It's like a dirty fork.

 

There was already too much BS to deal with before (rise of PC and cancel culture for example). Now while my life changed little (obviously like many here avoiding social activities is second nature to me), my tolerance for the ever amplifying noise of social media is geting lower by the minute. Lack of crirical (or any thinking) in decision makimg process is hurting my brain. Watching and analyzing the world is now damaging to me so I am trying to find better pursuits. Thank god for the dogs.

 

Has anyone else noticed a growing level of hostility among us AAC users

Something just clicked in the back of my head, after I saw a short movie clip about a dirty spoon or something posted by a brilliant member of AAC, I forget his name... "Anyway". You guys collectively have a built-in, regenerative faile safe,state of the art, cutting edge,countermeasures that you employ for this very subject.

 

In my opinion, the lack of critical thinking has not changed. Think of those who denied the moon landing but believed aliens were visiting us in UFOs, or were convinced that (take your pick) conspired to kill Kennedy.

What has changed is that all of those (pick you word) are now able to be heard.

Bob

 

aliens were visiting us in UFOs...

They were. Until Covid.

 

Many of us are just old and have lived through a lot of really bad stuff when younger so the concern level from Covid-19 is relative to a lot of that stuff. Fear is a unreasoning response that leads people to find news (fake or real) reports that reinforce that fear. It's both a blessing and a curse to have traveled (at times defacto imprisoned for the duration of the trip for more than 100 days at sea) the world to places most tourists don't go. We laugh at the things people hoard but it tells you how good we still have it here during a world-wide pandemic. In Africa young children, pregnant women have died by the millions over the years from Malaria and it's one of the most severe public health problems worldwide even with CV-19.

 

There was already too much BS to deal with before (rise of PC and cancel culture for example). Now while my life changed little (obviously like many here avoiding social activities is second nature to me), my tolerance for the ever amplifying noise of social media is geting lower by the minute. Lack of crirical (or any thinking) in decision makimg process is hurting my brain. Watching and analyzing the world is now damaging to me so I am trying to find better pursuits. Thank god for the dogs.

Too true. I got overwhelmed a few months ago. Social media was so rife with willful ignorance, unabashed knowing propagation of misinformation and mindless arguments that I couldn't take it any more. I quit all social media (unless you consider tech forums social media) cold turkey. Only then did I realize that it's an actual addiction. Only then did I realize the extent to which it had been negatively impacting me. It is truly a cancer. It sows, reaps, feeds on negative energy and emotions. I'm a happier person now than I was, even as society circles the drain faster than before.

I recommend everyone/anyone willing to give it a trial run, turn off the TV, disable the Facebook app (because you can't even delete it from your phone), and TALK to PEOPLE. With your mouth. I've had more meaningful conversations in the past months than I have in years. I call old friends, talk for an hour or so. Find out what's going on in their lives, just because. People are surprised to get phone calls and it's sometimes a bit awkward at first, as they try to feel out the reason for my call: just to talk. Ok, they remember how to do that after a few minutes and the talk becomes more organic. It's sad, many people are out of practice at the simplest of human activities. We are losing ourselves. We need to make a change.

 

Only then did I realize that it's an actual addiction. Only then did I realize the extent to which it had been negatively impacting me. It is truly a cancer

I tell people to watch this film. It's worth the time it takes and explains a lot. But most people won't or don't watch past the first minutes of it, maybe because they see themselves portrayed.
https://stareintothelightsmypretties.jore.cc/

 

Lots of good comments, and respected for their point of view. It's just that, and maybe it's just me, it seems like people are becoming more hostile this past year. Take these two points into consideration: NASA and a flight to Mars, and submarines. In both cases experts are concerned with people who are confined for long periods of time where mental attitudes can change and become more hostile over time due to the isolation. Granted, we may be isolated, me in my basement with access to the world via the internet and you, wherever you're sitting; but we ARE isolated together. As is true even in long term marriages, people can get fussy with each other after a period of time. It may be the occasional pet peeve where your spouse puts the roll of toilet paper on the "wrong" way, or their habit of dropping their shoes right where they step out of them. Once in a while being exposed to it - you can pretty much ignore it. But when faced with the same irritating thing over and over - people can get snappy with each other.

It's my observation (going from memory) that things have changed this past year. User A says something and User X snaps at User A for saying something that is wrong, or they missed a detail - or whatever the complaint. I believe I remember a more friendly AAC in years past. And I think even moderators have taken some frustration out on others, deleting comments or banning others for what might (I said "Might") be weak reasons. I just wonder if anyone else has noticed something similar. So I started this post. I actually didn't think it would get this much attention. And if you don't think things have changed - express yourself. It's always OK to disagree. I don't take that as criticism. But if you take a tone (and that may be just the way the reader takes it) - - - .

 

I had been teaching electronics for 45 years and I thought that students' abilities where becoming weaker and weaker every year. But then I thought, was it them or was it me? While students were coming in at the same age each year I was getting older, learning something new every day and advancing my knowledge base.

But I believe it is a bit of both. Back in my days as kids we were playing with matches and gunpowder. We were opening clocks and radios. You wouldn't let your teenager open up a laptop these days unless it was already broken. You can't learn much by opening up a smart phone. How things have changed!

 

@MrChips Funny, you reminded me of my younger days. I used to (I said "Used To") mess with explosives. Had a real blast with that stuff. But when I became a father, and when my son was old enough I told him not to play with explosives. Also told him that if he was going to disregard my prohibition that he should come and talk to me. I would show him how to be safe while playing with bombs. Sadly, his interest was in playing video games. If I said 24/7 you would probably think that was a huge exaggeration; but it's not a huge exaggeration, rather, a very minor one. In his youth he wanted only to spend time in the video world. In his 20's he would literally spend three hours a day sleeping and the rest of the time playing video games, only to stop and use the bathroom or to have something to eat. And this would go on for a good six days out of the week. Then one day he would spend it sleeping all day. And that, my friends, is no exaggeration at all. Just ask his mom.

I know that comment is "off topic". Lets see if a moderator deletes it.

 

disable the Facebook app (because you can't even delete it from your phone)

I have never used Facebook and don't have any plans to start anytime soon. As far as I'm concerned, the World would be a better place without FB.

 

I have never used Facebook and don't have any plans to start anytime soon. As far as I'm concerned, the World would be a better place without FB.

2nd - all those in favor say Aye!

 

AYE!

 

Aye!

 

I had been teaching electronics for 45 years and I thought that students' abilities where becoming weaker and weaker every year.

This is possibly, probably, due to Facebook.

 

 

Local community here is all on facebook. It is actually very entertaining and depressing at the same time. People do band together to track lost pets.

 

Darwin is hard at work in SE GA. There will be lots of Posthumous Awards, unfortunately... Reading the local county FaceBook group is quite distressing and depressing. Who'da thunk there were really that many idiots at large in my county.

 

Darwin is hard at work in SE GA. There will be lots of Posthumous Awards, unfortunately... Reading the local county FaceBook group is quite distressing and depressing. Who'da thunk there were really that many idiots at large in my county.

We have met the enemy, and it is US!