[KellerBrauer]

We all need to be aware that "social media" is driven by this kind of channeling.  The companies do not intend to create wingnuts and nutters but the advertising algorithms have one job which is to keep you focused on the app.  Then they can sell you to their real customers, the advertisers. 

This naturally leads to a situation where you are offered, say 5 items to read and you like 3 of them.  The next time you come back they offer you 5 more items that all share similarities to the 3 you've already ready read and reacted to.  In a very short time you are only being offered information that falls into one category and becomes more an more focused on one or two traits.  Hence you hear stories about people going online to search for information on a new hair style for their 14 year old daughter and somehow end up on skinhead sites denying the Holocaust ever happened and the story about Anne Frank is a left-wing fiction piece (and beginning to believe it).

People can be easily manipulated and in the constant search for profit many online companies use this as part of their business plan.

I know I sound like Grandpa when I say this but I miss the days when each town had a Liberal and a Conservative Daily paper.  Subscribe to both and read for the overlap.  The overlap was closest to the truth.  Media consolidation has created the echo chambers.  They sell the company line with little regard for any truth.

We live in amazing times, in very troubled societies.
Stay safe, stay well and take care of those around you.

Paul

That was a great rant, Slowbrew and I could not agree more.  My wife and daughters in-law all participate in FaceBook while me and my two sons do not.  Why?  The girls in my family like to share pictures, etc. while the boys feel FB is the devils website, especially after learning how it was manipulated leading up to the ‘16 elections.

All social media sites target those who will follow whatever carrot is placed in front of them - good, bad, right or wrong - they will follow.  It’s like the social media site puts a ring in their noses and just guide them wherever they want.  Fortunately, the girls in my family don’t fall for it.  But, sadly, there are tens of millions who do.

[Village Taphouse]

So I was an early adopter of COVID-19 on March 2nd, and my wife too on March 5th.  I got a mild flu, 4/10 on the sickness scale, but my wife got "The sickest she's ever been in her life."  She even ended up in the ER with breathing problems and the entire bit.  She's in her 30s.  The entire ordeal lasted 3 weeks.

People are stupid. They act like they are invincible because they haven't contracted it.  They say it's overblown, but that's good because people took proper precautions so the numbers stayed low and the curve was flatted quickly.

My advice? Keep wearing that mask. Let the stupid people contract the virus and turn their smiles to frowns. I've also lost four people I know to COVID-19.

To your point:

[BrewBama]

It’s interesting to note that there are many different points of view across the US. There was a book written about the US being comprised of ~11 different ‘nations’. Each of these ‘nations’ view central government intervention in daily life in different ways based on their background experiences and heritage. Some trust the Federal government and therefore have no problem depending more on it, while others do not trust the Federal government and want less of it. This trust/distrust bleeds over into political, social, economic and other policy decisions.  I think we’re seeing that expressed in different ways and I can see the point each side is making.

Some folks can’t see going back to work.  Because of the laws passed with an intention to assist, they actually get more money to stay home and collect unemployment. I can understand that.

Another side demands to be allowed to go back to work to provide for their livelihood. I can understand that, too.

Even another side says to keep our population safe we have to quarantine, social distance, and close the economy. I can understand that, too. 

...and on and on.

What I can’t understand is how one group can insult another for expressing their view. I’ve seen on National TV mocking, name calling, from several sides, one attacking another that can’t understand or think like they think.

That’s why I say the truth lies somewhere in the middle. We’re not all wrong, and we’re not all right. We’re just different.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Slowbrew]

It’s interesting to note that there are many different points of view across the US. There was a book written about the US being comprised of ~11 different ‘nations’. Each of these ‘nations’ view central government intervention in daily life in different ways based on their background experiences and heritage. Some trust the Federal government and therefore have no problem depending more on it, while others do not trust the Federal government and want less of it. This trust/distrust bleeds over into political, social, economic and other policy decisions.  I think we’re seeing that expressed in different ways and I can see the point each side is making.

Some folks can’t see going back to work.  Because of the laws passed with an intention to assist, they actually get more money to stay home and collect unemployment. I can understand that.

Another side demands to be allowed to go back to work to provide for their livelihood. I can understand that, too.

Even another side says to keep our population safe we have to quarantine, social distance, and close the economy. I can understand that, too. 

...and on and on.

What I can’t understand is how one group can insult another for expressing their view. I’ve seen on National TV mocking, name calling, from several sides, one attacking another that can’t understand or think like they think.

That’s why I say the truth lies somewhere in the middle. We’re not all wrong, and we’re not all right. We’re just different.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

+1

Trying to achieve consensus doesn't sell advertising.   It's the old line that says "individuals are smart, "people" are stupid".  We all want to protect, support, shield, our own but most of us need to expand the definition of "our own".  A larger scale of altruism is hard for many (if not most) individuals, me included. 

Take care, do good.

Paul

[Big Monk]

I think one of the best things to come out of all this is going to be the increase awareness around personal health, particularly immune health.

Die Beerery has done some really great research into supplements that support immune health and got on a supplement regime early on coupled with exercise, better sleep cycle, etc.

I'm hoping he'll chime in here on that part of it specifically.

Short story long: We could all be more well versed on our personal health and there are easy things to do to improve it.

[Village Taphouse]

It’s interesting to note that there are many different points of view across the US. There was a book written about the US being comprised of ~11 different ‘nations’. Each of these ‘nations’ view central government intervention in daily life in different ways based on their background experiences and heritage. Some trust the Federal government and therefore have no problem depending more on it, while others do not trust the Federal government and want less of it. This trust/distrust bleeds over into political, social, economic and other policy decisions.  I think we’re seeing that expressed in different ways and I can see the point each side is making.

Some folks can’t see going back to work.  Because of the laws passed with an intention to assist, they actually get more money to stay home and collect unemployment. I can understand that.

Another side demands to be allowed to go back to work to provide for their livelihood. I can understand that, too.

Even another side says to keep our population safe we have to quarantine, social distance, and close the economy. I can understand that, too. 

...and on and on.

What I can’t understand is how one group can insult another for expressing their view. I’ve seen on National TV mocking, name calling, from several sides, one attacking another that can’t understand or think like they think.

That’s why I say the truth lies somewhere in the middle. We’re not all wrong, and we’re not all right. We’re just different.

Agreed.  People having different opinions is natural.  But people wanting to push their opinion on you or not understand that others have different opinions... that's where the wheels fall off.  One particularly tricky area is media that is pushing harder and harder in their specific direction.  If you watch MSNBC or Fox and you agree with every single thing you hear, that's not good.  I have absolutely no respect for people on TV pushing everything in one direction even to the point of intentionally deceiving people.  That goes for MSNBC, Fox, CNN or whoever.  If the truth lies in the middle then the truth does not lie on those stations... for the most part.  My FIL is a die-hard righty.  He thinks everyone on CNN and MSNBC is a fraud and only Fox personalities are good.  He quotes things from Fox constantly.  My sisters on the other hand are as left as you can get and they do the same thing only from the other direction.  The older I get the more respect I have for people who can talk about an issue intelligently and calmly without resorting to Sean Hannity or Lawrence O'Donnell attack strategies.  I should probably apologize for that rant.  Sorry.   

[Megary]

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell


I'm sure I read that around here somewhere...

[denny]

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell


I'm sure I read that around here somewhere...

Hmmmm.....undoubtedly from someone of high intelligence, good taste, and refinement!  😂

[denny]

It’s interesting to note that there are many different points of view across the US. There was a book written about the US being comprised of ~11 different ‘nations’. Each of these ‘nations’ view central government intervention in daily life in different ways based on their background experiences and heritage. Some trust the Federal government and therefore have no problem depending more on it, while others do not trust the Federal government and want less of it. This trust/distrust bleeds over into political, social, economic and other policy decisions.  I think we’re seeing that expressed in different ways and I can see the point each side is making.

Some folks can’t see going back to work.  Because of the laws passed with an intention to assist, they actually get more money to stay home and collect unemployment. I can understand that.

Another side demands to be allowed to go back to work to provide for their livelihood. I can understand that, too.

Even another side says to keep our population safe we have to quarantine, social distance, and close the economy. I can understand that, too. 

...and on and on.

What I can’t understand is how one group can insult another for expressing their view. I’ve seen on National TV mocking, name calling, from several sides, one attacking another that can’t understand or think like they think.

That’s why I say the truth lies somewhere in the middle. We’re not all wrong, and we’re not all right. We’re just different.

Agreed.  People having different opinions is natural.  But people wanting to push their opinion on you or not understand that others have different opinions... that's where the wheels fall off.  One particularly tricky area is media that is pushing harder and harder in their specific direction.  If you watch MSNBC or Fox and you agree with every single thing you hear, that's not good.  I have absolutely no respect for people on TV pushing everything in one direction even to the point of intentionally deceiving people.  That goes for MSNBC, Fox, CNN or whoever.  If the truth lies in the middle then the truth does not lie on those stations... for the most part.  My FIL is a die-hard righty.  He thinks everyone on CNN and MSNBC is a fraud and only Fox personalities are good.  He quotes things from Fox constantly.  My sisters on the other hand are as left as you can get and they do the same thing only from the other direction.  The older I get the more respect I have for people who can talk about an issue intelligently and calmly without resorting to Sean Hannity or Lawrence O'Donnell attack strategies.  I should probably apologize for that rant.  Sorry.   

Ken, you need to be able to separate the opinion from the facts.  Each of those sources is capable of providing factual info that you can use to make up your own mind.  You just have to ignore the opinion pundits.

[Village Taphouse]

It’s interesting to note that there are many different points of view across the US. There was a book written about the US being comprised of ~11 different ‘nations’. Each of these ‘nations’ view central government intervention in daily life in different ways based on their background experiences and heritage. Some trust the Federal government and therefore have no problem depending more on it, while others do not trust the Federal government and want less of it. This trust/distrust bleeds over into political, social, economic and other policy decisions.  I think we’re seeing that expressed in different ways and I can see the point each side is making.

Some folks can’t see going back to work.  Because of the laws passed with an intention to assist, they actually get more money to stay home and collect unemployment. I can understand that.

Another side demands to be allowed to go back to work to provide for their livelihood. I can understand that, too.

Even another side says to keep our population safe we have to quarantine, social distance, and close the economy. I can understand that, too. 

...and on and on.

What I can’t understand is how one group can insult another for expressing their view. I’ve seen on National TV mocking, name calling, from several sides, one attacking another that can’t understand or think like they think.

That’s why I say the truth lies somewhere in the middle. We’re not all wrong, and we’re not all right. We’re just different.

Agreed.  People having different opinions is natural.  But people wanting to push their opinion on you or not understand that others have different opinions... that's where the wheels fall off.  One particularly tricky area is media that is pushing harder and harder in their specific direction.  If you watch MSNBC or Fox and you agree with every single thing you hear, that's not good.  I have absolutely no respect for people on TV pushing everything in one direction even to the point of intentionally deceiving people.  That goes for MSNBC, Fox, CNN or whoever.  If the truth lies in the middle then the truth does not lie on those stations... for the most part.  My FIL is a die-hard righty.  He thinks everyone on CNN and MSNBC is a fraud and only Fox personalities are good.  He quotes things from Fox constantly.  My sisters on the other hand are as left as you can get and they do the same thing only from the other direction.  The older I get the more respect I have for people who can talk about an issue intelligently and calmly without resorting to Sean Hannity or Lawrence O'Donnell attack strategies.  I should probably apologize for that rant.  Sorry.   

Ken, you need to be able to separate the opinion from the facts.  Each of those sources is capable of providing factual info that you can use to make up your own mind.  You just have to ignore the opinion pundits.

Agreed.  That's why I try to get a little bit from multiple sources... MSNBC, Fox, CNN, NPR, etc. and then try to distill it to see what makes the most sense.

[a10t2]

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

I'm sure I read that around here somewhere...

Hmmmm.....undoubtedly from someone of high intelligence, good taste, and refinement!  😂

"Two out of three ain't bad." - Meat Loaf

[denny]

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

I'm sure I read that around here somewhere...

Hmmmm.....undoubtedly from someone of high intelligence, good taste, and refinement!  😂

"Two out of three ain't bad." - Meat Loaf

I was waiting for that!

[Visor]

    Thanks Ken for that excellent and insightful piece from Fareed, as is frequently the case he really hit the nail on the head with his observations of the nature and causes of the class divide in the US, at least one of the class divides. Unfortunately as this virus event has played out the "working" class, which is more likely to live in more rural, more conservative parts of the country than the "educated" class, has been ridiculed and portray as ignorant buffoons when some it's members have agitated for a less restrictive government response. As is usually the case, the national conversation about the virus has been dominated by people who are much more likely to reside in a major metropolitan area on one coast or the other, and who are very much more likely to have left of center political beliefs.
   As for media bias, I used to try to watch MoreSocialistNationalBull@#$%Company, Foxy and the Commie News Network in the hopes of winnowing out some sense of the truth, any more though 1 minute of any of them and I'm ready to shoot the TV.

[narvin]

I think one of the best things to come out of all this is going to be the increase awareness around personal health, particularly immune health.

Die Beerery has done some really great research into supplements that support immune health and got on a supplement regime early on coupled with exercise, better sleep cycle, etc.

I'm hoping he'll chime in here on that part of it specifically.

Sodium Metabisulfite?

Sorry couldn't resist   .  I've heard that Vitamin D might be important but not much about anything else.  I tend to take the supplement crowd with a grain of salt because of how much of it is a money making scheme based on small studies and flimsy conclusions.

[Village Taphouse]

    Thanks Ken for that excellent and insightful piece from Fareed, as is frequently the case he really hit the nail on the head with his observations of the nature and causes of the class divide in the US, at least one of the class divides. Unfortunately as this virus event has played out the "working" class, which is more likely to live in more rural, more conservative parts of the country than the "educated" class, has been ridiculed and portray as ignorant buffoons when some it's members have agitated for a less restrictive government response. As is usually the case, the national conversation about the virus has been dominated by people who are much more likely to reside in a major metropolitan area on one coast or the other, and who are very much more likely to have left of center political beliefs.
   As for media bias, I used to try to watch MoreSocialistNationalBull@#$%Company, Foxy and the Commie News Network in the hopes of winnowing out some sense of the truth, any more though 1 minute of any of them and I'm ready to shoot the TV.

Two of the things that sounded like a bit of a red flag in the Fareed piece were 1) The cell phone data comment about how blue and red people were moving.  I envisioned people in red areas having more ground to cover to get from one place to the next while blue people might be able to walk to the store (generally).  The other part was about his example of people who worked with their hands and whose jobs had been lost or on hold.  It used to be true that workers like that were union people and union people used to be blue/democratic.  That may have changed.  That's a story in itself... democrats tend to live in large cities where one might assume that life is more upscale and cultural while their republican counterparts live out in the weeds.  But the idea of democrats backing unions would be put to the test in that context especially for union employees in rural areas.