Nile's recent activity
-
Comment on Would you pay higher taxes for better government services? in ~talk
-
Comment on Would you pay higher taxes for better government services? in ~talk
Nile Link Parentperhaps if democrats expressed interest in directing a significant portion of the taxes collected into public systems that are currently lacking in rural republican states - FUCKING EDUCATION...perhaps if democrats expressed interest in directing a significant portion of the taxes collected into public systems that are currently lacking in rural republican states - FUCKING EDUCATION PEOPLE! - than maybe they could convince constituents to start thinking critically against GOP messaging against taxes. I doubt it... but it'd be worth a shot. Additionally if this were to succeed, America could begin to educate their youth in the direction of CRITICAL THINKING - a skill that has been washed away by social medias including broadcasters like Fox News.
-
Comment on Would you pay higher taxes for better government services? in ~talk
Nile LinkYou need a real draining of the swamp and more transparent lobbying laws to really have any faith that the taxes would be used for good. The voting system would be a good place to start - removal...You need a real draining of the swamp and more transparent lobbying laws to really have any faith that the taxes would be used for good. The voting system would be a good place to start - removal of the electoral college and the introduction of ranked ballot would help a lot with this process - but unfortunately this seems to be too big of a step for either of your two-party government to consider.
Either way, taxes have proved to be an excellent solution through all phases of the American experiment with continued proof that reductions in taxes DO NOT trickle down economic value to constituents - just the rich getting richer. It's morbidly hilarious that republicans howl on about an elitist class attempting to control their political systems, yet you have Fox News being run as a GOP disinformation platform funded by the Koch brothers. Billionaires paying millionaires to direct the message that "taxes bad" - so much so that the American people voted in a president that screams about the elitist class while continually expressing his "wonderful" business sense - the same man that refuses to release his tax returns citing an imaginary audit. -
Comment on Are certain message boards like Tildes, Reddit etc. social engineering? in ~tech
Nile Link ParentI agree with your sentiment, I find minimalism appealing for sure... still cute AFI agree with your sentiment, I find minimalism appealing for sure... still cute AF
-
Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tildes
Nile Link Parentthis is so damn cute and powerful. Such a fun idea!this is so damn cute and powerful. Such a fun idea!
-
Comment on Are certain message boards like Tildes, Reddit etc. social engineering? in ~tech
Nile Link ParentVery very very good point. Anonymity comes with a price. Is that a venomous viper or a cuddle noodle?Very very very good point. Anonymity comes with a price. Is that a venomous viper or a cuddle noodle?
-
Comment on Are certain message boards like Tildes, Reddit etc. social engineering? in ~tech
Nile Link ParentI think what makes the no Demonym idea appealing is that we all want a platform with a breadth of different ideas and for it to maintain as a place for discussions, not the favoured view towards a...I think what makes the no Demonym idea appealing is that we all want a platform with a breadth of different ideas and for it to maintain as a place for discussions, not the favoured view towards a meme culture that ultimately divulges into a popularity contest. It seems like you can be wrong here or not quite fit in but you're still welcome to a voice so long as it isn't hurtful. Nothing is making you subscribe to an identity and submit to the top of the day content that passes as entertainment.
So keep tilding you sneaky snake! -
Comment on Are certain message boards like Tildes, Reddit etc. social engineering? in ~tech
-
Comment on Are certain message boards like Tildes, Reddit etc. social engineering? in ~tech
Nile Link ParentYou're right, I'm certainly not being fair to Texans in general and that is wrong of me to say. But I don't think you can deny the type of social dynamics we have to subscribe to and what can...You're right, I'm certainly not being fair to Texans in general and that is wrong of me to say. But I don't think you can deny the type of social dynamics we have to subscribe to and what can happen if you don't. You can be really socially ostracized. Look at hikikomori in Japan - these individuals separate themselves due to the extreme pressures that their "terms of society" force on them to act a specific was in social engagements. This can cause significant anxiety to an individual and force them to retreat into themselves.
Sorry if I insulted anyone from Austin!
Edit: @cfabbro stop responding to my posts, I need to work! Your conversations are too engaging!
-
Comment on Are certain message boards like Tildes, Reddit etc. social engineering? in ~tech
Nile Link Parentwell TIL of the word Demonym thanks to @cfabbro so we can start there, but also he's provided two very entertaining links already. personally I like this user's perspective. @Eivetsthecat says:...well TIL of the word Demonym thanks to @cfabbro so we can start there, but also he's provided two very entertaining links already.
personally I like this user's perspective. @Eivetsthecat says:
"Apparently the ~ was originally added to type writers through the use of a dead key, which was a key not marked for a function. I don't have any ideas for names but I though that was a cool little aside to add to the decision making."
which to mean really sums up the whole conversation of the demonym doesn't it? The point isn't who we are but the content in which we apply. That's at least my own perspective for now. -
Comment on Are certain message boards like Tildes, Reddit etc. social engineering? in ~tech
Nile Link Parentoh god... what have I done to myself!? I need to get work done!oh god... what have I done to myself!? I need to get work done!
-
Comment on Are certain message boards like Tildes, Reddit etc. social engineering? in ~tech
Nile Link Parentsounds like this is a continuing conversation... could you direct me to where I might participate? I'm too new!sounds like this is a continuing conversation... could you direct me to where I might participate? I'm too new!
-
Comment on Are certain message boards like Tildes, Reddit etc. social engineering? in ~tech
Nile Link ParentI think social engineering is the correct term but we aren't looking at the correct perpatrators. Social media in itself is a technology and like a technology it can not be good or bad - it is...I think social engineering is the correct term but we aren't looking at the correct perpatrators. Social media in itself is a technology and like a technology it can not be good or bad - it is dependent on it's actors and how the technology is used. A gun fires bullets and kills people - was that person a good person or a bad person... who held the gun? The gun doesn't care, it is unbiased to it's use and will freely allow it to be fired if not regulated. Social media has become a global problem and thus would need global regulation - but we do not live in a society of globalization (not yet accepted at least). And so we have private companies being used by personal interest for political gain. There are many sources you can look to for proof that bad agents are on these platforms and are fully manipulating user's opinions and actions in the real world - this is social engineering.
-
Comment on Are certain message boards like Tildes, Reddit etc. social engineering? in ~tech
Nile Link Parentit's interesting because we have these same dynamics in the physical world. If you don't subscribe to the way your city and town runs on a cultural level you can feel very isolated and not...it's interesting because we have these same dynamics in the physical world. If you don't subscribe to the way your city and town runs on a cultural level you can feel very isolated and not represented. Think of an muslim in Texas, I'd assume they'd have a hard time subscribing to their "terms of society" which I don't think I need to spell out to people, doesn't seem to align with cultures outside of Christianity. So what happens when a group or person in power changes their message repeatedly like a set of terms of service... it's kinda hard to keep up, and you begin to accept the reality of your environment and is why I sort of feel sorry for Trump voters. Their biases and opinions have been slowly changed to stay inline with their social groups that are adamant with staying red but are uninformed (or uninterested maybe?) in learning the real values that once constructed the GOP party. It's a shame.
-
Comment on Are certain message boards like Tildes, Reddit etc. social engineering? in ~tech
Nile Link ParentReason why I joined here as well... for discussions like this! well put fellow.... tilder? I don't know what we are yet...Reason why I joined here as well... for discussions like this! well put fellow.... tilder? I don't know what we are yet...
-
Comment on So my Grandma is slowly turning into an Antivaxxer thanks to platforms like Facebook... So I wrote her this essay this morning. in ~talk
Nile Link Parentugh okay... I've been putting off that read for awhile ever since CGP Grey and Brady Haran started H.I. and wouldn't shut up about it for awhile. I'll pick it up!ugh okay... I've been putting off that read for awhile ever since CGP Grey and Brady Haran started H.I. and wouldn't shut up about it for awhile. I'll pick it up!
-
Comment on So my Grandma is slowly turning into an Antivaxxer thanks to platforms like Facebook... So I wrote her this essay this morning. in ~talk
Nile Link Parentwow very well written. Your first point is perfect. Your second point sounds like a lot of the vocal conversations I've tried to have with my grandmother in the past. There's a reason why the two...wow very well written. Your first point is perfect. Your second point sounds like a lot of the vocal conversations I've tried to have with my grandmother in the past. There's a reason why the two of us achieve more understanding with each other on long format though so that's why I went my route this morning. And of course number 3 would come if I had better executed your first point alongside your second. You're well spoken and I appreciate the input!
-
Comment on Are certain message boards like Tildes, Reddit etc. social engineering? in ~tech
Nile (edited )LinkI'm currently writing my thesis for my Masters of Architecture, and what began as a study of virtual reality has slowly turned into a political science and digital technologies study on our...I'm currently writing my thesis for my Masters of Architecture, and what began as a study of virtual reality has slowly turned into a political science and digital technologies study on our perceptions and fabricated realities. When you break it down, social media isn't any different than any other medium to which someone has already helpfully mentioned Marshal McLuhan's famous saying "The medium is the message". If you haven't read his thesis Understanding Media and you're interested in this stuff, you can get a pretty clear depiction of our reality from reading his work.
http://web.mit.edu/allanmc/www/mcluhan.mediummessage.pdf
I reference it probably too much in my own thesis but that link only has chapters 1 and 7 which are super concise and poignant to our current political social media woes.I'll copy a bit of text from my working document to share some ideas. I don't have time to link the citations atm as I'm actually trying to write this thing for a deadline this Friday... I'm just procrastinating right now.
"Accoding to Dr. Corolus, a Media Psychologist at the University of Würzburg, users relate social media as a “hyperpersonal communication” when in reality, online messages are often misconstrued in tone and expression.(71) The online communications we have lack the interpersonal human aspects of face-to-face communication.
“Being confronted with a reduced communication mode leaves room for interpretation under some circumstances, resulting in rather positive interpretations and positive feelings. We feel especially close, we blind out the rather negative, focus the possible positive intentions behind a text message and over-interpret. Although being reduced in terms of media richness, it is an emotionally charged medium. Because it is reduced it is sometimes bigger than real life.” – Dr. Astrid Corolus (72)
Yet according to the study, upwards to a third of respondents admitted that face-to-face communications happen less due to social media which is inline with the U.S. GSS study.(73)(74)
What sounds even more far fetched is the 2014 study done in collaboration with Facebook(75) to examine the effects of social media communications on a global scale. In these social-science studies facebook not only proved that a global mood exists, but through manipulating key vocal users they could distribute emotion on a massive geographical scale.(76) To put simply, Facebook can limit the content it shows you from the catalogue of information that your friends and family are sharing, commenting, and liking. If they were to show you primarily happy messages, you’ll likely relay positive messages in return.(77) Your new messages of positivity are then supported by friend’s echoed messages and the algorithm working behind the scenes to push it.(78)" - bare in mind, this method of social manipulation can be applied in many ways... see Brexit, Trump, Islamophobia, antisemitism, and other forms of tribalism.
I'm curious to know if something like TurnitIn or whatever my school is going to use to verify plagerism is going to pull this chunk of text for my book... it'd be funny if it does simply because I reveal the alias Nile within the book and relate my own experiences within the digital environment... certainly an algorithm telling me I copied myself despite me acknowledging and referencing my own writing as being part of the intended text kinda tickles me. I wonder if my school would see it the same way I do. If not... hello future ethics board... please let me graduate.
-
Comment on So my Grandma is slowly turning into an Antivaxxer thanks to platforms like Facebook... So I wrote her this essay this morning. in ~talk
Nile Link Parentalso maybe I shouldn't have used the word essay, just so use to forming thoughts and opinions in long format with her that we've grown use to calling them essays.also maybe I shouldn't have used the word essay, just so use to forming thoughts and opinions in long format with her that we've grown use to calling them essays.
-
Comment on So my Grandma is slowly turning into an Antivaxxer thanks to platforms like Facebook... So I wrote her this essay this morning. in ~talk
I hadn't read about this - thanks for bringing it to this Canadian's attention! We have a similar problem as you to our south. Gerrymandering continually affects me personally. Last provincial election, lobbying funds were pumped into private Facebook groups like "Ontario-Proud" (I'll let you assume a few ideas on the type of people in this group) - to which used their platform and connection to Progressive Conservatives (PC party = republicans) along with Facebook adsense to manipulate voters to elect a man who lacked a single campaign promise - the brother to the crack head mayor Toronto had a few years ago. Just another rich man taking control of my province who is now cutting my educational funding and university program funding - compromising the education I had signed up for just a couple years ago. The same educational system that would teach me to think critically against Doug Ford's totalitarianism against Toronto.
What's the icing on the cake is that the advertising that was done on social media was completely legal - yet had the same contextual advertising occurred in our newspapers or tabloids it would be considered illegal due to campaign finance issues and the wording of law when it comes to print media. I CAN'T MAKE THIS SHIT UP!
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-election-ontario-1.4696565