If you’ve still never watched it, Steven Spielberg’s 2018 film Ready Player One (great film, by the way!) is chock full of ’80’s nostalgia. This movie has been watched several times at our house, and the boys often ask about this particular mention:
Finally got a chance to show this “gem” to them this weekend.
Nearly halfway through –
AJ: “I have no idea what’s going on in this movie!”
Me: “It’s ok. The people IN this movie STILL don’t know what was going on in it!”
🤣
Please join us for Part 2 of the series For The Least, featuring our friends Mike and Margo Lowry!
Available on all major podcast platforms.
Although it’s technically been over 30 days since my original post on this topic, I thought I’d follow up with some observations I’ve made since making this choice about my online persona.
First and foremost, it’s been interesting to me (and somewhat comical) to watch how Facebook’s Algorithm blatantly generates ads based directly on searches and content I view outside of Facebook. Years ago, I got out of the habit of clicking on ads within Facebook, or links shared by my friends and family there (sorry guys!). It’s not that I’m trying to be some sort of uninterested snob, or trying to prove that I’m “Facebook Woke” (Ha! That just came to me! Better get a copyright on it!). Rather, I learned quickly early on that I don’t care for the content rabbit hole the Facebook Algorithm quickly leads you down when doing so. In the words of the great Austin Powers, “That’s not my bag, baby!”
When I was searching for microphones and microphone boom arms for my podcast Voluntary Input, Facebook immediately started generating ads on my feed for microphones, boom arms, recording equipment, etc. Even just yesterday, after reading the Android Police article regarding Samsung’s folding screen disaster, Facebook began to show me ads for new Samsung phones.
But nowadays, this all doesn’t (rather shouldn’t) come as any surprise to anyone. Nowadays, I think everyone pretty much “get’s it”. Most importantly, and to the dismay of many in the tech community (especially those focused on the privacy and security sectors), this behavior is now accepted in passing and pretty much expected. The vast majority of people accept this as simply just the way it is. But on the comical side of things, I was recently selling a few items on ebay. What does the algorithm do? It shows me my own items under the “continue where you left off” guise!!
Advertising aside, I have also noted some refreshing personal changes. Perhaps the best of these has been self control – I have gotten out of my often ill-fated compulsion to react and reply to antagonizing posts. Especially those of political nature. I had made it a long-standing rule of mine to not engage in political discourse on social media, but in today’s climate I began to find myself slipping into a horrible habit. However I’ve noticed that after making this decision to take more ownership of my Online Self, I’ve been more conscious of what I will and will not reply to. Especially posts of antagonizing political content. In regards to social media, I have always tried to keep it just that – social. Thus I would often ask myself, “Would I engage in this conversation in this manner at a party?” If the answer was “no”, I wouldn’t comment and move on. Now I tend to ask myself, “Would I want this conversation plastered on my website?” Again, if the answer is “no”, I have been simply moving on. And to be honest with you, I have literally been feeling better as a person by this choice! My mental peace has been higher than ever, which to many probably comes as no surprise. Quite frankly, I’ve been able to take a huge step back and notice flaws in my own online behavior – flaws that I don’t like and don’t want to get back into.
Finally, in the words of TLC – “What About Your Friends”? Some time ago, there was a post being shared repeatedly regarding Facebook’s Algorithm showing you only 26 friends and what you could do to fix it. This was proven to be false, primarily because no one knows with 100% certainty how this actually works. But it is worth noting that you in fact tend to see more of the friends that you engage with the most. And I have noticed personally since making changes to my social media engagement behavior that in my main feed I have been seeing more and more of the friends that I haven’t seen on Facebook in some time. It’s not that they haven’t been actively posting, but I hadn’t necessarily been interacting with them. Now that my interaction patterns have changed, it’s almost as if the Facebook Algorithm is somewhat confused and is simply desperately reaching to find people for me to interact with. Because let’s not forget, the success of these platforms is driven by engagement: you enjoy engaging with your friends = you stay on the platform = you view ads = you potentially make purchases. So it is in Facebook’s best interest to encourage you to engage with people more often. Again, this all actually makes sense, should be expected, and probably comes as no surprise to most.
There are other aspects that I have noticed as well, but these are the most significant to me. Also, I was asked to share about more technical aspects/details of this approach, which I will touch on in another follow-up to come.
“The Outsider’s Insider”
Jonah Ryan
This guy cracks me up! You wanna know what’s wrong with this country? Orny explains!
I first connected with Jeff Jones several years ago through a men’s adoption support group on Facebook. A group discussion lead to a friend request, which lead to direct conversations through which we learned we shared similar passions about foster care and adoption. Although we stayed in contact, I did not actually meet Jeff and his wife Kristina in person until March of this year. This episode was recorded where Jeff and Kristina currently serve and live – The Father’s House located in Hamilton Ohio. The Father’s House is a former orphanage which began in 1869 as a home for orphans of the Civil War. The estate is a 2.8 acre lot with a 25-room mansion and several outbuildings. When fully restored, it will be a thriving community of families committed to fostering and adopting, and an active center for advocacy and support for others doing the same. We decided to sit in one of the front formal rooms of the mansion – a beautiful open space with massive arching windows and doorways. You can hear the acoustics as we speak. You can also hear the love and passion that this wonderful husband and wife have for The Least. Meet Jeff and Kristina Jones.
Couples Comedy Night at Rivers Crossing!
Comedian Zoltan Kaskas! Great show! Check him out at https://www.zoltancomedy.com/ !
Have you ever rewatched a movie from way back when that you used to like or even love, only to ask yourself now, “what was I thinking!?”
Case in point, Pluto TV is currently running ’80’s movies back to back. Last night, I watched 1983’s Risky Business. Back in the day, I (like many others) thought this movie was great.
But after watching it last night (and I know I’m probably going to get some backlash for this) I realized that this movie is actually HORRIBLE!!
I know now why I liked it in ’83. I was a teenaged boy! Usually over the years, I will re-watch favorites from time to time, but I really hadn’t revisited this movie much until last night. As such, I was literally shocked by the fact that I even liked it before. Sure, it still has some good funny spots here and there. But overall, it was almost torturesome to sit through.
How about you? What movie have you rewatched that now makes you question younger you?
Regardless of what many will try to lead you to believe, the majority of American citizens are intelligent enough to understand that politicians (especially those at the federal level) have a long standing history of crafty word play and information manipulation. This is especially true for those Americans over the age of 30 who have witnessed first hand the types of double talk and misdirection that occurs especially during campaign runs and political scandal.
The current administration is no different. What I personally take issue with the most is the current, pop-culture battle cry of “Fake News!”. This tag line is flawed from its core, and the reason is as easy to see as its flawed execution.
Simply put, the core of the “fake news” chant is Donald Trump’s motives behind saying it. It really doesn’t take a genius to notice that whenever he cries it out, it is in relation to anything that casts a negative light on him or his administration. As for any news that praises him, he unsurprisingly praises. This is not an anti-Trump observation. Rather, it is merely a statement of fact more about human behavior more than anything else. Because if we’re all honest with ourselves, whenever anything negative is said about any of us our first response is to try to discredit the source. The problem with such a major world figure as the President of The United States of America perpetuating such rhetoric is that, regardless of whether or not you like a current President, the fact is his opinion holds a LOT of weight.
The danger in the President continuing to push this idea, and the citizens who are willing to accept it and spread it, is that its logical conclusion can lead to the types of laws that have already been passed in the likes of Russia. Cutting to the chase of the Russian law, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new law which will allow the punishment of individuals and online media for spreading what Russia calls “fake news” and information which “disrespects” the state.
The new rules allow prosecutors to direct complaints about material considered insulting to Russian officials to the government, which can then block websites publishing the information. Publications that repeatedly spread “unreliable” information which undermines social order, may face fines of up to $23,000, and repeat offenders could spend time in jail, according to The Washington Post.
The laws will target online information that presents “clear disrespect for society, government, state symbols, the constitution and government institutions.”
Sound familiar?
Again, I cannot stress it enough – this is not an anti-Trump piece. I know many reading this may take it that way. The truth is, when Donald Trump complains about “fake news” in relation to any number of reports, I actually agree with him. Only, I don’t agree with his choice of words in calling it “fake news”. Far too often, what he’s actually referring to is “Poor Reporting”, because many news outlets and their journalists are far too often guilty of such, as well as excessive bias. The news in and of itself is predominantly not “fake”. Rather, it is often poorly reported. Just because I (or the President) don’t agree with the news itself doesn’t automatically make it fake. A recent incident at Lebanon High School regarding a student placing Bible verses on posters throughout the school is a perfect example. The local news media reported this as “Ohio Student Suspended After Posting Bible Verses Around School”. The problem is, this report is incomplete. This does mean it is “fake”. It is simply poorly reported. There are far more details to this story that I’m not going to go into here, but the truth is the reason this student received an in-school suspension was for violating a school policy that other students have received the same punishment for violating.
Naturally, I’m sure you’re wondering what then IS fake news. Simple – censorship. Censorship like that just enacted in Russia. When any one entity is given control over what you can and cannot read, see, or hear, the resulting information they provide to you is in and of itself “fake”. Although poor reporting can be annoying and often misleading, it is still not fake in that it is part of a basic fundamental American freedom – the freedom of speech. Choosing to believe everything any President or politician of your choosing says is true is also a basic right. But I caution anyone who tends to live by this practice that if everything said politician does not like is belittled and discredited as “fake”, you may already be living under the thumb of censorship without there actually being a law. Essentially, you have opted for voluntary censorship.
Bottom line, what is commonly referred today as “fake news” quite frankly isn’t always “fake”. Poor reporting is poor reporting, not fake news. If you are wrong about something you’ve said or written, you were just wrong or misinformed – that doesn’t mean it was fake.
Fake news isn’t fake news.
I hooked up with Jeff Jones a few years ago via a men’s adoption group on Facebook. Finally got the pleasure to meet him and his lovely wife in real life recently, as they have relocated from Kansas City to Hamilton, Ohio to work at The Father’s House.
Of the many awesome works they are doing as missionaries standing up for the cause of orphans, they have now launched an online store!
Per Jeff:
OUR NEW WEBSITE IS LIVE!
Kristina Jones and I have designed a home goods brand that will help support us as Orphan Care Advocacy Missionaries and continue to do the work that we have been called to!
You can “DO GOOD” by shopping at our online store while beautifying your living spaces at the same time!
A percentage of the proceeds will also be gifted to a nonprofit organization of our choice!
Will you help us spread the word by sharing this… with a little blurb about what we are doing?
We appreciate all of the support so far!
#PureAndSpotlessGoods #DoGoodWhileYouShop #FosterCare
Leo J. Allen Jr 