I had a pretty in depth response to one of my posts on the social medial censorship issue. I feel it brought up many different angles to explore the issue from perspectives I did not address in my original post. For this reason I am sharing it, not to point the finger at anyone. The following is copied from my response to a comment in the post listed above. I hope these alternative perspectives assist in shedding more light on what seems to be a shaded topic. Let's start taking some responsibility folks.
My Comment
I'm not trying to speak down to anyone in my post, or you in my comments. I agree with most of what you are saying, and hey - I'm not here to judge anyone. On the other hand, I'm not here to sugar coat the Truth or "gently coax" you either, nor have I made a "demand" in my post.
As far as it goes, all the great info being shared on these platforms is using one of the enemies most powerful weapons against them. That's amazing!
"Not to MENTION, if I educate even ONE person on either of those 2 platforms and the seed is planted, that's worth something."
Hell yeah!!
I'm just stating facts, the main one being: If you will go and read the contract you signed with these corporations to use their platform you will find you have agreed to most of what they are doing.
Here is a great example of another practical possibility: In Canada to "legally" acquire a handgun, which is considered a restricted weapon, you need to sign a contract to get your license which forfeits your right to privacy in your home and grants the police the right to search your home without a warrant. Is it not a right to own a firearm in a responsible manner if you choose and also not your right to the sanctity of your own home? Of course it is. But when they search your home for no reason and it seems unfair, do you have a right to complain?
The social media platforms are doing the same thing all the 'powers that think they be' are doing cooperatively at the same moment in history - Imposing the power which we have granted them over time by giving away our rights by consent. Look at all the fucked up legislation the governments are bringing in to enforce in the near future - unless we change our thinking and act.
It's fine if people still want to use any platform of their choosing. That is their Right. Especially if people want to use it for good, we're on the same side! But don't complain when what you should have known would happen starts to happen. That's like getting yourself a sin number or social security number, filling out your tax return, then acting surprised the government came to collect taxes from you.
Reporting the issue is the necessary first step. The next step, the one everyone typically feels someone else should do for them is to TAKE ACTION. If you have a better way to combat these corporations than boycotting I'm all ears, I'm here to learn as well! Fact is I remember when there was no google. I remember when there was no facebook or youtube, twitter or any of that other crap. We don't need them and have the technology and open source community willing to take this into their own hands, they just need patience and support.
"If I need an answer to something and I know I'll get one fast there, then I'm going to use that platform."
This is part of the reason alternative platforms are few and far between (although emerging now) and why the ones that are around take so long to grow. I remember when youtube sucked! It only took a few years. Why? because there was nothing else and many people focused their attention on it. If we were to act as if alternative platforms were the only option would they not grow as quickly? Maybe even more quickly?
Do I think steemit is the answer to our problem? I've yet to see it. Better pullout your shit sieve to get to the good posts. Here you're just buried instead of censored.
I feel you're taking a western medicine approach to this issue and looking at the symptoms instead of the root.
"It's a commonly known fact that FB uses manipulation techniques to draw in humans by triggering chemical responses in their brain."
This does not effect those not using the platform. Does google sensor my search results? I stopped using google search. Does youtube ban my videos? Guess I'd have to be posting some.
You suggested:
"And if you think that it's ONLY the media platforms that keep us slaves, I disagree vehemently!"
Don't take me to be as deep as the one or two posts of mine you have read. I am well aware of what the problem in society is, I've looked in the mirror. These corporations have no power over me, nor do the thug governments of the world.
"My life and taking care of myself comes first."
This I highly disagree with. This would be a response you would receive from a police / military officer or government official when confronting them with the morality of their profession. This would be a response you would here from the head of a large corporation who employs slave labor in a foreign country. And let's be clear, I did not compare you or your actions to these people, it is however the same base mindset. The same base mindset I am fighting to conquer.
Let's stop lying to ourselves here. If you think the social and mainstream media is the problem - you're wrong. If you think the corporations and banks are the problem - you're wrong. If you think the governments of the world are the problem - you're wrong. The problem is me. The problem is you. None of these organizations have any power aside from that which we acknowledge and grant to them. We attempt to delegate our responsibility so we can point the finger externally. Guess what? The blame still falls on us.
Would any of this be happening if we did not allow it in first place? How big would any social media platform be without any users? They never would have got this big and influential if more people would just read the terms they agreed to before signing they're rights away. Same goes for government, same goes for every problem on Earth.
The world is fucked because we are not doing what we are supposed to, not because of what others are doing.
You know, I guess I was making a demand. It was not a demand to stop using social media - it was a demand for us to grow some courage and take our power back. If we can't even go a year without youtube to support the growth of independent platforms I guess we're pretty much fucked as far as attaining freedom goes.
Closing
What's your perspective? Have you read the entire terms to the contract you signed? Do the corporations have the power or do we?