January, 2025 archive
The Privatization Scam 0
At the Idaho State Journal, Randyu Sttapilus argues that it’s all about the Benjamins.
Facebook Frolics 0
Zeynep Tufekci offers a theory as to why Mark Zuckerberg seems to have thrown his lot in with Donald Trump (while simultaneously getting rid of fact-checking). Here’s the gist:
Follow the link for context.
“But It’s the Only Possible Explanation” 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Jeffrey S. Debies Carl takes a two-part dive into why persons spread conspiracy theories. One of his most disturbing findings at persons may benefit from doing so, but the evidence that they do benefit from fomenting falsehoods is all around us in dis coarse discourse. I commend both articles to your attention.
Here are his summaries of the main points from both parts (emphasis added):
Part One, titled Why Do People Spread Conspiracy Theories?
- Many people assume people who spread conspiracy theories will be subject to ridicule.
- Research suggests that conspiracy theories might actually improve the reputations of people who spread them.
- Spreading conspiracy claims and thinking positively of those who spread them might be part of human evolution.
Part Two, titled Does It Pay to Spread Conspiracy Theories?
- A new study examines the reputational consequences of spreading conspiracy theories.
- The findings show that conspiracy claims can either improve the reputation of spreaders or harm them.
- Social conflict improves positive reputational outcomes of conspiracy spreading and minimizes negative ones.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
It is generally considered not a good idea to play with one’s portable phallus.
Guns and stupid, guns and stupid.
They go together like love and Cupid.
Let me tell you brother,
You can’t have one without the other.
Have You Been Assimilated by the Zuckerborg?
Do You Want To Free Yourself?
0
My friend got a message yesterday from a friend informing her that said friend was leaving Facebook “because facts matter.”
Coincidentally, this appeared in my feeds:
the EFF offers some pointers as to how to dis-assimilate oneself from the Zuckerborg.
Macho, Macho Men* 0
At the Tampa Bay Times, Stephanie Harris reacts to Mark Zuckerberg’s claim that we need a more masculine culture. A snippet:
So true. Men have been ignored for too long. As the nation writes this next chapter, it is crucial to refocus our attention on them. After all, we have been allowed to have credit cards in our own names since, what, 1974? And women run a whole 10% of Fortune 500 companies. What are we even whining about?
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*Methinks the text-speak shorthand for this term in this context is “WATB.”
Know Them by the Company They Keep 0
As cynical as I have become been made, I must admit that this rather takes me aback.
I expect that my father, who was in the Ardennes, would be appalled.
The Fires This Time 0
Jimmy Kimmel discusses being in Los Angeles during the fires this time.
Afterthought:
I spent a lot of time in California on business trips.
I must confess, I don’t like California and I agree with Alexander Woollcott about Los Angeles. The Cali scenery is beautiful–especially the high Sierras–but I guess I’m just an east coast guy at heart.
But that doesn’t mean I dislike Californians or wish them ill.
I–all should–contemn those folks who are trying to score political points off the California fires and those who are suffering from them.
But it seems that those who sell hate always finds buyers, because hate sells, for hating is always easier than thinking.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Yet another child . . . .
And again we are reminded that “accidental” and “negligent” are not synonyms.
“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”* 0
In the current kerfuffle over kids and cell phones, Peter Gray, writing at Psychology Today Blogs, hears many rhymes with “moral panics” in the past. Here’s the ones he mentions specifically:
- Penny Dreadfuls and Dime Novels in the Victorian Era
- The Motion Picture Panic of the 1930s
- The Post-WWII Comic Book Panic
- The Video Game Panic of the 1990s and Early 21st Century
Follow the link for a detailed discussion of each.
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*Mark Twain.