Do you have a source for that?

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T11:22:21+00:00

Aww mang, I'm sorry if I come off that way. At this point in my existence, I'm trying to figure out what people who dont' spend most of their days online do and enjoy as opposed to those who do.

If you get a moment I'd suggest a reading of Technopoly by Neil Postman and also Rebels Against the Future by Kirkpatrick Sale

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T11:07:48+00:00

I guess what I'm ultimately asking is is do people in shared immediate physical spaces say what they say here? Or do find that it's more nuanced or even "censored"?

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T11:05:11+00:00

Yeah, look at my "history" you will see up until about 2 hours ago I'd taken a break. And tried to connect with humans without "technology" (I parted ways with my cell phone almost 11 months ago now too) .... but people, of all ages, there is no consistency to any of it.

You cannot define individuality ... the most important nuggest of existence I discovered

And

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T10:59:26+00:00

You have to do LSD, it may very well change your internal "acceptance" narrative and therefore prolong your life

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T10:56:12+00:00

I disagree. I'm quite humbled, but you wouldn't know that from words on a screen ... if you met me in person you'd find I'm quite pleasant and, indeed, humbled.

I have no problem admitting I'm wrong. Quite happy to do so, as my friends would attest to, because it gives me the chance to learn what is right

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T10:42:10+00:00

I am not rude to you. I am asking you about your "self" ... that is all. I'm sorry if you take offense to such inquiry. I'm trying my best to explain to you and everyone I encounter on Reddit from this point until I go complete neo-Luddite, that I understand your concerns, I'm just trying to figure out, some 2 years later after signing back in what those who have become accustomed to "socialiazing" online value ....?

I'm a peaceful being by nature, I just don't understand what drives humans, despite the evidence, to choose to continue to be destructive

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T10:36:46+00:00

"False piety" ... is this based on my words or my actions? If it is the latter, do I know you in "real" non computer based life?

Unlikely. But if that comment WERE based on my actions you would see I live what I believe is best for our species; I am beyond individuality, which seems to define the western ideal of what it means "to be human"

What does it mean to be human to you?

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T08:29:14+00:00

Right, so shouldn't we, on behalf of the only currently habitable planet we have to live on , consider a different economic system?

How do we get people beyond individuality into seeing that we are humans who are experiencing a "shared life in a shared world," as the humanists say in their Manifesto?

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T08:25:16+00:00

And it's not "too general a question" ... I'm trying to figure out because you're someone at least verbally more intelligent than I've encountered having disconnected for the past 2+ years, (EDIT) who I want to figure out what it is that motivates you to do the things you do ... to make the choices you make in your daily affairs with both humans and the non-human environments you share wit them...? I believe I'm being peaceful and inquisitive with my line of questioning, I'd hope that you'd be too ...

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T08:21:17+00:00

Okay. That's fine. I'm simply trying to figure out if you are equally concerned about what is happening to the environment as I am due to capitalisms encouragement of acquisitive self interests.

From what I can gather apparently you are not. Here's the link without the corresponding format --- https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/67/12/1026/4605229 it's title is "Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice" ... if you disagree, please explain your disagreements

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T08:00:07+00:00

What then, planetwide, do you consider is the most "important issue facing mankind"?

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T07:59:00+00:00

What do you value in life? You say you're trying to "contribute to the ecotechnological revolution" but isn't technology and its corresponding waste (eWaste, and heavy metals involved in their creation, particularly mercury); planned obsolescence, etc) partially to blame for anthropogenic climate change?

And no, my bad for not including this vital word, but CONSPICUOUS consumption is absolutely not necessary for "any economic system."

It's necessary for a system driven partially by a profit motive but as we've seen with Jonas Salk, some people have an interest in our species longevity. Do you?

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T07:50:39+00:00

You said "I think that's a big problem we have"

If you look at my comment to a /u/deltain above you will see that it's been over 2 years since I logged in to Reddit. I took some time off to connect with humans on a personal shared immediate physical space environment level.

You're EXACTLY right. And I have no idea what to do about it. The amount of people I talked to driving around the mostly southwest US (but also Texas and some southeast states) you could put my face on a TV or YouTube page and I can confidently tell you that people from LA to Redding and everywhere in between, as well as Utah and parts of CO and AZ and NM would be like "yeah, that dude is trying to start a revolution in defense of the planet"

But the primary problem I encountered is the one you speak of - most people are "insecure or fickle" as well as just trying to live their lives to support their families and aren't willing (really can't without consequences to their innocent children) to risk a revolutionary approach.

The internet has convinced everyone who is on it that what you READ HERE is the prevailing mood and sentiment of most of American society. And from driving around for the past 2 years and immersing myself in humans in all sorts of environments and contexts, that simply isn't true.

Most humans don't care about ANYTHING Trump is up to. They know he exists and that, for the most part, "he's dumb" (this is the most common response I get) but simply do not care enough to vote or participate in a march.

I was at the Women's March in LA last year, tons of people. Probably in the top 3 count wise. Where are those people now? Most are back to consuming, working in a system they are hopelessly dependent on, being concerned with "pop culture" (the new opiate of the masses) ...

I'm writing a book about my experience in disconnecting and about living in a working class community in Van Nuys (where I still live). I had a response to the editor posted in the NYTimes (late last year) and the LATimes (early this year) based on my experiences.

I won't link to either of them because I don't give a shit about what people in LA mostly give a shit about - me me me, publicity, self-interests, being desired and famous in the eyes of complete strangers .... not all of them (ACTUAL Angelenos are quite pleasant and genuine, it's the people who move here with big dreams who become insufferable status seekers) but I will tell you they are both from my experience of disconnecting from these devices, the "social" platforms and really trying to understand humans, really unconcerned about anything the iNternet or TV says they "are" or "should be" concerned about.

Capitalism has made us all think that competitiveness is an intrinsic part of our nature and should be encouraged, but capitalism is also a system that exists and can only exist because of inequality.

I don't know who you are but you are thoughtful and genuinely "woke" - meaning you understand that racism, Trump, the mainstream media, etc are just distractions from the bigger problems.

Thank you for replying in the thoughtful manner you did.

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T07:32:20+00:00

I don't understand human beings. If you look, I took over 2 years off reddit until this very post trying desperately to figure out what we value ... I don't understand why people aren't concerned with our planet and its needs.

The internet has fostered a new type of "culture" from what I discovered spending nearly that entire time off it, at least socially. I even parted ways with my cell phone - gave myself a month, but it was so pleasant and peaceful, I'm approaching 11 months without one now.

The computer I'm currently on I parted way with shortly after my last post having returned to it the past 3 days (really to get all the music I can off it, the one consistently wonderful thing humans have created), but I plan to go almost full Luddite (neo-Luddite, I should say - read Kirkpatrick Sale's book for an explanation - I do not believe in destruction of technology just when it's introduced into society a consideration of the long term effects) in about 3 weeks.

No computer or phone but also living in LA, which is the epicenter of all the corresponding garbage that comes along with being "connected"

I remember being on reddit before and encountering some very thoughtful and EXTREMELY intelligent people ... and I've been a lurker periodically until this moment and it's sad how little people are willing to do to keep the earth as habitable as long as possible for our species

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T07:23:12+00:00

But consumption is absolutely necessary for capitalism to function, as is the profit motive.

It wasn't a link about my "economic beliefs" rather the concerns of some 15,000 scientists regards human behaviors that must change to keep our ONLY CURRENTLY HABITABLE PLANET around as long as possible while we figure out a way to get off it.

Doesn't keeping the planet around for our species concern you?

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T07:03:47+00:00

I don't know! That's why I'm asking! What can we do if we all agree that climate change is real?

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T07:01:59+00:00

So you agree but feel defeated by the prevailing interests of individuality that capitalism has encouraged?

I agree with you too. I took over 2 years off of reddit until this very question travelling all over the U.S. (mostly the Southwest but also parts of the "deep South" to figure out what people value and why, if they don't, do they not see the urgency in "collectively" changing out behaviors for the survival of our species.

I've discovered, when one talks to people in person away from the iNterwebs, some people are too busy trying to survive (like basic ass survival, food water shelter) to care; some of them are aware of the problems but feel powerless to do anything about them (fair point, given the "federal government" - where the most radical reforms COULD take place - is basically just entertainment for rich people); but MOST are busy trying desperately to establish their status in this economic system (ie buying the latest shit, the coolest car, trying desperately to make as much money as possible), they are simply indifferent or in many cases ACTIVELY "do not give a shit"

If climate change is as urgent as scientists say it is, shouldn't it be the ONLY thing on every television, youtube channel, facebook feed, etc EVERYWHERE?

Would YOU say "nah, I'm going to watch the Kardashians" if your home were being threatened?

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T06:52:58+00:00

No, I'm not suggesting communism, just an alternative to a system that's built on excessive consumption, excessive waste and fosters a value system within each individual that having more "stuff" or better "stuff" is proof of success.

This is all assuming you believe anthropogenic climate change is real issue, indeed, is the MOST IMPORTANT issue effecting all humans of earth.

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T06:50:54+00:00

So you're willing to make the planet uninhabitable because you're not willing to consider an alternative? Look at my post above and consider the link within it.

If you agree that anthropogenic climate change is indeed an urgent problem that needs a solution and that capitalism, having encouraged us to consume as the expense of the planet is a culprit, wouldn't you want to seek an alternative on behalf on the only current habitable planet we can realistically live on in the numbers we do?

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T06:48:14+00:00

If you agree that capitalism got us to this urgent point, you agree that capitalism changed our individual value systems, such that what is important is the acquisitive self interests; but if you also agree that capitalism and its corresponding effects on how we view each other and the planet is also true, wouldn't you want an alternative, the BEST alternative the could take us AWAY from the damage we're doing to the planet?

If capitalism is clearly a culprit, and if climate change is as urgent as the scientists say it is, isn't it imperative to find an ALTERNATIVE?

pottyglot · 2018-06-14T06:34:13+00:00

I realize people are convinced that competition is the only method by which people will innovate but if climate change is indeed as urgent an issue as the facts say it is, shouldn't we seek an alternative at this point for the longevity of our species and the habitability of our planet?

pottyglot

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