There is no "genius", only learning to love learning and doing, and having access to do so. The problem is that we teach children to loathe education and self-embetterment in all sorts of ways. And for adults, few are given opportunities or encouragement to be able to explore thoughtfully and contribute. Few people can grow into themselves.
We don't teach people to "learn to learn" enough, or to feel that they can love learning, or to give people a chance to do things.
Worse yet, with a world falling into despair, corporate technology systems are feeding into addiction cycles of our own internal feedback mechanisms.
When people have such little agency in their lives, of course they're just going to lean on the dopamine release lever.
The big difference for me is that there was a middle period where, when I was going to fail out of high school, when I was socially ostracized, when I was on the verge of suicide, I had a rare opportunity to get transferred to an alternative school, largely considered a "last resort" school, but where I learned to flourish and love learning and love myself. No homework, theoretically you only had to go for half a day, all students at their own pace.
I loved it so much I would often go all day
There is no "genius", only learning to love learning and doing, and having access to do so. The problem is that we teach children to loathe education and self-embetterment in all sorts of ways. And for adults, few are given opportunities or encouragement to be able to explore thoughtfully and contribute. Few people can grow into themselves.
We don't teach people to "learn to learn" enough, or to feel that they can love learning, or to give people a chance to do things.
As a child, I was run through a system that seemed extremely concerned that I was mentally deficient and incapable. As an adult, since hitting certain kinds of prominence, I've had a lot of people try to convince me that I'm a genius.
I shoot it down also because I fear that some day I might believe it, and I will also become an insufferable asshole, just like everyone else who thinks they're a genius
But I also know well enough, it's stubborn enthusiasm, privileged access, luck, not "genius"
The big difference for me is that there was a middle period where, when I was going to fail out of high school, when I was socially ostracized, when I was on the verge of suicide, I had a rare opportunity to get transferred to an alternative school, largely considered a "last resort" school, but where I learned to flourish and love learning and love myself. No homework, theoretically you only had to go for half a day, all students at their own pace.
I loved it so much I would often go all day
Every time I see someone bring up "IQ scores" I feel the need to repeat: IQ scores were literally invented by eugenicists and they've always been biased towards privilege
Also if you haven't noticed, once someone starts to believe they're a genius, they start to think a lot less clearly.
As a child, I was run through a system that seemed extremely concerned that I was mentally deficient and incapable. As an adult, since hitting certain kinds of prominence, I've had a lot of people try to convince me that I'm a genius.
I shoot it down also because I fear that some day I might believe it, and I will also become an insufferable asshole, just like everyone else who thinks they're a genius
But I also know well enough, it's stubborn enthusiasm, privileged access, luck, not "genius"
Every time I see someone bring up "IQ scores" I feel the need to repeat: IQ scores were literally invented by eugenicists and they've always been biased towards privilege
Also if you haven't noticed, once someone starts to believe they're a genius, they start to think a lot less clearly.
There's more to say, and I plan on taking a deep dive into our tech, piece by piece, over the days ahead. There's a lot to unpack!
But in the meanwhile, let's get back to the campaign. A call to action. The reason this thread is here.
I'm asking for your support, for you (yes you!) to help out @spritely@social.coop, however you can.
We are a small nonprofit. We can't do this without your support.
Please help donate for the future of the internet. Thank you. 💜
https://spritely.institute/donate/
It's easy to forget that social networks have owed their success more than anything to people enjoying being on them.
I think sometimes people say "we need to focus on serious things" and it's easy to accidentally make the story sterile.
We aren't going to make it if we don't have a fun time.
There's more to say, and I plan on taking a deep dive into our tech, piece by piece, over the days ahead. There's a lot to unpack!
But in the meanwhile, let's get back to the campaign. A call to action. The reason this thread is here.
Which starts to get into serious business territory when you throw "activism" and "human rights" out there but then on the other hand I'm showing you video game screenshots? What on earth is going on?
Well, aside from being great demos, I think we need fun and whimsy. It's gotten us this far.
It's easy to forget that social networks have owed their success more than anything to people enjoying being on them.
I think sometimes people say "we need to focus on serious things" and it's easy to accidentally make the story sterile.
We aren't going to make it if we don't have a fun time.
But again, I just don't think decentralized social networks aiming to replicate web 2.0 are what we primarily need to meet the challenges ahead.
I worry about activism on such platforms today not being robust enough.
We need platforms which meet the needs of individuals, communities, activists.
Which starts to get into serious business territory when you throw "activism" and "human rights" out there but then on the other hand I'm showing you video game screenshots? What on earth is going on?
Well, aside from being great demos, I think we need fun and whimsy. It's gotten us this far.
One of the things I'm most proud of about the fediverse is that it owes its success to a lot of queer people working on it. This lead to the fediverse being very queer itself. I'm proud of that.
Maybe it's weird to say, but that seems to be happening again with Spritely.
But again, I just don't think decentralized social networks aiming to replicate web 2.0 are what we primarily need to meet the challenges ahead.
I worry about activism on such platforms today not being robust enough.
We need platforms which meet the needs of individuals, communities, activists.
Christine Lemmer-Webber