I have been troubled with the contrast between mainstream and milieu for several weeks now (see e.g. “Mainstream Milieus“). This week I discovered a fascinating insight, and I wrote about it on “Epidemic of Knowingness” [ https://podcasts.video.blog/2025/03/28/epidemic-of-knowingness ]. In particular, Chris Williamson describes something he refers to as experiencing a “lonely chapter” in life, which… Continue reading An Introduction to the Mainstream Trick
Tag: manipulation
The Razzle-Dazzle of New & Improved vs. the Tried & True But Tired of Old & Over-Used
A while ago, I became aware of a book published last year, authored by Tali Sharot, titled “Look Again”. In an introductory statement to a talk given by the author at Google, the presenter states: “Look Again” explores all the ways that our brain’s ability to habituate to novel experiences over time affects our behavior,… Continue reading The Razzle-Dazzle of New & Improved vs. the Tried & True But Tired of Old & Over-Used
Literacy, language, listening skills and crap like that
I have a friend who appears to have poor listening skills. He may pretend to be a good listener, yet time and again I notice he isn’t really listening … i.e. understanding what I say … repeatedly. The other day we were talking about some media stuff (which, granted, is one of my topics) and… Continue reading Literacy, language, listening skills and crap like that
Authority, Certifications, Trust in Social Order and Novice Internet Users
In my humble opinion, over 99.9% of Internet users are novices when it comes to evaluation of information sources. This is, for the most part, based on two things. First, my simple and straightforward observations with ordinary everyday people. Secondly (and more importantly) the obvious and glaring shortcomings of education systems worldwide, which neglected the… Continue reading Authority, Certifications, Trust in Social Order and Novice Internet Users
Human Brain Conditioner: Human Nature is a Top Secret Affair
Over the past several weeks, I have focused on the quasi “post-mortem dump” of the so-called media‘s election coverage in the United States. I no longer usually pay much attention to the junk that has increasingly become known as “mainstream media” — I prefer to focus more on the distinction between “rational media and “irrational… Continue reading Human Brain Conditioner: Human Nature is a Top Secret Affair
Interesting Things
What interests you? This is a question I have by mulling over (with one of my best friends) during our annual November retreat. And just today, we also introduced the notion of (grammatical) subjects and objects of attention into the mix of ideas. He is fully aware of what has been not only fully but… Continue reading Interesting Things
Voiding and Avoiding the Void
I have been writing about this stuff for decades, yet I have never (as far as I know) put it quite that way. Why do I put it that way now? It’s actually not me — it’s other people. Every day I see people saying they are putting this or that or whatever “out into… Continue reading Voiding and Avoiding the Void
Weird
Weird seems to be one of those “Words of the Day”. Last night, something occurred to me along those lines. Often, when I warn people about the propaganda they consume regularly via Google, they mention something peculiar (or weird?) — that if they click on something, or type something into Google’s search box, that the… Continue reading Weird
Some Reflections on the Relationships Between Influence and Rationality
I have spent a lot of time with the exact formulation of that title. What is a lot? What is a little? Somehow this line of thinking reminds me of the Pensees / Blaise Pascal, and the title itself seems situated nearby to Descartes’ Meditations yet perhaps even closer to Edmund Burke’s flowery view from… Continue reading Some Reflections on the Relationships Between Influence and Rationality
Dumb Americans
I sometimes have a way of saying things that people find awkward or even inappropriate, and I have a hunch the title I have chosen here is at high risk of becoming one of those situations. There is a lot to unpack here, and I don’t know if I will be able to unpack all… Continue reading Dumb Americans
Socio Business blog 