Do you agree that Technology is going too far?

[tree]

 

[maleonolo]

I'm getting swamped with inaccurate information presented as truth, when only a few details are correct. People seeing this as their first acquaintance with the subjects will never know reality. It even comes illustrated, and "seeing is believing."

We're in the age of misinformation. Though the internet has been praised as the Great Database of unlimited information, humans are not patient or willing enough to take the time to sit down and pore over countless documents. That's why opportunistic 'entrepreneurs' have led the charge in swamping the internet with sensationalist articles and misinformation. LLM technology in its current stage is a glorified parrot which most humans use to convince themselves they understand topics that they're too lazy to do actual research on. It's good at Maths and coding but that's about it

 

[Outdated]

We're in the age of misinformation.

We always have been. Before we all had the internet we had little choice but to believe whatever our local newspapers told us, and Australia is where Rupert Murdoch started out which says a lot.

Now we have the ability to double check a lot of information but an overwhelmingly large portion of the world population is just too bloody lazy to bother. They prefer to let someone else do all their thinking for them and will take whatever cheesy youtube video that's thrown in front of them at face value.

I've been watching news sources from around the globe for more than 20 years now and all of them will add their own political bias to a story. Somewhere between all of them you get a rough approximation of the truth.

 

[maleonolo]

We always have been. Before we all had the internet we had little choice but to believe whatever our local newspapers told us, and Australia is where Rupert Murdoch started out which says a lot.

Now we have the ability to double check a lot of information but an overwhelmingly large portion of the world population is just too bloody lazy to bother. They prefer to let someone else do all their thinking for them and will take whatever cheesy youtube video that's thrown in front of them at face value.

I've been watching news sources from around the globe for more than 20 years now and all of them will add their own political bias to a story. Somewhere between all of them you get a rough approximation of the truth.

Haha, I was born in the age of the internet and also wanted to make a point by contradicting the adage that claims we're in the 'age of information/interconnectivity'. Actually you're right it's probably much easier to fact check certain things nowadays because websites will build a reputation for being reliable/trustworthy, accessible with just a click. I mostly use AP news (despite its annoying US bias) and avoid accepting most random information because it's just as hard to unlearn false information as to learn the truth. I've heard Reuters is quite reliable as well

 

[Outdated]

I mostly use AP news (despite its annoying US bias) and avoid accepting most random information because it's just as hard to unlearn false information as to learn the truth. I've heard Reuters is quite reliable as well

Al Jazeera is also very largely unbiased. The first time I looked at it I didn't have very high expectations but I was very pleasantly surprised. Usually very well balanced reporting. It's now one of my main news sources.

 

[Judge]

I prefer to default to Reuter's over any concern of the legitimacy of a recent news event. Then the other two wire services, UPI and AP. Beyond that it seems at times like throwing dice...

Off to Reuters if I do if I see a story in YouTube that interests me. Otherwise I assume it's garbage...which in most cases it is. Disinformation and propaganda abounds there, let alone all the clickbait.

 

[Outdated]

Haha, I was born in the age of the internet and also wanted to make a point by contradicting the adage that claims we're in the 'age of information/interconnectivity'.

I saw an amazing interview back in 2008 when we were going through the global financial crisis and the price of oil had shot up to US$77 a barrel. They interviewed the head of OPEC and he was fantastic to listen to.

"What $77 a barrel? I am the head of OPEC and yes we have just raised our prices - to $1.75 a barrel. If you want to buy oil on the stockmarkets you pay $77 a barrel. If you come and see me, the man that actually has the oil, you pay $1.75. Your choice."

They went on to ask him about possible oil shortages in the future and he laughed. He said he constantly has this argument with his colleagues whenever they want to raise the price of oil. "The stone age did not end because we ran out of stones, the iron age did not end because we ran out of iron, and the oil age will not end because we ran out of oil. These things end because we find something better."

 

[Judge]

I saw an amazing interview back in 2008 when we were going through the global financial crisis and the price of oil had shot up to US$77 a barrel. They interviewed the head of OPEC and he was fantastic to listen to.

"What $77 a barrel? I am the head of OPEC and yes we have just raised our prices - to $1.75 a barrel. If you want to buy oil on the stockmarkets you pay $77 a barrel. If you come and see me, the man that actually has the oil, you pay $1.75. Your choice."

The went on to ask him about possible oil shortages in the future and he laughed. He said he constantly has this argument with his colleagues whenever they want to raise the price of oil. "The stone age did not end because we ran out of stones, the iron age did not end because we ran out of iron, and the oil age will not end because we ran out of oil. These things end because we find something better."

Here on the west coast they don't need to raise the oil price based on the WTI or OPEC shenanigans. They just claim a need for some maintenance overhaul that will set the refineries back so much time. Or perhaps suddenly some minor "accident" occurs that does the same.

Present gasoline price for regular unleaded: $4.09.
The price for being adjacent to the state of California, and their refinery prices.

 

[Outdated]

Present gasoline price for regular unleaded: $4.09.

That works out to just a little cheaper than what I pay on average, except I have a European car that needs 98 octane fuel. Here prices go up and down on a regular 2 week cycle, no idea why, standard unleaded will vary between $1.65/litre and $2.00/litre. (Australian dollars)

This website is very helpful:
Cheap Fuel Prices & Fuel Watch Map - Adelaide SA

 

[Aspergers_Aspie]

I don't think businesses should be allowed to, not accept cash and only use contactless, Scotland tonight on STV are discussing this here's a link

 

[Outdated]

I don't think businesses should be allowed to, not accept cash and only use contactless, Scotland tonight on STV are discussing this here's a link

It's a constant debate in Australia too. Communications are too unreliable in remote areas and they're often cut off from phones and internet for weeks at a time. Many businesses in remote areas don't even bother setting up EFTPOS because it's quite often not reliable in their area. If you don't have cash then you've got nothing.

Yet our banks and our taxation department keep pushing the Cashless Society propaganda.

 

[Aspergers_Aspie]

I don't think the UK should turn into a database state, I am not going to accept any digital ID, here is more information

 

[Outdated]

I am not going to accept any digital ID, here is more information

The truth is that you already have a digital ID wether or not you want one. Your entire life is linked to your driver's license and your tax file number.

That said, only fascists want an extra ID card issued because it's a tool easily used to intimidate.

 

[Judge]

The truth is that you already have a digital ID wether or not you want one. Your entire life is linked to your driver's license and your tax file number.

That said, only fascists want an extra ID card issued because it's a tool easily used to intimidate.

Yep. Reminds me of how intricately our Internal Revenue Service has cross-referenced other systems to keep track of citizens on multiple levels. The technology is far beyond anyone's control or restriction now.

 

[Outdated]

how intricately our Internal Revenue Service has cross-referenced other systems

We started doing that in the late 90s - Welcome To Machine.

It's been good here though. Initially it was just a link between taxation and social security to catch out dole cheats, many of whom turned out to be some of Australia's wealthier citizens.

It's compulsory to vote in elections in Australia and we have an independent body set up to manage elections and act as a watchdog, The Australian Electoral Commission is under the umbrella of the judiciary and not associated with any political parties or factions. They make sure we're registered with them.

When I moved down to Adelaide I had to transfer my driver's license to SA, and when I was at the services counter doing that I got told "But you're not registered to vote at this address, you need to do that first.". That's no drama here though, the man switched where he was logged in to, registered my new address with the electoral commission, then switched back and processed my license.

They do the same if you try to pay a fine too, if you're not registered to vote at the same address as where you're listed on your fine then you can't pay.

 

[Judge]

We started doing that in the late 90s - Welcome To Machine.

It's been good here though. Initially it was just a link between taxation and social security to catch out dole cheats, many of whom turned out to be some of Australia's wealthier citizens.

It's compulsory to vote in elections in Australia and we have an independent body set up to manage elections and act as a watchdog, The Australian Electoral Commission is under the umbrella of the judiciary and not associated with any political parties or factions. They make sure we're registered with them.

When I moved down to Adelaide I had to transfer my driver's license to SA, and when I was at the services counter doing that I got told "But you're not registered to vote at this address, you need to do that first.". That's no drama here though, the man switched where he was logged in to, registered my new address with the electoral commission, then switched back and processed my license.

They do the same if you try to pay a fine too, if you're not registered to vote at the same address as where you're listed on your fine then you can't pay.

And don't forget all the advantages of your Electoral Commission having comprehensive backups, courtesy of our Central Intelligence Agency!

 

[Outdated]

It's just the way in which all arms of our government now speak to each other where as it used to be a typical case of the left hand never knowing what the right hand was doing. My tax file is linked to my social security file, my driving records, any criminal records, my medical records and my social housing.

I'm on a pension which is linked to my taxation. My social housing charges rent on a percentage of income, they can see my social security records and know what I'm getting paid and that information agrees with my tax profile so as my income shifts rent gets adjusted automatically and I don't have to do anything about that. Every now and then I get informative letters telling me what it is I'm paying now but I rarely read them.