Irrational media are usually (simply) consumer platforms, as the content shared via irrational media cannot be rationally contextualized. [1] Since there is no agreed-upon (and shared) meaningful context available, content is normally simply consumed without being interpreted as appropriate (or inappropriate), simply because irrational media do not provide any context for such kinds of evaluations.
In contrast, rational media are contextualized by the corresponding community’s language.
A few days ago, someone recommended a rational media site which I would also refer to as a consumer platform. The site in question goes by the name of “Kleinanzeigen” (which can be roughly translated into English as “classified ads”), in the “DE” top-level domain.
The site seems to be configured in a manner such that “partner organizations” provide “secure” transactions (mainly partners for online payments and also for shipping / delivery). Beyond that, the site is also rather heavy-handed with respect to tracking its users, and presumably this user data collection is then also sold “down the river” — perhaps to the same partners, but perhaps also to other partner companies interested in trading in user data.
Although I set up an account, I have decided this business model is too onerous for me.
maybe I’m to blame for all I’ve heard (but I’m not sure)
Nirvana (Kurt Cobain), “Lithium” [ https://www.nirvana.com/video/nirvana-lithium-official-music-video# ]
Yet I feel perhaps the German community using this site appreciates this “big brother” approach to law and order.
What I find curious is that such control is not (as far as I know) an inherent part of the meaning of “Kleinanzeigen” (in German language). I feel the users of this site consume this approach (although they are not forced to do so, it appears to be a “default” setting, and one the site seems to strongly discourage from changing).
When a rational media site’s administrative staff imposes rules on its users, I feel that such deviation from the meaning of the site’s name jeopardizes the site’s rational media status. I guess it depends on whether such impositions are seen more as a “feature” or more as a “bug”.
In this case, I feel it’s a bug — so I will refrain from using the site. Yet I can also understand that there may indeed be a thriving community of users who see it as a “feature” — and also one they are happily willing to consume.
Socio Business blog 