Life in the fast lane

It is too fast for mariner and other elderly folk. It is common knowledge that the beginning of the twenty-first century is a tumultuous border between a disappearing culture and an emerging one. Computers began the transition seventy years ago, and then the internet emerged. These two advances alone changed how a person views daily reality. In fact, reality itself is subject to revision.

Mariner read in his email today that the hottest market in software-related purchases is to buy and register an avatar that represents you while you are logged on. First, accessing the internet required a simple password; then it was a password and a clue; then the passwords had to be extraordinarily complex; then many services required the names of relatives; then a four-digit pin was added. Taken together these identifications assured others on the internet that the linked person was actually the real person. But now all that folderol will be unnecessary because you will be an animated creature or thing when you are logged on.

Two movies come to mind: The Matrix and Avatar. At least Neo retained his human form in The Matrix. In Avatar Jake Sully had to have blue skin and a funny nose. Facebook has been in the news for its aggressive pursuit of metaverse, a three-dimensional internet that seems lifelike similar to your representation in an online game. When you log on to Facebook, you won’t just be logged on; you will be one of the creatures in a bizarre zoo.

Ironically, mariner is reading a book about how we define factual reality.[1] The central point is that truth is not a finite object. The human perception of truth is just that – an ever changing perception based on what is judged to be the most dependable information at that moment. Unfortunately the computer combined with the internet has loosed Pandora’s Box in the form of unsubstantiated ‘truths’. Social media is the evil device that can use false information flamboyant enough to sway our perception of reality.

The clue that hints at the future culture is the dependence on unsubstantiated information – including an electronic shaping of our interaction with reality. Google makes billions of dollars selling access to our personal profiles, shaping what we know, believe and depend on as a full and truthful reality. Mariner often makes the point that opinion doesn’t need facts; today, manipulating opinion is out of control and is the biggest threat to the new culture.

Ancient Mariner

[1] The Constitution of Knowledge, A Defense of Truth by Jonathan Rauch. Published by the Brookings Institution 2021, ISBN 9780815738862.

1 thought on “Life in the fast lane

  1. ” Social media is the evil device that can use false information flamboyant enough to sway our perception of reality.”

    How many wars has social media convinced you to start? Now do the legacy media?

    Social media has enabled a world were people from all corners of the planet can communicate with each other, share ideas, and discuss world events. A world where information is not restricted to only what’s allowed by the small few who control our global legacy media. This is why the powers that be want to sensor social media. Far too often lately, the mainstream narrative is destroyed by “truth” and facts when it hits social media.

    I have a hard time grasping why Boomers have such a hard time admitting to themselves that the same media that has lied to them for their ENTIRE LIVES is STILL consistently lying to them on a DAILY basis today. It seems like a sadistic abusive relationship to me. Old timers should turn off the television and engage the world, rather than seeing it through the narrow view that is presented to you by the State propaganda pushing oligarchy media. Yes, that includes Fox News AND CNN and MSNBC, etc. etc…. yes, Newsy too – omitting the truth, or purposely avoiding a story, is just as irresponsible for media as publishing a lie. Do old timers believe the CIA grew a conscience and just stopped manipulating the media? At what point did your government grow a conscience during your lifetime? I must have missed that section in the history books. Then again, most of you are brainwashed into believing you’re spreading democracy and liberalism instead of oppression, imperialism, and U.S. hegemony.

    “The Establishment have a charter to run the country in their own interests. They presume they have the right to mislead people. They are not bound by honesty and integrity.”– John Stockwell, former CIA Officer

    https://archive.org/details/AV_321-THE_CIA_CONGRESS_AND_THE_PRESS
    https://archive.org/details/alternative_views?sort=titleSorter

    “Truth will ultimately prevail were there is pains to bring it to light.” – George Washington

    “It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry.” – Thomas Paine

    “The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them.” – Thomas Jefferson

    “The experts prove their incompetence again and again, but the average citizen seems to be willing to be slaughtered than to doubt the experts. This is because the experts teach him that he knows absolutely nothing and that problems are so complicated that nobody can understand and reject the experts.” – Dr. Erich Fromm

    You can lead a horse to water but you can’t force him to drink. You have to come to your own realization that they are lying to you. No one can’t force you to do it. You have to develop the curiosity yourself. If you sole-source where you get your “truths”, then how do you know what they’re telling you is actually true? Because it “makes sense”? or is agreeable to your personal beliefs?

    “All things must be examined, debated, investigated without exception and without regard for anyone’s feelings.” – Denis Diderot

    “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein

    Become passionately curious… QUESTION EVERYTHING.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.