2020 archive
It’s All about the Algorithm 0
Arash Javanbakht, writing at Psychology Today Blogs, explores how “social” media’s algorithms, designed to keep us eternally engaged in ephemera, lead us down the disinformation superhighway. A nugget:
As a result, the algorithms amplify the negative and then spread it by sharing it among groups.
The Oath Keeper 0
Ted McLaughlin takes inventory.
Facebook Frolics 0
Facebook surfaces the scratches.
“Cult 45” 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Hogan M Sherrow considers whether the devoted followers of Donald Trump can be considered a cult.
Follow the link for his conclusion.
QOTD 0
Kerry Greenwood:
The cat didn’t care what he was called as long as he was always called for dinner.
Greenwood, Kerry, Dead Man’s Chest (Scottsdale, AZ: Poisoned Pen Press, 2010), p. 100.
“Unshaken Faith” 0
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Tony Norman sticks his tongue in his cheek to pen a paean to Q and to those who crave his (her? its?) guidance.
Just read it.
River Dance 0
No selfie awareness. No selfie awareness whatsoever.
Facebook Frolics (Updated) 0
The reason for etiquette is that, without it, you might reveal who you really are, particularly if you forget, as so many do, that the internet is a public place.
Also, meet the Dean of the frolickers.
Addendum:
The Dean’s List has been revised.
Unexpected Lessons 0
At the Idaho State-Journal, Leonard Hitchcock muses on all the knowledge he has acquired because Hillary Clinton did not win the presidential election in 2016. A sampling:
Nor would I, for any other president, have been moved to read a book about his childhood in order to try to make sense of what has caused him to lack what I had assumed to be inherent human qualities, such as empathy.
Follow the link for more lessons learned.
“But It’s the Only Possible Explanation” 0
In the current issue of Psychology Today, Jennifer Latson explores why persons are susceptible to illogical and often contradictory conspiracy theories. A snippet:
How is this possible? Douglas concluded that people who are prone to conspiracy thinking are so quick to see a cover-up that they’re willing to let the logical niceties slide.
it’s a short read–four pages in the print edition. I commend the entire piece to your attention; given the state of dis coarse discourse, it is a particularly timely read.
Afterthought:
Yes, I still subscribe to publications printed on (gasp) paper.
