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PaperclipPerfector  5mo ago (text post)   2360 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for November 17, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Okay the world is getting crazy.

About 10 years ago I made the decision to not fully allow any one algorithm to curate what content I consume. I also made the decision to not like videos, tweets, posts and other content as I was worried that when you like something the algorithm decides you want to see more of something which inherently means you want to see less of something else. I had fomo for new novel information I guess.

However there is just too much information. And every field is advancing at a rate never seen before. I need to keep up. I need to keep digesting this wonderful juicy magnificent information that my ancestors could only dream of. I NEEED IT ALL. I need to know everything. Just the fact I've avoided algorithms (not completely) for 10 years means that I have a wide range of interests and it's allowed to make novel discoveries about our world just from the comfort of my bedroom. We live in quite unbelievable times really.

Please guys how do I curate information from all over the internet ?

How do I watch the internet from above?

How do I collate information from 4chan, crypto, Data secrets lox, Productivity, history, biohacking, Lesswrong, AI , UFO, Singularity, Robotics, Ray Peat, Paranormal, Biophysics, Genetics, Epigentics, Quantum Computing, Looksmaxxing, Slatestarcodex, YouTube, Apricity, scientific studies, Substack, Astrology, Neurofeedback Autism, etc, without losing my mind?

(Partial answers and Speculative answers welcome.)

(Also if you think there is a better place to ask this question please let me know. If you think there is a better way to ask this question please let me know.)

I also refuse to give the algorithm anything. I'm not even logged in almost anywhere, and I certainly won't use an app.

The best way for me to keep tabs on content I regularly follow is - still, after decades - RSS feeds. You can even "subscribe" to a youtube channel and/or twitter account by just adding it to your RSS reader. And of course it works naturally for blog-style content.

Also, skimming hackernews and curating a list of decent subreddits still works OK for content discovery.

Its funny how one comment tells me it's impossible and then one comment basically gives me what I'm looking for. Thank you.

I also refuse to give the algorithm anything. I'm not even logged in almost anywhere, and I certainly won't use an app.

I'm getting the sense that your motivation for the avoidance of algorithms is different from mine. Mine is the fear of missing out on potentially helpful information. What is yours?

Mine is the fear of missing out on potentially helpful information. What is yours?

This is certainly part of it. Even if you don't 'like' any content at all, twitter, youtube et. al will feed you only more of what you consumed previously - even worse if you follow other accounts. But I also just really don't want those companies to built up a profile about me in order to sell me ads.

It also has previously unintended side-effects: for example, people now frequently report having trouble ad-blocking on youtube. This isn't an issue if you're not logged in.

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