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The tyranny of the algorithm: why every coffee shop looks the same
(www.theguardian.com)
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this post was submitted on 16 Jan 2024
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I think when we discuss generations, a trap we all fall into (including me) is stereotyping. We tend to think of each generation as a monolith.
Within my own generation (X) I grew up with people who were extremely pro-establishment, people who were extremely anti-establishment, and many in the middle.
I agree that Millenials are better educated. As for the overall quality of that educational content, your criticism could apply to almost all of us. When I was in public school, you would barely know that other countries even exist. Geography, world history, and global subjects were barely covered. US "exceptionalism" eclipsed all of it.
The boomers outnumbered the Greatest Generation and the Silent Generation. And they were louder per pound, too. They still dominate in many ways (especially government and board rooms) even though they are quite old and 1/3 of them are gone.
So it's not entirely learned helplessness among the young. It's a true power imbalance.
Just hope it's not too late after their power finally crumbles.
Its also societal construction and built environment issues. There is a genuine lack of agency in the Millenial generation, and likely less again in the younger generations.
Take the built environment, its unfriendly to those with low resources, leading to isolation or dependency on those with resources, often boomer parents. The suburbs stretch on and on, all services public or private have been bundled together more and more, think super hospitals. Then they are placed further away because they now serve vast areas, there is also a fragility in these cost cutting 'efficiencies'. If your one hospital is out of action what do you do? Even down to ever wider roads for ever larger cars, this impacts other activities an area could be engaging in.
Societal construction has undermined any civic engagement organisations that don't have a pro-owner slant. Its telling that unions have been smashed, but chambers of commerce? They are basically unions for business owners. It's also an unwillingness of boomers to let go of power in certain community groups. How many of these locak groups are almost exclusively full of very mature age people?
My last point i think ties into the above though. The X'ers, Millenials, and younger are getting hit progressively harder by the wage worker depression, while no risk financial speculation, and asset driven wealth inflation, line the beds of those with the means to participate. Usually the older, or children with inherited wealth. This means longer working hours for less relative income, a need to keep upgrading your 'skillset' to prove your value to HR, creating a poorer strata financially and in time. If the younger generations weren't forced to change careers every six or so years to finally reach an 'adult' job, we would have time to participate more in our society.
I think the Millenial generation (mine) is going to be rather boring in the footnotes of history. (X'ers had a bit of punk and metal that keeps them spicy.) We won't have the resources to be anything but rather conservative in our policies (classically so, not the radical republican-conservatism of the 80's on).
On the bright side, in my country, Australia, the predicted shift to the 'right' as people get older seems to have broken. Which signals a rejection of the policies those parties stand for. Which are the policies causing the most acute problems for Millenials, and generations younger. So, maybe as the boomers fade, a generational solidarity will rise due to a union of desires, and our countrys will begin to feel less like generational trench warfare. That is my firm hope for the future of my time on this planet with you lot.
Something I've noticed over my 50+ years is how hostile the man-made environment has become to anyone not actively spending money and engaging in commerce. Things like loitering, sleeping, etc. are treated as crimes in almost any public space in the US. I sometimes watch stealth campers on YouTube and it's insane how just existing somewhere, walking around on foot, or sitting in a parked car marks the person as "highly suspicious". While ultimately it will be the police who hassle you, most citizens will be super quick to narc on you and call them on you if you look out of place. It's been embedded into our mindset that anyone not shopping or going to an appointment is a source of "stranger danger".
And of course, our towns and cities are all built with cars in mind over here. Car traffic, parking, etc, is the topmost concern while pedestrians are a very distant afterthought. There's many reasons for why it developed this way. Not least of all is how powerful and influential Detroit automakers used to be. But beyond that, our oligarchs like people with vehicles because they tend to have at least some money, and they tend to not stay in one place very long. Movement and turnover is seen as profits.
I feel like the entire world is turning into something sort of like a crowded restaurant. Where you're allowed to hang out for a little while, but only if you're spending money, and even then you need to move on quickly so we can get more people in here spending more money. And how everything is a subscription now, and all the games they play to maximize profits with weaponized greed.
It's a small and stupid example, but the NFL (professional gridiron football) recently caught some bad PR for showing a playoff game on a streaming service that required a subscription to watch. They already make millions on these games because of advertising. But it's never enough. They have to constantly push for more, because their model relies on infinite growth (like cancer does). That one stupid example means nothing, but I see that sort of thing going on everywhere.
I haven't been to the NFL, but friends took me to a baseball game while i's there. It was a Mariners game, very fun night. But i felt the pressure to spend on everything as soon as you walked in, it felt like the stadium was incompetition against each specatator over the contents of your wallet.
Luigi Zingales, a Chicago University Economist, recently did a Q&A where he talked about the two meanings of competition that the English language roles into the one word, that of competitions to defeat an opponent, and competitions creating something in kind. There are parts of the community that have opted for the first definition and act in all times against their opponents, as you say "weaponized greed". What they don't realise is what makes the market a force for good is acting with competitors, following the second defintion.
A good example is the downtown nightlife district of a city. Alone those bars and eateries might be nice establishments, but if they're the only option in town their product offering can become stale, but together in competition with each other they act to collectively create this fantastic and flexible destination for a night out.
As for hostile public spaces the same happens here l, in Australia, so so much. I even have to catch myself and correct my preconceived notions when i see someone laying in a park. I suppose the only difference is the economic interests are more evenly weighted, due to no detroit-like lobbyists.
Another weird thing that's happened in recent NFL games....fans have been asked to help shovel snow out of the stadiums.
I honestly don't know what I think about that. I'm sure the underpaid and overworked stadium staff appreciates the help. It's a massive job.
On the other hand, it reminds me that these pro teams are always expecting subsidies of various types from the taxpayers and local communities, while vacuuming up almost all of the money to the pockets of the owners.
Wow. That takes self serve to whole other level. I get the stadiums are big, but that kind of request needs to come with consideration, even reduced ticket prices could do the teick if they're asking fans.
Or yeah, they could just pay fair value for services rendered, i know alien concept isn't it! Lol
Are attendees going along with it?
I imagine the fan reactions are all over the place. Some of them probably think it's fun and enjoy the sense of community they get from doing it shoulder-to-shoulder with other fans. Sort of like tailgating with extra sweat. And there's nothing wrong with that. I have also learned that at least some of the stadiums are paying the fans, too. Something like $20/hour. So not as dystopian as I first thought.
Yeah theres that comradery. "Tailgating with more sweat" thats such a vivid description lol! You need to be on these guys marketing team with lines like that.
$20/hour is actually a fairly reasonable hourly rate for the US isn't it. I'm just going off min wage being $15 in a lot of States now
Don't get me wrong I have a lot of problems with the NFL, NFL owners, and stadium projects. I just didn't feel right punching down on these fans if they are enjoying it and making some money doing it.
Yeah no, of course. I understand. For me it's a problem i never considered with all those stadiums. The worst the ones over here would get is like hail once a year, or a precipitation of Queenslanders every so often ;p