the safety and utility of internet use
Language and Influence
should be maximized

We think rhetorical devices are pretty simple when they are pointed out. And please don't get the impression we think they are manipulative or anything. Far from it. Rhetoric was seen as the highest and most noble of educations during some of the highest and most noble periods of history. It just happens to be foundational to understanding the not-so-noble practices of manipulation and coercive persuasion. While we're on the topic, the word propaganda didn't always have a negative connotation. That changed, for some reason, after Stalin Great Purge and when it was shown to be the essential component in achieving popular compliance with the slaughter of millions of innocents. Go figure.

The skill of identifying rhetorical devices involves practice. Not necessarily the "Did you practice the piano today?" kind of practice, more like the "I have a Medical practice" kind of practice. After 'getting it, it becomes a part of you - a life skill - riding a bike. In contrast, some more concrete subjects we'll address are specific to the internet but might motivate learning the the soft skills... if the implications previously implied don't grab your interest... for some reason. Concrete things like; how to tweak your computers to protect your private information, how private information profiles are created, how The Advertising Industrial Complex fabricates a 'YOU' (your mini-me in the cloud), how Artificial Intelligence monsters twizzle your mini-me to infer even more information about you, predict your behavior, and shape a special version of internet reality - just for you. The AIC sucks enough money off your mini-me to keep the whole 'free' thing going. Actually the new economy is now based on MINI-MEs. These topics are interesting but the three soft skills? Fascinating. And fun to learn. Maybe even important.

Toolkit for Internet Survival - Part I rhetoric bias logic

Everything comes at a cost. A tried and true principle.

But what about the World Wide Web? A modest monthly charge from your Internet Service Provider seems insignificant compared with anything 'World Wide.' So there's a disconnect with the tried and tested 'cost' principle. Barring a few subscription services, information on the web is provided without cost. Or is it?

The principle costs are not obvious. They involve:

1) collecting valuable information from you that might be called 'private'

2) depositing valued information for you that might be called 'propaganda'

Interestingly, these costs have significant similarities.

Active Passivity and Privacy

Payments of personhood are usually active, performed explicitly for clear gain. The state collects Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for the privilege to drive a vehicle, receive economic aid. Likewise financial institutions, medical providers, and employers. There is give and take, quid pro quo. In contrast, the activities of the Advertising Industrial Complex are shadows in the back of the mind, passively accepted if recognized at all. This cost conjures an image of the pickpocket. However, what is picked leaves the mind - or the heart - not the pocket.

*(The opt-out cookie banners are a nuisance indistinguishable from pop up ads using the same screen real estate. Something to be dispensed with as quickly as possible. You need to move ahead... where is the "X." Am I right? Or is it just me?)

Active Passivity and Propaganda

Deposits of Propaganda. More disturbing, perhaps, are something put into the mind - or the heart. Web sites, especially news organizations which are becoming indistinguishable from anything else. Of course - in the case of both privacy and propaganda - dollars, euros, bitcoin, freedom or votes will eventually exit, but these economics are not completely predictable. After all, hearts and minds are involved. Whether they know it or not.

Mindlessness

The characteristic of unknowing suggests a second similarity of the costs. Personal profiling and exposure to propaganda are (if not immediately, down the line) issues of influence. You will buy. You will believe. Influence lives on a fuzzy continuum that begins with sharing information and ends with coercive persuasion. Traveling down the well of that continuum, awareness is dimmed like the once thirst quenching water slowly warms ... the crab's new home in your newsteamer. The continuum is a major focus for the rest of the site. While we're on the topic, you might wonder... 'what is THIS site costing me?'

With respect to personal information... there are no cookies, there is no tracking, there are no advertisements. We have no idea who you are or how long you will be here. You come and go unnoticed. The material on the site is free. Your cost? Effort and attention. There are few easily digested videos and a lot of "text." Which you "read." There is, however, an occasional lame attempt at humor but that might keep your attention. Everything comes at a cost.

With respect to propaganda.... we're not aware of hidden agendas but we recognize our biases and they are clearly presented as opinion. You can ignore them. Or not. In fact, we hope you don't ignore anything! Why not ignore opinion? Skills required to optimize internet usage without turmoil - to thrive in peace - involve protecting yourself from unwanted influence. Here, we encourage the identification of three aspects. The main thing to recognize is Rhetoric. Rhetoric's foundations are, cognitive bias and logical fallacy. The subjects are very cool but have the most un-cool names ever named. That's probably why they are mostly ignored. All gradations of influence - whether benign or manipulative - whether found in text, image, or video - depend on these three things. They are ignored at our peril.

Skill to identify the trappings of influence helps the mind to be at peace - to be undistracted - to reduce costs - to focus on the task at hand. Honing this skill - like said - is a major focus for the rest of the site. To finish addressing our propaganda... every attempt is made to be non-partisan, but you never know. Better to pay attention.

With respect to personal information... there are no cookies, there is no tracking, there are no advertisements. We have no idea who you are or how long you will be here. You come and go unnoticed. The material on the site is free. Your cost? Effort and attention. There are few easily digested videos and a lot of "text." Which you "read." There is, however, an occasional lame attempt at humor but that might keep your attention. Everything comes at a cost.

No cookies here. Your cost? Effort and attention. There are few easily digested videos and a lot of "text." Which you "read." There is, however, an occasional lame attempt at humor but that might keep your attention. Everything comes at a cost.