I've been worried for a long time now that the increase in the volume of information available on the internet is almost certainly undermining the psychological stability of people with psychological conditions and behavioral disorders.

For most people who have a secure self-esteem and a stable identity this is probably not a concern because their sense of identity is stable enough to withstand the challenges to their ideas and to accept (or at least understand) other ideas.

But I see more and more people with insecure identities and / or weak egos easily overwhelmed by this flood of information on the internet and I am convinced that this leads to varying degrees of identity crises, psychological conditions, and behavior disorders.

I'm not a licensed psychologist or anything like that, but man I've seen some things, especially lately............ and it's been bugging me.

What are your [serious] thoughts on this hypothesis?

(Note: this is internet wide, not about posters or postings here on csnbbs)

I think it is possible and I think that is certainly does have an impact on some people but when weighed against the alternative I think easy access to information, and vast amounts of it, is still a social net benefit.

But, I agree to an extent because I think many ideologues today are so because of a deed need to belong and feel important than any sincere belief.

I think we agree but take different roads to get there. I'll offer the caveat that everything that follows has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. There is no data. This is purely observational and gut.

The internet is the best communication medium we've yet invented. It allows a simply impossible to manage number of people to exchange ideas in real time about an impossible to manage number of things. Some of this is good. We are able to identify our own bullsh*t and correct it. The lie of high carb diets. The lies behind most of our politics. Etc. But it isn't all good. It also allows troubled or "marginal" people to very easily congregate and insulate themselves. And that's NOT good. It basically allows very weak people to form a large enough pool to become self-supporting and entrenched. And that's like a boom market being goaded on by free money from the Federal Reserve: the longer you wait to make corrective action the more incredibly damaging it is and the longer it takes to clean up. I think the problem is these people self-insulate and delay course correction until there are no alternatives. And then it may be too far gone. I don't know what I would do if I woke up at 50 and realized I'd wasted my life insulating myself from problems instead of dealing with them.

I genuinely believe *MOST* people in this context could be helped by the right psychedelic to head this problem off at the pass. Get these people out of their comfortable head space and think more critically and openly about themselves and life. THC, DMT, and Ibogaine in particular. But tread lightly around Ibogaine. From what I've heard from Rogan and others, apparently an Ibogaine trip is quintessentially an uncontrolled unfiltered retrospective look at your life and everywhere you've f*cked up in it. That's not to be done lightly as there is no ejection button from that trip. But apparently it is one of the VERY few things to show clinical results in curing people addicted to heroin with just one dose. Potent, powerful, and when clinically managed incredibly therapeutic.

Regardless as a society we suck at dealing with mental health. Technology drives ever more powerful and lethal technology into the hands of smaller and less well funded people and organizations. This is something we don't want to see metastasize as a society. We will have to reckon with the mental aspect of health eventually.

(09-14-2017 01:58 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  Technology drives ever more powerful and lethal technology into the hands of smaller and less well funded people and organizations.

As the hardware gets smarter the meatware receives pink slips. Its the future of humanity.

(09-14-2017 01:58 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  We will have to reckon with the mental aspect of health eventually.

What I think I see is that the "average" person isn't very smart, can't put a reasoned argument together, and doesn't write very well. And then, within this curve, we have the half of people that are below "average." Even those who are otherwise above average in writing or debating ability aren't really all that good at writing or debating anyway. And then, within the below average, average, and above average groups we’re still compensating for the fact that there are a lot of evil people in the world.

(09-14-2017 01:32 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  I think many ideologues today are so because of a deed need to belong and feel important than any sincere belief.

The internet is now a place where no one seems to feel like they're doing anything important unless they're lecturing others, even though one doesn't really have to have a compelling argument, and it seems to only come down to flattering the prejudices of the cliques people desperately want to join.

(09-14-2017 02:53 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  The internet is now a place where no one seems to feel like they're doing anything important unless they're lecturing others, even though one doesn't really have to have a compelling argument, and it seems to only come down to flattering the prejudices of the cliques people desperately want to join.

I think I completely agree with that. It's not ubiquitous, but it is pervasive.

I come at it from a different perspective as well. I would contend that in the US we are nurturing a very narcissistic society. And the internet can easily provide an unlimited supply for people to obtain said high. One of the myriad of problems with narcissism if you lack the other dark triad components is that it results in a very fragile ego. IMO the vitriol displayed on the internet is a form of self defense for a lot of people.

(09-14-2017 04:42 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  I come at it from a different perspective as well. I would contend that in the US we are nurturing a very narcissistic society. And the internet can easily provide an unlimited supply for people to obtain said high. One of the myriad of problems with narcissism if you lack the other dark triad components is that it results in a very fragile ego. IMO the vitriol displayed on the internet is a form of self defense for a lot of people.

I'm more inclined to agree with this hypothesis. Inflated egos means nobody could possibly have a legitimate disagreement with your conclusion. To the extent the mass of information has an impact is that people have trouble focusing so they take the simple solution and dismiss that which doesn't boost their narcissistic ego, losing critical thinking skills.

As for the number of nuts, I've got two theories that contribute to that: 1) crowding in cities-its clear that conditions turn on or off genes. Crowding would logically, as a survival mechanism for the species, cause some adjustments. One result might be anti-social, aggressive behavior and another an increase in tribalism. A third would be reduced fertility. 2) degrading of the gene pool. As civilization has increased, the less fit are able to survive and reproduce more. The more fit tend to find other things to do than have a large family. Net result is that there are more less fit people-quickly. To illustrate the math, if the 80% more fit reproduce with 1.5 children and the 20% less fit reproduce with 3 children, the two groups are equal in just 2 generations.

(09-14-2017 01:58 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  I genuinely believe *MOST* people in this context could be helped by the right psychedelic to head this problem off at the pass. Get these people out of their comfortable head space and think more critically and openly about themselves and life. THC, DMT, and Ibogaine in particular. But tread lightly around Ibogaine.

wow, dude. Aside from reading about them hw much experience do you have with psychedelic drugs? Fwiw, THC ain't one, not by a longshot.

Sent from my SM-J700T using CSNbbs mobile app

(09-14-2017 05:25 PM)Hood-rich Wrote:  wow, dude. Aside from reading about them hw much experience do you have with psychedelic drugs? Fwiw, THC ain't one, not by a longshot.

Sent from my SM-J700T using CSNbbs mobile app

Rogan has experts from all over the spectrum on. I posted just a few weeks ago on this board where the FDA was clearing MDMA for similar therapeutic use. It's an amalgamation of people I've heard on Rogan, research summaries I've seen covered in Reason and Reddit and other sources, and anecdotal from knowing so many people in Oath Keepers from my Ron Paul days.

(09-14-2017 01:30 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  I've been worried for a long time now that the increase in the volume of information available on the internet is almost certainly undermining the psychological stability of people with psychological conditions and behavioral disorders.

For most people who have a secure self-esteem and a stable identity this is probably not a concern because their sense of identity is stable enough to withstand the challenges to their ideas and to accept (or at least understand) other ideas.

But I see more and more people with insecure identities and / or weak egos easily overwhelmed by this flood of information on the internet and I am convinced that this leads to varying degrees of identity crises, psychological conditions, and behavior disorders.

I'm not a licensed psychologist or anything like that, but man I've seen some things, especially lately............ and it's been bugging me.

What are your [serious] thoughts on this hypothesis?

(Note: this is internet wide, not about posters or postings here on csnbbs)

The start of all the school shootings started with Columbine in 1999. I think you are on to something. Maybe not challenges to weak egos as much as sick people finding each other and offering encouragement.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

(09-14-2017 04:53 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(09-14-2017 04:42 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  I come at it from a different perspective as well. I would contend that in the US we are nurturing a very narcissistic society. And the internet can easily provide an unlimited supply for people to obtain said high. One of the myriad of problems with narcissism if you lack the other dark triad components is that it results in a very fragile ego. IMO the vitriol displayed on the internet is a form of self defense for a lot of people.

I'm more inclined to agree with this hypothesis. Inflated egos means nobody could possibly have a legitimate disagreement with your conclusion. To the extent the mass of information has an impact is that people have trouble focusing so they take the simple solution and dismiss that which doesn't boost their narcissistic ego, losing critical thinking skills.

As for the number of nuts, I've got two theories that contribute to that: 1) crowding in cities-its clear that conditions turn on or off genes. Crowding would logically, as a survival mechanism for the species, cause some adjustments. One result might be anti-social, aggressive behavior and another an increase in tribalism. A third would be reduced fertility. 2) degrading of the gene pool. As civilization has increased, the less fit are able to survive and reproduce more. The more fit tend to find other things to do than have a large family. Net result is that there are more less fit people-quickly. To illustrate the math, if the 80% more fit reproduce with 1.5 children and the 20% less fit reproduce with 3 children, the two groups are equal in just 2 generations.

The parameters of fit and unfit are ever changing. Much of what our society sees as fit wouldn't survive a week in Medieval England, for example, whereas much of what we see as unfit might do just fine in that setting. This is constantly in flux. Some will adapt, some won't.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

(09-14-2017 07:20 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(09-14-2017 04:53 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(09-14-2017 04:42 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  I come at it from a different perspective as well. I would contend that in the US we are nurturing a very narcissistic society. And the internet can easily provide an unlimited supply for people to obtain said high. One of the myriad of problems with narcissism if you lack the other dark triad components is that it results in a very fragile ego. IMO the vitriol displayed on the internet is a form of self defense for a lot of people.

I'm more inclined to agree with this hypothesis. Inflated egos means nobody could possibly have a legitimate disagreement with your conclusion. To the extent the mass of information has an impact is that people have trouble focusing so they take the simple solution and dismiss that which doesn't boost their narcissistic ego, losing critical thinking skills.

As for the number of nuts, I've got two theories that contribute to that: 1) crowding in cities-its clear that conditions turn on or off genes. Crowding would logically, as a survival mechanism for the species, cause some adjustments. One result might be anti-social, aggressive behavior and another an increase in tribalism. A third would be reduced fertility. 2) degrading of the gene pool. As civilization has increased, the less fit are able to survive and reproduce more. The more fit tend to find other things to do than have a large family. Net result is that there are more less fit people-quickly. To illustrate the math, if the 80% more fit reproduce with 1.5 children and the 20% less fit reproduce with 3 children, the two groups are equal in just 2 generations.

The parameters of fit and unfit are ever changing. Much of what our society sees as fit wouldn't survive a week in Medieval England, for example, whereas much of what we see as unfit might do just fine in that setting. This is constantly in flux. Some will adapt, some won't.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

I think bullet was coming at it from an r/K reproduction POV

(09-14-2017 04:42 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  I come at it from a different perspective as well. I would contend that in the US we are nurturing a very narcissistic society. And the internet can easily provide an unlimited supply for people to obtain said high. One of the myriad of problems with narcissism if you lack the other dark triad components is that it results in a very fragile ego. IMO the vitriol displayed on the internet is a form of self defense for a lot of people.

if the ability to communicate effectively is suppressed, then economic progress flat lines....

the internutz is simply the latest version of the "antichrist"....

the unfortunate result is why this thread was created....and the posit that it pulls out narcissism in the individual is more easily achieved...

IMO, 'smart' phones are to humanity as a pacifier to a drooling tyke....

(09-14-2017 01:30 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  I've been worried for a long time now that the increase in the volume of information available on the internet is almost certainly undermining the psychological stability of people with psychological conditions and behavioral disorders.

For most people who have a secure self-esteem and a stable identity this is probably not a concern because their sense of identity is stable enough to withstand the challenges to their ideas and to accept (or at least understand) other ideas.

But I see more and more people with insecure identities and / or weak egos easily overwhelmed by this flood of information on the internet and I am convinced that this leads to varying degrees of identity crises, psychological conditions, and behavior disorders.

I'm not a licensed psychologist or anything like that, but man I've seen some things, especially lately............ and it's been bugging me.

What are your [serious] thoughts on this hypothesis?

(Note: this is internet wide, not about posters or postings here on csnbbs)

Well let's start with this forum. There are posters on this forum who seemingly hate each other simply because they have different political views. That, to me, speaks to a psychological condition. What kind of sane person hates what someone else on the internet says about you?

If we are ever going to come together as a country, we need to accept each other's differences and move toward some sort of common ground.

(09-14-2017 06:02 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

(09-14-2017 05:25 PM)Hood-rich Wrote:  wow, dude. Aside from reading about them hw much experience do you have with psychedelic drugs? Fwiw, THC ain't one, not by a longshot.

Sent from my SM-J700T using CSNbbs mobile app

Rogan has experts from all over the spectrum on. I posted just a few weeks ago on this board where the FDA was clearing MDMA for similar therapeutic use. It's an amalgamation of people I've heard on Rogan, research summaries I've seen covered in Reason and Reddit and other sources, and anecdotal from knowing so many people in Oath Keepers from my Ron Paul days.

So you've never experienced them yourself. Got it. You're just LP larping.

(09-15-2017 09:04 AM)Hood-rich Wrote:  

(09-14-2017 06:02 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

(09-14-2017 05:25 PM)Hood-rich Wrote:  wow, dude. Aside from reading about them hw much experience do you have with psychedelic drugs? Fwiw, THC ain't one, not by a longshot.

Sent from my SM-J700T using CSNbbs mobile app

Rogan has experts from all over the spectrum on. I posted just a few weeks ago on this board where the FDA was clearing MDMA for similar therapeutic use. It's an amalgamation of people I've heard on Rogan, research summaries I've seen covered in Reason and Reddit and other sources, and anecdotal from knowing so many people in Oath Keepers from my Ron Paul days.

So you've never experienced them yourself. Got it. You're just LP larping.

it is too funny those that haven't think they understand.....

sorry for the derail LS, that one couldn't be avoided....I made my [serious] post....

(09-15-2017 09:04 AM)Hood-rich Wrote:  So you've never experienced them yourself. Got it. You're just LP larping.

No, I don't take strong psychedelics for PTSD or depression or a general mood disorder because I don't suffer from those afflictions. It's called being responsible. Do you also discredit anybody who has never taken Oxycontin but knows very well of both the risks and clinical therapeutic use of the drug? Since when did being willing to chug something down your pie hole become the litmus test for knowing anything about it? By that basis you're either gay or know nothing about male genitalia.

(09-15-2017 08:45 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(09-14-2017 04:42 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  I come at it from a different perspective as well. I would contend that in the US we are nurturing a very narcissistic society. And the internet can easily provide an unlimited supply for people to obtain said high. One of the myriad of problems with narcissism if you lack the other dark triad components is that it results in a very fragile ego. IMO the vitriol displayed on the internet is a form of self defense for a lot of people.

if the ability to communicate effectively is suppressed, then economic progress flat lines....

the internutz is simply the latest version of the "antichrist"....

the unfortunate result is why this thread was created....and the posit that it pulls out narcissism in the individual is more easily achieved...

IMO, 'smart' phones are to humanity as a pacifier to a drooling tyke....

Just wait until K-12 becomes an online event. At least when it is brick and mortar, there remains a higher eschelon of people that learn to communicate, negotiate, and get schit done... but how much cheaper would it be to present the material online. Could probably cut 80% of the budget in facilities and do the work in an entire school district with only a handful of teachers by automating the grading and submitting lessons as prerecorded webinars. No more busses to deal with either. I betcha when the debt gets called and the money stops flowing from Dee Cee and a few more school shooting sprees occur, 'dem local yahoos gonnah see dolla sines and contractors are going to be tripping all over themselves to develop solutions.

(09-15-2017 10:07 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(09-15-2017 08:45 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(09-14-2017 04:42 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  I come at it from a different perspective as well. I would contend that in the US we are nurturing a very narcissistic society. And the internet can easily provide an unlimited supply for people to obtain said high. One of the myriad of problems with narcissism if you lack the other dark triad components is that it results in a very fragile ego. IMO the vitriol displayed on the internet is a form of self defense for a lot of people.

if the ability to communicate effectively is suppressed, then economic progress flat lines....

the internutz is simply the latest version of the "antichrist"....

the unfortunate result is why this thread was created....and the posit that it pulls out narcissism in the individual is more easily achieved...

IMO, 'smart' phones are to humanity as a pacifier to a drooling tyke....

Just wait until K-12 becomes an online event. At least when it is brick and mortar, there remains a higher eschelon of people that learn to communicate, negotiate, and get schit done... but how much cheaper would it be to present the material online. Could probably cut 80% of the budget in facilities and do the work in an entire school district with only a handful of teachers by automating the grading and submitting lessons as prerecorded webinars. No more busses to deal with either. I betcha when the debt gets called and the money stops flowing from Dee Cee and a few more school shooting sprees occur, 'dem local yahoos gonnah see dolla sines and contractors are going to be tripping all over themselves to develop solutions.

It's already happening. Brick and Mortar schools are decreasing as more and more people are choosing to home school their kids.

I don't have a problem with it. It's their right to do so. I do see however how a kids social skills are greatly diminished by it.

I've seen first hand how ill prepared children who are home schooled are when it comes to socializing with other kids.

Public school kids eat them alive.

(09-15-2017 08:45 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  if the ability to communicate effectively is suppressed, then economic progress flat lines....

the internutz is simply the latest version of the "antichrist"....

the unfortunate result is why this thread was created....and the posit that it pulls out narcissism in the individual is more easily achieved...

IMO, 'smart' phones are to humanity as a pacifier to a drooling tyke....

There are portions of the 'net that work like that for some people. But like a binky, its effectiveness is quite limited. And because of the stunned interpersonal development you mentioned, their reactions to disagreements are equally child-like.

(09-15-2017 08:58 AM)Fitbud Wrote:  Well let's start with this forum. There are posters on this forum who seemingly hate each other simply because they have different political views. That, to me, speaks to a psychological condition. What kind of sane person hates what someone else on the internet says about you?

If we are ever going to come together as a country, we need to accept each other's differences and move toward some sort of common ground.

Agreed. But one has to realize that people you vehemently disagree with are just as American as everyone else. They can't be wished away and destroying their livelihood doesn't lacks a rational justification.