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What’s on your mind?
- Thread starter Gutwrench
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At the time I posted that I was irritated about some math problem. It was a tongue-in-cheek joke.
My wife and son are excellent at math, I am not. Part of my problem is I like to have solid reasons for why things are the way they are. There are a lot of assumptions in math and a lot of those assumptions math people think you know (or should know).
Pulling numbers out of thin air and claiming they're defacto the standard because someone ancient said they are isn't a solid enough reason for me. Then using those numbers and values in complex ways just makes my head spin.
So, I stay away from math. I went into an art-based field that uses basic numbers but not a lot of complicated stuff.
I thought I was the last bastion of anti social. Never had a Facebook, Twitter or any other kind of social media account. Nice to know I am not alone.............or nice to know I am alone?
It is not only on the more obvious social media platforms - FB, Twitter et all - where stalking occurs.
For what it is worth, I've been stalked on email, - the individual in question hadn't known of any of my participation in a very few other other online worlds, but - once he sought to engage with me on LinkedIn (where I immediately blocked him), once he discovered I had an account which I grace with fleeting visits - not a pleasant experience.
Yep, people post whatever is on their minds, too. It's horrible.
I've never been on Facebook either. What sums up my feelings about it are captured in Sherman Alexi's "Facebook Sonnet":
Welcome to the endless high-school
Reunion. Welcome to past friends
And lovers, however kind or cruel.
Let’s undervalue and unmend
The present. Why can’t we pretend
Every stage of life is the same?
Let’s exhume, resume, and extend
Childhood. Let’s play all the games
That occupy the young. Let fame
And shame intertwine. Let one’s search
For God become public domain.
Let church.com become our church
Let’s sign up, sign in, and confess
Here at the altar of loneliness.
I don't like social media - my rants about it are on this very forum - but I must admit that lately I found some interesting uses for it.
1) As I wrote, my son left for USMC boot camp. To my amazement I found out that on Facebook there are a few closed groups for parents with kids at boot camp, and some group are very specific to the Company they're in. The amount of information, updated pictures, and even videos from the recruits (sadly, not from my son's platoon) is outstanding. Since receiving letters from recruits is a rarity due to their busy schedule, parents are also able to share something about what's happening in boot camp so that we're all informed through small pieces of news. Honestly, right now this has a very high value for us.
2) A few months back, Cal Newport - author of Digital Minimalism, mentioned that while he thinks that social media is awful, stuff like Instagram can be used to some good purpose. He mentioned that Jocko Willinks (former US Navy SEAL) every morning at 4:30am publishes a picture of his wristwatch and about 2 hours later he publishes some picture about his workout. He does that for accountability. Last month, I decided to go to the gym every single day - no matter how hard or easy the workout - and I used Willinks method so I posted a boring pic of myself at the gym every single time I went there. Guess what? Success. I mean, I know no one cares about me at the gym, and I know I have slightly less followers than Kim Kardashian, however I have to say that checking the box publicly worked... and is still working.
The true problem of social media is that most people use it at any opportunity, even in line or at the restaurant (even with their family at the table!!).
Facebook is where you go to post enough about yourself that the phishing and spamming people can make more accurate attacks.
As for getting it touch with people I’m no longer in contact with? No thanks. We stopped being friends for a reason (most likely!).
Think I’ll pass.
As for getting it touch with people I’m no longer in contact with? No thanks. We stopped being friends for a reason (most likely!).
Think I’ll pass.
Well done on going to the gym everyday. I’ve been working out (at home) daily since mid September. Feel much fitter for it.
In all seriousness the latest announcement at 8 tonight is on my mind.
Ah sorry I am in Manila we have been under lockdown since March 15 of 2019 so its pretty much a given here. We don't have tiers, or confusion we just stay inside and do what we are told................seems draconian but guess what? Condominium complex of 6000 people and we are COVID free. Took my daughters to the swimming pool last Sunday. We can eat out in restaurants too. Kind of liking third world you can keep the UK don't need it.
Not remotely surprising, rather, inevitable, but better late than never.
Predictable. Christmas was always going to cause issues. Too many people ignoring the rules.
Agreed.
However, the problem - (apart from a more contagious variant of Covid doing the rounds, muddled messaging, incompetence, Brexit), or, rather, one of the major problems - was the loss - the forfeiture - of credibility - and trust - as a result of the lack of (an official and an immediate) response to that ludicrous eye-test at Barnard's castle last summer, and, even though Dominic Cummings has departed from a position where he wielded power, the legacy of that disgraceful episode is still with us.
Trust, and credibility - when you rule by consent (rather than coercion) - are not easily regained once forfeited, once you are seen to be flirting with double standards.
This is the sort of area where those who make such rules and regulations need to be seen - very visibly - to observe them, adhere to them, obey them, if the rules are to be implemented for (and by) everyone.
Otherwise, it is the old story of "do as I say, and not as I do", a double standard where those sufficiently wealthy or well-connected do not feel obliged to obey the same rules as everyone else, and which means, in turn, that others also wonder "why bother?"
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Agreed. I was glad to see Margaret Ferrier was charged today. But it should have happened sooner to send a very clear message. There are those who are carrying on as if life is normal. Then there are the rest of us. I'm glad its a lockdown rather than a tier 5 as that just doesn't convey the same message.
I need to stop forgetting to eat. It just feels so good to fast. I'm sure many people have exactly the opposite problem I do.