Barack Obama's wise advice on the use of the internet

[Colin]

The former president expressed concern about a future where facts are discarded and people only read and listen to things that reinforce their own views.

"One of the dangers of the internet is that people can have entirely different realities. They can be cocooned in information that reinforces their current biases."

Obama warns on harmful social media use

 

[Almost there]

That is actually a very good point. The important thing to know is that you may be wrong, and you need to consider the opinions of others.

I like to tell people that the "steadfastness" on my opinion depends on how much I know about the subject and if a story is about a person, how much I know about the character of that person.

I've had to change my opinion on things as I discuss them on forums on the internet. However, the more I know about a subject the less likely that is to happen.

The good news is that when information is freely shared, the truth does percolate to the top and those that simply cling to their dogma and refuse to believe it just look silly.

 

[Root of Jesse]

I don't rely on the advice of people like Barack Obama. I agree with Almost there that I'm interested in what I'm interested in, and know more about that than I do about what I'm not interested in. It's important to understand the opinions or POV of others, true.

Obama's statement, though, was a blind jab at the president. Obama, himself, should have heeded his own words, though.

 

[Almost there]

Obama's statement, though, was a blind jab at the president. Obama, himself, should have heeded his own words, though.

Excactly!

I saw it as one of those "stopped clock is right twice a day" things.

When Obama was elected, I used to say to people that if I was part of the white minority in some other country, and we wanted to elect the "first ever white president", I wouldn't want it to be Rosie Odonnel. I'd prefer someone more qualified to represent my race.

We'll not have another black president for a long time thanks to Obama. At least that is my prediction.

 

[Colin]

So early into the thread and people go off-topic .

Barack Obama shows his wisdom when he says , "Social media is a really powerful tool for people of common interests to convene and get to know each other and connect.
"But then it's important for them to get offline, meet in a pub, meet at a place of worship, meet in a neighbourhood and get to know each other.
"Because the truth is that on the internet, everything is simplified and when you meet people face-to-face it turns out they're complicated."

Wise words......well-worth adhering to .

 

[Almost there]

Soon earlier into the thread and people go off-topic .

Barack Obama shows his wisdom when he says , "Social media is a really powerful tool for people of common interests to convene and get to know each other and connect.
"But then it's important for them to get offline, meet in a pub, meet at a place of worship, meet in a neighbourhood and get to know each other.
"Because the truth is that on the internet, everything is simplified and when you meet people face-to-face it turns out they're complicated."

Wise words......well-worth adhering to .

Well, yeah. Except that is what I said before he was running for president.

So, thank you for the compliment, though I really think it is stating the obvious.

 

[Colin]

So, thank you for the compliment, though I really think it is stating the obvious.

Barack Obama may be stating the obvious , but it is often the obvious which many need to be reminded of .

There is much common ground between what Cardinal Nichols said at the Christmas Midnight Mass in Westminster Cathedral and in what Barack Obama said in his interview with Prince Harry on the BBC this morning .

Cardinal Nichols was stating the obvious when he said , "In social media there's a barrage of views and once a statement or claim is made there's immediately a counterclaim, and the mode of exchange is conflict."

We on these forums need to be reminded constantly of these obvious truths .

There is much badness in the social media , and that includes so-called Christian fora .

 

[DaisyDay]

Obama's statement, though, was a blind jab at the president. Obama, himself, should have heeded his own words, though.

It was hardly blind; on the contrary, it was insightful.

 

[Colin]

It was hardly blind; on the contrary, it was insightful.

And fully in line with the concerns expressed by the Archbishop of Canterbury , Justin Welby .

He was spoken of the growing usage of digital media to discuss, debate, and argue. But he asks what impact resulting negativity can have on the "soul" and remarks how disagreements can be truly damaging, adding that online communication can amplify problems, rather than cure them.

 

[Yonny Costopoulis]

Soon earlier into the thread and people go off-topic .

Barack Obama shows his wisdom when he says , "Social media is a really powerful tool for people of common interests to convene and get to know each other and connect.
"But then it's important for them to get offline, meet in a pub, meet at a place of worship, meet in a neighbourhood and get to know each other.
"Because the truth is that on the internet, everything is simplified and when you meet people face-to-face it turns out they're complicated."

Wise words......well-worth adhering to .

Too late for some. They are already so firmly held in the bubble, there appears to be no escape.

A man who brags about grabbing women by the vagina, who brags about being a perverted peeping tom to women at his pageant, who diverts charity money from Children with Cancer to his own account, who calls some KKK and Nazis "very fine people", who ran a scam "University" to get the last dollars from desperate people, who blatantly lies on a daily basis, is considered trustworthy by many Christians. I do not understand how this can happen, but it has.

 

[2Timothy2:15]

The former president expressed concern about a future where facts are discarded and people only read and listen to things that reinforce their own views.

"One of the dangers of the internet is that people can have entirely different realities. They can be cocooned in information that reinforces their current biases."

Obama warns on harmful social media use

Right, it is so much better being told what to think.....

 

[Colin]

Too late for some. They are already so firmly held in the bubble, there appears to be no escape.

A man who brags about grabbing women by the vagina, who brags about being a perverted peeping tom to women at his pageant, who diverts charity money from Children with Cancer to his own account, who calls some KKK and Nazis "very fine people", who ran a scam "University" to get the last dollars from desperate people, is considered trustworthy by many Christians. Sad.

Hmmmmmmm.

I think your use of social media here on this thread is an example of the use of social media which Barack Obama , Cardinal Nichols , and Archbishop Justin Welby are saying is a source of problems rather than solutions which aid healing .

And you are way off-topic .

 

[Colin]

I'm off to bed now .

I might even dream that some contribute to this thread and avoid being ......

 

[Yonny Costopoulis]

Hmmmmmmm.

I think your use of social media here on this thread is an example of the use of social media which Barack Obama , Cardinal Nichols , and Archbishop Justin Welby are saying is a source of problems rather than solutions which aid healing .

And you are way off-topic .

I do not see how I am off topic, as I addressed exactly what was in your first post. Why do you think this is off topic?

It is information found on the internet which has convinced people that Trump is trustworthy. Alex Jones show comes to mind. He says white is black and black is white, and sells his products in the meantime.

 

[Shiloh Raven]

I'm off to bed now .

I might even dream that some contribute to this thread and avoid being ......

Well, this is TLT after all, Colin. What more can we expect here?

And for the record, I agree with President Obama.

 

[PeaceB]

When Obama was elected, I used to say to people that if I was part of the white minority in some other country, and we wanted to elect the "first ever white president", I wouldn't want it to be Rosie Odonnel. I'd prefer someone more qualified to represent my race.

 

[JCFantasy23]

The former president expressed concern about a future where facts are discarded and people only read and listen to things that reinforce their own views.

A lot of people already have done this for decades, not just using the internet but sticking to the cultural biases they want to embrace or the views they want to follow, ignoring logic and compassion in some cases.

 

[Colin]

Well, this is TLT after all, Colin. What more can we expect here?

And for the record, I agree with President Obama.

I agree with you , One Voice Among Many , and with President Obama , Cardinal Nichols , and the Archbishop of Canterbury .

I think we are in good company .

One more whose words I can quote on this issue is our Holy Father , Pope Francis .

Pope Francis has said, " The speed with which information is communicated exceeds our capacity for reflection and judgement, and this does not make for more balanced and proper forms of self-expression. The variety of opinions being aired can be seen as helpful, but it also enables people to barricade themselves behind sources of information which only confirm their own wishes and ideas, or political and economic interests. The world of communications can help us either to expand our knowledge or to lose our bearings. "

 

[Almost there]

Barack Obama may be stating the obvious , but it is often the obvious which many need to be reminded of .

I strongly agree. This is why the Presidential bully pulpit is so important. When I say it, a few people hear it.

This is one reason I love Trump's tweets so much. And his comments in speeches regarding Israel, Global warming / climate change so much. He's stating the obvious from a place where it gets attention.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

I don't rely on the advice of people like Barack Obama.

Me either for this man has proven to be very untruthful regarding many of his actions taken. The truth of his presidency is being revealed and it's not very pretty.

Obama is doing whatever he can do to protect his legacy. A little too late.

M-Bob