Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible god and destroys a visible nature. Unaware that the nature he is destroying is this god he is worshipping. - Hubert Reeves
Apologies for being a cheerleader for a particular podcast, but the 13 May On The Media episode has an interesting interview in the first 20 minutes.
Link: https://www.wnyc.org/radio/#/ondemand/619380
The segment deals with the news re: Facebook editorialising newsfeeds. The second interview is the most interesting and throws up a some interesting ideas, like:
Facebook, Google and Apple control a lot of our information media as we digest it today
The US broke up Unioil in the early 20th century on antitrust grounds ie one private company had too much power, it needed to be broken up as it had too much market power versus customers, companies and the government
In the information age, should companies like Facebook and Google be broken up?
Alternatively, should there be some form of nationalisation? If not wholehearted nationalisation, perhaps nationalisation of some parts? Or more regulatory intervention (which is effectively a lighter touch of nationalisation)?
After all, we’ve largely nationalised other institutions that educate our population (eg state schools and universities, prescribed curriculum, content and testing that applies even to private sector schools
We have regulated some information providers in the past eg Australia’s media ownership restrictions, but not others (eg religious educations). As I noted above, we’ve all broken up monopolies.
So the concept of breaking up the electronic information giants would not be an entirely foreign concept.
As an aside, I note that in the case of religious educations, the lack of regulation this may be more a case of historical difference. Christian religions were effectively national institutions working with the Western governance paradigms that evolved from the time of Emperor Constantine through to around WW2. Self-regulation works for the government when the dominant religion is one of its partners in the Establishment. Even more so when the partner starts losing its market share of minds.
The discussion is an interesting convergence between private sector competition law, nationalism and media concentration controls that I came across in my law school days and work and the emerging models of electronic information.
My initial bias as a media consumer is against regulation, but that’s probably initially because I have a social leftist bent and companies like Facebook and Google have something of the same, more or less.
On the other hand, I shouldn’t support a risky institution just because the risk is currently being exploited in a way that works for the outcomes I desire. Capitalism has devoured and absorbed the internet age and that beast may evolve to something more conservative.
Also, I don’t trust Apple.
On the third hand, I don’t trust the government either. But the interviewee in the second interview does briefly raise the idea that we could have nationalisation or regulation only of certain parts. You then start looking at systems of power and leverage within the electronic media model. Would it be possible to selectively regulate the right leverage points in the network, with the result of providing room for fuller private sector and individual freedom, rather than a 1984-like information distopia?
It’s tough to call. It’s something worth debate. However, I don’t expect the debate to happen, as the current news cycle has more glittery and digestible stories that are easier to pursue, like Trump vs Hillary. Those types of stories likely trigger less unease in the information consuming public. For electronic media companies like Facebook, I suspect it’s a debate that they would prefer to keep out of people’s newsfeeds.
just to reiterate, Drumpf WILL BE the next president - I recommend making your peace with that now…
for the record, I do occasionally watch Q&A (don’t judge me) and was watching when young Duncan made his plea for just a bit of the love this govt only ever has for The Rich (if you haven’t seen it, you may appreciate some of the panel squirming - or straight up telling him “you don’t matter” - and desperately searching for the right 3-word-slogan, in the face of some bitter truth)
the reason I bring it up is because I’ve been hearing about the Murdoch Press trying - failing spectacularly - to assassinate Duncan’s character this week… Australians have a profound distaste for “punching down” and this has very much become the initial focus of this election, thus far
(the irony of the guys who not only pay NO tax but actually extorted $800,000,000 out of the Tax Office trying to call out the guy who pays “no NET tax” was not lost on anyone)
(edit)
almost forgot: this thing about The Press speaks to the issue raised - many times - about the current, sad state of affairs of Modern Journalism and the fact that, as Wibbly mentioned, All Newspapers Are Dying…
“All these newspapers used to have foreign bureaus,” he said. “Now they don’t. They call us to explain to them what’s happening in Moscow and Cairo. Most of the outlets are reporting on world events from Washington. The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old, and their only reporting experience consists of being around political campaigns. That’s a sea change. They literally know nothing.”
(also, edit #359: FUCK it’s difficult using this editor on a phone!!)
At Wibbly’s encouragement, I post my “in case Trump wins” bug out kit.
3 D cell maglite
Solar rechargeable USB charger
Torch with glass smasher
Compass/whistle/thermometer
Binoculars
Leatherman
Cheap Chinese knock off Leatherman
Hatchet/hammer multitool
Sharpies
Timepiece with magnifying lens
Toothbrush and toothpaste, nail clipper
Gloves
Gloves with reinforced knuckles
Eating multitool
High calorie freeze dried rations
Gaff tape
First aid kit
Mirror
Survival blankets
Waterproof poncho
Waterproof container
Waterbags
Firestarter
Cable ties
Paracord
Deodorant
All fits nicely in this bag and this little one.
To misquote Hunter S Thompson, “Not that we needed all that for the trip, but once you get locked into a serious bug out bag collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can”
allow me to reiterate - you should not have been surprised by the Brexit outcome and you should not be surprised by Drumpf taking office either (and yes HST would have been perfect, right about now)
