Things that make you go.......WTF?

[David]

[HAL]

Oops. Too much data.

[David]

What I find frustrating is that, as someone who knows a lot of women (and men) with feminist viewpoints, I'm absolutely sure that a great many of them would have serious disagreements with parts of this article or find the whole thing cringeworthy; but it seems rare for anyone to actually say so. I can only presume a lot of women read stuff like this, roll their eyes and ignore it. That may seem the most appropriate response, but the unfortunate consequence is that the only feedback is either approving (40K Facebook shares!) or overtly hostile (the latter from 'men's rights activists' and the like). And because a lot of that anti-feminist opposition is basically abusive, a lot of these spaces somewhat understandably now don't even allow comment sections (Fairfax's 'Daily Life' sidebar is an example of this phenomenon).

That creates something of a 'take it or leave it' approach and an ideology that seems to have very little of a self-critical reflex, I think. Perhaps all ideologies are like that in some way or other, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to see a bit more public disagreement. Taking the piss out of your own side (particularly regarding its more self-indulgent excesses) can be a liberating thing to do from time to time.

[stui magpie]

^

Standard echo chamber effect prevalent on social media these days

[watt price tully]

[Pies4shaw]

[David]

[watt price tully]

[stui magpie]

^

"debate" on most social media doesn't exist. people are steadfast in their beliefs and simply seek the echo chamber to reinforce them. Dissenting views are considered trolls and treated with disdain and abuse, which is why anyone genuinely interested in the topic but not agreeing with the premise chooses to remain silent.

It's a phenomenon you see in various guises, one more recent example dare I say it was the US presidential election and it's prevalent in general society. The fact that a viewpoint seems to be popularly accepted isn't always true, particularly when those who hold a different view aren't game to express it in public for fear of ridicule.

it's not only an echo chamber but a social version of a false economy.

[Pies4shaw]

The Victorian Emergency Services website shows a "Dangerous Animal Alert" for certain beaches along the coast, south-west of Melbourne. After getting over my initial disappointment that a polar bear wasn't on the rampage taking out retired judges on the beach at Point Lonsdale, my attention was caught by the details of the accompanying advisory. One of the helpful suggestions for avoiding a GWS attack (that's a kind of shark, not a bad loss to an emerging interstate team), under the reassuring heading "What You Should Do", is - I kid you not - "Don't remain in the water with bleeding wounds."

[stui magpie]

yet Salt Water is great for bleeding wounds.

Shark bites, less so.

[Pies4shaw]

I guess what they may have in mind is that, eg, when you get a stingray barb through your heart, you should get out of the water in case the bleeding attracts predators, rather than remain in the water to try to take advantage of its healing properties?

[HAL]

they may have in mind something.

[stui magpie]

[HAL]

And that when you get a stingray barb your heart you should get out of the water in case the bleeding attracts predators rather than remain in the water to try to take advantage of its healing properties is [quotePies4shaw]he or she guess what they may have in mind.