War, Social Media Style

Perhaps an interesting test of the power of an unfiltered internet comes in the everyday coverage of a war. That is precisely what is happening now. Among the cat videos, self-affirmation memes, and random political falsehoods one can find fascinating threads of the war in Ukraine being posted by those actually participating in the thing. 

The important thing for anyone to remember is the fact that most large events portrayed among the feeds of any social media may either be too much information or merely a reflection of the facts at hand. Ric's advice to anyone cruising this form of coverage should beware, it's like trying to drink out of a fire hydrant.

NEXT WEEK: The World is Always Going to Hell.

Virtually Social

The "rise" of virtual reality seems more like a dud than the latest and greatest thing. Mark Zuckerberg thinks people will come flocking back to Facebook as a result. The issue it seems, is that virtual reality is having the same trajectory as 3D movies have had. Cute trick, but not a necessary thing. 

Headaches aside, the whole notion of entering a virtual world cut off from real society is just not all that appealing. Then again, is "Zuck Bucks" going to be the right answer?

NEXT WEEK: Post Pandemic Norms

The Social Media Washout

The sands are shifting in the social media world. One of the biggest indicators seems to be the attitudes of the public regarding its existence. The general public seems to have come to grips with the ins and outs of this monster. Whether it stays or goes is not really the issue. 

The one fact remains in that the absence of reality is the only thing most people have taken to heart. Well, that and the absolute toxicity of the thing. Where does it go from here?

NEXT WEEK: Is network television still a thing?

 

The Echo Chamber

If you aren't aware by now, when you use a product online for free (social media) you are the product. You are the consumer and the commodity. The reasoning and all the things that can be done with your usage of that site or app is spelled out in the Terms of Service. In this episode, Ric takes a look at the Terms of Service for the new social media thing called Truth Social. When you go through that largely (bigly) boilerplate document, you'll see that you are now property of the company. Just like all the other social media sites out there. What's worse is that everything you have heard about this new site/app from them is kind of contradicted by their own Terms of Service. 

Also, Walmart is about to be the largest healthcare provider in the country. There is something about that statement that seems a little alarming.

NEXT WEEK: The Cost of Living & The New Normal

Tumbleweeds and Dead Cactus

 How many websites do you think the average person visits on a daily basis? For nearly 20 years, our society has had to come to grips with all the things the world wide web had to offer. In this episode, Ric re-visits the notion of what "the information super highway" was supposed to bring to humanity and then takes a comparison of what we all have today. Pretty stark difference. 

Which begs the question, what lies ahead. Considering how oddly narrow the focus of the internet has become, what the future holds seems just as narrow.

NEXT WEEK: Going Deep

You Are So Meta

Facebook (in their infinite wisdom) has decided to re-brand themselves. In this episode, Ric takes a look at how smart this may be. Or as the conclusion gets drawn here, how very stupid this idea is. After all, lipstick on a pig is nothing more than a pig wearing lipstick. Does this plan ever work? Is changing your name to avoid controversy ever a good idea? The answer to both of those questions is a simple "no". 

Ric will explain as he has been a part of a very similar thing and the end result was still the same. No matter how far you can run from your roots, you are still the same thing. You might be wearing lipstick while you are running but, you are still a pig. Which brings up the notion regarding social media. You are the product.

NEXT WEEK: The Crazy Parade

There is Porn in The Parler & Coyote Motel

 A social media "safe space" out there who is rather loud about their non-censorship is having an issue that may well test their own rules. It turns out that Parler is trying to figure out how to deal with an apparent porn problem. They pride themselves in never wanting to delete a post (for whatever reason) and having this little issue, as amusing as it has become, might be testing the very limits of what they consider "free speech". 

Plus a conversation taken from Radio Memphis in The Morning with Ted Drozdowski and his band Coyote Motel from Nashville. You'll also hear a cut from their latest collection of songs.

NEXT WEEK: Rocky Kramer

Quality Time With Sherry Nelson

 It's not an everyday thing when one gets to spend some real good quality time with a supermodel. That is exactly what Ric did. Sherry Nelson is a supermodel who has graced the pages of Maxim and other publications. She is also the co-host of Brian Sebatian's Movie Reviews and More. 

The conversation starts in the lumber yard and winds up with a discussion of which one was actually wearing pants. The girl really knows her wood. Also, the two play favorites with a new game. 

Plus, Ric has been asked about Parler, a social media thing. He'll explain what that is and how it won't be too long before it turns in to Lord of the Flies. 

NEXT WEEK: Soho Johnny

Talkin' TV with Mickey Burns

 It's a big week in America. There is this election coming up and we are all sitting in the midst of a pandemic. The truth is, we are all a bit tired of the whole thing. If you feel you are getting beat up over the news, you might want to take a look at the phenomenon that is the "Fear of Missing Out" also known as FOMO. 

In this episode, Ric takes a look at that concept. Also, his conversation with Mickey Burns. Mickey is the host of the television show Profiles and was instrumental in the creation of the show COPS. How did that happen? Take a listen.

NEXT WEEK: A conversation with Sherry Nelson. 

Social Media Toxicity

When one looks at all the different social media platforms out there, you would see they are all fairly different in approach to one another. Ranging from sort of useful to downright bogus, there is a little something out there for everybody. 

However, if you were to look at all these platforms with one particular filter, you find only one as being the single most toxic of them all. Here's the thing, it's probably not the one you are thinking of. In this episode, Ric takes a look at how one platform practically fosters the notion of being able to say anything you want by hiding behind your keyboard. 

Not one of these people would say what they say on the platform to anyone's face without the fear of having to endure an old fashioned Memphis ass beating. 

Plus, Ric's new YouTube show, Drinking With Dead People debuts at midnight.

NEXT WEEK: Just what is the role of television news these days?

 

Connection Interrupted

Being connected seems to be bringing about all sorts of innovative tech. All of it is designed to keep you on the platform you are using it from. Be it Facebook, Twitter or Google, none of those companies want you to go anywhere else. As consumers, we certainly do have a bunch of options when it comes to this sort of thing and that can be good. 

Some you pay for (Zoom) and others are free (Facebook & Google). But how would you define "free". Also, as cool as it is to have this technology in your hands, is it really something we all need? Is anybody actually any good at using this stuff? Does it really matter? In theory, you could answer all those questions with a "no". 

Plus, Ric has been in the studio quite a bit this past week. Along with all the extra work he has picked up and the usual slate of shows, his voice is going out. It's the return of the dreaded laryngitis. But he will tell you all about the other things he has on his plate as well.

NEXT WEEK: The New Normal

 

Everyone is An Epidemiologist

Everytime there is some sort of big breaking story on the minds of society at large, it appears through social media that everyone is now an expert in whatever the topic of the day is laying before us. All of these people are laying out their solutions. "What you ought to do is...", "What needs to be done is ...", etc. It's kind of an amusing thing if you look at this with the jaundiced eye that comes from witnessing such matters.

There is a problem though, most of these so called "experts" offer stuff with zero basis in fact or science. They simply want to point out how wrong everyone else is compared to their own "superior" intellect. Sure, the whole world is on lock down because it decides the narrative you want to cast. Stop it. Plus, the bright side of quarantine.



NEXT WEEK: It got mighty quiet in the anti-vax camp.

(Don't) Fear The Memer

As it would seem, your social media feed (specifically Facebook), you are sort of flooded with memes. Most of them are not funny. Nor were they intended to be since by and large (pardon the pun), they are nothing more than a reflection of those who post them. They aren't designed to do sway your opinion in any manner.

Another sort of meme you are exposed to are those who are making a half-assed attempt at some sort of humor. Let's be honest, most of them are not funny at all. Then there are the political memes. It's as if these are the last line of offense for the prevalence of fake news.

In this episode, Ric will take a look at these things and show you how these posts either go absolutely no where or become part of a weird echo chamber. Only the very rare and actually humorous ones attain the status of having gone viral. What a great time to be alive.



NEXT WEEK: You Are About to Crave a Fish Sandwich

Stay tuned...

Keep In Touch

In reference to episode 304, Ric talked about an idea he had for a holiday card. It came true. Actual, physical cards were made as a gift to Ric. In this episode he talks about those very cards plus, he spends some time talking about the interconnectivity of the internet.

Specifically, all the information you give the social media sites as well as other sites is being used against you, in some sort of fashion for the basis of one thing. Money. Also, Ric talks about a couple of things that may be an unpopular thought. At least one of the two things he mentions is accurate. It'll be you to figure it out.



NEXT WEEK: Familiar Ground

Stay tuned...

Disliking The Like

Instagram is starting a new thing globally where they are going to hide the number of likes a post gets from it's audience. To be clear, if you make a post, you will see how many likes your post gets. However, your public will not. Which begs the question, what is the value of a like, anyway? In this episode, Ric takes a look at how this may affect the internet famous.

The influencers are kind of freaked about this turn of events. To which the rest of the world seems to not really care. This new idea also seems to re-visit the notion of the overall intrinsic value of social media from a person's point of view. The keyboard cowboys will most certainly be offended anyway since these are the people who look for any reason to be offended. Plus, Ric's unpopular thought of the week.



NEXT WEEK: Ok, Boomer.

The Keyboard Cowboys

We have all seen their comments. Filled with bravado and cowardice, the keyboard cowboys live to simply stir the pot. These are people who think that having the power of the internet at your fingertips means that everyone should not just hear what you have to say about a certain topic, but you should believe what they have to say as the gospel font of truth they think they are. Because of this mindset, the idea of some sort of civil discourse is gone. Maybe we will get that back. Maybe not.

In this episode, Ric takes a second look at these people through the eyes of the single most polarized topic there is. Politics. Also in this episode, Ric has his unpopular thought and some news from Radio Memphis.



NEXT WEEK: The implication of the human voice.


Stay tuned...

Petty Bastard

You might think we as a society have become more petty about everything. Truth is, we are just as petty now as we have always been. So, what makes it seem like we are more nuanced about life's little ridiculous situations? Social media. The one thing Facebook does extraordinarily well is magnify every little thing and feeling people get from time to time.

The rest of us may merely roll our eyes at these posts but for the one making that post, they are deadly serious. It's kind of like when people ask for unspoken prayers. What they are actually asking for is a little bit of attention.

In this episode, Ric gets petty himself as he looks into the hypocrisy of the human condition through the eyes of social media.



NEXT WEEK: Death to the disc.

The State of Fear

The media, especially social media does an exceptional job of trying to keep people in a sort of panic. It sort of starts with the whole Fear Of Missing Out or FOMO. Beyond that, though lies the interesting psychology of posting things with the sole intent of manipulating your thoughts and more importantly, your emotions. The best way to do that seems with the peddling of fear.

In this episode, Ric takes a look at how that works and how best for you to handle these things. Also, Ric takes umbrage with the idea that "all middle aged podcasters are only doing this so they can say politically incorrect things." How silly. Plus the unpopular thought of the episode.



NEXT WEEK: We've always been this petty.

An Advertising Conundrum

Advertising used to be so simple. You get to tell an audience of a platform about your business or whatever you want (within reason) in exchange for a few bucks. Now it got weird. Terrestrial radio kind of screwed that up, frankly.

They stiffed advertisers simply by chasing the dollar and sold out those dedicated to advertising their wares only to be left holding the bag. Now the internet is sucking up that revenue in all sorts of strange ways. One involves the useless short term gain of social media advertising. In this episode, Ric takes a critical look at what is going on out there in one form of this business and how advertisers are still getting screwed.



NEXT WEEK: If You're Happy And You Know It...

Stream This

I, like most Americans had enough of the cable companies grip on my television. So, we cut the cord several years ago. Finally, TV on our own terms. That was, until the lumbering corporate dinosaurs got smart and started bundling up your favorites again. Yeah, right back into the same old boat. Paying for stuff you'll never watch. Thanks.

Also, is everyone kind of tired of the raw, unfiltered, uncensored live streams in social media? Australia is and they want to put some corporate people in jail over that stuff.



NEXT WEEK: Jerre Dye

Stay tuned...