Subj : Re: Computer Kits
To   : Arelor
From : Jeff
Date : Thu Jan 27 2022 07:44:19

On 27 Jan 2022, Arelor said the following...
 Ar> TV shows and driving through a better neighbourhood than your own send
 Ar> impersonal signals that don't hit at a personal level.
 Ar> Chances are you know none of that people anyway so it is not like the
 Ar> fact your house is the worst of them all makes you the bottom of your
 Ar> social circle.

That would depend on one's social circle. A church, perhaps.

 Ar> It is when you get overwelmingly beaten by people of your own group (or
 Ar> your own level) at things you care about that it starts sucking. ie. if
 Ar> you like teaching tricks to your horse, you join some INnternet group
 Ar> about horse trick training, and you find everybody keeps posting videos
 Ar> of their horses doing tricks more awesome than your horses, it is going
 Ar> to suck. You are gonna think your comparative ability at something you
 Ar> care for is not up to standard.

This has many parallels outside of the social media world. Most musicians, for
example, enjoy listening to musicians of greater ability as an inspiration.
Boy Scouts, and similar, where one individual might have more merit badges
than another. Virtually any work environment where employees are praised for
doing an exceptional job. Trade associations who hold conferences and publish
periodicals which spotlight particularly successful members.

And yet we don't call music, scouting programs, employment, or trade
associations evil or dangerous.

 Ar> Specially because you are not going to see the videos in which the other
 Ar> horse trainers failed hard and made tons of stupid mistakes, so you are
 Ar> going to be aware of your fuckups but not the other people's.

This is true of virtually any success story one may come across.

 Ar> Obviously, not everybody is hit by this effect and maybe it is not the
 Ar> most users either, but this effect has been described.

This would seem to be an issue with the user, not social media.

 Ar> It is just like the effect according to which some boardgame players
 Ar> experience strategic loses at board games as if they were real life
 Ar> strategic loses. "Damn, they undercut my coal supply contract! It is
 Ar> gonna take ages to recover the loses!" It bits some people harder than
 Ar> others :-)

And yet, board games are not considered evil or dangerous. In board games in
particular, there has to be a loser and a winner, by design.

Jeff.

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