Another great read. “The bright portal painted against the night, reached only when bodies are tired and aching for rest and wondering if journey's end will ever come.” It’s a while since I’ve read a line and wanted to steal it quite so much. (But I won’t.)
There's also the concept of leveraging Instagram as just a technology platform to use to your own means. Post images, video, 6,000 word blog posts. Don't use tags, locations, @ or post reels. Use the technology platform as a means to YOUR ends, not theirs.
AI works both ways, there are already artistic types polluting the AI training platforms with AI-generated garbage content optimized for AI models that pollutes their training data.
Thanks for the useful reply! There is certainly that argument... but I think it fails to account for the structural hostility of the platform itself and how it has been designed to change users and subvert their goals (epistemic distraction). That, for me, is actually the biggest problem here... AI was just the icing on the cake. I don't believe it is possible to use the platform without it using you, but you certainly can use the platform while it is using you.
A great read as ever and a conversation I can chime with. I dont know if you are into music or not. Its a massive part of my life and has been for longer than the hills I guess. I wanted to draw your attention to New Model Army, specifically the song '225'. I think you would appreciate those lyrics. I know I do and as I read your piece, my mind went to those lyrics.
That dark tramp up to the bothy and the rush of anticipation on sighting it came alive for me and reminded me of similar experiences.
Interesting that your Luddite tendencies began while studying computing. I was working in computing when I started studying for a diploma in marketing, but had a parallel turning. The standard models being taught conflicted with my ethics and seemed designed to perpetuate the worst elements of capitalism. I gave up the studies.
That’s very interesting, but I agree – so many of the ethical problems with these ideas stem down to toxic capitalism and the cult of more, more, more.
It's Mind-blowing, Alex, and profound! I think you should definitely pitch it to spread this far and wide—not having an answer makes us question our own relationship with Instagram and cyberspace, so to speak.
I must say that I completely changed my attitude toward social media when my life turned topsy-turvy. I used to be afraid of it, and saw no value. Then, feeling rather isolated from fellow naturalists due to my profession at the time and poor mental health, I tried Instagram to share photography and insights and made good friends. When I lost my mobility and house, I was alone and decided to vlog my journey up from the nadir of my health and life. My openness about my trials and tribulations helped others, and I met lots of people in person and moved in with one. I continue to have a support group from all across the world and I do not care about Meta and AI because I think it is inevitable. Adobe too, uses our work once you sign their T&C's. Which I learnt only recently about. But I removed myself from X as my ethics is not in line with Mr musk's.
In the UK, we can disagree on AI training—let me know if you want me to find where this option is because I cannot remember from the top of my head, and it was in the form of an application.
On another note, "Backpackers have a saying: 'the trail provides'. In other words, life on foot has a way of giving you exactly what you need, which is not necessarily what you want".
I completely agree!!!
This is what crossed my mind when was walking the SWCP - each time I really needed help - someone appeared as if by magic. There were moments when I would rather stay in a warm house, room or hotel instead of getting cold and wet and having to pitch my tent somewhere out of sight for the night - but I knew that I wanted comfort, but I did not need that. When reached total exhaustion point, a local hiker turnout out of nowhere and offered me to stay in his and his wife's property until I recovered - they fed me too! I had many stories like this where the trail "knew" there were moments when I just needed to learn strength and endurance and when help was needed. But I think I am going in circles now and too overwhelmed to edit this comment!
Thanks so much for dropping in, Dee! For me I think this is the thing – not having an answer makes us question and debate it in human spaces. That's key for me.
I can totally understand your own perspective on social media. It can forge genuine and meaningful connections – this is something I've long been aware of in my own life. And it's why I continue to struggle with the dilemma. I think I'll struggle with this for the rest of my life.
My own stance on AI and AI training is that this is a moral hard line in the sand for me. I refuse to believe that any technology is inevitable; this is harm being done to us by a corporate force using a hostile technology we didn't ask for and that wasn't made to empower us. It's colonialism by another name. I believe we do have a moral duty to resist this in every way we can. However, actually doing so is another matter, because it's everywhere these days!
But we must all do what we think is right as individuals. Like you, I also have fundamental ethical problems with X, which is why I'm no longer a member. But my fundamental ethical problems also extend to Meta as well...
hmm, you made me think! Yes, I didn't think of it this way - it IS colonialism in another name, and no action or acceptance is a complicity. Thank you - I was wrong, especially in a light that I follow stoicism (or trying to).
Now, what to do?
It is a human connection - especially for me when autism and ADHD prevent me from seeing people on a regular basis as I get overwhelmed and unwell.
And then, especially in our domain and profession, our livelihood depends on social media really.
On the AI note, its increase is more serious than we thought. The misinformation can range from videos of gigantic octopuses pasted into black-and-white film (very credulous), which confuses and distracts, to political misinformation changing faces and voices. It is becoming scary, and companies like Meta don't seem to do much about it.
Another great read. “The bright portal painted against the night, reached only when bodies are tired and aching for rest and wondering if journey's end will ever come.” It’s a while since I’ve read a line and wanted to steal it quite so much. (But I won’t.)
Thanks Jon and so glad you enjoyed this!
There's also the concept of leveraging Instagram as just a technology platform to use to your own means. Post images, video, 6,000 word blog posts. Don't use tags, locations, @ or post reels. Use the technology platform as a means to YOUR ends, not theirs.
AI works both ways, there are already artistic types polluting the AI training platforms with AI-generated garbage content optimized for AI models that pollutes their training data.
You can use the platform without it using you.
Thanks for the useful reply! There is certainly that argument... but I think it fails to account for the structural hostility of the platform itself and how it has been designed to change users and subvert their goals (epistemic distraction). That, for me, is actually the biggest problem here... AI was just the icing on the cake. I don't believe it is possible to use the platform without it using you, but you certainly can use the platform while it is using you.
A great read as ever and a conversation I can chime with. I dont know if you are into music or not. Its a massive part of my life and has been for longer than the hills I guess. I wanted to draw your attention to New Model Army, specifically the song '225'. I think you would appreciate those lyrics. I know I do and as I read your piece, my mind went to those lyrics.
Many thanks, Colin! I'm not familiar with New Model Army, but I'll look it up...
That dark tramp up to the bothy and the rush of anticipation on sighting it came alive for me and reminded me of similar experiences.
Interesting that your Luddite tendencies began while studying computing. I was working in computing when I started studying for a diploma in marketing, but had a parallel turning. The standard models being taught conflicted with my ethics and seemed designed to perpetuate the worst elements of capitalism. I gave up the studies.
That’s very interesting, but I agree – so many of the ethical problems with these ideas stem down to toxic capitalism and the cult of more, more, more.
It's Mind-blowing, Alex, and profound! I think you should definitely pitch it to spread this far and wide—not having an answer makes us question our own relationship with Instagram and cyberspace, so to speak.
I must say that I completely changed my attitude toward social media when my life turned topsy-turvy. I used to be afraid of it, and saw no value. Then, feeling rather isolated from fellow naturalists due to my profession at the time and poor mental health, I tried Instagram to share photography and insights and made good friends. When I lost my mobility and house, I was alone and decided to vlog my journey up from the nadir of my health and life. My openness about my trials and tribulations helped others, and I met lots of people in person and moved in with one. I continue to have a support group from all across the world and I do not care about Meta and AI because I think it is inevitable. Adobe too, uses our work once you sign their T&C's. Which I learnt only recently about. But I removed myself from X as my ethics is not in line with Mr musk's.
In the UK, we can disagree on AI training—let me know if you want me to find where this option is because I cannot remember from the top of my head, and it was in the form of an application.
On another note, "Backpackers have a saying: 'the trail provides'. In other words, life on foot has a way of giving you exactly what you need, which is not necessarily what you want".
I completely agree!!!
This is what crossed my mind when was walking the SWCP - each time I really needed help - someone appeared as if by magic. There were moments when I would rather stay in a warm house, room or hotel instead of getting cold and wet and having to pitch my tent somewhere out of sight for the night - but I knew that I wanted comfort, but I did not need that. When reached total exhaustion point, a local hiker turnout out of nowhere and offered me to stay in his and his wife's property until I recovered - they fed me too! I had many stories like this where the trail "knew" there were moments when I just needed to learn strength and endurance and when help was needed. But I think I am going in circles now and too overwhelmed to edit this comment!
Thanks so much for dropping in, Dee! For me I think this is the thing – not having an answer makes us question and debate it in human spaces. That's key for me.
I can totally understand your own perspective on social media. It can forge genuine and meaningful connections – this is something I've long been aware of in my own life. And it's why I continue to struggle with the dilemma. I think I'll struggle with this for the rest of my life.
My own stance on AI and AI training is that this is a moral hard line in the sand for me. I refuse to believe that any technology is inevitable; this is harm being done to us by a corporate force using a hostile technology we didn't ask for and that wasn't made to empower us. It's colonialism by another name. I believe we do have a moral duty to resist this in every way we can. However, actually doing so is another matter, because it's everywhere these days!
But we must all do what we think is right as individuals. Like you, I also have fundamental ethical problems with X, which is why I'm no longer a member. But my fundamental ethical problems also extend to Meta as well...
hmm, you made me think! Yes, I didn't think of it this way - it IS colonialism in another name, and no action or acceptance is a complicity. Thank you - I was wrong, especially in a light that I follow stoicism (or trying to).
Now, what to do?
It is a human connection - especially for me when autism and ADHD prevent me from seeing people on a regular basis as I get overwhelmed and unwell.
And then, especially in our domain and profession, our livelihood depends on social media really.
On the AI note, its increase is more serious than we thought. The misinformation can range from videos of gigantic octopuses pasted into black-and-white film (very credulous), which confuses and distracts, to political misinformation changing faces and voices. It is becoming scary, and companies like Meta don't seem to do much about it.