018 - 03:42

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Marilyn Genoa

Interesting but totally depressive thoughts
Rona Gura

It scares me to see what long term use will be on our children and their children. There are no filters.

Submitted by Alex_Fecci on Sun, 01/07/2018 - 10:17

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Alex Fecci

I believe the Internet and It's Extended Reach is a Good Idea Going Bad. Yes, We want Free Speech, but most of us want only to hear that which we agree with. Yes want to "Share", but become upset when others disagree with what we share. Yes we want to "Follow", but become upset when we find out the Person or Group we are 'Following" is not that Source at all. Yes we Enjoy "Google, Apple or Waze - Maps" but we don't want all to Know where we are at all times. Yes we want to be "Connected" but we really enjoy our Privacy. And Yes we All want Freedom of Religion.
I often Think of the Internet as "Neural Hy-Way", Much Like the Arteries, Veins & Nerves in Our Body. Each Transporting Life-Support & Sensations to and from Our Extremities. The difference being is One-Free-Mind controls all Thoughts & Actions, Directed by One's Values, Fabric & Comfort Zones. In my Opinion, That which we call Today's Internet, will Change Drastically as it Swings "Full-Pendulum" Via "Evolution or Revolution" as a result of the Diverse Minds, Cultures and Values it Reaches. Talk about a 'Virus", I view Today's Internet as an Addictive Vehicle, that may some day Control All It's Addicts by A Single Most Knowledgeable Source. And there goes Freedom Of Religion, As we will be Governed by A New Single God "The Internet".
Kelly Welles

We are all unavoidably adrift on a sea of uncertainty whose destination is of new world order or disorder, as the case may be. Language, communication, institutions, currency, information itself and relationships are all up for grabs. It's an era of reinvention and what the outcome or rules will be is anyone's guess. Bon voyage!

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