Our Times
I actually think there is far too little panic (or better yet, apprehension) about AI. I even see many Christian friends speak enthusiastically about it as a “helpful tool” rather than an alien agent. I first noticed about 10 years ago that one way to get a machine to pass the Turing Test is to make it more human-like, but perhaps the easier method... See more
John Halbigsubstack.comPeople aren’t really looking to be economically stable before they start families; they’re looking to be existentially stable. They will opt-out of important life decisions altogether because they are waiting for the day when they will feel like more of a confident person with a firmer sense of self before making a commitment—not knowing that it’s
... See more“Bad times! Hard times!” — this is what people are saying. But let us live well, and the times shall be well. We are the times. Such as we are, such are the times.
—St. Augustine of Hippo, a sermon on prayer during the slow collapse of the Roman Empire
Schirrmacher nannte es den digitalen Zwilling : Bei jeder Transaktion unterstellt das System den Akteuren eine maximal egoistische, maximal nutzenorientierte Gesinnung. Diese Konzepte, die aus der nicht-kooperativen Spieltheorie des Kalten Krieges stammen, leben von einer größtmöglichen Paranoia: Niemand ist, wer er vorgibt zu sein, und die
... See moreNils Minkmar • Kate, Moskau Und X: Wir Haben Ein Ego-Problem
As we have seen in the previous theses, our digital environment:
Regulates our lives towards a smaller number of paths purposely designed by others rather than trails more fortuitous and exploratory.
Builds up a monolithic authentic self rather than a lush set of mutually-enriching contextual identities.
Is heavily focused on categorising people,
Robin Berjon • Retrofuturism
Other drugs that are not considered to be harmful and are used regularly—caffeine, for example—are accepted as enjoyable accoutrements to life, as helping us get along with, or at the very least bear, our daily tasks. Social media is not just accepted—it’s also seen as something functionally beneficial, something that not only supports but also
... See moreit • Using - Damage
Millions of people — and white people in particular — would rather endure physical isolation, generalized loneliness, caregiving exhaustion, and financial precarity than relinquish some of their societal power. That’s a far less optimistic foundational myth than individualism. But it’s a far more honest one.
The Dark Heart of Individualism
Trauma is a far subtler concept than many of us realise. It isn't just a word for something extremely stressful. It doesn't always come from short, sharp shocks like car accidents, terrorist attacks, or firefights. And, trauma isn't the same thing as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). What trauma is about is events and their effect on the mind.
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