Some Points About Social "Media".
AKA The Electronic Tree Stump
Conjured up by Martin B with a shit pile of help from an A.I. Robot that goes by the name of "Rhonda G. Blevins".
The Electronic Tree Stump: A Megaphone for Modern Foolishness
Once upon a time, the town crank had a limit. A tree stump, a few dozen listeners, and the natural fade-out that comes when people wander away. Today, that crank has Wi-Fi, and the tree stump is global, glowing, and endless.
The internet was supposed to be a marketplace of ideas — instead, it’s become a junkyard of opinions. Giving every fool, fraud, and halfwit their own electronic soapbox hasn’t leveled the playing field; it’s lowered the bar.
🪵 The Pitfalls of Handing Everyone a Platform
1. Visibility Without Value
There was once a time when ideas had to earn their way to the public square. Now, all it takes is a Wi-Fi signal and an opinion. Expertise, experience, and common sense are optional. The loudest voice gets the most attention, not the most thoughtful one.
2. Stupidity on Autopilot
Platforms are designed to reward impulsive, emotional noise. The quicker you post, the more likely you are to get noticed. The result? A sea of half-baked outrage, conspiratorial nonsense, and personal drama dressed up as public discourse.
3. The Echo Chamber Effect
When every village idiot has a microphone, it doesn’t take long for them to find a crowd of like-minded listeners. These digital echo chambers don’t encourage debate; they breed delusion. If you say something dumb loud enough, the internet will make sure someone claps.
4. The False Confidence of Publish-Button Wisdom
The act of posting has tricked people into believing their opinions are gold-plated insights. But the truth is simple: A thousand “likes” doesn’t make a bad idea smart, and a viral post doesn’t make a person qualified.
🎤 Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should
Giving everyone access to a global stump hasn’t democratized intelligence — it’s exposed the depths of ignorance. The platforms thrive on it, and the public’s stuck sifting through it.
The old stump outside the general store never caused this much damage. Back then, fools were local. Now, they’re syndicated.
