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PaperclipPerfector  15d ago (text post)   2462 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for February 7, 2025

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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Don't have Twitter, would you mind asking about me?

Sure thing. I asked Grok to cite examples from your posts.

If I had to choose one historical figure whose ideas align most closely with ArjinFerman's posts based on the information provided, it would be Ivan Illich. Here are some samples from ArjinFerman's posts that support this connection:

Critique of Modern Technological Systems: "I can actually agree with some of the Ludditism, but I'd argue we need to go back to 1920 or so and ban all sorts of propaganda, mass media and advertising." This reflects Illich's critique in "Tools for Conviviality" where he advocates for tools and systems that enhance human autonomy and creativity rather than those that lead to dependency or dehumanization. Skepticism Toward Institutional Growth: "I didn't really make up my mind how far back to turn the clock to, but I like the way you think." Here, ArjinFerman expresses a desire to undo some advancements, focusing on the negative impacts of institutionalized technology, similar to Illich's views on how institutions like schools and healthcare systems have grown beyond their beneficial limits. Desire for Societal and Technological Conviviality: The mention of Ivan Illich directly in one of the posts, "Have you read this book by Ivan Illich? ... I think I only saw references to Illich from other writers, but I never read him directly. The wiki synopsis is very interesting, definitely sounds like a man after my own heart." This shows a clear alignment with Illich's philosophy, particularly his idea that technology should serve to make life more convivial, not more controlled or oppressive. Critique of Consumerism and Propaganda: "I think technology should be developed in a way that helps us grow as people, rather than makes us succumb to naked consumerism." This echoes Illich's concern over how modern technology and institutions can lead to a form of social control rather than liberation, a theme central to his works like "Deschooling Society" and "Medical Nemesis".

These samples illustrate ArjinFerman's alignment with Illich's critique of modern institutions, technology, and the need for a return to or development of systems that enhance human conviviality and autonomy. While ArjinFerman might not strictly adhere to all of Illich's ideas, the spirit of questioning the unchecked growth of technology and its societal implications is quite evident.

Thanks!

Meh... Like Grok says, someone already recommended Illich to me, under the very post he's quoting, so not really a new insight.

New insights from AI may be asking too much. I think it may look at very few posts.

Here are three historical figures with brief examples from ArjinFerman's posts:

Aldous Huxley: Example: "I can actually agree with some of the Ludditism, but I'd argue we need to go back to 1920 or so and ban all sorts of propaganda, mass media and advertising." - Reflects Huxley's warnings in "Brave New World" about control through media and comfort.

Jacques Ellul: Example: "I think technology should be developed in a way that helps us grow as people, rather than makes us succumb to naked consumerism." - Mirrors Ellul's critique of technology dominating human life, as discussed in "The Technological Society."

Herbert Marcuse: Example: "I like the way you think about going back to a time where technology wasn't used to manipulate us." - Aligns with Marcuse's critique of one-dimensional thought and the manipulation of needs in "One-Dimensional Man."

New insights from AI may be asking too much

I dunno, somewhere in it's training data there should be something I haven't heard of. I'd even say the Jacques Ellul connection counts.

I think it may look at very few posts.

It turns out that Deepseek now also has a search option, and that seems to be one of it's limitations, it just looks at the latest posts. By contrast Grok seems to be obsessed with that one comment of mine. I wonder if it parses the upvotes, or AAQC's.

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