Hello Dear Reader!
Do you think social media is bad for you?
I bet you do.
Did you watch “The Social Dilemma” on Netflix and were you shocked with what those scheming silicon valley software tyrants created?
I’m certain that you were.
Do you think all the “Fake News” out there is detrimental to a healthy functioning society?
I’m not normally a gambler, but I would take wager on that .
Do you think our youth are being corrupted by all these screens and should spend more time outside in nature with real friends?
Well, that’s a pretty universally held belief.
Now… do you think that you have been programmed to hold these views?
Ooh… I’m not so sure you do…
but unfortunately, I suspect, that if you’re a middle of the road thinker, that’s precisely what you think.
Ah! Insulting your reader base isn’t probably the best strategy, especially when trying to get a point across but can you ask yourself the above questions and answer them honestly?
The solutions probably appear self evidently true to you… No?
Well, today I would like to disabuse you of such notions and welcome you to another dose The Vikid Truth.
Perhaps we should start with what will probably be my weakest argument.
Should kids spend more time outside with friends?
The first question we must ask is, which outside? Is it the same outside as 30, 40 or 50 years ago?
I would say kids are not stupid. If their outside is decent, that’s precisely where they would be. However, if their outside is all fenced off into private communities, full of chain-stores, is dangerous or exhibiting any other antisocial factor, they will have less incentive to go out.
What about hanging out with real friends? Do any of their actual friends live in walking distance? Can they cycle freely without being assaulted by large roads with speeding cars? Are there places that they can hang out without being hassled?
I can bet the answer in most cases would be no, otherwise they would already be outside.
On habit building. If you are a parent, I bet you are closer to what we call a helicopter parent. That means you are constantly supervising and hovering about your children. I bet they are never out of your sights (or some minders) for very long. And then after that, you give them a mobile phone so you can keep tabs on em’. Yeah… guess what they do with those phones. Most kids hate being supervised constantly and the won’t mature properly if you do.
So you boxed them in, put them in a shitty environment, monitor them constantly - and you want them to spend more time outside under those circumstances? Fat chance.
I know what I’d do. I’d rather shitpost with my real friends in relative privacy while exploring some stimulating virtual environments in the safety of my bedroom.
And even today, as an adult, it’s easier to build online friendships with like minded travelers in which you can be honest (politically and otherwise) than having to conform to the deftly boring and soul crushing social norms of the 21st Century Homo Suburbis.
Kids ain’t stupid. They will do what’s best for themselves in their particular circumstances. You ain’t stupid either. If you are spending more time online, it probably because your immediate environment ain’t quite up to it.
The problem isn’t social networks. It’s the lack of suitable real environments.
Let’s move on.
Is social media bad for you? Should you spend less time on it etc.?
No. Not in general. Though the powers that be are trying their darned best to make sure you think so.
Why?
Because they’ve lost the power of the narrative. In fact they are so desperate, they are banning just about anybody who speaks any sense consistently.
With Social Media you no longer need gatekeepers.
Want to know more about m*R*N*A V*aCC*in*ations?
Dude, the very creators of the technology have their own accounts online. They post on them daily and you can learn directly by following them. Think about it.
What about Austrian Economics, Modern Monetary Theory, and the meaning of Fiat Currency?
What about history, philosophy, architecture, postmodernism etc… ??
Yes, yes, yes!
It’s all there, from the leading contemporary proponents. Directly.
Perhaps you like astronomy, baking, mathematics or international politics.
Want to know what’s happening in Australia? There are citizen journalists on the streets right now as you read this.
It’s all there. And you don’t have to be dumb anymore. You don’t even need to go to university to prove it.
Not unless you turn it all off, deactivate your accounts and wait for Brian “the potato” Stelter or Andrew “McGoofy” Marr to keep you up to date.
That’s the sure fire way of deactivating your mind and god given common sense.
No - Much better to get on Social Media - Especially Alternative Networks - And curate who you follow. Get intelligent debate on all sides of all aisles.
Is Fake News an Issue?
No. Fake news is not an issue. The only people I know who are really affected by fake news are the totally incurious and those who rely on information microwaved in large factory kitchens. The only people complaining about “fake news” are the ones who dished out those nutrition devoid dishes for the last several decades. They had all the customers for themselves. Now nobody wants their crap and they ain’t happy about it. As long as you have a large diet of diverse foods, junk will not be an issue. In fact you will learn how to happily avoid it and only pick the choicest of what available. The worlds cuisine is at your fingertips. Ditch the microwave shite and prosper.
Social Liberation
Social Media isn’t bad for you. It’s not even bad for your kids. You probably in fact need more of it. A lot more of it.
You want to follow the best. Cut out the middle man. When you follow the best you will see what books they read, what shows they recommend, what articles they read. Follow me on Instagram (@thevikidtruth) for example. My reading list is extensive and took years to build.
You can have it for free, instantaneously. That’s the power of Social Media.
Often you will be able to interact with the top in their fields directly, and even the occasional superhero 😉.
This is social liberation, your key to bright well informed, well connected future.
The better informed you are. The better off your kids will be and the rest of society too. Let the young ones benefit from these wonderful new technologies. They just need guidance to set off in the right direction.
And no worries, kids will go out all by themselves given freedom, half a chance and a decent environment. That’s for you to build with the surrounding community. It isn’t the problem of fake news or social media. It’s a problem of real environments.
Out goes Social Dilemma, in comes Social Liberation.
Live and be free!
https://openmindschange.com/
A wonderful author of social commentary in the upside down. Martin's book is well worth reading.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61ZyGcD41iQ
Worth an hour of your time.