Recent posts

#71

Off the Record / Re: 2024 US Presidential Elect...

Last post by OttoVonBismarck - Today at 08:01:55 AM

 9/11 anniversary day, I hope people in the West use this day to reflect on the innate evil of Islam and its monstrous adherents.

Something to remember when considering a vote between a party that supports Israel in its defensive war against Muslim genocide and a party that increasingly embraces eliminationist ideology against Israel.

#72

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by crazy canuck - Today at 07:53:08 AM

Why do people think things get weird?

#73

Off the Record / Re: 2024 US Presidential Elect...

Last post by Richard Hakluyt - Today at 07:52:58 AM

I do visit the BBC, Guardian and Daily Mail websites and peruse their contents....which makes one aware of people like Taylor Swift, some of the preoccupations of weird rightists, how the English football team are doing etc etc

If I left it to the algorithms I'd probably get obsessed with the Corn Laws and leave mainstream society totally 

#74

Off the Record / Re: 2024 US Presidential Elect...

Last post by crazy canuck - Today at 07:52:28 AM

This is like one of those questions in a World War II movie that people get asked to see if they're actually Americans.

#75

Off the Record / Re: 2024 US Presidential Elect...

Last post by DGuller - Today at 07:50:05 AM

I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything.  I guess my ignorance of Taylor Swift is a reflection of the age of algorithms, where anyone can be almost perfectly focused on news stories of interest to them, and everyone getting their very personalized feed assumes that everyone else is getting the same feed. 

News stories about business impacts of travel itineraries of some celebrities have never interested me.  Or business stories in general, for that matter.  If I ever need to have surgery, I'll ask the doctors to use CNBC to put me under.

I assure you I have no algorithmic overlap with Taylor Swift fans, I have never in my life been recommended any content by, or concerning, Taylor Swift.

Yet I have been aware of her and have seen her repeatedly mentioned by various media I consume (including politics and even business podcasters/youtubers) for at least a decade, probably more.

Well, I haven't been aware, so it is what it is.  The name sounded familiar, but there are probably thousands of names that would sound familiar to me that I won't be able to associate with anything other than that I heard that name before somewhere.

#76

Off the Record / Re: 2024 US Presidential Elect...

Last post by crazy canuck - Today at 07:49:52 AM

I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything.  I guess my ignorance of Taylor Swift is a reflection of the age of algorithms, where anyone can be almost perfectly focused on news stories of interest to them, and everyone getting their very personalized feed assumes that everyone else is getting the same feed. 

News stories about business impacts of travel itineraries of some celebrities have never interested me.  Or business stories in general, for that matter.  If I ever need to have surgery, I'll ask the doctors to use CNBC to put me under.

It not only would mean that you have a very narrow intake of information on a daily basis, but it also means that you're completely isolated from other people.  Do you talk to people face-to-face or is your whole reality based on your social media interactions.

If you do interact with people face-to-face, then the chances of you having interacted with anybody who has a daughter is pretty much nil if you've never heard of Taylor Swift.

#77

Off the Record / Re: 2024 US Presidential Elect...

Last post by Grey Fox - Today at 07:48:05 AM

It's weird but it happens. I'm sure there's some giant soccer player out there that I've never heard of before.

#78

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Tamas - Today at 07:47:26 AM

I don't see why means testing the fuel payments is such a heresy. Where the cutoff line needs to be can be open for debate, I am sure, but come on.

#79

Off the Record / Re: 2024 US Presidential Elect...

Last post by Tamas - Today at 07:45:49 AM

I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything.  I guess my ignorance of Taylor Swift is a reflection of the age of algorithms, where anyone can be almost perfectly focused on news stories of interest to them, and everyone getting their very personalized feed assumes that everyone else is getting the same feed. 

News stories about business impacts of travel itineraries of some celebrities have never interested me.  Or business stories in general, for that matter.  If I ever need to have surgery, I'll ask the doctors to use CNBC to put me under.

I assure you I have no algorithmic overlap with Taylor Swift fans, I have never in my life been recommended any content by, or concerning, Taylor Swift.

Yet I have been aware of her and have seen her repeatedly mentioned by various media I consume (including politics and even business podcasters/youtubers) for at least a decade, probably more.

#80

Off the Record / Re: 2024 US Presidential Elect...

Last post by viper37 - Today at 07:42:02 AM

Can anyone give a lowdown on what's so important about Taylor Swift endorsing Harris?  Or who Taylor Swift is, for that matter?

Her fans are a bunch of fanatics, even worst than the average Trump follower.