Things that are only a problem on the internet?

[Salmonofdoubt]

Maybe it’s just me but it seems that there are things that are massive problems when you read about them, or the reactions to them online. But these same things never affect my life, the lives of the people I interact with, our jobs or our families.

Through various online sources I’ve been told the world is ending due to plastic. That the EU is an evil empire. Disney hates white men, in fact white men are an endangered species. Women are subjected to harassment daily, but apparently not the women we meet. Everyone hates Jews, Muslims, black people, white men. Cars are evil, cyclists are evil, the climate is changing for the worse, etc etc etc.

All of these things are debated endlessly, people without sense of perspective shout about their point of view refusing to listen to reason. Yet the second you step outside these issues have gone, the internet echo chambers of social media and the traditional media’s desperation to remain relevant are the only places these extremes that don’t matter seem to exist.

Maybe it’s just me, but does anyone else feel like things that we’re told are threats or are destroying the fabric of our society are blown out of proportion?

[mr_spock]

Anti semitism affected me. And it seems to have somewhat affected the outcome of the election.

[Teddy Lop]

AIUI Due to survival instincts the human mind is something like 7 times more receptive to bad things (dangers) than good things, as most social media platforms attempt to automatically feed that which will keep individuals occupied this feeds a predominantly negative feedback loop.

Humans is weird; take a look around this forum and how many are seemingly forced to occupy their minds with things that clearly don't make them happy, be it a Weatherspoons pub thread dominated by those who feel to good for and dismissive of the chain, top gear/grand tour threads dominated by people incessantly repeating the same tired criticisms like they think its going to change, f1 forum where every race thread has people complaining f1 is boring, and so on and so on. Its odd.

[Cantaloupe]

The Daily Mail and its readers get a hard time on the net, akin to pedos, fox clubbers and wife - murderers

But in real life, it's a popular daily paper millions read and enjoy.

[Ultrafunkula]

Salmonofdoubt said:

Maybe it’s just me, but does anyone else feel like things that we’re told are threats or are destroying the fabric of our society are blown out of proportion?

In the past I feel we were encouraged to strive and look for the good things in life, now if you try and promote that attitude online you will be met by cries of 'before we can do that we must fix everything that's wrong with society first'. It certainly feels like a more pessimistic and cynical feeling exists there, what's wrong with doing all these things at once?


It's like people are drawn to hysteria...

[PositronicRay]

If someone has an axe to grind internets a good place, bigger audience and less likely to earn a punch on the nose than the local.

Soap boxes are good, just a bit drafty this time of Yr.