Category: Idea

Have you wondered why Youtube videos automatically start playing a new one, once the one you have been watching ends?

It is because many online services compete for our attention. For example, they are interested in which news timeline would grab your attention the most. If you ask yourself, in the end of the day, what sort of news timeline you would consider time well spent, it will probably be a very different timeline than the one served to you.

Here Tristan Harris argues that what teenagers do on social media is different than what they did on the phone in the 70s. The reason is that in the 70s there was no arms race for using the phone more, even though there was still an economic incentive to use the phone.

Here is an interesting video on the economics of airline class.

In summary, the original airline tickets cost as much as the first class of today. The main reason there are economy tickets today is that there is not enough demand for business class tickets to fill a plane.

Here is an interesting video on how rulling works, regardless of political system.

It seems to suggest that the rulling is only possible if major interests are represented and that, in any political/power organisation, there is always an oligarchy representing the major interests that is doing the ruling. Better watch the 20 min video to get more detail and make up your mind…

There is a follow up too.

Here is a video essay on blockbuster music.

I would suggest to spend the time to watch it. If you really want the summary it is:

The Hollywood norm has always been creative unoriginality in music scoring. Often by copying the style of other movies and playing it safe.

Here is an idea: The democratisation of public speech allowed by the social internet has given too much power to the masses, which can get out of control.

Who can watch these modern watchmen (or watchwomen)?

Summary: Positive thinking can be a way to silence healthy doubt

The video suggests that positive thinking for the sake of it is delusional.

I would prefer to call it delusional optimism. The problem is that people are not allowed to warn others of problems they see, in the name of optimism.