"Trending".
That's what it says at the top of my yahoo screen, when I go there to bulk erase my hate mail.
"Trending".
And underneath that innocuous word, there are a number of pictures, usually of hip hop stars or TV actors. I am told they are trending, and Yahoo is kind enough to give me links to find out this most important information...Why they are trending, or even just what's "cool" about them.
Apparently, it is now socially necessary to know this drivel. Without it, I am hopelessly stunted, and I will be left standing by the corner at parties. Without it, I am not in the know, and will be shunned like the village leper.
This offends me. Not the corner bit, I typically haunt the corners of parties I attend, because I usually hate everyone there, and I glower at anyone who shows any interest in talking to me. I don't like people in my town, and I want them to hate me.
No, I am offended by the insistence that my life is valueless unless I know precisely who's beating "Rhianna" up these days, and I must have intimate knowledge of some East coast midget who is famous for, of all things, being a midget. A drunken midget. Alphonse Carr, thou art redeemed.
It's all Pink chow. It's all a means to ensure that you're paying attention to what you're supposed to be paying attention to, instead of what the hell is REALLY going on around you, each and every day. While Sally Rottencrotch is busy obsessing about what Beyonce is up to, they're cutting her future out from underneath her, at the education department upstate. While Suzie Homemaker is learning who's with it, her health care is being cut.
It's all garbage, a stinking pile of reinforced mediocrity, jammed down our throats so we'll forget how strange the world really is...And it's working, because they wouldn't leave the links up if there was no traffic...Advertisers don't pay if nobody's clicking. Ergo, people really pay attention to that, and this is just ONE MORE REASON that if this was a JUST UNIVERSE, then a BIG FUCKING SPACE ROCK WOULD HIT THE PLANET AND PUT YOU ALL OUT OF MY MISERY. YOU FUCKERS KILLED JOHNNY CASH WITH THIS BULLSHIT!
Lord, how I hate you all.
Or Kill Me.
The Village Leper is the only person in town worth talking to. He has the ability to think. You can talk to him for hours and not once hear about stars and who is doing who.
:mittens:
Damn Roger. Get the damn lazors out of mah head!!!!
Seriously, it's diversionary tactics. If we are brainwashed into thinking what they want us to think and do what they want us to do then they can do pretty much whatever they want in the background and we'll never see it happen.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 06:55:23 PM
YOU FUCKERS KILLED JOHNNY CASH WITH THIS BULLSHIT!
And he took The Truth with him when he died. :cry:
trending topics are just a peek at what people are making the most noise about today. It's not all celeb gossip, a few weeks ago it was wikileaks and crap like that. Trending lists do show us that most people search for absolutely banal trash. But it can be useful now and then. For example I was just peeking at today's search trends to see if it's all garbage, and one of them is "egypt protests"... reading further... apparently Egypt has its own anti-government protests (http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/blog/2011/jan/25/middleeast-tunisia) like the ones in Tunisia, and in an effort to stave off the drama, the government has blocked twitter.
I don't think that there's anything wrong with knowing what people are talking about unless you're following it slavishly.
It's interesting to contrast trending with old journalism format though.. journalists do their best to pick the right story for their audience. A newspaper editor selects front page stories about what he hopes are the "trending topics", the things people really want to know about. Now we have a more organic tool to see what they're interested in.
Quote from: Cramulus on January 25, 2011, 07:24:17 PM
Now we have a more organic tool to see what they're interested in.
What a dreadful notion.
Also, that means you get famous for being famous, which I'm pretty sure is in the book of Revelation somewhere.
If I'm trying to find out what people are talking about this week, (occasionally I get curious)
I'd rather look at a list of popular searches
than a list of topics that some editor thinks are popular.
Quote from: Cramulus on January 25, 2011, 09:15:56 PM
If I'm trying to find out what people are talking about this week, (occasionally I get curious)
I'd rather look at a list of popular searches
than a list of topics that some editor thinks are popular.
To each his own, I guess.
Is that what that shit means? Go gods. SO glad I never was all...hey look celebrities doing stupid shit...I HAVE TO FIND OUT NAO!!!!!
:| I hate people.
Quote from: Cramulus on January 25, 2011, 09:15:56 PM
If I'm trying to find out what people are talking about this week, (occasionally I get curious)
I'd rather look at a list of popular searches
than a list of topics that some editor thinks are popular.
Or you are looking at a list of searches that have been weighted to guide you towards what They want you think about under the guise of search engine generated links.
Quote from: Canis latrans eques on January 25, 2011, 09:21:29 PM
Is that what that shit means? Go gods. SO glad I never was all...hey look celebrities doing stupid shit...I HAVE TO FIND OUT NAO!!!!!
:| I hate people.Quote from: Cramulus on January 25, 2011, 09:15:56 PM
If I'm trying to find out what people are talking about this week, (occasionally I get curious)
I'd rather look at a list of popular searches
than a list of topics that some editor thinks are popular.
Or you are looking at a list of searches that have been weighted to guide you towards what They want you think about under the guise of search engine generated links.
Pretty sure it's manufactured.
Striving to see a positive - if you want to shove a stick between the spokes, trends show the bicycle model most people currently ride upon.
E.g. according to Google Zeitgeist 2010 (http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/zeitgeist2010/) a troll involving justin beiber, chatroulette and an ipad would get a lot of attention. Last year.
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 25, 2011, 09:22:59 PM
Striving to see a positive - if you want to shove a stick between the spokes, trends show the bicycle model most people currently ride upon.
E.g. according to Google Zeitgeist 2010 (http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/zeitgeist2010/) a troll involving justin beiber, chatroulette and an ipad would get a lot of attention. Last year.
That's an interesting notion, CU.
Hmm.
Off to the drawing board.
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 25, 2011, 09:22:59 PM
Striving to see a positive - if you want to shove a stick between the spokes, trends show the bicycle model most people currently ride upon.
E.g. according to Google Zeitgeist 2010 (http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/zeitgeist2010/) a troll involving justin beiber, chatroulette and an ipad would get a lot of attention. Last year.
I would rather eat a live frog.
Fuck, I've been fooling myself, and there's no fool like an old fool. What I brought to Discordia is played out. It's fucking over, and has been for a long time.
Time to stop wasting everyone's time and bandwidth with this crapola.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 09:45:07 PM
Fuck, I've been fooling myself, and there's no fool like an old fool. What I brought to Discordia is played out. It's fucking over, and has been for a long time.
Time to stop wasting everyone's time and bandwidth with this crapola.
Not for all.never mind.
just curious, do you guys have any links or something which support that trending topics are manipulated as a form of social control?
other than the fact that some people engage in google bombing, etc
I guess I just don't see why search engines would be pushing people to look for Justin Bieber, the Oscars, crap like that. Especially since subversive topics often become trending topics too.
What does that have to do with the rant?
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 09:46:30 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 09:45:07 PM
Fuck, I've been fooling myself, and there's no fool like an old fool. What I brought to Discordia is played out. It's fucking over, and has been for a long time.
Time to stop wasting everyone's time and bandwidth with this crapola.
Not for all.
never mind.
Yeah.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 10:08:19 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 09:46:30 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 09:45:07 PM
Fuck, I've been fooling myself, and there's no fool like an old fool. What I brought to Discordia is played out. It's fucking over, and has been for a long time.
Time to stop wasting everyone's time and bandwidth with this crapola.
Not for all.
never mind.
Yeah.
If I thought you were serious about not writing any more I would be very pissed.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 10:08:19 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 09:46:30 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 09:45:07 PM
Fuck, I've been fooling myself, and there's no fool like an old fool. What I brought to Discordia is played out. It's fucking over, and has been for a long time.
Time to stop wasting everyone's time and bandwidth with this crapola.
Not for all.
never mind.
Yeah.
:cry: Was it my comment? I thought I was on the right track :?
Quote from: Cramulus on January 25, 2011, 09:46:44 PM
just curious, do you guys have any links or something which support that trending topics are manipulated as a form of social control?
other than the fact that some people engage in google bombing, etc
I guess I just don't see why search engines would be pushing people to look for Justin Bieber, the Oscars, crap like that. Especially since subversive topics often become trending topics too.
I thought Rog was talking about the result, not the cause? I.e. it's not necessarily manipulated with intent, but that doesn't make it any less insidious.
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 10:06:42 PM
What does that have to do with the rant?
sorry, I should have quoted the two posts I was responding to -
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 09:22:07 PM
Quote from: Canis latrans eques on January 25, 2011, 09:21:29 PM
Is that what that shit means? Go gods. SO glad I never was all...hey look celebrities doing stupid shit...I HAVE TO FIND OUT NAO!!!!!
:| I hate people.Quote from: Cramulus on January 25, 2011, 09:15:56 PM
If I'm trying to find out what people are talking about this week, (occasionally I get curious)
I'd rather look at a list of popular searches
than a list of topics that some editor thinks are popular.
Or you are looking at a list of searches that have been weighted to guide you towards what They want you think about under the guise of search engine generated links.
Pretty sure it's manufactured.
------------but yo, I can see we're off topic, and upon a rereading, I think I misread the actual point of the rant. If I'm reading it correctly, Roger's point is warning about social pressure in general, blaming somebody / something in particular for that social pressure, yes? Terribly sorry for threadjack. :oops:
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 10:14:27 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 10:08:19 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 09:46:30 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 09:45:07 PM
Fuck, I've been fooling myself, and there's no fool like an old fool. What I brought to Discordia is played out. It's fucking over, and has been for a long time.
Time to stop wasting everyone's time and bandwidth with this crapola.
Not for all.
never mind.
Yeah.
If I thought you were serious about not writing any more I would be very pissed.
Look, while intend to keep writing for a few artists I know, we have to face facts. The rant is, after 8 years, played out. It's not wanted in public, with its bare face hanging out...
Which is the only way it can mean anything, other than playing for THE AUDIENCE. It just isn't where Discordia is, now. There's nothing sadder than a rock star playing in Casinos at age 70, right? It's fucking pathetic. I ain't gonna be that guy.
It's over.
Discordia is about something different now, not sure what, but it seems to be more about networking than message, about what's new, what's trending, what's going on in everyone's day-to-day life. There's a word for what I'm trying to say, but I'll be fucked if I can think what that word is at the moment.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 26, 2011, 12:09:50 AM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 10:14:27 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 10:08:19 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 09:46:30 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 09:45:07 PM
Fuck, I've been fooling myself, and there's no fool like an old fool. What I brought to Discordia is played out. It's fucking over, and has been for a long time.
Time to stop wasting everyone's time and bandwidth with this crapola.
Not for all.
never mind.
Yeah.
If I thought you were serious about not writing any more I would be very pissed.
Look, while intend to keep writing for a few artists I know, we have to face facts. The rant is, after 8 years, played out. It's not wanted in public, with its bare face hanging out...Which is the only way it can mean anything, other than playing for THE AUDIENCE. It just isn't where Discordia is, now. There's nothing sadder than a rock star playing in Casinos at age 70, right? It's fucking pathetic. I ain't gonna be that guy.
It's over.
Discordia is about something different now, not sure what, but it seems to be more about networking than message, about what's new, what's trending, what's going on in everyone's day-to-day life. There's a word for what I'm trying to say, but I'll be fucked if I can think what that word is at the moment.
"Supermarket gab-rag + Facebook"?
Quote from: Sister Fracture on January 26, 2011, 12:15:54 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 26, 2011, 12:09:50 AM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 10:14:27 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 10:08:19 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 09:46:30 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 09:45:07 PM
Fuck, I've been fooling myself, and there's no fool like an old fool. What I brought to Discordia is played out. It's fucking over, and has been for a long time.
Time to stop wasting everyone's time and bandwidth with this crapola.
Not for all.
never mind.
Yeah.
If I thought you were serious about not writing any more I would be very pissed.
Look, while intend to keep writing for a few artists I know, we have to face facts. The rant is, after 8 years, played out. It's not wanted in public, with its bare face hanging out...Which is the only way it can mean anything, other than playing for THE AUDIENCE. It just isn't where Discordia is, now. There's nothing sadder than a rock star playing in Casinos at age 70, right? It's fucking pathetic. I ain't gonna be that guy.
It's over.
Discordia is about something different now, not sure what, but it seems to be more about networking than message, about what's new, what's trending, what's going on in everyone's day-to-day life. There's a word for what I'm trying to say, but I'll be fucked if I can think what that word is at the moment.
"Supermarket gab-rag + Facebook"?
No, as satisfying as the cheap shot would be, that's not it.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 26, 2011, 12:09:50 AM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 10:14:27 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 10:08:19 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 09:46:30 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 09:45:07 PM
Fuck, I've been fooling myself, and there's no fool like an old fool. What I brought to Discordia is played out. It's fucking over, and has been for a long time.
Time to stop wasting everyone's time and bandwidth with this crapola.
Not for all.
never mind.
Yeah.
If I thought you were serious about not writing any more I would be very pissed.
Look, while intend to keep writing for a few artists I know, we have to face facts. The rant is, after 8 years, played out. It's not wanted in public, with its bare face hanging out...Which is the only way it can mean anything, other than playing for THE AUDIENCE. It just isn't where Discordia is, now. There's nothing sadder than a rock star playing in Casinos at age 70, right? It's fucking pathetic. I ain't gonna be that guy.
It's over.
Discordia is about something different now, not sure what, but it seems to be more about networking than message, about what's new, what's trending, what's going on in everyone's day-to-day life. There's a word for what I'm trying to say, but I'll be fucked if I can think what that word is at the moment.
Are we normal now, just like the rest of the world? Have we lost?
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 26, 2011, 12:26:21 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 26, 2011, 12:09:50 AM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 10:14:27 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 10:08:19 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 09:46:30 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 09:45:07 PM
Fuck, I've been fooling myself, and there's no fool like an old fool. What I brought to Discordia is played out. It's fucking over, and has been for a long time.
Time to stop wasting everyone's time and bandwidth with this crapola.
Not for all.
never mind.
Yeah.
If I thought you were serious about not writing any more I would be very pissed.
Look, while intend to keep writing for a few artists I know, we have to face facts. The rant is, after 8 years, played out. It's not wanted in public, with its bare face hanging out...Which is the only way it can mean anything, other than playing for THE AUDIENCE. It just isn't where Discordia is, now. There's nothing sadder than a rock star playing in Casinos at age 70, right? It's fucking pathetic. I ain't gonna be that guy.
It's over.
Discordia is about something different now, not sure what, but it seems to be more about networking than message, about what's new, what's trending, what's going on in everyone's day-to-day life. There's a word for what I'm trying to say, but I'll be fucked if I can think what that word is at the moment.
Are we normal now, just like the rest of the world? Have we lost?
I think so.
But that's only my opinion, from my personal perspective.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 26, 2011, 12:27:11 AM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 26, 2011, 12:26:21 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 26, 2011, 12:09:50 AM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 10:14:27 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 10:08:19 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 09:46:30 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 09:45:07 PM
Fuck, I've been fooling myself, and there's no fool like an old fool. What I brought to Discordia is played out. It's fucking over, and has been for a long time.
Time to stop wasting everyone's time and bandwidth with this crapola.
Not for all.
never mind.
Yeah.
If I thought you were serious about not writing any more I would be very pissed.
Look, while intend to keep writing for a few artists I know, we have to face facts. The rant is, after 8 years, played out. It's not wanted in public, with its bare face hanging out...Which is the only way it can mean anything, other than playing for THE AUDIENCE. It just isn't where Discordia is, now. There's nothing sadder than a rock star playing in Casinos at age 70, right? It's fucking pathetic. I ain't gonna be that guy.
It's over.
Discordia is about something different now, not sure what, but it seems to be more about networking than message, about what's new, what's trending, what's going on in everyone's day-to-day life. There's a word for what I'm trying to say, but I'll be fucked if I can think what that word is at the moment.
Are we normal now, just like the rest of the world? Have we lost?
I think so.
But that's only my opinion, from my personal perspective.
I don't want to be alone in my insanity. It's only fun when it can be shared, tasted, experienced.
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 26, 2011, 12:31:05 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 26, 2011, 12:27:11 AM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 26, 2011, 12:26:21 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 26, 2011, 12:09:50 AM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 10:14:27 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 10:08:19 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 25, 2011, 09:46:30 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 09:45:07 PM
Fuck, I've been fooling myself, and there's no fool like an old fool. What I brought to Discordia is played out. It's fucking over, and has been for a long time.
Time to stop wasting everyone's time and bandwidth with this crapola.
Not for all.
never mind.
Yeah.
If I thought you were serious about not writing any more I would be very pissed.
Look, while intend to keep writing for a few artists I know, we have to face facts. The rant is, after 8 years, played out. It's not wanted in public, with its bare face hanging out...Which is the only way it can mean anything, other than playing for THE AUDIENCE. It just isn't where Discordia is, now. There's nothing sadder than a rock star playing in Casinos at age 70, right? It's fucking pathetic. I ain't gonna be that guy.
It's over.
Discordia is about something different now, not sure what, but it seems to be more about networking than message, about what's new, what's trending, what's going on in everyone's day-to-day life. There's a word for what I'm trying to say, but I'll be fucked if I can think what that word is at the moment.
Are we normal now, just like the rest of the world? Have we lost?
I think so.
But that's only my opinion, from my personal perspective.
I don't want to be alone in my insanity. It's only fun when it can be shared, tasted, experienced.
Good luck. If there's no deeper meaning behind any of this, then I guess I better adjust...And I have a lot catching up to do. I guess I'll go watch TV or something.
If this is really happening my online presence will just go away.
Sure there is something deeper, IMO. It's harsh, though. Sometimes the monkey-brain just shuts down the areas to the higher-biped perception brain, for protection
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 26, 2011, 12:09:50 AM
Discordia is about something different now, not sure what, but it seems to be more about networking than message,
I disagree. Networking is simply how the world now receives many of its messages. From alt.newsgroups to forums to fucking twitter. The message should be crafted for the medium, but it's not a question or one OR the other.
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 12:37:11 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 26, 2011, 12:09:50 AM
Discordia is about something different now, not sure what, but it seems to be more about networking than message,
I disagree. Networking is simply how the world now receives many of its messages. From alt.newsgroups to forums to fucking twitter. The message should be crafted for the medium, but it's not a question or one OR the other.
As far as I can tell, the medium has absorbed the message, digested it, and pooped it out in zany,
safe little turds for us to throw glitter on, and post on our blogs.
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 12:37:11 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 26, 2011, 12:09:50 AM
Discordia is about something different now, not sure what, but it seems to be more about networking than message,
I disagree. Networking is simply how the world now receives many of its messages. From alt.newsgroups to forums to fucking twitter. The message should be crafted for the medium, but it's not a question or one OR the other.
The message should change? To a kinder, gentler message? Let's throw the baby out with the bathwater then.
I got this Dok.
Hi guise!
I am a Discordian. I am here today to talk to you about what being a Discordian really means. First, so I don't offend anyone, let me say that it's okay if you don't want to be one.
But it's really cool and I think you would like it. We do encourage critical thinking but we understand if you don't want to. There sure a lot of big scary things out there in the world and some of them are pretty hard to look at.
We like to discuss politics a lot, well, some of us do, but not all. We do have one sub-forum that is just for kidding around in and joking and stuff. Some of you might like that a lot. If you are afraid of the dark you better not venture too far out of it though, some of these guys are a little crazy and they say things that maybe shouldn't be uttered.
Thanks for listening and I will be talking to you all later I hope!
(Hugs)
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 26, 2011, 12:50:15 AM
I got this Dok.
Hi guise!
I am a Discordian. I am here today to talk to you about what being a Discordian really means. First, so I don't offend anyone, let me say that it's okay if you don't want to be one.
But it's really cool and I think you would like it. We do encourage critical thinking but we understand if you don't want to. There sure a lot of big scary things out there in the world and some of them are pretty hard to look at.
We like to discuss politics a lot, well, some of us do, but not all. We do have one sub-forum that is just for kidding around in and joking and stuff. Some of you might like that a lot. If you are afraid of the dark you better not venture too far out of it though, some of these guys are a little crazy and they say things that maybe shouldn't be uttered.
Thanks for listening and I will be talking to you all later I hope!
(Hugs)
Thanks, Charlie, but you may as well get mad at the sun for rising.
It's fucking dandy that you two old bastards decided to get butthurt and all, but care to elaborate how that warrants blanket statements deliberately insulting everyone at the boards whether or not they had a hand in hurting your precious feelings?
Ranting is played out? It's too bad that this Fracture or Semaj didn't spot this trend before they delivered some very good ones in the last few days. I guess it's not technically shitting on a rant if it's done snidely in another thread altogether.
140 characters or less should be enough room for anyone to rant!
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 26, 2011, 12:40:18 AM
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 12:37:11 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 26, 2011, 12:09:50 AM
Discordia is about something different now, not sure what, but it seems to be more about networking than message,
I disagree. Networking is simply how the world now receives many of its messages. From alt.newsgroups to forums to fucking twitter. The message should be crafted for the medium, but it's not a question or one OR the other.
As far as I can tell, the medium has absorbed the message, digested it, and pooped it out in zany, safe little turds for us to throw glitter on, and post on our blogs.
I don't know. I don't think so though. Cain has a point that technology hasn't caused the revolutions in the mid-east, but the rise of social networking has
enabled it. If it's a medium which can be used to topple dictatorships, then it doesn't seem that zany or safe to me.
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on January 26, 2011, 01:01:23 AM
It's fucking dandy that you two old bastards decided to get butthurt and all, but care to elaborate how that warrants blanket statements deliberately insulting everyone at the boards whether or not they had a hand in hurting your precious feelings?
Ranting is played out? It's too bad that this Fracture or Semaj didn't spot this trend before they delivered some very good ones in the last few days. I guess it's not technically shitting on a rant if it's done snidely in another thread altogether.
Hey, don't yell at me, shorty, I didn't do it.
QuoteI'm gonna live in the city,
with no friends or family.
Gonna stare out the window,
of my colour TV.
-Different City, Modest Mouse
x
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 01:03:43 AM
140 characters or less should be enough room for anyone to rant!
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 26, 2011, 12:40:18 AM
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 12:37:11 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 26, 2011, 12:09:50 AM
Discordia is about something different now, not sure what, but it seems to be more about networking than message,
I disagree. Networking is simply how the world now receives many of its messages. From alt.newsgroups to forums to fucking twitter. The message should be crafted for the medium, but it's not a question or one OR the other.
As far as I can tell, the medium has absorbed the message, digested it, and pooped it out in zany, safe little turds for us to throw glitter on, and post on our blogs.
I don't know. I don't think so though. Cain has a point that technology hasn't caused the revolutions in the mid-east, but the rise of social networking has enabled it. If it's a medium which can be used to topple dictatorships, then it doesn't seem that zany or safe to me.
Not exactly the point, CU. I just discovered that I've spent the last 8 years farting under a blanket - call it a crisis of belief, if you will - and I'm trying to decide whether to fuck off and focus all of my efforts on my job, or cleanse the temple in the biggest shit-hating of my life.
Both have their pros and cons.
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on January 26, 2011, 01:01:23 AM
It's fucking dandy that you two old bastards decided to get butthurt and all, but care to elaborate how that warrants blanket statements deliberately insulting everyone at the boards whether or not they had a hand in hurting your precious feelings?
Ranting is played out? It's too bad that this Fracture or Semaj didn't spot this trend before they delivered some very good ones in the last few days. I guess it's not technically shitting on a rant if it's done snidely in another thread altogether.
I haven't insulted everyone on the board. Go look at those rants you just referenced, I think you will find some posts in there from me.
Disgust =/= butthurt.
Leave me alone, I'm old and crotchety.
Also, while I really enjoyed both Fracture's and Semaj's rants, they were sort of caged up, not by their own doing. Let me try to think how to explain this.
Okay, Badbeast has shown me the error of my ways. Disregard this entire thread.
I have some POOMPING to do.
QuoteAlso, while I really enjoyed both Fracture's and Semaj's rants, they were sort of caged up, not by their own doing. Let me try to think how to explain this.
No, I'd like to hear what you have to say. Hell, I'm interested in anyone's thoughts, good, bad, or indifferent. Ranting isn't my usual style of writing, so I'm always looking for feedback.
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on January 26, 2011, 01:29:33 AM
QuoteAlso, while I really enjoyed both Fracture's and Semaj's rants, they were sort of caged up, not by their own doing. Let me try to think how to explain this.
No, I'd like to hear what you have to say. Hell, I'm interested in anyone's thoughts, good, bad, or indifferent. Ranting isn't my usual style of writing, so I'm always looking for feedback.
Same here.
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on January 26, 2011, 01:29:33 AM
QuoteAlso, while I really enjoyed both Fracture's and Semaj's rants, they were sort of caged up, not by their own doing. Let me try to think how to explain this.
No, I'd like to hear what you have to say. Hell, I'm interested in anyone's thoughts, good, bad, or indifferent. Ranting isn't my usual style of writing, so I'm always looking for feedback.
See deliberately assholish new thread in Apple Talk.
Quote from: Sister Fracture on January 26, 2011, 01:32:30 AM
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on January 26, 2011, 01:29:33 AM
QuoteAlso, while I really enjoyed both Fracture's and Semaj's rants, they were sort of caged up, not by their own doing. Let me try to think how to explain this.
No, I'd like to hear what you have to say. Hell, I'm interested in anyone's thoughts, good, bad, or indifferent. Ranting isn't my usual style of writing, so I'm always looking for feedback.
Same here.
It wasn't your thoughts or your presentation, it was your VENUE.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 26, 2011, 01:43:02 AM
Quote from: Sister Fracture on January 26, 2011, 01:32:30 AM
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on January 26, 2011, 01:29:33 AM
QuoteAlso, while I really enjoyed both Fracture's and Semaj's rants, they were sort of caged up, not by their own doing. Let me try to think how to explain this.
No, I'd like to hear what you have to say. Hell, I'm interested in anyone's thoughts, good, bad, or indifferent. Ranting isn't my usual style of writing, so I'm always looking for feedback.
Same here.
It wasn't your thoughts or your presentation, it was your VENUE.
OOOOHHHHH.
Fracture,
Gets it now.
(Maybe.)
CHRIST, WHAT A BUNCH OF SELF-INDULGENT FUCKING WHINING.
Cram, I look at it this way: When I want to see what's going on in world politics, I would rather check Aneristic Illusions to see what Cain, Charley, et al have posted, rather than looking at what the majority of the country considers important. Because the majority of the country are either idiots, or they aren't concerned about the same things I am.
Similarly, if I want to find some new and interesting music, I'm not going to look at Grammy winners, or the Billboard Top 100. I'm going to look in the "links to a great song" thread, or ask someone who knows what I like in a song.
I'm not saying I'm better or smarter than the majority, or that I'm cooler and edgier than the masses. I'm saying that the Crowd is too homogeneous to suit any one individual's tastes. Trending smooths out the rough edges and sharp corners, and the rough edges and sharp corners are what makes things interesting.
So, I'd much prefer to have information filtered by a known and somewhat trusted source than be overloaded by hivemind.
Quote from: Nigel on January 26, 2011, 04:08:53 AM
CHRIST, WHAT A BUNCH OF SELF-INDULGENT FUCKING WHINING.
Yep. It happens, I got over it.
But thank you for your support.
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 02:04:50 PM
So, I'd much prefer to have information filtered by a known and somewhat trusted source than be overloaded by hivemind.
Does it have to be either/or?
I think they are different classes of information. If I want an expert opinion - like you I"ll head to a trusted source. If I want to have an idea of how to craft something to appeal to the masses - I'm going to try manipulating current trends. I don't see a conflict there?
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 06:55:23 PM
"Trending".
That's what it says at the top of my yahoo screen, when I go there to bulk erase my hate mail.
"Trending".
And underneath that innocuous word, there are a number of pictures, usually of hip hop stars or TV actors. I am told they are trending, and Yahoo is kind enough to give me links to find out this most important information...Why they are trending, or even just what's "cool" about them.
Apparently, it is now socially necessary to know this drivel. Without it, I am hopelessly stunted, and I will be left standing by the corner at parties. Without it, I am not in the know, and will be shunned like the village leper.
This offends me. Not the corner bit, I typically haunt the corners of parties I attend, because I usually hate everyone there, and I glower at anyone who shows any interest in talking to me. I don't like people in my town, and I want them to hate me.
No, I am offended by the insistence that my life is valueless unless I know precisely who's beating "Rhianna" up these days, and I must have intimate knowledge of some East coast midget who is famous for, of all things, being a midget. A drunken midget. Alphonse Carr, thou art redeemed.
It's all Pink chow. It's all a means to ensure that you're paying attention to what you're supposed to be paying attention to, instead of what the hell is REALLY going on around you, each and every day. While Sally Rottencrotch is busy obsessing about what Beyonce is up to, they're cutting her future out from underneath her, at the education department upstate. While Suzie Homemaker is learning who's with it, her health care is being cut.
It's all garbage, a stinking pile of reinforced mediocrity, jammed down our throats so we'll forget how strange the world really is...And it's working, because they wouldn't leave the links up if there was no traffic...Advertisers don't pay if nobody's clicking. Ergo, people really pay attention to that, and this is just ONE MORE REASON that if this was a JUST UNIVERSE, then a BIG FUCKING SPACE ROCK WOULD HIT THE PLANET AND PUT YOU ALL OUT OF MY MISERY. YOU FUCKERS KILLED JOHNNY CASH WITH THIS BULLSHIT!
Lord, how I hate you all.
Or Kill Me.
Not only did they kill Johnny Cash, they made him cover NiN before he went. Someone must've told him it was "trending"
:mittens:
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 04:30:02 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 02:04:50 PM
So, I'd much prefer to have information filtered by a known and somewhat trusted source than be overloaded by hivemind.
Does it have to be either/or?
I think they are different classes of information. If I want an expert opinion - like you I"ll head to a trusted source. If I want to have an idea of how to craft something to appeal to the masses - I'm going to try manipulating current trends. I don't see a conflict there?
Be very careful about relying on things that can be removed or manipulated.
However, Wednesday brought reports that Facebook was being blocked inside Egypt.
Police were taken aback by the anger of Tuesday's crowd and let protesters make their way to Tahrir Square near the parliament building, says the BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo.
Microblogging site Twitter also played a key part, with supporters inside and outside Egypt using the search term #jan25 to post news of the day.
However, Twitter confirmed later on Tuesday that it had been blocked inside Egypt from 1600 GMT, meaning many were unable to post updates from the scene.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12283849
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 04:30:02 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 02:04:50 PM
So, I'd much prefer to have information filtered by a known and somewhat trusted source than be overloaded by hivemind.
Does it have to be either/or?
I think they are different classes of information. If I want an expert opinion - like you I"ll head to a trusted source. If I want to have an idea of how to craft something to appeal to the masses - I'm going to try manipulating current trends. I don't see a conflict there?
I noticed a fundamental difference in your statement vs the broad use of trending... do you want me to tell you, or do you want to figure it out on your own?
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 05:00:19 PM
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 04:30:02 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 02:04:50 PM
So, I'd much prefer to have information filtered by a known and somewhat trusted source than be overloaded by hivemind.
Does it have to be either/or?
I think they are different classes of information. If I want an expert opinion - like you I"ll head to a trusted source. If I want to have an idea of how to craft something to appeal to the masses - I'm going to try manipulating current trends. I don't see a conflict there?
I noticed a fundamental difference in your statement vs the broad use of trending... do you want me to tell you, or do you want to figure it out on your own?
Do you mean in terms of what actually is important and what can/should be safely ignored?
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 26, 2011, 04:54:18 PM
Be very careful about relying on things that can be removed or manipulated.
However, Wednesday brought reports that Facebook was being blocked inside Egypt.
Police were taken aback by the anger of Tuesday's crowd and let protesters make their way to Tahrir Square near the parliament building, says the BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo.
Microblogging site Twitter also played a key part, with supporters inside and outside Egypt using the search term #jan25 to post news of the day.
However, Twitter confirmed later on Tuesday that it had been blocked inside Egypt from 1600 GMT, meaning many were unable to post updates from the scene.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12283849
I agree. I think that "turn off the switch" tactic is dangerous, but can only be safely employed now because of the relative newness of the technology involved. Moving forward however - especially as these networking technologies become increasingly entrenched within societies - I think disabling internet services and access to popular web destinations will be as inflammatory as shutting down the electricity or water supply. Or at least it will become an obvious red flag when most people are actively using them.
I really hope so, anyway.
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 05:35:28 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 05:00:19 PM
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 04:30:02 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 02:04:50 PM
So, I'd much prefer to have information filtered by a known and somewhat trusted source than be overloaded by hivemind.
Does it have to be either/or?
I think they are different classes of information. If I want an expert opinion - like you I"ll head to a trusted source. If I want to have an idea of how to craft something to appeal to the masses - I'm going to try manipulating current trends. I don't see a conflict there?
I noticed a fundamental difference in your statement vs the broad use of trending... do you want me to tell you, or do you want to figure it out on your own?
Do you mean in terms of what actually is important and what can/should be safely ignored?
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 26, 2011, 04:54:18 PM
Be very careful about relying on things that can be removed or manipulated.
However, Wednesday brought reports that Facebook was being blocked inside Egypt.
Police were taken aback by the anger of Tuesday's crowd and let protesters make their way to Tahrir Square near the parliament building, says the BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo.
Microblogging site Twitter also played a key part, with supporters inside and outside Egypt using the search term #jan25 to post news of the day.
However, Twitter confirmed later on Tuesday that it had been blocked inside Egypt from 1600 GMT, meaning many were unable to post updates from the scene.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12283849
I agree. I think that "turn off the switch" tactic is dangerous, but can only be safely employed now because of the relative newness of the technology involved. Moving forward however - especially as these networking technologies become increasingly entrenched within societies - I think disabling internet services and access to popular web destinations will be as inflammatory as shutting down the electricity or water supply. Or at least it will become an obvious red flag when most people are actively using them.
I really hope so, anyway.
You are a hopeless optimist.
Thanks :)
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 05:35:28 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 05:00:19 PM
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 04:30:02 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 02:04:50 PM
So, I'd much prefer to have information filtered by a known and somewhat trusted source than be overloaded by hivemind.
Does it have to be either/or?
I think they are different classes of information. If I want an expert opinion - like you I"ll head to a trusted source. If I want to have an idea of how to craft something to appeal to the masses - I'm going to try manipulating current trends. I don't see a conflict there?
I noticed a fundamental difference in your statement vs the broad use of trending... do you want me to tell you, or do you want to figure it out on your own?
Do you mean in terms of what actually is important and what can/should be safely ignored?
No, I meant that the fundamental use of the Trending function is for people to passively click and absorb what passes as Trending "information" about Beiber, Snookie, Kim and Chloe, and the Desperate Housewives, and be quietly Entertained by proxy. People use Trending to become involved and connected to what they perceive as a larger cultural norm, a huge collective that they want to be part of, due to some conformist herd mentality.
You want to use it as research into developing Ideas. Trending was not developed to engender ideas. So, while it's well and good for you to use it that way, don't confuse your use of it as a universal; remember why it was developed, and how most people use it.
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 05:44:19 PM
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 05:35:28 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 05:00:19 PM
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 04:30:02 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 02:04:50 PM
So, I'd much prefer to have information filtered by a known and somewhat trusted source than be overloaded by hivemind.
Does it have to be either/or?
I think they are different classes of information. If I want an expert opinion - like you I"ll head to a trusted source. If I want to have an idea of how to craft something to appeal to the masses - I'm going to try manipulating current trends. I don't see a conflict there?
I noticed a fundamental difference in your statement vs the broad use of trending... do you want me to tell you, or do you want to figure it out on your own?
Do you mean in terms of what actually is important and what can/should be safely ignored?
No, I meant that the fundamental use of the Trending function is for people to passively click and absorb what passes as Trending "information" about Beiber, Snookie, Kim and Chloe, and the Desperate Housewives, and be quietly Entertained by proxy. People use Trending to become involved and connected to what they perceive as a larger cultural norm, a huge collective that they want to be part of, due to some conformist herd mentality.
You want to use it as research into developing Ideas. Trending was not developed to engender ideas. So, while it's well and good for you to use it that way, don't confuse your use of it as a universal; remember why it was developed, and how most people use it.
I wonder how many people think they are manipulating the system when in fact they are the ones being manipulated.
"To be against the mainstream is to be involved in the mainstream." - Some Spag [attribution requested]
"True dissent doesn't feel like going to school wearing black; it feels like going to school wearing a clown suit." - Elizer Y.
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 02:04:50 PM
Cram, I look at it this way: When I want to see what's going on in world politics, I would rather check Aneristic Illusions to see what Cain, Charley, et al have posted, rather than looking at what the majority of the country considers important. Because the majority of the country are either idiots, or they aren't concerned about the same things I am.
Similarly, if I want to find some new and interesting music, I'm not going to look at Grammy winners, or the Billboard Top 100. I'm going to look in the "links to a great song" thread, or ask someone who knows what I like in a song.
I'm not saying I'm better or smarter than the majority, or that I'm cooler and edgier than the masses. I'm saying that the Crowd is too homogeneous to suit any one individual's tastes. Trending smooths out the rough edges and sharp corners, and the rough edges and sharp corners are what makes things interesting.
So, I'd much prefer to have information filtered by a known and somewhat trusted source than be overloaded by hivemind.
I am confident, that like me, Cain shovels through a ton of shit to find a single nugget. "trending" isn't going to find that.
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 05:44:19 PM
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 05:35:28 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 05:00:19 PM
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 04:30:02 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 02:04:50 PM
So, I'd much prefer to have information filtered by a known and somewhat trusted source than be overloaded by hivemind.
Does it have to be either/or?
I think they are different classes of information. If I want an expert opinion - like you I"ll head to a trusted source. If I want to have an idea of how to craft something to appeal to the masses - I'm going to try manipulating current trends. I don't see a conflict there?
I noticed a fundamental difference in your statement vs the broad use of trending... do you want me to tell you, or do you want to figure it out on your own?
Do you mean in terms of what actually is important and what can/should be safely ignored?
No, I meant that the fundamental use of the Trending function is for people to passively click and absorb what passes as Trending "information" about Beiber, Snookie, Kim and Chloe, and the Desperate Housewives, and be quietly Entertained by proxy. People use Trending to become involved and connected to what they perceive as a larger cultural norm, a huge collective that they want to be part of, due to some conformist herd mentality.
You want to use it as research into developing Ideas. Trending was not developed to engender ideas. So, while it's well and good for you to use it that way, don't confuse your use of it as a universal; remember why it was developed, and how most people use it.
Ah - yes, I think we're on the same page.
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 26, 2011, 05:49:11 PM
I wonder how many people think they are manipulating the system when in fact they are the ones being manipulated.
All of us.
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 26, 2011, 05:45:08 PM
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 26, 2011, 05:42:29 PM
Thanks :)
It wasn't a compliment. :(
Well, it's close enough to what I'm aiming for, to be one.
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 26, 2011, 04:54:18 PM
Be very careful about relying on things that can be removed or manipulated.
However, Wednesday brought reports that Facebook was being blocked inside Egypt.
Police were taken aback by the anger of Tuesday's crowd and let protesters make their way to Tahrir Square near the parliament building, says the BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo.
Microblogging site Twitter also played a key part, with supporters inside and outside Egypt using the search term #jan25 to post news of the day.
However, Twitter confirmed later on Tuesday that it had been blocked inside Egypt from 1600 GMT, meaning many were unable to post updates from the scene.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12283849
:cn:
Twitter played a key part in what revolution this time now?
I'm not buying it. Was it the people tweeting while rioting on the streets, or was it (again) the american armchair revolutionaries creating a truckload of buzz around a news story that was developing in real time? What colour did they make their user pictures this time to show support?
Of course anyone who buys into that is being manipulated.
Regardless, I can see the point, if you work at an office and want to know what your colleagues will be talking about the next day, but you don't *actually* want to spend any time on it, quickly check a bunch of "trending" topics on whatever social portal website. The fact that it is commonly manipulated doesn't make it less useful if all you want to know is what the average person at the coffee machine will be talking about tomorrow.
In short, I see no problem with getting information from manipulated media, as long as your goal is to find out what today and tomorrow's manipulations will be about.
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 26, 2011, 05:53:59 PM
"To be against the mainstream is to be involved in the mainstream." - Some Spag [attribution requested]
"True dissent doesn't feel like going to school wearing black; it feels like going to school wearing a clown suit." - Elizer Y.
This.
Also: how effective can you be wearing a clown suit
all the time? Isn't that what we're always saying? Blend in? Play the game? Wear a mask over your mask over your mask that looks like the first mask?
It occurs to me that Sun Tzu put out a little brochure a while ago suggesting that you know your enemy as you know yourself. That means plugging in. That means being strong enough to plug in and keep sight of what staying on task.
It's not
supposed to be
easy.Funny thing about revolution: it needs to stay relevant to work...that means changing with the times, rolling with the punches and adopting the New Regime before you can turn it against itself.