JustinHanagan
@JustinHanagan@kbin.social
I write StayGrounded.online a newsletter about establishing healthy boundaries with the digital world. On Mastodon @twit.social@JustinH
- Comment on The tyranny of the algorithm: why every coffee shop looks the same 5 months ago:
The feedback loop is the most disturbing part, IMO. You have an algorithm deciding what gets popular, which means creatives hoping to be financially sustainable have to cater to it to some degree, which reinforces the algorithm and removes a little bit of uniqueness from society.
Creative people have always had to consider"what sells" to some degree if they want to make money from their effort, but we've gone beyond artists making "art with some degrees of marketability" into making products called "art" with little of the emotional/intellectual "challenge' that comes with unique works.
- Comment on The tyranny of the algorithm: why every coffee shop looks the same 5 months ago:
My first reaction was that this excerpt reminds me of a piece I wrote two years ago called "[The Airbnb-ification of the arts](https://www.staygrounded.online/p/the-airbnb-ification-of-the-arts", about how artists looking to make a career out of art are forced to cater to an algorithm that favors comfortable predictability over depth or uniqueness. My essay was heavily inspired by "Welcome to Airspace" by Kyle Chayka.
Jokes on me for not reading the byline because it turns out Kyle wrote the book this excerpt is from! lol good for him. Looking forward to reading it.
I'm curious to know if he has a presence on Mastodon or any other Social Web apps, he's a really great writer I'd like to follow.
- Comment on How to Use Social Media as an Artist Without Destroying Your Soul - StayGrounded.online 5 months ago:
It's unfortunatley really, really hard to get noticed whatsoever as an artist without social media these days if you don't have any industry connections.
- Comment on How to Use Social Media as an Artist Without Destroying Your Soul - StayGrounded.online 5 months ago:
Wow, I've never heard music with such a stunning lack of soul before! 10/10 I bought every album.
- How to Use Social Media as an Artist Without Destroying Your Soul - StayGrounded.onlinewww.staygrounded.online ↗Submitted 5 months ago to technology@lemmy.world | 16 comments
- Comment on "Trust and Safety" departments exist to protect the company, not users. 6 months ago:
Exactly, well said.
- Comment on "Trust and Safety" departments exist to protect the company, not users. 6 months ago:
I have many issues with Substack, but at least they're not disingenuous about what you may find there (if they even have a T&S dept!).
- Comment on "Trust and Safety" departments exist to protect the company, not users. 6 months ago:
Exactly. FTA:
"Trust and safety” departments are kinda like “Human Resources” departments. They exist to help the company avoid expensive lawsuits and expensive PR blunders. These departments, I assume, are comprised of good-hearted people who care deeply about their work and the well being of others. But they are fighting a battle that the companies do not actually want to end.
- Submitted 6 months ago to technology@lemmy.world | 22 comments
- Comment on What are some essential browser extensions for "quieting down" the internet? 6 months ago:
It's literally in the article lol
- What are some essential browser extensions for "quieting down" the internet?www.staygrounded.online ↗Submitted 6 months ago to technology@lemmy.world | 32 comments
- Submitted 6 months ago to technology@lemmy.world | 0 comments
- Comment on "The (Trust and) Safety Dance" - When an ostensibly “social” company has a Trust and Safety department, try and see it for what it is: a sign that failure is an option. 8 months ago:
You're not incorrect, but I think the thing that differentiates this era of social media from the "before times" (I was there too) is that it's significantly easier for non-techies to join. The internet nowadays has significantly more diversity of perspectives than back then. Those differences are exploited and exaggerated by social media companies to generate engagement. It seems to m that the fediverse model allows for diversity and sanity (or at least not algorithmically-encouraged _in_sanity).
Thanks for reading and the comment!
- "The (Trust and) Safety Dance" - When an ostensibly “social” company has a Trust and Safety department, try and see it for what it is: a sign that failure is an option.www.staygrounded.online ↗Submitted 8 months ago to technology@lemmy.world | 5 comments
- Comment on "Our Wire Mothers" - It's important for us to be careful that our technology does not supplant the human need for socialization. 8 months ago:
I personally wouldn't judge any Yankees fan living in Boston who chooses to remain closeted about their allegiances and only discusses sports online.
- Comment on "Our Wire Mothers" - It's important for us to be careful that our technology does not supplant the human need for socialization. 8 months ago:
Absolutely. The essay does actually address that towards the end (the two paragraphs just after the black and white photo).
- "Our Wire Mothers" - It's important for us to be careful that our technology does not supplant the human need for socialization.www.staygrounded.online ↗Submitted 8 months ago to technology@lemmy.world | 14 comments
- Comment on "Where can I keep all this time that I'm saving?" Thank to Silicon valley, mankind is finally free of drudgery to focus on what's important in life. 9 months ago:
I find it extremely hard to believe you actually read my (short) essay, or took even a moment to consider the context in which it was presented before deciding to hurl insults. Two seconds of introspective thought on your part could have saved both of us from emotional anguish today.
- Comment on "Where can I keep all this time that I'm saving?" Thank to Silicon valley, mankind is finally free of drudgery to focus on what's important in life. 9 months ago:
Now you're catching on
- Comment on "Where can I keep all this time that I'm saving?" Thank to Silicon valley, mankind is finally free of drudgery to focus on what's important in life. 9 months ago:
Careful, you may have more in common with the writer than you think 😉
- Comment on "Where can I keep all this time that I'm saving?" Thank to Silicon valley, mankind is finally free of drudgery to focus on what's important in life. 9 months ago:
The example you mention is actually in the essay itself. But yes, it would be nice if the technology companies could work on a way to automate the stuff we don't enjoy doing instead of the stuff that brings meaning into our lives.
- "Where can I keep all this time that I'm saving?" Thank to Silicon valley, mankind is finally free of drudgery to focus on what's important in life.www.staygrounded.online ↗Submitted 9 months ago to technology@lemmy.world | 17 comments
- Comment on An EXTREMELY Simple Guide to Mastodon (for when someone says it's too complicated to catch on) 9 months ago:
To be fair, "a chance at fame and attention" is the sales pitch from the commercial platforms. They don't want users having "meaningful conversation". There's a great essay/rant from Cat Valente called "Stop Talking to Each Other and Start Buying Things".
- Comment on An EXTREMELY Simple Guide to Mastodon (for when someone says it's too complicated to catch on) 9 months ago:
✨much elegance✨
- Comment on An EXTREMELY Simple Guide to Mastodon (for when someone says it's too complicated to catch on) 9 months ago:
If it's still too complicated for someone after reading this I think it's safe to say they're a lost cause
- Comment on An EXTREMELY Simple Guide to Mastodon (for when someone says it's too complicated to catch on) 9 months ago:
"Slowly, then all at once".
Personally, I think once the journalists and news orgs (finally) get on board, that will inspire government agencies to make the change, and that will be the true tipping point away from 𝕏.
- Comment on An EXTREMELY Simple Guide to Mastodon (for when someone says it's too complicated to catch on) 9 months ago:
You can just click "no thanks" to the subscription box, but I've copy-pasted the full guide (short version) here for you:
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Download the Mastodon app from the Apple app store or Play store.
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Create an account (just like Twitter or any other social media)
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Follow people, and get posting.
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- Comment on An EXTREMELY Simple Guide to Mastodon (for when someone says it's too complicated to catch on) 9 months ago:
It's a bit of a joke post because a lot of the coverage around Mastodon gets really into the weeds with Federation, ActivityPub, etc. and journalists often describe it as "too techie" for "normal" users.
Well, "normal" users don't care about the technical backend of Twitter or Facebook so it always felt a bit disingenuous to me it was presented this way. Hopefully my post can dispell some of the confusion!
- An EXTREMELY Simple Guide to Mastodon (for when someone says it's too complicated to catch on)www.staygrounded.online ↗Submitted 9 months ago to fediverse@lemmy.world | 38 comments