Mental illness is going to get worse due to social media especially Twitter we have a whole generation than has been raised on a phone. At one point you used to feel to go outside as a kid now people stay in the house. There is no more socialization as it right used to be I rarely if ever see men talking to random girls as they used to they stopped around 2013 humans are meant for each other especially young adults you have plenty of young adults who never truly experienced life but through a phone. You will think social media especially Twitter can help us connect with each other learn from each other help each other. But social media is 100 times more racist, narcissistic and negative than Real life bar none social media is more racially segregated than Rea life. I wonder like how can these people be so negative on social media 24/7 like what mental illness do most of them suffer from
People complained about every technology that came before. Electricity, the TV being in every household, Rock & Roll, then Heavy Metal, then Video Games, the Internet, now Social Media and AI. The only thing that has changed is the thing people want to blame for society's ills. Social Media isn't new either. It's been around since chat rooms on dial up internet. Chat rooms, MSN Messenger, ICQ, MySpace, then Facebook, and of course, forums like this one. Now there's Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter/X, and BlueSky. People have been sharing thoughts, opinions and media/content through the above for a very long time. It has evolved to provide different services or evolved different methods of communication, but it's still the same old social media. When a new service comes out, it will be the new bane on society for people to blame, while our current social media sources fade into the background and forgotten. There's always going to be problems that pop up when transitioning to a different platform, and people will finger wag at those problems being the norm and society is going down the toilet..... But society has been going down the toilet for a long time and long before the Internet was in everyone's home or their hands. It's been going downhill for a myriad of reasons. High cost of living? Low paying jobs? Trouble getting food on the table? Owning a home is next to impossible for most? The wealth divide between rich and poor? The basic essentials we all need or desire in society have been dwindling away as time goes by and there's no solutions by our governments on how to reverse this trend..... Is any of this Social Media's fault? Not that I can tell. I moved countries several years back. My original plan was to go back to my home country to see my family every two years. That was 2011. Here we are in 2025. Guess how many times I've been back to see my family? Once. Only one time back in late 2012. Why? Because I have a family here now and my priorities are to ensure we have a roof over our heads, food on the table, bills are paid. I won't get into more personal details but let's just say that my single income is all we've been able to live off of all this time due to medical issues with my significant other. And while all of this is going on, things continue to get more and more expensive. My point? Things are expensive. Travelling is expensive. We used to at least go once a year to somewhere not too far away to go do something during the holidays just to get out of the house, but even doing that today, while possible, puts a huge dent into the money we have left. Going out to the bars to have a drink. Going to a restaurant. All the things people used to do several years ago isn't as easy to do these days. Its not social media that is the problem with this, it's money and the lack of it that causes most people to avoid going out and socialise like one used to do in the 2000s, 90s, 80s, and beyond. Social Media is perhaps one of the few things people use to adapt to not being able to go and do things I used to do 20 some years ago, as they can at least still stay in connection with others and do things together that is a bit more cost effective. And I use social media to try and stay in touch with the family I can't see face to face, who are halfway around the world. As for young men not approaching girls like they used to or hitting on them in the bars anymore, you can blame the MeToo movement for that. Things were going downhill before that movement, but MeToo put the nail in the coffin. Dont get me wrong. There was a legitimate purpose behind MeToo and originated from a just position, but like all movements, it was hijacked and turned into something more. Eventually MeToo became the soundboard for all women to proclaim this guy or that guy did something wrong. What was once a platform for women to deal with some bad guys out there who assaulted or raped, etc., it turned into a movement where even the slightest discomfort was evil. That thing you mentioned? Men talking to random girls? Yeah, that's called an "Unwanted Advance" now. Go take a look online and see how many examples are out there where guys have been branded as creeps for simply walking up to a random girl at a bar/club and trying to break the ice. And the worst part of it all is that once these guys were finger pointed, the mobs came out in force. Whether any of what someone said was proven to be true, it didn't matter. No courts involved, no real investigations, no charges. But it was still enough for these guys to lose their jobs because a company didn't want to deal with the drama being associated. These guys lost their families and wives, even if a claim they did something wrong happened decades ago and even if it was simply an "Unwanted Advance" like talking to a random girl, as you suggested. Those guys who did do wrong should have the full force of the law placed on them and justice served. But the way this movement evolved, many men were swept up in it and had their lives ruined. And the accuser? Nothing or little was ever done to them. Some women had terrible experiences, my sister being one of them, but don't tell me all of those who made claims were speaking the truth. There are vindictive people out there and there are people who seek attention from others & want to feel a part of a group. But I digress. What do you think would happen when the above unfolded? Guys would read these stories, see news reports of guys losing their families and their jobs, despite never having anything proven in a court, plus the reality of divorce rates and who usually comes out on top of a divorce, and one would logically ask, "Is any of this worth the risks? Do I really want to go over there and talk to that girl?" It caused a chilling effect and changed how many men approached relationships. Do they really want to risk their lives being ruined or is it just safer to stay home, play some video games and watch some porn instead? Is it better to just hang out with your friends at home and have some beer? Don't forget, the MGTOW (or whatever it is) and Incel movements also started to take off around the same time as the MeToo movement. Social Media played a part in all of this, but Social Media is just a form of communication. It's a medium, not the cause. The real kicker is how women on Social Media in recent years will ask why guys don't approach them anymore. How come they can be all dressed up, looking hot as hell, hit the club, and then spend most nights just hanging out with their friends, with not a single guy approaching them. Or maybe they post a video about a guy they think is hot that they work with. She gives the guy hints and signs but he doesn't make a move. She asks why doesn't he make a move. There's examples of this all over the net one can find. But these guys are not making a move and they won't approach because that's what women wanted. To be left alone by guys. To not get an "Unwanted Advance." Even this past year, there was the whole "Man vs Bear" thing. Women were choosing the bear. So guys decided to pull back even further. What guy in their right mind today would want to wade in that water? Where men are generally hated, they're the enemy and the scourge of the entire planet. But is that Social Media's fault, or just something that has been festering for a long time? Dont get me wrong. In my 20s, I went to the bars, I tried to talk to some girls. Pretty much all of them turned me down, and that's fine. I left it at that, wished them a good night and moved on. But if I was in my 20s today, would I do the same thing? Hell no. What about kids going outside? My child did and still does if their friends are around. But let's also not forget about the COVID lockdowns. My family had to endure 3 seperatd lockdowns. What kind of impact does that have on a young child when the government orders that you can't go outside for weeks on end? You're not allowed to outside and play, just have fun, like we used to do as kids at their age. Those kids learn to adapt, and the internet, shows, video games, streaming movies, and yes, social media, all played a part in keeping children and adults sane during all of it. Certainly damage was done from these lockdowns, and I'm not someone who is an anti vaxer or anti lockdown. I did what I was told to do. I got my shots because I chose to have them and wanted to protect myself, my family and my friends.... But I also acknowledge those lockdowns had serious consequences, in many different ways. And then you have the news, you have people, whether they're on social media or in person, talking about wars, nuclear threats, freedoms being stripped away, and depending on what country you live in, mass shootings and rampant violence outside of your house that protected you during the lockdowns..... How is it surprising the younger generations are the way they are? Social Media more Racist? 100x more racist than real life? Segregated? The only difference between real life and online life is people think they can act like a troll online easier than they could pulling those same stunts face to face with someone else. They think hiding behind a screen gives them protection to spout Hateful crap and get away with it. It doesn't though and a platform with good moderators/admins and members properly reporting can not just rid a community if a bad apple, but police could also get involved depending on the severity..... And I say this as a former Admin/Mod of several forums in the past. I've been on the internet and used various social medias since the mid 90s. All of this existed back then and nothing has changed one iota. Segregation is done by the user by their own free will. I say this because you and I choose the platforms we wish to use. You and I choose the groups and subsections we wish to frequent. You and I choose the other people we communicate/interact with. If the only people you and I decide to talk to are like minded people and avoid others with differing opinions, then who segregated? Racism? How? I'm interacting with you in a mature debate about a specific topic. I don't know your race, your religion, your orientation, or even what you look like. I don't care to know because it's none of my business and makes no difference to me. I focus on what is said/posted. And in turn, you don't know much about me. Should any of that matter? I don't think so. But racist people have access to the same stuff everyone else has and thus, they'll pop up on social media to spout their hate. But just because something like the internet or social media can be used for bad things, that doesn't mean any of it should be banned or restricted. They're not the bane of society, they're platforms. They're tools. If someone believes the argument that guns don't kill people, people kill people, then the same argument applies to social media. It's the actions of users to blame, not the platform. But even social media sites and platforms have rules and terms/conditions those users must follow. They should also have good moderation to enforce those rules, with those breaking them getting punished or banned. With guns, most countries around the world have rules, laws, background checks and other limitations for users of firearms to follow. Bottom line is that yes, society today is not the society I remember 40 odd years ago. But one cannot ever expect things to stay the same and change is constant. The reasons why things are so different today, as noted above, is because of many many different factors, which I've only covered a fraction. Social Media has had its impact, for sure. But it is not the be all end all root of today's problems, just as playing heavy metal records backwards didn't summon Satan in kid's bedrooms.
It took quite a rant to get that lot off your chest, but on the points I do not disagree with you. But we are not all like that, HF being an example of how we can interact without insulting each other. I have no social media (antisocial media, such as facebook) accounts and neither Jane or any of our 3 children, although they do use whatsapp to keep in touch across the Irish sea. These accounts are confined to family and a few close friends. I have never owned a smartphone, both due to the battery life, ridiculous cost and having computers when I am working. I do have text messages on my old Nokia and last week I sent the third one during the 7 years that I have owned the phone. Do take 40 minutes watching and listening to this video on a proper computer with proper sound. It will show you how tens of thousands of people, 44 million in this case, spend their lives away from this antisocial society. Then have a cup of tea and drop me a message thanking me. Ordering a Steinway is optional. PS. Rachmaninoff suffered 2 years of deep depression and vowed that he would never write another note. The cloud lifted and that magnificent second piano concerto was born. Tchaikovsky suffered similar trauma, This is a line from one or more than 2.000 letters he wrote to who he described as his incomparable beloved friend. They never met. "Today, their came to me conviction that I, or perhaps the only good part in me, that is music, has perished forever. My future life will be a mere vegetable existence".
I do tend to write a lot. Have always done so since the old forums I ventured onto in the early 2000s. I tend to type as fast as I can think of the words, but it also doesn't help that one comment leads to the next for me & every time I decided to write something short, others miss some context. (or what I write will lead to known questions, so I figure I'll answer then beforehand, lol) I personally limit my own social media usage. Facebook for friends and family, Messenger for direct/quick conversations & video calls with family, similar to your use of Whatsapp. TikTok for some laughs, and sites like this one for random discussions or debates. Never got into Twitter, and still not sure about BlueSky & only using that for sharing my drawings at the moment. Never bothered with Snapchat and even before Facebook existed, I had no interest in MySpace. Social Media is not for everyone, or at least not all Social Media platforms out there are for everyone. But there is a nice variety out there and options within each to suit our own personal needs, just like you and I have tailored. I also never had a smartphone nor had an interest in getting one for the longest time. I figured if people wanted to reach me, they could call me at home on the house phone. If I didn't pick up, I was obviously busy doing something else. I'll get back to them later. However, moving to another country, and in a much bigger city than the one I left, and my wife and I having a child soon afterwards, a mobile/cell phone and GPS was important. Social Media can be a good thing, but also a bad thing. I wouldn't call it antisocial. YouTube is also Social Media, which you used to share music with myself and others. And this form of Social Media, this forum, has allowed both you and I to communicate with one another, whereas without these mediums, you may not have been able to come across this music, you would not have been able to share it here, and we would most likely not be communicating right now to share opinions and perspectives in a constructive way. But for the bads, yes, people can use it for trolling, racist and other negitive things. People can bully, harass and abuse others. Meanwhile, some people can get sucked into it all where social media can take up a large portion of their daily lives. People Doom Scroll. People can become depressed (or worse) from negative responses from others, or from mockery of their appearance or their creations they wanted to share with others. Too much of anything is never good, in digital or real life. Moderation is key. But we all have to remember that when it comes to social media, we all have the control and power to turn it all off, block, leave, whatever. I don't have to be here. I don't have to be on Facebook. I don't need to be on BlueSky. For now, I choose to be, and I choose where on each I go and who I communicate with. Unfortunately, some people find this difficult and can be more susceptible to the online world and what faceless nonames on the internet say to them. I say unfortunate, because nobody should fall into a dark hole like that without help from others or knowing the tools they can use to keep control & not let the toxic side of things take over.
Did you enjoy the piano concerto and the history behind it. ? It has always been my ambition to play that work correctly, but it has always ended up like that famous line by Ronnie Corbett. "I will have you know I played all the right notes, I just played them in the wrong order".
Maybe google search is powerful enough to find out who and when but they interviewed a woman who turned 100 and asked what was the biggest change you have seen in your lifetime? The television, people went in their houses and never came back out again.
I did listen through a few different portions of the video, however it was also well past my bedtime, so I could not watch it in its entirety.
I bet that AI chat GPT kind of stuff is going to really start messing with people with serious MI and probably children as it gets more and more life like. I know very well its just a machine but even so it really seems like talking to a living being sometimes. Please explain how AI works. I could just type in explain how AI works but I am polite to it. I yelled at chat gpt don't call me frustrated you don't know shit about how I feel right now. It always says that when it gives a shitty answer and you call it out "I understand your frustration" shut up ! Never say that again.
The Internet has ruined Human interaction and behavior to the point that it is un naturally toxic behavior. It's kind of like that Star Trek TNG episode, where Westley Crusher comes back on leave from Star Fleet Academy and finds the crew of the ship playing a game on visual visor, becoming obsessed with it, only to be manipulated into doing some aliens bad bidding. I come here occasionally, but I do visit Guitar Player websites to interact with other guitarists. Even there I see a new Psychological phenomenon occurring there to, the obsession of getting the latest new gear and belittling people with older or less expensive gear. I seen guys make fun of musicians that play less expensive gear and it even worse when the other musicians gear is less expensive but sounds, plays better than their high priced gear ... Buyer's Remorse ? !!!!
Eeh... I wouldn't say that's exclusive to online. Back in my old hometown, there were a group of Ford Mustang folks. In the evenings on the weekends, they'd all park at the mall and hang out, then check each other's cars and shit on one another who weren't rocking an engine or custom mods as good as theirs. People like to shit on others like that as if their superficial crap they paid a bunch of money on makes them somehow more important or better than others. If people are happy with what they got, who really cares? Same with computer rigs for playing games. My main system has an old GTX 1660 in there for the GPU. I can play all the games I have just fine, though some I can't Max settings out without the system struggling. You'll see people online scoff at other people's rigs, calling them potatoes because they don't have the newest top of the line RTX raytracing crap. What's it matter to them? Who really cares? Point is, assholes are everywhere, lol.
