Re:Americans Own Less Stuff, and That’s Reason to Be Nervous
by Kalium on Tuesday August 14, 2018 @09:17PM
(#17763174)
That some people prefer them, complete with all the incredibly glaring shortcomings you so correctly identify, might be considered by some to be eloquent commentary on the importance of choice.
Re:Americans Own Less Stuff, and That’s Reason to Be Nervous
by kennyadam on Wednesday August 15, 2018 @03:31AM
(#17764298)
I'd say it's incredibly obvious why people would prefer a restricted environment where they can present themselves as their idealised self. I'm sure it's great for some people, but arguing that it's great for everyone, and not damaging for society as a whole, seems shortsighted.
Re:Americans Own Less Stuff, and That’s Reason to Be Nervous
by Kalium on Wednesday August 15, 2018 @10:42AM
(#17766351)
You're right! We should consider carefully that there might not be a universally correct answer here.
Like most things, I suspect it may be best regarded as a tradeoff. Is presenting as your idealized in a restricted environment more or less harmful to society than being unable to present as anything that vaguely resembles yourself in a less restricted environment?
There might not one answer that's right for everyone.
Until that, the current virtual "communities" seem like a poor substitute for actual communities, long-term. Yes, you get to meet like-minded people (or more precisely, one aspect of the personalities of some like-minded people), however what you can actually do with them is tightly restricted to the online sphere. No common activities, no parties, no activism outside the internet, no dating. No differing viewpoints. No even knowing who you are talking with.
This seems like a poor substitute to (non-coerced) physical communities.