I am in no way a conspiracy theorist. I believe in examining facts, even if it's a little too late, then making my conclusions based on what is known. These odd circumstances find us all wondering a little more than usual. Wondering about how, wondering about why, and without a doubt wondering about when. When will we return to normalcy?
Facebook has been filled with these little games. Some ask you to name a band, some as you to show photographs, some ask you something that you believe projects who you are in a special way while showing interest in how your friends might answer similar questions. They are all harmless fun. What if they're not. What if the questions and answers themselves aren't what is being gauged, but simply will you do it and will you promote it. What if the concept isn't to find your favorite music genre, but to find out which of you will join in the herd mentality that is needed to end this quarantine and social distancing as soon as possible? I realize most will view this as far-fetched, but think of this in terms of the reverse Bystander Effect. What if the goal is to see just how many people will act the same, simply because of who else they know does it?
I know, I know, but take yourself out of isolation, quarantine, and social distancing. Given the opportunity, if friend A had told you about Tiger King at a time when you could have gone out for drinks, gone to the gym, or done pretty much anything other than watch Tiger King, what would you have chosen to do? The same way marketing works, so does political herding. If we're made to believe that our friends are all doing it, won't we be more inclined to do so too? When we not only believe our friends are doing it, then we're definitely more inclined to at least try it. This is probably what made us friends anyway; trust.
So what if this is just a data grab. Not on social security numbers or credit cards, but our basic need to be part of the group. As time has gone on, the posts on social media have become eerily similar between friends I know. Their answers and situations may differ, but one cry to go outside gets ten likes. The woe-is-me senior who won't walk the aisle is worth his family's health, but how has it slowly, after seven weeks begun to be worth yours? Boredom is a result of a dulled imagination. Psychologist understands that most people are willing to sacrifice pretty much anything not to be bored. Health and safety is something we take for granted, especially when the risks aren't visible. Who stands to gain more from knowing what groups are more likely to follow another's lead. Who stands more to know where they live? Just a thought.
Facebook has been filled with these little games. Some ask you to name a band, some as you to show photographs, some ask you something that you believe projects who you are in a special way while showing interest in how your friends might answer similar questions. They are all harmless fun. What if they're not. What if the questions and answers themselves aren't what is being gauged, but simply will you do it and will you promote it. What if the concept isn't to find your favorite music genre, but to find out which of you will join in the herd mentality that is needed to end this quarantine and social distancing as soon as possible? I realize most will view this as far-fetched, but think of this in terms of the reverse Bystander Effect. What if the goal is to see just how many people will act the same, simply because of who else they know does it?
I know, I know, but take yourself out of isolation, quarantine, and social distancing. Given the opportunity, if friend A had told you about Tiger King at a time when you could have gone out for drinks, gone to the gym, or done pretty much anything other than watch Tiger King, what would you have chosen to do? The same way marketing works, so does political herding. If we're made to believe that our friends are all doing it, won't we be more inclined to do so too? When we not only believe our friends are doing it, then we're definitely more inclined to at least try it. This is probably what made us friends anyway; trust.
So what if this is just a data grab. Not on social security numbers or credit cards, but our basic need to be part of the group. As time has gone on, the posts on social media have become eerily similar between friends I know. Their answers and situations may differ, but one cry to go outside gets ten likes. The woe-is-me senior who won't walk the aisle is worth his family's health, but how has it slowly, after seven weeks begun to be worth yours? Boredom is a result of a dulled imagination. Psychologist understands that most people are willing to sacrifice pretty much anything not to be bored. Health and safety is something we take for granted, especially when the risks aren't visible. Who stands to gain more from knowing what groups are more likely to follow another's lead. Who stands more to know where they live? Just a thought.
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