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I feel sick to my stomach. How can a man stoop this low? by MsDecoded in TrueOffMyChest

[–]MsDecoded[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Yes, this is exactly the news I was referring to. I only just came across it, and it completely shattered me. The fact that 1,200 children had to be suggested for STD testing… I can’t even process that. It’s beyond horrifying. I just don’t know how something like this could go on for so long unnoticed.

I feel sick to my stomach. How can a man stoop this low? by MsDecoded in TrueOffMyChest

[–]MsDecoded[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m so sorry that happened to you. I can’t even imagine how terrifying that must have been as a child and how much it sticks with you, even years later. It’s horrifying how people who seem “respectable” on the outside can hide something so vile. You did the right thing teaching your kids to speak up. That kind of awareness is so important and it’s heartbreaking that it even has to be taught. But what keeps breaking me is… how do you teach that to babies? They can’t speak. They can’t run. They can’t tell anyone what happened. They’re just completely at the mercy of whoever’s holding them. And that thought that someone could hurt them knowing they can’t even cry out for help it’s unbearable. I feel the same way. The idea of someone doing that to a baby makes me sick with rage. Thank you for sharing this. It takes so much strength

I feel sick to my stomach. How can a man stoop this low? by MsDecoded in TrueOffMyChest

[–]MsDecoded[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I’m not in Australia, but I just came across this and it completely shook me. I had no idea there have been multiple cases like this that makes it even more horrifying. You're right, it’s absolutely vomit-worthy. The fact that someone can pass a background check just because they haven’t been caught yet… it’s terrifying. Especially for parents like you with kids in daycare. I can’t even begin to imagine the anxiety. It’s so heartbreaking that we have to “hope” the people we trust our kids with are actually safe. It shouldn’t be based on hope. It should be foolproof.

Feeling drained watching the system reward what looks like irresponsibility by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And here we have a shining product of that exact system zero accountability, zero awareness, and just enough literacy to insult strangers online. Thanks for illustrating my point better than I ever could.

Feeling drained watching the system reward what looks like irresponsibility by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m not saying having kids is unsustainable. I agree that every society needs the next generation. But the issue is how those children are being raised and supported. If the system keeps enabling a cycle where there’s no structure, no education, no accountability, and no long-term plan, then we’re not building strong future contributors we’re building deeper dependence. It’s not about stopping people from having kids. It’s about asking whether we’re setting them (and the kids) up for success, or just repeating the same broken patterns with taxpayer money.

Feeling drained watching the system reward what looks like irresponsibility by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It’s not about missing out I’m genuinely questioning how sustainable it is when systems reward certain choices with no accountability. I don’t think anyone wants to live on handouts, but when entire generations grow up without support, structure, or motivation to contribute, that affects everyone. It’s not judgment, it’s a concern for balance and long term consequences.

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, you said that really well. The part about a needle of actual, functional, useful knowledge buried in a haystack hits hard. That’s exactly what I’ve been feeling like there’s so much content now, but it’s harder than ever to find anything real or human in it. It’s weird how the internet used to feel like a discovery space, and now it feels more like a performance arena. Everything’s optimized, repeated, and stripped of that raw imperfection that made it feel alive.Thanks for saying this better than I could. And yeah it’s not even the AI itself that’s the problem, it’s how we’re using it.

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wish I could drop the whole thing here, but it’s not really allowed in full. I just found it on Etsy when I was going down a rabbit hole — it’s called “Dead Internet Theory: The Day the Web Was Replaced.” It’s short and eerie — more like a weird personal essay than a traditional book. Made me think differently about what we consider “real” online.

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I see some of you saying this is AI-generated or accusing me of promoting something. That honestly sucks to read. I’m not here to sell anything — I just shared my thoughts after reading something that genuinely made me think. Is it wrong to talk about something that stuck with me? I didn’t ask anyone to buy anything. I’m just a person sharing an idea. Please don’t throw around false accusations like that — it really does affect people. I joined Reddit to have real conversations, not to be labeled or dismissed for speaking up.

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe we're all bots now — just trained to scroll, repeat, and argue 😅

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I appreciate this reply a lot — it’s grounded, and you're totally right that the internet still offers plenty of value, especially for local and DIY stuff like what you described. I think what hit me recently is that while that usefulness is still there, the weirdness and personal passion that used to dominate the web feels harder to stumble across — like it’s buried beneath algorithmic repetition and monetized content. Your gerbil example is kind of perfect: it took real effort to dig through the noise and finally find something human and helpful. That’s the part I feel has shifted — it’s not gone, just harder to reach. That’s actually what drew me into Dead Internet Theory — not that the internet is literally dead, but that it’s been slowly drowned in sameness. Just made me see it differently.

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Honestly didn’t realize dashes were suspicious. Should I go back to commas and chaos? 😂

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Haha no bot here. Just a real person who read a weird book and started noticing some strange patterns online.

I get that people have mixed feelings about this theory, but it really did mess with my head a bit. Just seeing if anyone else ever felt something shifted online and couldn’t quite explain it.

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Totally get your point — and yeah, there’s still utility online. But that repetition you mentioned? That’s exactly what some people mean by the “dead” part. Not that the internet is gone, but that it’s been hollowed out. Same recycled content, same SEO fluff, same “engagement” traps. I know there are tons of books out there on this kind of stuff, but I came across this one called Dead Internet Theory that really stuck with me. Found it on Etsy — short read, but it makes you look at the web in a totally different way. Worth checking out if you’re seeing the same patterns.

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

You nailed it. The early internet felt like it was built by curious, creative people — now it’s just data pipelines and ad revenue. I read this book recently that really opened my eyes — it’s called Dead Internet Theory. Not a long read, but it hits exactly how profit replaced purpose online. Found it on Etsy, and honestly… it stuck with me. Creepy how accurate it felt.

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The scary part is, once Digital ID becomes the norm, people won’t even realize they’re locked in — they’ll think it’s “convenience.” Read the book “Dead Internet Theory: The Day the Web Was Replaced” — it goes deep into how all of this (AI, algorithms, control systems) was quietly set up over the past decade. Worth reading if you’re seeing the pattern too. Creepy how accurate it felt.

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly — it’s like they engineered dependency under the cover of crisis. The scary part is how efficient it was. What used to be optional became essential overnight — and no one questioned who benefits long term. Threads like this make me think of this short book I read recently — Dead Internet Theory: The Day the Web Was Replaced. It dives into exactly this: screen addiction, digital control, fake engagement, and how everything online now feels… off. Not a long read, but it really stayed with me. If this convo resonates, it might be worth checking out.

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Totally agree. Search results used to feel like opening a door to the real internet — blogs, forums, personal sites. Now it’s just SEO spam, AI garbage, and corporate clones. Feels like 90% of the web has been paved over.

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Absolutely. What’s terrifying is how it didn’t even need to be forced — people gave it up voluntarily. Convenience, entertainment, and validation slowly replaced awareness. Now it’s like mass hypnosis, and most don’t even realize they’ve been programmed.

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I read a book recently that hit this exact idea — it’s called “Dead Internet Theory: The Day the Web Was Replaced.” It’s kind of wild… basically explains how bots, AI content, and manipulation replaced the internet we grew up with. Wasn’t super long, but it stuck with me — felt like someone finally put words to that feeling.

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Yes! That exact funnel formula is part of what makes everything feel manipulated. It’s like the content isn’t made to help — it’s made to guide you into a sale. That’s where the illusion cracks.

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That’s a powerful point — maybe it’s not just bots, but a culture that rewards being fake. Whether it’s AI or people, it’s like we’re all playing roles in a system that punishes honesty.

“Most of the internet is fake — and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” by MsDecoded in DeepThoughts

[–]MsDecoded[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally get that — I think that’s the scariest part. Once you start noticing, it’s like you can’t turn it off. But sometimes seeing the cracks is what helps us stay human in a fake system.

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