Conformists Open Road-New Social Media Puritans-Podcast 729

Do you believe in individual freedom? These days governments, institutions and big companies act as though they make the rules. Most of all when it comes to rights. Learn why I say this in Conformists Open Road-New Social Media Puritans-Podcast 729.

A Post About The Republican Convention Is A No No?

I covered the state republican convention in Duluth, Minnesota. My post included a title referring to the Minnesota Republican Party and a photo I took of conventioneers. No political advertising in the podcast or post. In addition, I don’t do political advertising. Podcast 728 is an account of the convention and my observations about what I saw.

It is pure citizen journalism.

Blocked From Advertising

Podcast 728 got great response on social media, so I decided to advertise it. I was shocked when FaceBook blocked me from boosting that post.

Change Your Settings and Conform

Moreover Podcast 728 could not be advertised unless I changed The Bob Davis Podcasts FaceBook page settings to allow for ‘political advertising’. If I did this, all my boosted posts would contain a warning. Find out about it in Conformists Open Road-New Social Media Puritans-Podcast 729.

Maybe Artificial Intelligence Isn’t That Intelligent

I was not silenced by FaceBook but their silly rules did prevent me from promoting. What’s more I have the impression this review was conducted by robots rather than humans. If they actually reviewed my content any reasonable human would conclude the post was not political advertising. What FaceBook is doing is violating the 1st amendment rights of news organizations and citizen journalists.

Take a look and see what you think.

Fear Of Offense Drives Silly Rules

Especially relevant is the question of what happens when you can’t advertise or talk about any subject because of the fear of offending someone.

God Forbid anyone might see something they disagree with!

Yeah the Internet is an open road. For conformists only.

Rugged Individualism? Don’t Make Me Laugh!

While politicians talk about rugged individualism there seems to be less of it.

These days it’s rigged collectivism.

FaceBook Is The New K-Mart

In conclusion rules and regulations and blocks do not make for a free exchange of ideas. It is most noteworthy that content creators find ways around these rules anyway.

Microsoft used to be the software King Kong. Better companies and better ideas eventually eclipsed the Seattle Giant. The lesson? Bad service and silly rules are a recipe for failure. Big Social Media is vulnerable to competitors that innovate and promote free speech.

What Do You Do When You Are On An Open Road?

Sometimes following the rules is the worst thing you can do.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

Conformists Open Road-New Social Media Puritans-Podcast 729

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Warning! Media BS Reaching Dangerous Levels-Podcast 641

Back in the studio after a long trip. When you drive over long distances there’s lots to think about. Of course, just because I am on the road doesn’t mean I disconnect from day to day news. Fact is, I would much rather talk about travel and adventure. Sharing some stories from the road and looking at some of the latest news in Warning! Media BS Reaching Dangerous Levels-Podcast 641.

Gasoline on The Fire

That’s right. Warning! Danger Will Robinson! We’re going to talk about the latest news in this podcast. Especially relevant, the stuff people share on social media. Charlatans and paid agents blowing on the already hot conflagration that is supposedly our body politic in this country.

Join Us For The Congressional Baseball Game

Last month I didn’t even know there was a congressional baseball game. Nor did I care. In the wake of a tragic shooting we’re still being treated to commentary and articles that simply rehash the same things written and said about every shooting. Next, they’ll be televising the congressional baseball game like it’s the All Star game. Time to call them all out in Warning! Media BS Reaching Dangerous Levels-Podcast 641.

Feeling Sorry For Day To Day Commentators Who Have To Fill The Airwaves With Nonsense

These days I get the feeling most of what we see and hear that passes for ‘news’ isn’t memorable at all. More commentary written by people who don’t know anything, telling you what to think and what to do. Once these articles are shared all they do is fan the flames of discord, serving none of us and no purpose.

Civil War? Really?

Not content analyzing the latest mass shooting event, commentators are now telling Americans to be prepared for an inevitable civil war. I just came from touring Missouri and Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio. These are all states where small towns proudly display highway markers denoting deaths and destruction dating back to the Civil War from 1860 to 1865. Seems like every southern town has memorial parks and places of remembrance, well maintained and marked. Considering the bloodletting of the civil war years, it is irresponsible to compare these times to those dark days.

Who’s Fault Is it?

We’re responsible for this, because we’re the ones that keep reading, liking and sharing this crap. The right thinks anything not written and posted by their favorite sites is fake news, and the left thinks anything from the right’s favorite sites is fake news. While people actually know very little about the issues, they’re up on all the latest agitprop from their favorite mouthpiece.

Maybe There Is A Planet Out There To Collide With Earth

Considering all this, sometimes I wonder whether some event will intervene and somehow bring us all back down to earth. Or not. A pandemic, perhaps a visit from aliens. The United States is in trouble, and we’d better wake up from this slumber pretty soon or it will turn into a nightmare of biblical proportions. (Editor’s Note: I refer to the Governor of New York being killed in the 1930’s in an Attempt on FDR’s life. It was Anton Cermak the Mayor of Chicago.)

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

Warning! Media BS Reaching Dangerous Levels-Podcast 641

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Podcast 602-Political Fighting Doesn’t Make Civil Society

Fighting and Arguing

A presidential press conference that had the look of a Dino De Laurentiis movie. Angry tweets. Arguments about whether the president is a narcissist or psychotic. These days the argument is the thing. Division. Confusion. Anger. Frustration with the fact that everything is political. A friend said recently, “When civil society breaks down everything becomes political”. The more we fight about politics the less we know. Argument and rhetoric have replaced substantive discourse. This idea forms the basis of Podcast 602-Political Fighting Doesn’t Make Civil Society.

What is Civil Society

People think Civil Society these days is political action groups. Angry protests. Social media rants. Angry calls to talk radio. Everyone wants the silver bullet argument. We want to be the guy on TV that ‘takes it to them’. This is not civil society. In Podcast 602-Political Fighting Doesn’t Make Civil Society.

Stop Yelling and Start Building A Community

Civil Society is community. It is distinct from government and business. Civil Society is individuals working together to solve problems, build community and be good citizens. People who have learned from experience to build consensus to get things done. Civil Society is the core of your town, village, city, county and state.

Fighting and Arguing Does Not A Warrior Make

Do you show up to set the chairs up and make the coffee for the community meeting? Help your neighbors? Attend boring public meetings no one else cares about? Are you one of those people who responds to calls for help in the community regardless of where they come from?. Are you willing to work with people you may not agree with politically? Show genuine concern for others through your actions? You’re the real warrior. Commentators and people who imitate them are not warriors and they are not leaders. We’ll talk about it in Podcast 602-Political Fighting Doesn’t Make Civil Society

Eroding Civil Society

There are times when political action is called for. When people who have different points of view try to gather people to their cause. These can be bitter contests. Bitter feelings linger after contests that inevitably produce winners and losers. These days people won’t convene with anyone they don’t agree with. Discussions descend into bitter screaming matches on Social Media, Talk Radio, and Cable TV News. The media cultivates and encourages anti social behavior. Friendships are ended. Familial relationships are strained.

Don’t Argue

A true warrior doesn’t yell and scream. A leader is a good citizen people trust. These are people who understand people of like mind have to work to see that their ideas gain support. Protests and rallies serve a purpose but they are just a starting point. You don’t win in the rally. You win because you can work behind the scenes to build support for a concept, idea, or a solution to a problem.

It May Not Be Working Anymore

Recent studies show the stress levels of Americans increasing since the election. Not just the left. People on political right show the same kinds of intensifying stress levels. This kind of stress can’t be sustained. We might be seeing the end of the efficacy of rhetorical argument to fuel a movement. People may have just about had it with all the shouting and arguing regardless of where it is coming from. Maybe rebuilding civil society is a good first step.

Sponsored by Hydrus Performance and Brush Studio.

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