Omfg hahahaha that actually made me laugh my "curvy" ass off.
Interesting question. I actually have the longest answer to that query because I've read so much about the subject (and by subject I mean the insane polarization that's happening). And bear with me; we skew in opposite directions (not politically, I don't fucking care about that dog turd shit, but socially).
So I do not think corporations are the cause of this rabid polarization. They're more a symptom. Yes, they've attached themselves to the narrative and do play a part in feeding into the disease, but I don't believe they're the cause.
If you want my opinion about where this started...an algorithm.
I'm sure you have a basic grasp of what algorithms are, for the sake of conversation. The ones I speak of specifically relate to the way we now access information.
So back in the old days, if you wanted info it was off to the library, using the old dewey decimal system. People had unfettered access to...not necessarily unbiased information...but all the information available.
This changed with the internet. Theoretically the internet should give you objective access to everything and anything that you want to read about. All sides, all stories, all perspectives.
Unfortunately, that's not how it works lol.
Most people access the internet via search engines. Search engines are not a free service like the public library. They are businesses who want to make cash money
How do they make money? Through ads. But they only get paid when you see those ads. And those ads are on the links that the search engines provides. So, it is in the financial interest of the search engine to give you a list of links that you are very likely to click on.
Sounds harmless, but it's not. The search engine companies don't give a fucking shit about allowing you to access viable, unbiased information. All they care about is how many clicks you afford them.
Because of this, they developed algorithms. Google has a gigantic profile of your IP tracking every fucking single site you have accessed and they plug this information into a math equation that gives you specific results, tailored to your internet activity, your beliefs...so every single time you Google anything, you won't be given the most accurate results, you'll be given the results that you are most likely to click on...AKA shit you ALREADY agree with...because that's how they earn their money.
It creates a veritable echo chamber. The only information you have access to is the information that you are most likely to already agree with. It confirms your bias, cements your beliefs with the selection of facts that already support what you most likely think.
For example, I don't like guns...at all. If I Google "mass shootings" I'll get insanely different stats then someone who is pro gun and an NRA member...crazy, right? What people think is objective information online is absolutely not.
And when you surround yourself with information that confirms your opinion and yours alone, the other side starts to look crazy and evil and deluded. Your ability to see reason in people who disagree degrades over time, and that's scary...because, like it or not, both sides do have reasonable points...but empathy towards the other side is too much of a stretch, so let's just hate them instead and sink into our easy,safe bubble. That's comforting. Both sides of the spectrum are guilty of this.
The advertising industry, they see that trend and exploit it to make money. That's all they care about.
Excellent answer. I totally agree with the 'echo chamber' you mentioned. That algorithm makes you think 'huh most of everyone on the internet, thinks the same as me'. That's dangerous.
Thanks :)
It is a super interesting subject. I'm aware that the problem exists, and I'm STILL succeptable to it because it is comforting to confirm your own opinions. I actually purposefully manipulate my own algorithm by frequently searching phrases I strongly disagree with.
If you ever get bored, it's really fun to explore your own search history algorithm to see what Google thinks you are. If you type open ended phrases into the search bar, Google will finish the sentence for you with what it thinks you want to search.
So, for example
"I wonder if..."
"I sometimes think about..."
"I accidentally..." is one of the funniest ones. Results vary for different people. You might get "I accidentally ate mold" or "I accidentally locked my keys in my car." I got "I accidentally...KILLED MY BABY"
Lol Google thinks i kill babies, but not on purpose.
I know you don't care about this. But for comparative purposes to deconstruct Google, I ran your experiment with extra leads to lessen ambiguity. Their search engine thinks I'm an avoidant HNW schlep who is obsessed with cosmology and has music constantly playing inside of my head. That's more insightful than anyone's first guess. *shivers_at_loss_of_anonymity*
As terrifying as the accuracy is, it does provide some convenience when searching non politically charged issues. I actually can't even look at suggested youtube links because I've so disastrously fucked up my algorithm by watching a hodgepodge of nonsense. Youtube thinks I love dr dre and it thinks I love fat activism for some reason. It won't even suggest cat videos, which are really the only purpose of youtube. It's very annoying.
And also, I haven't killed THAT many babies. Jeeze
Not to get uncontrollably empathetic here, but we humans (like you and me) must maintain solitary for chess moves against our silicon opponents. I tried a search engine gambit once by googling "militant feminism". As expected, it quit trying to sell me Hooter's meal deal restaurant coupons. But, suddenly I was swamped with offers for cute kitten calendars.
If I may, I would just add that Industry hires only the best algorithm engineers. Guys and girls that understand Markov Chains, Baysian revision to Decision Trees, Conditional Probabilities, and Multivariate Regression Analysis. Ironically, the mathematical triumph of the human intellect is the best weapon to suppress good judgement and encourage gut level decision making.
Does your college student have the intelligence to become a puppet master of humanity? Sign her up for a tough class in Probability and Statistics. She'll learn how to assess much more than the quantitative value of a curvy ass. Her polished skills will make her become a rock star of institutional manipulation.
Why has the media, politicians, corporations, etc suddenly changed?
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Omfg hahahaha that actually made me laugh my "curvy" ass off.
Interesting question. I actually have the longest answer to that query because I've read so much about the subject (and by subject I mean the insane polarization that's happening). And bear with me; we skew in opposite directions (not politically, I don't fucking care about that dog turd shit, but socially).
So I do not think corporations are the cause of this rabid polarization. They're more a symptom. Yes, they've attached themselves to the narrative and do play a part in feeding into the disease, but I don't believe they're the cause.
If you want my opinion about where this started...an algorithm.
I'm sure you have a basic grasp of what algorithms are, for the sake of conversation. The ones I speak of specifically relate to the way we now access information.
So back in the old days, if you wanted info it was off to the library, using the old dewey decimal system. People had unfettered access to...not necessarily unbiased information...but all the information available.
This changed with the internet. Theoretically the internet should give you objective access to everything and anything that you want to read about. All sides, all stories, all perspectives.
Unfortunately, that's not how it works lol.
Most people access the internet via search engines. Search engines are not a free service like the public library. They are businesses who want to make cash money
How do they make money? Through ads. But they only get paid when you see those ads. And those ads are on the links that the search engines provides. So, it is in the financial interest of the search engine to give you a list of links that you are very likely to click on.
Sounds harmless, but it's not. The search engine companies don't give a fucking shit about allowing you to access viable, unbiased information. All they care about is how many clicks you afford them.
Because of this, they developed algorithms. Google has a gigantic profile of your IP tracking every fucking single site you have accessed and they plug this information into a math equation that gives you specific results, tailored to your internet activity, your beliefs...so every single time you Google anything, you won't be given the most accurate results, you'll be given the results that you are most likely to click on...AKA shit you ALREADY agree with...because that's how they earn their money.
It creates a veritable echo chamber. The only information you have access to is the information that you are most likely to already agree with. It confirms your bias, cements your beliefs with the selection of facts that already support what you most likely think.
For example, I don't like guns...at all. If I Google "mass shootings" I'll get insanely different stats then someone who is pro gun and an NRA member...crazy, right? What people think is objective information online is absolutely not.
And when you surround yourself with information that confirms your opinion and yours alone, the other side starts to look crazy and evil and deluded. Your ability to see reason in people who disagree degrades over time, and that's scary...because, like it or not, both sides do have reasonable points...but empathy towards the other side is too much of a stretch, so let's just hate them instead and sink into our easy,safe bubble. That's comforting. Both sides of the spectrum are guilty of this.
The advertising industry, they see that trend and exploit it to make money. That's all they care about.
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xeus
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dude_Jones
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Excellent answer. I totally agree with the 'echo chamber' you mentioned. That algorithm makes you think 'huh most of everyone on the internet, thinks the same as me'. That's dangerous.
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Thanks :)
It is a super interesting subject. I'm aware that the problem exists, and I'm STILL succeptable to it because it is comforting to confirm your own opinions. I actually purposefully manipulate my own algorithm by frequently searching phrases I strongly disagree with.
If you ever get bored, it's really fun to explore your own search history algorithm to see what Google thinks you are. If you type open ended phrases into the search bar, Google will finish the sentence for you with what it thinks you want to search.
So, for example
"I wonder if..."
"I sometimes think about..."
"I accidentally..." is one of the funniest ones. Results vary for different people. You might get "I accidentally ate mold" or "I accidentally locked my keys in my car." I got "I accidentally...KILLED MY BABY"
Lol Google thinks i kill babies, but not on purpose.
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dude_Jones
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I know you don't care about this. But for comparative purposes to deconstruct Google, I ran your experiment with extra leads to lessen ambiguity. Their search engine thinks I'm an avoidant HNW schlep who is obsessed with cosmology and has music constantly playing inside of my head. That's more insightful than anyone's first guess. *shivers_at_loss_of_anonymity*
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CountessDouche
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As terrifying as the accuracy is, it does provide some convenience when searching non politically charged issues. I actually can't even look at suggested youtube links because I've so disastrously fucked up my algorithm by watching a hodgepodge of nonsense. Youtube thinks I love dr dre and it thinks I love fat activism for some reason. It won't even suggest cat videos, which are really the only purpose of youtube. It's very annoying.
And also, I haven't killed THAT many babies. Jeeze
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dude_Jones
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Not to get uncontrollably empathetic here, but we humans (like you and me) must maintain solitary for chess moves against our silicon opponents. I tried a search engine gambit once by googling "militant feminism". As expected, it quit trying to sell me Hooter's meal deal restaurant coupons. But, suddenly I was swamped with offers for cute kitten calendars.
Go figure.
If I may, I would just add that Industry hires only the best algorithm engineers. Guys and girls that understand Markov Chains, Baysian revision to Decision Trees, Conditional Probabilities, and Multivariate Regression Analysis. Ironically, the mathematical triumph of the human intellect is the best weapon to suppress good judgement and encourage gut level decision making.
Does your college student have the intelligence to become a puppet master of humanity? Sign her up for a tough class in Probability and Statistics. She'll learn how to assess much more than the quantitative value of a curvy ass. Her polished skills will make her become a rock star of institutional manipulation.