Civilized Conversation of San Diego

We usually do not meet the last Monday of the month. Our next mtg will be on December 1.

It is hard to know whether a "silent majority" exists anymore (did it ever, really?). One can add up public opinion polls and conclude that the POVs on top constitute what a majority really wants from government or wants politicians to do.

But it is not that simple. For one thing, people's responses often heavily depend on the way a question is asked. For another, voters have opinions that are contradictory (e.g., spend more on just about everything and also eliminate the budget deficit and lower taxes).

And most poll results reveal nothing about what the public's ranked priorities are, or what tradeoffs they would make if they had to (and they usually are required - that's what we are really paying politicians to do, make the choices we do not have the knowledge to judge).

The view that "real people" really widely agree on everything is a pet peeve of mine.

Yet, even in these crazed, polarized times that Trumpism both intensifies AND reflects, I think it is possible to get a broad idea of what political solutions the public really prefers over others. At least in many cases.

The coffeehouse is closing. So later on I will explain a bit more and, the week before our meeting look back here for a few key background links.

Optional Backgrounders –

· TBD.

Can we even imagine what the world would be like without YouTube and its many imitators/innovators? YouTube was founded in 2000. This means that for a little less than 20 years now, we have been watching videos of any length, on any subject, on demand and on our smart phones (2008+) for free! Thanks to algorithms, most videos within easy reach are created for us and people like us. Others are made by us or even by total strangers we will never meet from all over the world.

Asking how videos on demand has changed the world is kind of like asking how TV or radio changed the world. Everything has been affected. But hopefully we can break it down a bit. How have such videos changed education and childhood socialization? What about kids' and adults' propensity - and ability - to read and write? Politics? News media? Culturally, have on-demand videos brought the world together or have they balkanized us like so many other social media technologies have?

What is next? We already have AI-created fake/altered videos and AI friends, some of which take 2-D (so far) human form. Some medical practitioners, including psychologists, are recording their patient sessions, with their permission presumably, and then showing the videos to AI programs to get advice on treatment techniques! Will everything we do soon be is videoed? We already have a nascent surveillance state and soon maybe, ubiquitous wearable or even implanted video technologies. Did YouTube help to make us a nation of voyeurs, or were we that already?

Obviously, my little list only included downsides. Of course, the YouTube era has brought many benefits, like consumer entertainment, all those how-to-install/fix-my-broken-XYZ videos, and as an assistant to law enforcement.

The larger point is: We have come a long way from cute cat videos, kids. Free videos of anything on demand is a revolution all by itself.

I am looking forward to researching this topic and learning more about group members' experiences with and opinions on the YouTube era and its consequences. Check back here the week before our 12/8 mtg for some optional readings.

Optional Backgrounders –

• TBA