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| Umberto Eco, who actually used the word imbecile in Italian |
Outrage has turned to a simmering anger. I am not used to this chronically induced emotion. It goes against my nature and personality. Yet every day I am confronted with anger in social media and countless other platforms, which then trickles into real life.
One of the most insignificant examples was someone I was introduced to who has a background in mammalian biology and is a child educator, who also has a blog with lively discussions on science and science fiction. Perfect.
Until Covid, when she took it upon herself to explain it to the rest of us. No background and no understanding of any kind. People were scared and needed answers, which public health should have provided. She claimed that Corona was named after the Christian crown of thorns, trying to impress her readers with the latin word. I corrected that when it was discovered it looked like the three dimensional corona of the sun. (Solar Corona). Significant for research because of all of those spike proteins.
"Oh, I was mistaken" did not occur to her, instead she wanted my qualifications and a reference citation then...insults. I was polite but shocked, six years later this uncivilized behavior is the norm.
Rage bait for clicks and self-promotion. She knew little about science, but knew how to market herself.
There's a video by a lesser known techbro selling AI as "on the cusp of a breakthrough through vibe physics." It's making the rounds in the physics community because it makes no sense, but is how a product is sold to investors; I have a feeling that this will be the next big thing.
Freedom of speech is being suppressed, hate speech is being promoted. It doesn't matter what field or industry I am addressing, all of them are affected: music, art, literature, tech etc
As to advertising; shopping therapy works when people are in a good mood or mildly stressed, not when they're angry.
Came across Amanda Palmers expression of emotions. I'm not a fan of her music. There's also controversy in her personal life, which I'm not referring to. However, she makes an interesting 6-minute point about fear, some of which resonated.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJRq3PvxSmi/?hl=en
Silence is not the answer.
Grateful for artists who adjust the spotlight toward the truth.
ReplyDeleteCodex: If they have the courage to. Remember the Dixie chick's?
DeleteYes, they're terrific. Now referred to as, The Chicks. That controversy seems quaint now.
DeleteCodex: Yes. But it temporarily set back their career.
DeleteI just don't engage with the perpetually stupid. All this started when the wannabe king decided to run for president and got up and trashed being politically correct, ie being civil, respectful, considerate, tactful, courteous, etc, and let his worst self dominate and all those who hate the same people he hates said yeah! Fuc being kind. He gave them all permission to be their worst selves and they have embraced it.
ReplyDeleteCodex: Agreed on both statements. But this was someone who is liberal and yet...
DeleteI don't know Ellen, I don't feel like getting angry or reading about anger every day.
Read an interesting thing the other day: that humans weren’t supposed to exist in global communities. It’s too much. Social media broke us. We were supposed to live in our little community bubbles and wrestle with those small concerns. I don’t know if I agree with the latter part of the argument. But the social media broke us part? The we have too much info on everything and not enough knowledge part? Yeah. I think maybe I do agree with that. I think it’s why it feels like a relief to just unplug sometimes. Let the anger and overwhelm and the feeling that one should be “doing something” just wash away. For a while anyway.
ReplyDeleteCodex: @37. I disagree with that opinion. We were always a global community. Curiosity is in our nature. Ships were built to explore, discover, trade or pillage many thousands of years ago. Social media worked quite well until recently. We're getting too much misinformation, then everyone gossips and chimes in, but it used to be civil. Now it isn't. It's overwhelming because we are confronted with one injustice after the next. It's good to recharge and there are many little ways one can help. Good to see you back.
DeleteI have grown so weary of the hostility and try to maintain my Peace and my Calm by not engaging with whatever is controversial or just foolishness being passed off as intelligence and reason. It's hard not to become Angry tho', you're right, it spills into real life when so much outside of our direct control is so messed up and so hostile. I have to occasionally go on a little Rant. *Smiles*
ReplyDeleteCodex: Yes, exactly. Easier said than done though.
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