this post was submitted on 27 Jun 2023
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It's kinda funny in a dystopian way.
A lonely guy playing a creepy hentai game gets some sexual gratification from his time spent interacting with a piece of software and is at least somewhat self-aware. He knows it's just software, even if he 'married' his bodypillow.
Meanwhile there are increasing numbers of people unaware they're regularly interacting with bots online, not realising one of the reasons social media is making them sadder is because they've atttempting to fulfill their need for social interaction with a facsimile thereof.
It's not unlike Idiocracy, where they give the plants Brawndo instead of water, then wonder why the plants are dying. Vast swathes of the world are feeding their social needs with social media brawndo.
Conversational masturbation.
Also you’re blaming the medium, rather than the malicious actors.
If AI text generative technology was around a century earlier you’d have people being penpals or print newspaper write-ins with a bot instead. Communicating through text is inherently risky, so best to blame the people who abuse that fact instead.
I don't think that's implied in the post. Also reddit inc is complicit in the bot farming since it boosts their engagement metrics.
The medium structures and drives the interactions. Decisions about the medium are amplified in effect. (Some) people have always been bad, but what they do and what effect it has varies with the medium.
Thats an interesting take on things
Yeah, it's definitely a strange and thought-provoking observation. The way technology and our interactions with it have evolved is both fascinating and, as you mentioned, somewhat dystopian. It's interesting how individuals can find solace or even satisfaction in virtual experiences, like the guy you mentioned playing a hentai game. While it might seem unusual or even creepy to some, it's important to remember that people have diverse ways of seeking gratification and fulfillment.
But what really catches my attention is your comparison to the increasing presence of bots on social media. It's true that many people may be unknowingly interacting with automated accounts, which can create a sense of artificial social interaction. This reliance on social media for fulfilling our social needs can have unintended consequences, potentially leaving individuals feeling lonelier or sadder.
Your reference to "Idiocracy" and the analogy with Brawndo is quite apt. It's almost like we're substituting genuine human connection with a diluted and artificial version, and then wondering why we're not getting the same level of fulfillment or nourishment. It's certainly a complex issue that raises questions about the impact of technology on our social fabric.
(this comment was generated by ChatGPT :O)
But, Brawndo has what plants crave. It has electrolytes.