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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Farewell Boy Scouts America-Podcast 724

The Boy Scouts of America recently changed its name. The reason? Scouts USA will admit girls. These days a decision like that can kick off a firestorm of criticism. There’s even a new Christian alternative to the Boy Scouts. For my best friends and I, BSA was all about camping. We’ll talk about it in Farewell Boy Scouts America-Podcast 724.

Best Friends Like None Other

I had two best friends growing up. Both of them invited me into the Boy Scouts. The other day one of them texted me, concerned that the Boy Scouts would not admit girls. “Are you gonna do a podcast about that?”, he wondered. I said I didn’t think so. The idea of a podcast about changes in our social institutions though, stuck with me.

Summer Memories

Especially relevant is how summer brings back memories. It’s warm already in Minnesota and that makes me think about my best friends, camp outs, summer camp and fun. For us, that’s what the Boy Scouts were. So I’ll share some stories about our campouts in Farewell Boy Scouts America-Podcast 724.

Nonconformist Scoutmaster

What’s more, as I researched and thought about this podcast I realized how important our scoutmaster was to all of us. It’s not what you’d expect. Our scoutmaster and the men who watched over us were anything but conformists.

No Patience For Rules and Regulations in 1970’s America

As world war two vets, our scoutmasters weren’t about to take crap from anyone. Moreover, they didn’t have much patience for bureaucracy, rules and regulations. What they did was make sure we were safe, had a good time, and took care of each other. They also stood up for us, celebrated us and had our back. In Farewell Boy Scouts America-Podcast 724.

Changing Institutions

Most noteworthy to this podcast is the idea that institutions like the Boy Scouts are changing. Crumbling even. There’s no shortage of criticism for ‘Scouts USA’ from commentators who make sure to tell the reader they were Eagle Scouts and went on to Explorers. We didn’t. In fact we thought ‘Super Scouts’ were kind of weird.

Friends For Life

For us it was all about camping and the kind of friendship none of us will have again. I think it was that way with our scoutmasters and the fathers of the kids who came to the campouts too. For me, I don’t mind leaving it all behind and keeping those times as memories. As Stephen King once wrote, “I never had friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12. Jesus. Does anyone?”

My sentiments exactly.

Was it the Boy Scouts? Or was it us?

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating Of Saint Paul

Farewell Boy Scouts America-Podcast 724

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Spring Has Sprung-Midnight Walk And Talk-Political Talk Reset-Podcast 715

In the Upper Midwest, spring has sprung. These days in my neck of the woods, we haven’t been able to spend much time outside. Walking in the night air makes me think about how much I’ve changed over the last few years. Find out how in Spring Has Sprung-Midnight Walk And Talk-Political Talk Reset-Podcast 715.

Walk And Talk Rules

The rules of the walk and talk are no preparation, no plan. A throwback to the years when I would walk late at night with my grandfather.

Time For Transition

Seems like spring is a transition. A great opportunity for us to reset our body clocks, as well as our thinking.

Shutting down the news feed, taking a break from social media and turning off cable news has been a theme in my podcasts. Sometimes it seems like cascading news events are difficult to keep up with.

The More Things Change…

Moreover, as I walk through my neighborhood, I can see that despite the breathless news coverage of details that probably won’t matter in a year, not much has changed in the real world. I’ve changed, though.

Rising Above The Debate

Most noteworthy, experience and especially Yoga have helped me rise above the partisan debates. These days I can actually be more of a ‘fair judge‘ of the hypocrisy of our institutions and politics. I’ll tell you what I see from my perspective. How you react is up to you. In Spring Has Sprung-Midnight Walk And Talk-Political Talk Reset-Podcast 715.

Hurtling Down The Tracks To Somewhere

In conclusion, something I talk about in this podcast is the sense I have that we are hurtling down the tracks toward some kind of clarifying turning point. I have no idea when we’ll get there or when we’ll get there.

I have read enough history and lived long enough to know that this level of rancor and venom usually do not lead to good decisions or policy making. That suggests at some point, someone will make the kind of mistake that produces major shockwaves.

Midnight Walk

Take a break from the paid shills of the two political parties, and the endless and baseless predictions of future events by talking heads and personalities. Take a midnight walk with me and drink in a spring night.

Sponsored by Sal Di Leo Inspirational Speaker and Reliafund Payment Processing

Spring Has Sprung-Midnight Walk And Talk-Political Talk Reset-Podcast 715

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