Just finished reading the book. It was very interesting, but now I understand some of the more controversial remarks Jason made in this podcast. It has some very authentic writing that I could believe is on the real internet, but some of the things Jason had his main characters say really surprise me, particularly in regards to Hitler. I will have to mull this over.
Fascinating and kinda disturbing conversation. Over the years, I have tried to support local creators, buying books, art, and going to films as much to encourage more creativity as to just enjoy what I get. I don’t use social media that much, so I’m always the last to discover whatever is going on. The subtle manipulation of the audience to buy my merch because I enjoy the podcast hadn’t occurred to me. I guess this is just an updated version of watching one local TV news program because you like the anchors.
Something that I have noticed is JVL frequently referencing the drop in crime during the Biden years. I think The Bulwark should take a look at the 9/22 article in the WSJ editorial page by a Jeffery H. Anderson, former director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Anderson quotes statistics from a recent federal crime victimization survey which show a huge increase in the violent crime rate, in America's urban areas in particular. In both Memphis and in Jackson, Mississippi the murder rate has tripled from what were already horrifyng figures. The new survey at least seems to indicate that Memphis and Jackson are not alone.
I would like for The Bulwark to take the crime rates, (in particular the murder rate), seriously and to push the Democrats to advocate for a drastic increase in the number of police officers and longer sentences for violent criminals.
What duty does the government have if not to protect us from being murdered or suffering from other heinous crimes? This is one area where I have always felt The Bulwark could improve on in its effort to help the nation.
He’s been on the show three times now! Including the Apple links here because we migrated servers and blah blah blah point is I have no idea where they are on the Bulwark site, lol:
I’m enjoying these podcasts as much as any on this platform. And they are compelling me to buy the recommendations. I pre-ordered Jason’s book and shared this episode. This podcast also turned me on to Herbert Kline and then tothe MoMA/Flicker Alley DVD re his work.
Pargin's observations are worthy of understanding what's happening to our culture. I'm old enough to remember the first TV and ended up being an early adopter of tech, including VHS in 1977 to a Zenith computer in 1984, then on to the Mac, being one of the first Amazon buyers in 1994 when they only sold books, to the iPod, and iPhone. In the early 2000's, I became an Internet marketer. My fellow marketers and I were ecstatic when social media showed up. In the early days it was fun figuring how to use it for marketing. I tweeted daily for my son's executive coaching business, 4 posts a day between 2010 and 2021, 22,000 total. Then we decided it wasn't helping him get business and we stopped. I could see that other social media platforms had become a waste of my time. When Musk bought Twitter, I deleted my account.
I'm concerned about what constant screen time is doing to people's, especially children's, brains. I had the luxury of growing up without high tech and social media. I am thankful for the Internet and also for not becoming so addicted to it running my life that it prevents me from being with others and with myself without distractions.
Older millennial here - I am in a similar boat. I got to experience dial up, no internet, etc. all the final stages before our digital transformation.
Some of it is very good. Some of it is horrendously bad. Social media really went off the rails in 2012 - algorithmic content recommendations with endless scroll vs the chronological timeline. It’s a small thing, but a lot of tech journalists have covered how Facebook made that change, and its impact on the rest of online media.
That change really caused the current situation to flourish.
I see frightening parallels between baby boomers believing anything they read online (the irony) and Gen Z stewing in online misinformation. It’s pretty spooky. Not great, Bob!
Pam - you gave some clues suggesting we may be in the ballpark of contemporaries. First PC my office bought me was circa 1985? Wang, mainly word proc & spreadsheets, some Basic. Prior to that my computer experience had been WATFIV on punch cards!
I've never really "gotten into" social media, unless Bulwark Comments qualifies? I do look at xTwitter but don't post.
Jason Pargin was fascinating to hear - as he was an early adopter & participant throughout this online era, I was surprised at thoughts on the conflict between being a writer who wants his work to stand on it's own, vs. this connected online world where books sell mainly based on the person's personality and following. I have musician friends who've lived thru the evolution from dreaming of being discovered & signed by a record company to the current model of marketing directly to one's audience at live shows - either way, how does one keep a sense of their own joy in the art? Life is change
Interesting how differently we maneuvered our respective ways into and through what the Internet offered us. I wanted to see how to sell stuff online. Social media at the beginning was a big experiment. I didn't last long enough in that milieu to experience anything close to what Jason has. I was curious but had no need to stand out. I lasted longest with FB tick-borne illness groups where we members helped each other understand the various diseases, where to get help, and how to help ourselves. I briefly had a best selling time management book on Amazon. But I never had any desire to live my whole life online. Other personal responsibilities and interests beckoned, thankfully.
On my 83rd natal day, yet. I am behind the curve, and, without deigning to anticipate Mr. Pagin's thoughts, I can attest that the behinder I get, life gets easier to live. As Blessed Bishop Fulton Sheen says, "life is worth living" no matter what.
Just finished reading the book. It was very interesting, but now I understand some of the more controversial remarks Jason made in this podcast. It has some very authentic writing that I could believe is on the real internet, but some of the things Jason had his main characters say really surprise me, particularly in regards to Hitler. I will have to mull this over.
Fascinating and kinda disturbing conversation. Over the years, I have tried to support local creators, buying books, art, and going to films as much to encourage more creativity as to just enjoy what I get. I don’t use social media that much, so I’m always the last to discover whatever is going on. The subtle manipulation of the audience to buy my merch because I enjoy the podcast hadn’t occurred to me. I guess this is just an updated version of watching one local TV news program because you like the anchors.
Hi Sonny,
Something that I have noticed is JVL frequently referencing the drop in crime during the Biden years. I think The Bulwark should take a look at the 9/22 article in the WSJ editorial page by a Jeffery H. Anderson, former director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Anderson quotes statistics from a recent federal crime victimization survey which show a huge increase in the violent crime rate, in America's urban areas in particular. In both Memphis and in Jackson, Mississippi the murder rate has tripled from what were already horrifyng figures. The new survey at least seems to indicate that Memphis and Jackson are not alone.
I would like for The Bulwark to take the crime rates, (in particular the murder rate), seriously and to push the Democrats to advocate for a drastic increase in the number of police officers and longer sentences for violent criminals.
What duty does the government have if not to protect us from being murdered or suffering from other heinous crimes? This is one area where I have always felt The Bulwark could improve on in its effort to help the nation.
It wasn't until you said "my colleague Jonathan Last" that I realized Jonathan V. Last and JVL were the same person.
To be fair it’s kind of a Two Face situation there. (I kid JVL!)
I'm really enjoying your most recent podcasts, very interesting subjects.
Thank you!
Already pre-ordered-- did NOT expect a David Wong/Bulwark collab!
He’s been on the show three times now! Including the Apple links here because we migrated servers and blah blah blah point is I have no idea where they are on the Bulwark site, lol:
For the latest Zoey Ashe book: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bulwark-goes-to-hollywood/id1526477480?i=1000632935338
For “If This Book Exists, You’re in the Wrong Universe”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bulwark-goes-to-hollywood/id1526477480?i=1000624846597
I’m enjoying these podcasts as much as any on this platform. And they are compelling me to buy the recommendations. I pre-ordered Jason’s book and shared this episode. This podcast also turned me on to Herbert Kline and then tothe MoMA/Flicker Alley DVD re his work.
Oh good, I’m glad you’re getting something out of them. (It’s a slightly weird fit, being a culture pod on a politics network.)
I pre-ordered the book!
Just finished reading it. I really enjoyed it, 9/10 stars from me!
I hope you enjoy it!
The book sounds interesting, Sonny. Thank you for the author recommendation.
Sounds like a bit of a takeoff on Pandora’s box.
Literally mentioned in the book. He beat you to it. 😂
Great minds. (:
Pargin's observations are worthy of understanding what's happening to our culture. I'm old enough to remember the first TV and ended up being an early adopter of tech, including VHS in 1977 to a Zenith computer in 1984, then on to the Mac, being one of the first Amazon buyers in 1994 when they only sold books, to the iPod, and iPhone. In the early 2000's, I became an Internet marketer. My fellow marketers and I were ecstatic when social media showed up. In the early days it was fun figuring how to use it for marketing. I tweeted daily for my son's executive coaching business, 4 posts a day between 2010 and 2021, 22,000 total. Then we decided it wasn't helping him get business and we stopped. I could see that other social media platforms had become a waste of my time. When Musk bought Twitter, I deleted my account.
I'm concerned about what constant screen time is doing to people's, especially children's, brains. I had the luxury of growing up without high tech and social media. I am thankful for the Internet and also for not becoming so addicted to it running my life that it prevents me from being with others and with myself without distractions.
Older millennial here - I am in a similar boat. I got to experience dial up, no internet, etc. all the final stages before our digital transformation.
Some of it is very good. Some of it is horrendously bad. Social media really went off the rails in 2012 - algorithmic content recommendations with endless scroll vs the chronological timeline. It’s a small thing, but a lot of tech journalists have covered how Facebook made that change, and its impact on the rest of online media.
That change really caused the current situation to flourish.
I see frightening parallels between baby boomers believing anything they read online (the irony) and Gen Z stewing in online misinformation. It’s pretty spooky. Not great, Bob!
Pam - you gave some clues suggesting we may be in the ballpark of contemporaries. First PC my office bought me was circa 1985? Wang, mainly word proc & spreadsheets, some Basic. Prior to that my computer experience had been WATFIV on punch cards!
I've never really "gotten into" social media, unless Bulwark Comments qualifies? I do look at xTwitter but don't post.
Jason Pargin was fascinating to hear - as he was an early adopter & participant throughout this online era, I was surprised at thoughts on the conflict between being a writer who wants his work to stand on it's own, vs. this connected online world where books sell mainly based on the person's personality and following. I have musician friends who've lived thru the evolution from dreaming of being discovered & signed by a record company to the current model of marketing directly to one's audience at live shows - either way, how does one keep a sense of their own joy in the art? Life is change
Interesting how differently we maneuvered our respective ways into and through what the Internet offered us. I wanted to see how to sell stuff online. Social media at the beginning was a big experiment. I didn't last long enough in that milieu to experience anything close to what Jason has. I was curious but had no need to stand out. I lasted longest with FB tick-borne illness groups where we members helped each other understand the various diseases, where to get help, and how to help ourselves. I briefly had a best selling time management book on Amazon. But I never had any desire to live my whole life online. Other personal responsibilities and interests beckoned, thankfully.
On my 83rd natal day, yet. I am behind the curve, and, without deigning to anticipate Mr. Pagin's thoughts, I can attest that the behinder I get, life gets easier to live. As Blessed Bishop Fulton Sheen says, "life is worth living" no matter what.