As IF Times

Source: Facebook changes mission statement to ‘bring the world closer together’ | TechCrunch

Not content to be a cyber bulletin board for voyeurs, exhibitionists and lonely cat people, Facebook has reaped a financial bonanza by generating income from advertisers and marketers of all types selling to their addicted  audience.  When people sign on to peek enviously at the lifestyles of their wealthy buddies, they are also treated to a steady dose of ads for financial services and other miscellaneous junk. Increasingly, they also get treated to free political sanctimony and propaganda offered as suggested ‘likes’.  And because people want to be inclusive, they are encouraged to ‘like’ these not so subtle blurbs so as to be with the cool kids.  Here are some recent gems:

To most thinking people, this is annoying spam and could be tolerable if we found similar ‘like’ suggestions for trolling stories on left leaning personalities; you know, the whole fair and balanced thing.  Shockingly, it doesn’t happen.  With the target rich material offered up everyday by left leaning people and their causes, we never get treated to opinion pieces on them to like and pass on.  No pink hat wearing Ashley Judd pieces, no crazy eyed Nancy Pelosi slamming President Bush, no black professors banning whites in the name of inclusivity.

While this flotsam and spam is an affront to sane people who just want to ogle their buddies, it’s nothing less than a recruitment tool for leftist influencers to capture naïve and malleable minds.  This is the methodology that’s been used for eons by advertisers and opinion shapers to create a subtle but persuasive version of ‘normal’.  For example, if we watch enough TV,  we may think that man buns and beards are normal although these are really just affectations of a very small group of fashionistas.  Those inspired by this fad no doubt feel that they are expressing their individuality … in a me too kind of way.  In reality, it mostly comes off like Michael Moore wearing skinny jeans trying to be cool.

We imagine that this is the same technique that ISIS probably employs in their social network recruiting programs wherein ads for matches,  blow up dolls and vests are popular.  While Mohammed is checking up on his pal Mohammed, a suggested article pops up on the latest suicide vest fashion. Of course, they’re encouraged to “like” it.  Next thing ya know, everyone wants a vest.

Those who don’t believe the effectiveness of this type of coercion are rejecting over 100 years of work by the advertising industry.  Facebook’s not so subtle campaign of political coercion has been on-going unabashedly since well before the Trump election.  They’ve been doing their bit to convince  regular people into man buns and skinny jeans.  But now, the new mandate is to “bring people closer together” after long being advocates for partisan segregation and identity politics.  It’s the equivalent of North Korea announcing that their new credo is “college students welcome”.

Source: Why Amazon is eating the world | TechCrunch

By now we know that Amazon has become ubiquitous in our modern lives.  The erstwhile bookseller has become THE 800 pound gorilla in the retail space as its shadow looms over all types of commerce.  Not content to just sell books, Amazon’s reach extends to every consumable product imaginable and recently, they’ve made a foray into the grocery business by buying upscale grocer, Whole Foods.   Lesser known perhaps was the purchase of the Washington Post newspaper by owner Jeff Bezos, giving them a political platform as well.

After reading the convincing story in the above link, we feel that Amazon is not done with world domination.  There’s no reason to think that they would not one day push into the field of pharmaceutical delivery or even for medical services.  Why not legal services, dating services and pet adoption?  Home and car buying are probably already in the works.  How much easier would it be to get a new spouse online?  A few convenient clicks, no expensive dating required and especially if they have the no hassle return policy.

Amazon is not as some think, a technology company.  They are the epitome of the most efficient logistics company.  They are able to provide consumers with the cheapest, largest selection of goods in the most convenient way for customers.  As Bezos famously said, “I’ve never had someone come to me asking to be charged more and to have it delivered more slowly”.  That is the nub of the business model: people want convenience.

How lazy have we become as a society when we can’t even be bothered to go to the mall to buy shoes?  Are we really that busy?  What are we doing that’s so important that we can’t do a stroll to buy something?  There was a story today which claimed in despondent terms, how customers at McDonald’s would now have to wait….one extra minute for their burgers because they were going to  use fresh meat instead of frozen!  The horror!  How is the company going to survive?

In unrelated developments, the rush is on to introduce self driving cars, because apparently, driving and parking are too much trouble for a stressed populace; and besides it’s easier to use Amazon apps to buy stuff if you’re not actually driving.  It all sounds good as a marketing ploy; convenience, cheap and likely green, but aren’t many of these inventions and services created in search of a use? Sort of like an electric dog polisher or an automatic nose picker? How did the world get along before expecting things to happen instantly?  How are we better off because we received the latest shoe 3 days earlier than by standard means?  How did our time become so precious, that saving a bit here and there is essential for happiness?

A friend remarked about how purchasing the latest space age bicycle seat post on his $7000 road bicycle would shave 150 grams from the curb weight of the machine.  In reality, a quick trip to the bathroom would save just as much if not more weight.  But it all sounds good, so it must be better.