[abe]

Do We Just Have Access To Too Much Information?

After reading this news item I think we do.

Many people don't think AIDS is fatal: survey | Science & Health | Reuters

Can we all say, 'NATURAL SELECTION?'

Maybe those folks need to catch AIDS and die off to strengthen the herds' gene pool.

On a slightly more serious level...I think it may be because people have too much information. It's like rich people are with money. They squander it on uselessness. In this information age people can fill their brains with important stuff or foolishness.

Guess what they choose?

Maybe I was right the first time.

And so it goes. I alternate between one conclusion and then the other. They are both right.

Our information selections are much like our food selections.

Fast food and junk food.

Rap music. Video games. Terminator I, II & III. Harry Potter. Two and a Half Men. Deal or No Deal.

If people are too busy filling their brains with that junk info and they can't be bothered to get the facts straight about AIDS and they are going to be sexually active, maybe they deserve to die.

[PaperNotes]

We got access to so much information that the world should logically by consequence be more intelligent and rational now. The problem is humans are pigs who don't want to learn. If we can kill off 3 billion of them the rest will learn to appreciate life a lot more and learn faster too, just like the war to post-war generation did. Because they saw how short and valuable life. Unlike the hippies, religious fanatics and all their pig children who have never seen an ounce of real pain except in movies and video games which is nothing but sensory joy.

BTW, fast food is supposed to be stupid fun. You don't go to McDonald's to be seated in the VIP section and drink Kristal. Don't knock junk food.

<have a cow>Rant over</have a cow>

[Big Mac]

Yeah, the connected world does get inundated with too much information at times. That's why it will be important to find better and better ways to be able to manage the information we receive. And yet any American who does not know that AIDS is a terminal disease is a clearly moron.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by PaperNotes 

The problem is humans are pigs who don't want to learn.

Bingo.

The other night after going to a Motorhead/Alice Cooper gig, I formulated a thought.

Motorhead fans: Uruk Hai.
Alice Cooper fans: Elves.
Brutish persons in the general population: Orcs.
Non-brutish persons in the general population: Goblins.

[PaperNotes]

Uruk Hai are extinct, right?

[Doofy]

Not last Saturday they weren't.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by PaperNotes 

Unlike the hippies, religious fanatics and all their pig children who have never seen an ounce of real pain except in movies and video games which is nothing but sensory joy.

What the... That surely isn't enlightened thinking.

[MacosNerd]

Originally Posted by PaperNotes 

The problem is humans are pigs who don't want to learn. If we can kill off 3 billion of them the rest will learn to appreciate life
...
Unlike the hippies, religious fanatics and all their pig children who have never seen an ounce of real pain except in movies and video games which is nothing but sensory joy.

And you appear to be a fine example of intelligence??? Calling for the killing of 3 billion people and the children of "hippies and religious fanatics" pig children. Wow you must be a real blast at parties

You're either one sick dude or totally clueless (or both)

[shifuimam]

Originally Posted by PaperNotes 

Unlike the hippies, religious fanatics and all their pig children who have never seen an ounce of real pain except in movies and video games which is nothing but sensory joy.

Let's see here...I was raised in a fairly religiously fanatical/conservative family. I wasn't allowed to watch movies rated PG or "worse", and we didn't have video games (we had an Atari 2600 for a few years, but that's not exactly going to show graphical violence). I was, however, viciously verbally abused by both of my parents many times throughout my childhood. I never had the sh!t beat out of me, but that doesn't mean I don't know what pain is.

You're an idiot.

[Mithras]

Umm, in before the PL transfer?

[Kevin]

Why would this be transfered to the PL?

[PaperNotes]

Pre-Xmas touchiness is a blast. I love triggering it off.

(buying presents is stressful I know)

[MacosNerd]

Originally Posted by PaperNotes 

Pre-Xmas touchiness is a blast. I love triggering it off.

(buying presents is stressful I know)

So you're claiming that we who condemn you for posting that you condone killing 3 billion people and calling kids of hippies and religious fanatics pig children pre-xmas touchiness. Wow you're even more clueless then I thought possible.

[Cold Warrior]

This is all just a big Bush conspiracy to deny everyone the stem cell HIV vaccine that was in testing at the World Trade Center. Which is why he blew them up. This keeps the poor countries down so the West can exploit them.

Now it's ready for the pol-war lounge.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by PaperNotes 

Pre-Xmas touchiness is a blast. I love triggering it off.

(buying presents is stressful I know)

Yes because it wasn't your ridiculous post at all. You did nothing wrong.

It's almost as if you said "Hmm what can I post to make people get pissy and get this thread closed..."

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior 

This is all just a big Bush conspiracy to deny everyone the stem cell HIV vaccine that was in testing at the World Trade Center. Which is why he blew them up. This keeps the poor countries down so the West can exploit them.

Now it's ready for the pol-war lounge.

Hell this is better than most of the stuff I read in the PL. Lets keep it in here!

[sek929]

People have remained ignorant despite getting information handed to them for centuries.

The more info the better. Those who are smart enough to prioritize it get smarter and everyone else gets dumber.

Also Abe, I'm confused as to your stance on video games. I think due to the fact you're an old fart and haven't really played or enjoyed video games you discount them as mindless drivel. I say anything humans enjoy is usually mindless drivel so why play favorites?

[Dakarʒ]

Originally Posted by sek929 

Also Abe, I'm confused as to your stance on video games. I think due to the fact you're an old fart and haven't really played or enjoyed video games you discount them as mindless drivel. I say anything humans enjoy is usually mindless drivel so why play favorites?

Because it's more likely to inflame on a forum full of twenty-somethings.

[sek929]

Next he'll be inflaming the teeny-somethings by making fun of...uhhh, bratz dolls and Myspace.

[invisibleX]

Originally Posted by abe 

Do We Just Have Access To Too Much Information?

After reading this news item I think we do.

Many people don't think AIDS is fatal: survey | Science & Health | Reuters

Can we all say, 'NATURAL SELECTION?'

Maybe those folks need to catch AIDS and die off to strengthen the herds' gene pool.

On a slightly more serious level...I think it may be because people have too much information. It's like rich people are with money. They squander it on uselessness. In this information age people can fill their brains with important stuff or foolishness.

Guess what they choose?

Maybe I was right the first time.

And so it goes. I alternate between one conclusion and then the other. They are both right.

Our information selections are much like our food selections.

Fast food and junk food.

Rap music. Video games. Terminator I, II & III. Harry Potter. Two and a Half Men. Deal or No Deal.

If people are too busy filling their brains with that junk info and they can't be bothered to get the facts straight about AIDS and they are going to be sexually active, maybe they deserve to die.

You can't have too much information. Truly intelligent folks will use it wisely to shape their views and make decisions (say, reading product labels) and idiots won't and reap the consequences. Less information is going to help anyone.

Don't be all judgy judge on whats junk and what isn't. All of what you listed is entertainment not information.

[sek929]

Plus, T2 was an awesome movie.

[Dakarʒ]

One of the best sound experiences I've ever heard.

[Laminar]

The sound in that movie was so good that I tasted it.

[Dakarʒ]

Looks the like the Order of the Triad is here.

[sek929]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

The sound in that movie was so good that I felt it in my bowels, and I liked it

Fixed™

[sek929]

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ 

Looks the like the Order of the Triad is here.

I don't think the forum can handle any more Venture references!

[Dakarʒ]

I'd like to see that endorsement on a sticker on the cover.

[Dakarʒ]

Originally Posted by sek929 

I don't think the forum can handle any more Venture references!

We've got to trick Lam into getting one. If only there was a Contour reference in the show, he'd already be onboard.

[Graviton]

You can learn all that you need to know about the world from a few DVD boxed sets.

Science: Back To The Future Trilogy
Nature: The Alien Quadrilogy
History: The Indiana Jones Trilogy
Sport: The Rocky Anthology
Literature: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Religion: The Star Wars Trilogy (Episodes IV-VI)
Family: The Godfather Trilogy
Politics: Any Star Trek (preferably Deep Space Nine)
Philosophy: The Matrix Trilogy
Sex: The Porkys Trilogy
Zombies: The George A Romero Collection
Other: The Evil Dead Trilogy


It's all there.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ 

We've got to trick Lam into getting one. If only there was a Contour reference in the show, he'd already be onboard.

What now?

[Dakarʒ]

I sincerely hope you used MS paint.

Edit: Either my morning bloody mary is kicking in late and strong, or your sig suddenly got blurry

[MindFad]

How is "too much information" defined exactly?

[Cold Warrior]

I've seen many people overwhelmed by too much information. Smarts and experience managing and filtering information will help one figure out what's important, what's not, and develop manual and automated methods to filter, manage, and alert the user or decision-maker when something important is going on.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Com-pu-ter?

[Dakarʒ]

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ 

I sincerely hope you used MS paint.

Edit: Either my morning bloody mary is kicking in late and strong, or your sig suddenly got blurry

I wanted to put up something temporary before lunch and class.
I fixed it now.

[Dakarʒ]

Wow, you caved to peer pressure. I need to file this away for later use.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ 

Wow, you caved to peer pressure. I need to file this away for later use.

I started re-watching some of the episodes today too. Except I have a bunch of homework to do for tomorrow.

[sek929]

Bah, homework is for the success-driven masses.

Love the new sig, Lam.

I was totally going to force my sig slave, Dakar, to make me another with Brock's visage. I am glad, however, that Brock is in good hands.

[StrengthDesign]

I would say we had too much information in the late 90s, when I could type a subject in 'search.com' and find an essay to print off. Now, the net is just filled with ads and commercial crap, and they all want your money. Screw web 2.0. I want my web .3 beta back!

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by sek929 

Bah, homework is for the success-driven masses.

Don't get mad at me because I aspire to be more than a pot-smoking hippie for the rest of my life.
Note: This post to be taken literally

[abe]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

Bingo.

The other night after going to a Motorhead/Alice Cooper gig, I formulated a thought.

Motorhead fans: Uruk Hai.
Alice Cooper fans: Elves.
Brutish persons in the general population: Orcs.
Non-brutish persons in the general population: Goblins.

That reminds me of this Jetsons scene.

YouTube - Eep Opp Ork Ah-Ah

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by abe 

Do We Just Have Access To Too Much Information?

Depends.

Do you include pron as information ?

-t

[abe]

Originally Posted by sek929 

People have remained ignorant despite getting information handed to them for centuries.

The more info the better. Those who are smart enough to prioritize it get smarter and everyone else gets dumber.

Also Abe, I'm confused as to your stance on video games. I think due to the fact you're an old fart and haven't really played or enjoyed video games you discount them as mindless drivel. I say anything humans enjoy is usually mindless drivel so why play favorites?

I believe it has some value but the values inherent in the games aren't always those values that make for a happy, healthy, well adjusted citizen. And if you submerge yourself in alternate worlds (video games) which force you to adapt to or adopt alternate value systems for long periods of time and then rewards you for how well you function, I'd say this is not a good thing.

If we did this to bad guys someone would cry, "torture!"

In fact that is what brain washing is.

[abe]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

Depends.

Do you include pron as information ?

-t

Hmmm, hadn't pondered that kind of info.

I'd say the average male probably spends no more time looking at porn now than before the information explosion.

The body is the limiting factor.

And before the internet our appetites were sated via porn delivered in a different form, i.e. magazines.

And then as now, the body can only have so many happy endings in a given period.

That limit was neither increased nor decreased by the porn delivery method.

So, I'd answer, 'no.'

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by abe 

If we did this to bad guys someone would cry, "tortoise!"

Wow, you needed that fixed real bad.

-t

[abe]

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ 

Because it's more likely to inflame on a forum full of twenty-somethings.

No, it's that I am perplexed at how often I am compelled to explain things I thought would not need explaining to 20-somethings online, like the value of teamwork and community and self discipline and limits. And, I know these kids might not get these messages in the media they are consuming nor from their parents or schools or church.

And then it occurred to me that if the information providers all need to make money they all must compete for the attentions of the kids. And they will be best able to make money by providing kids what they want, not what they need.

And then it occurred to me that some of the best and brightest writers and content creators may be here at MacNN reading stuff about hardware and software but thinking very infrequently or less than highly or not at all about what kids need that they aren't getting from the culture.

We are turning into individual biological units. And each of us interacts with others to some degree but we are very much the lone entity amongst other lone entities and when we feel an alien force trying to make us work together and not so much as lone entities, we cry out FEED ME! FEED ME! Like Audrey Jr. in the Little Shop of Horrors. We cry that we want and need more of what we already have more than enough of. And no one seems to be bringing us back to thinking, working and acting as brothers and sisters.

When there were only three TV networks they were forced to do their share to enforce societal and cultural guidelines. The media had their role. The government had it's role. The churches had their role. The schools had their role. And the community played a role in bringing up every individual to be happy, healthy, well adjusted and a contributing member of society.

But the churches are less prominent. The media has abdicated it's responsibility. Schools seem less effective than ever before. And we are all little Audreys who cry out for more unimpeded freedom to eat when a lack of freedom is not the problem.

We are occupied with eye candy and alternate value systems and every possible thing to prevent our ever gaining those things we didn't get in childhood. But now, as old farts like me pass along the final lessons (don't worry, my health is fine, TYVM ) we are seen as trying to deliver old tyme radio shows to a WOW world. All I can say is that most of you are fine individuals and will do well for yourselves and your families and do your country proud. But there is a generation of you who didn't get the basics and who have been fed candy and junk and it has infected their brains and beings and they think they are just fine but you know they aren't.

And these people have been brain washed over the years to believe that they are the saviors of humanity, like real life Kyle Reese's and the big bad government and technochracy is the machine and they are filled with rage at the machine. They are less incited by the things they see happening around them than they are cued to assume this well-rehearsed sci-fi role and will use any excuse to play out this unconscious fantasy.

How many of us have ever flipped through 50 or more channels and found ZERO to watch?

The fact is that there WAS something to watch but if it wasn't our favorite snack fare we dismissed it.

How many times have you written to another poster, "Google is your friend" as a nice way of saying, "look it up yourself"?

In my day we had to go to the public library to gain information or book knowledge and that made it both a chore to do but also more precious.

Now, with the greatest compendium of knowldege that has ever existed sitting there right at the tips of our fingers why does it seem our young people are more ignorant of the basics than ever before?

[abe]

Originally Posted by sek929 

Next he'll be inflaming the teeny-somethings by making fun of...uhhh, bratz dolls and Myspace.

Well, I do know what Myspace is, but bratz dolls...?

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by abe 

Well, I do know what Myspace is, but bratz dolls...?

Google is your friend

[abe]

Originally Posted by invisibleX 

You can't have too much information. Truly intelligent folks will use it wisely to shape their views and make decisions (say, reading product labels) and idiots won't and reap the consequences. Less information is going to help anyone.

Don't be all judgy judge on whats junk and what isn't. All of what you listed is entertainment not information.

Theoretically, you are right. Practically, I don't know. My Mom used to hide some of our Christmas presents after we'd opened them on Christmas morning because she knew that if we had too many all at once we'd destroy them or lose their parts or treat them casually. Ever throw out perfectly good food just because you knew you had lots more? Ever light a cigar with a $20 or do some other similarly contemptuous thing with money or some other thing of value simply because you had so much of it?

I remember treating women like play toys because they often flocked to be with me. I burned my bridges because I knew I would always make my own luck and my own opportunities.

Too much information leads, IMHO, to our not caring enough to Google an answer. Why learn it if you can always look it up if you ever need to? Too much information leads to filling our brains with the intellectual equivalent of Smores and Doritos.

Truly intelligent people aren't who I'm worried about. It's those who follow behind the top 20% who make up this country and this culture and this society and who may be like defective units that have been invested in and look for all the world as though they are top notch units but they are so defective they are fatally flawed. Not that they will spontaneously combust or the like, but that what they know and feel isn't quite right and they are passing along to their kids this same flaw. And only a few generations from now will we come to grips with the reality that we are off track.

When there were less information outlets and opportunities EVERYTHING had to come through those sources and so it had better be important. And as I said, the other institutions in our culture also did their job so that the role of TV/radio and newspapers/mags and film was less necessarily instructive.

[abe]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

Google is your friend

I think I'll curse the darkness on this one. But good comment!