The world today makes me so sad and angry

choose to show no interest in such things, and then it wont bother you as much.
hard to do with social media nowadays, but dont click on the clickbait shyte.

i fing it works.

What Ton said, it's always been there, just way more visible if you buy into it. Personally most of it passes me by unless someone mentions it on here.

I've made my peace with the fact most of the population seem to be morons.

I only use IG and LinkedIn, both for work and have filtered all that shit out. But my normal news sources are full of it too.
What was the equivalent 35 years ago? Ian Botham Shredded Wheat TV ads aren't quite the same thing.

How the hell can 2 influencers launch a brand of pop that has people fighting over it in stores.

Yes I did find that quite intriguing and somewhat bemusing.

But it doesn't bother me like senseless killings/murders do.

How do 7 years olds make millions opening toy boxes? How the hell can 2 influencers launch a brand of pop that has people fighting over it in stores

If it makes you feel any better my teenage daughters and their mates are equally as dismissive of this sort of nonsense as us old duffers

The world has always contained a great number of gullible idiots, some people have just cottoned on to the fact that it’s now easier than ever to separate them from their money via social media

Go and watch the Fyre festival documentary on Netflix and enjoy watching when it all goes completely, spectacularly tits up

Personally, the whole ‘influencer’ thing just induces eye-rolls, if I can even be arsed to give it more than a second’s thought.

If people want to be sucked into such banal bullshit, and waste sometimes huge amounts of money on it, then that’s up to them, I really couldn’t give a crap.
God knows, there’s so much going on in the world that’s enough to induce a desire to crawl into a cozy, dark hole and pull it in behind you, but influencers? Nah, zero shits given.

There are idiots, and there are good interesting people, and there always has been. The only difference now is that the idiots can communicate with other idiots and we can all read about it.

Don't worry - there's a lot of good in the world. Seek it out if you need confirmation.

Is this like the SunnyDee wars of 1998?

Has anyone drank so much of it that be their skins changed colour yet? With it inevitably being taken from the shelves?

Idiots being idiots, when my lads are the age they fall into this demographic/influencer reach I hope I can make them see the truth behind it all, and the fact it's just advertising fizzy pop or whatever it is - what's this Primes product claim?

Anyway, I'm still waiting for my Hoover flights to the states...

Yeah, very odd, this sort of stuff never happened with Tracy Island or buzz lightyear toys when I was a kid. Nope, not once, never.

I'd posit what's making you sad and angry op is a rose tinted view of the past, sure the "influencer" has changed but there's nothing new to see here.

Without trying to sound too snotty (and probably failing) I think we can all picture the sort of people fighting in a supermarket over an energy drink

You see I’m the opposite. 2 influencers and pop, I know nothing. Had no idea who that Tate guy was until he was nicked. Starting to think I’m out of touch. I use FB, Insta, LinkedIn but left Twitter about 2 years ago.

You see I’m the opposite

Same here. I have no idea what this pop fight is all about and I don't know who this Tate guy is. And I have absolutely no intention of finding out, either!

You don't need to actively seek out those stories, you can know about them by simply watching/listening to the news and reading newspaper headlines.

Obviously if you generally avoid following news and current affairs then it is very likely that you won't have heard of them.

Mainstream news has covered these stories, for example BBC TV news covered the Andrew Tate story and the Guardian newspaper covered the Prime Hydration drink story.

So we all seem to be in agreement that the whole influencer thing is just the latest way of opportunists selling shit to gullible idiots, yeah?

They’re effectively the modern day equivalent of the people flogging none-existent timeshares in Benidorm to half-wits in 1984

is just the latest way of opportunists selling shit to gullible idiots, yeah?

Like your cyclist who likes to spend a fortune on "hydration tablets" with no nutritional value?

We need to refer to them as 'effluentcers'

You see I’m the opposite. 2 influencers and pop, I know nothing. Had no idea who that Tate guy was until he was nicked. Starting to think I’m out of touch.

Same here. Not out of touch, just different interests and priorities. I read the news every day and have still managed to avoid all this. I don’t watch the news though and haven’t for years. Mainly because it’ll cover bollocks like this and it’s simpler to avoid by reading what interests/concerns you.

That Fyre vid Binners linked is over there >>>>>> on STW. Is that due to an algorithm or did STW put it there? If the latter I suggest the 4 years after Fyre vid is more informative.

Mark, CHipps, Hannah, Amanda... they're all infulencers too, and journalists in general. Colin Furze has his thread here, Binky, the Top Gear trio. Some of the criticism strikes me as sour grapes as traditional media sources lose revenue to these people. Fresh Goods Friday is very lazy and no doubt lucrative journalism rehashing press releases as content with a photoshoot added and a token short term test if we're lucky - it isn't even behind a pay wall so must be paying its way. There are inluencers out there who are far more rigorous, objective and do it better (not that I'm going to risk naming one and getting shot down for it).

If I have an issue with influerncers it's exactly the same as with say the Daily Mail: the lies, misrepresentation and manipulation, propaganda for things that aren't in the best interests of either the individuals targetted or society as a whole. The moderation when it exists is often very biased, and not always on the side of right and good. STW doesn't escape this, we've lost some good people to moderators with an agenda, when did Woppit ever post anyhting on religion that objectively it was almost impossible to challenge for example? STW chose to "protect" organised religion and one of its representatives here from objective criticism. And yet we're allowed to give an ex-pope a kicking on his RIP thread - but not on other RIP threads on objectively equally unpleasant people.

Complicated innit. There aren't the legal resources or moderation capacity to stop people posting hate and/or bollocks when over 7 billion have a smart phone and freedom of speech sacred to many. The genie is out of the box.

Saw a "good" vid of a mum saying well done KSI on getting kids so hyped up they want to queue to buy your drink, but how about launching a toothpaste or something useful!?

Be good if influencers actually influenced something good!

So we all seem to be in agreement that the whole influencer thing is just the latest way of opportunists selling shit to gullible idiots, yeah?

They’re effectively the modern day equivalent of the people flogging none-existent timeshares in Benidorm to half-wits in 1984

Hmm interesting not thought of that but NFT s and crypto would fit the bill 🙂
.

Be good if influencers actually influenced something good!

They do, Greta T springs to mind for some reason and I’m sure there are a load more once you get behind all the get rich quick scammers.

it’s simpler to avoid by reading what interests/concerns you.

But how do you know that it doesn't interest or concern you?

You need to actually know about Andrew Tate, for example, to know that you aren't interested in him, and he doesn't concern you.

And I'm not sure why you think TV news covering his arrest is "bollocks", it was an important story involving very serious allegations concerning someone with very toxic influence over a lot of young people.

How do 7 years olds make millions opening toy boxes?

something that has changed in the last decade or so is the ability of small things to have a global reach. 'People' haven't changed. -they've not become mass worshipers of the banal. Nobody is super excited about seeing a box get opened - not enough that they haven't bought season tickets like they would for their favourite football club, Arab sheiks aren't paying $1m for  box-opening-boy to excliusinvely perform at their private New Years eve party. Its just something that isa tiny bit interesting for a short amount of time, but is able to be that tiny bit interesting to  millions of people as they browse past and in doing so yields a bit if cash.

How the hell can 2 influencers launch a brand of pop that has people fighting over it in stores

The fighting in stores over the last {insert cabbage patch doll / tickle me Elmo / beenie baby} has always happened. Its quite a weird phenomenon as its not really in anyones interest. The people marketing this stuff can never really guess whats going to take off. In the year that 'everyone' seemingly got excited about cabbage patch dolls there might have been 10 toys that could have been the big hit. But no-one right up to the last minute would know which product would be 'the one' so they can't scale up production in case they're left with loads of unsold stock. So if something becomes that bit more popular typically the manufacturer hasn't made and distributed  enough of them, they run out and their short supply makes them seem highly sought after. It seems like its some sort of bonanza but it isnt. Theres just a few more people wanting something than the manufacturers were prepared for- all thats really happened is the manufacturer has sold less of something than they could have done. They've missed an opportunity that wont be repeated  as the fuss made makes them seems over hyped and flash in the pan and ultimately it shortens sales life of the product- the real winners will be the also-rans.  So the news about these bottles of pop isnt that they're hugely successful but more that the marketers failed to anticipate a fairly modest success.

Without trying to sound too snotty (and probably failing) I think we can all picture the sort of people fighting in a supermarket over an energy drink

Roadies.

There are idiots, and there are good interesting people, and there always has been. The only difference now is that the idiots can communicate with other idiots and we can all read about it.

Stories about sensible people making things work through good planning and resource allocation don't make good copy. And nothing ever happens that way except in the cover-up of a disaster.

If I have an issue with influerncers it’s exactly the same as with say the Daily Mail: the lies, misrepresentation and manipulation

I think there's a world of difference between Hannah Barnes' IG story about the great time she had on her Specialized bike and the world of the Daily Mail.

OP you need to 'be more dog'. All that matters to your average mutt is: What am I doing now? Where are my people?

Pure in the local moment living.

Or is there a difference nickc? STW influencers promote long haul flying and booze both of which I disapprove of.

Get a ban here and you get a beer advert if you try to log on, watch Mark Alker on STW's Youtbe channel and there's an unhealthy level of alcohol consumption promoted by someone who looks like he drinks too much even if he doesn't. 😉 Yet Mark is in other ways pretty woke: EV, cycling, LBGT rights (to excess IMO but he's on the right side). I admired Steve Peat's riding but the Stella thing really pissed me off.

Britain has an increasing problem with alcohol and the owners of this site use their influencer power to promote it - here in France advertising alchol is banned rather than self-regulated. Consumption has been declining but I'm intrigued to see if it starts rising again, particularly among the young, now the influencers are on it (aided by the alcohol lobby having persuaded the government to slightly weaken the law).

Cocktail this, craft beer that... FFS it's just alcohol and as the AA, weight, health and depression threads on here demonstrate it will **** up your life if you're daft enough to follow the influencers.

Be good if influencers actually influenced something good!

There's some lovely content out there. Usually tagged with the term 'wholesome' these days. A YouTuber that springs to mind with a big following is the guy who cooks old weird sounding recipes. A bit loud but a really quit engaging presenter and he just seems like a decent bloke. He gives background as to why the recipes are like they are and honest reactions to how they turn out.

There's also the camp hairdresser guy who critiques people's DIY hair efforts. You think it's going to be piss taking but he's really sympathetic and helpful and so full of happiness when people do a good job. I have no interest in hair (and in fact none of my own) but it's lovely to watch. And there's loads more.

I do think we are a stage in the evolution of influencers that will change in the future,when people just lose interest over the fake realities that get rammed down their throat 24/7 (once they are in that influencers bubble.)

Waving a bundle of euros whilst sat in your lambo is pretty passé these days.

Or is there a difference nickc? STW influencers promote long haul flying and booze

TBH I thought it was more coke and hookers 🙂

It’s also entertainment and sometimes this leads to things being slightly dialled up/over exaggerated for artistic purposes.

YMMV

I'm Instagram, seems fine, only follow people I have an interest in. Same with YouTube... Until... YouTube shorts shoot me now! Watch one by a content creator I want to watch followed by literally the dumbest shit I've even seen. Spent half an hour out of curiosity once, felt my IQ eroding. Honestly give it a go. Utter shire.

It never ceases to amaze me that companies pay large sums of money to have adverts aired on various media, that often contain such pathetic humour and othercontent (..together with a commentary by an often moronic or irritating voice ) to apparently increase sales.
Who are these targeted at .. 3 yr olds ? The sad fact is they wouldn't pay those sums if the ads didn't work ..which tells you how many people of a certain " type" must be out there. Apologies if this sounds a bit arrogant or condescending but there must be a huge number of empty heads out there . As for influencers and sorry to say .. people who are involved in recommending / marketing products (to anyone who will listen) .. ..that they have no real knowledge about or experience with ....are in my mind somewhat morally bankrupt . They are the last people you want to trust and those wealthy celebrities who do it are even worse like Carol Vorderman ? who accepts money to recommend loan schemes that have been demonstrated to be a terrible idea for many Philip Scofield .. webuyanycar .. the list is endless of folk who'll sell any integrity they have left for a few quid.

Idiots being idiots, when my lads are the age they fall into this demographic/influencer reach I hope I can make them see the truth behind it all, and the fact it’s just advertising fizzy pop or whatever it is – what’s this Primes product claim?

I have a pair of 12 year olds and I do just this. I think they are getting it. The amount of time they spend on-line/playing games is a concern, but I honestly dont know what to do when its pissing down outside for days on end and they have a month off for Christmas. I have sort of made peace with it. We go riding, we do dog walks and we play cards and board games, they both have their sports, and they do chores about the house. I have to chill a bit and let them be a little so we can have some time to ourselves.

A lot of the gaming they do is at least with mates from school. The non-stop listening to You Tube and Tic-toc drives us nuts, I keep plugging away of slagging it off...

As for the rest of the people out there? I just think the country is a whole lot of ####'s! Some on bikes, some in cars and some fighting over fizzy pop at the supermarket. I have always chosen to live in a bubble of some type, and I keep my head down when I encounter such people.

I do wonder though. I have been living in a nice part of SW London for 22 years now, I did live in central Bristol for most of my adult life before that. I didnt come across many clowns then. Has the world changed in this time and there are more clowns, or was it these areas had less obvious clowns? We have clowns here but they are different. If I went back to Bristol has it changed for the worse?

I remember seeing an advertisement for dehydrated water tablets in an outdoors shop in Stirling in the 80s. It even said to rehydrate simply add water. It was April the 1st. They told me they'd had a number of genuinely interested enquiries. I should have known then that the world was in big trouble.

But how do you know that it doesn’t interest or concern you?

You need to actually know about Andrew Tate, for example, to know that you aren’t interested in him, and he doesn’t concern you.

And I’m not sure why you think TV news covering his arrest is “bollocks”, it was an important story involving very serious allegations concerning someone with very toxic influence over a lot of young people.

If something is of interest I will likely find out about it. That’s pretty much how things work in my world. I’ll follow a link or recommendation from a friend or colleague. The bollocks bit was more in reference to the soft drinks thing tbh.
I now know about Tate and he still doesn’t interest or concern me. Hope he spends a long time in prison if found guilty, that’s about it.

TV news covers sports and celebrity shite. Things I can more easily avoid with the written word. See a picture of a Royal, don’t read the story. Some other vapid looking ****wit, don’t read the story etc.

I reckon it can be avoided . I say this because I haven't a clue what you are on about. I have given up on the telly as I hate fiction generally and most non fiction isn't my thing. I watch the cycle racing ad thats about it. I flick over the second an advert starts. The only social media I go near is FB for the cycling club contacts and here plus the CUK forum. And occasionally Pigeonwatch. I avoid the news because most of it doesn't affect me directly and the bits that do I cannot do anything about.I despise the entertainment business and, to be honest, anyone who doesn't.Team sports are, to me stupid and more significantly the tribal groups around it I find rather sad. No idea where my mobile phone is as I use it less than monthly.
Grumpy old sod maybe. But the OPs concerns don't upset me.

I avoid the news because most of it doesn’t affect me directly...

Yeah I'm sure that avoiding news is reasonably easy, I know plenty of people who are surprisingly clueless when it comes to current affairs.

However it is somewhat more difficult to follow the news and yet somehow not be aware of stories such as the arrest of Andrew Tate.

Even stories that you might not be interested in appear on TV/radio news and headlines.

No idea where my mobile phone is as I use it less than monthly.

What's the point of having one then? Presumably if you need it you won't even know where it is? Bizarre!

This is out on the 4th, might help and save you reading the book

I read the book, pretty much what you expect, not exactly living my life by it word for word, but it makes valid points

There's no point getting sad or angry about the internet these days, i avoid trying to make sense of where all the money comes from to sustain all the influencers, instafamous, Kardashians and so on, you just have to look at the success of onlyfans to see how mental the place is in terms of making money out of stuff that's readily available for free!

NFTs and so on, that's just the usual pyramid scheme of the year, there's always some magical money making scheme, it's just really sold after the initial people have made the money.

Even stories that you might not be interested in appear on TV/radio news and headlines.

easy to just not read them, especially so on the phone. You can just pick and choose the stories you want to read. I’ve not heard the radio or watched TV news for years. Happy on missing both to be honest. I’ll read up on world matters, environmental news, war in Ukraine, current political climate etc. Just don’t read any sports or celebrity type stuff

If I just pick up my phone and choose stories they'll generally be painfully superficial because quality journalism takes resources beyond regurgitating press agency material. I generally listen to the radio in the morning, France Inter, a German news channel in the day, often Eins Extra, and then French TV news in the evening. This evening it was on Arte which looked at aspects of the Ukraine war, Covid in China... .

The Ukraine war report looked at Israel's difficult position - it doesn't want to provoke Putin which could cause conflict with Russian backed Syria and Iran but wants to back Ukraine and is with anti-missile systems for example. The reporters on the ground, interviews with Israeli representatives, academics... it gave the viewer enough information to draw their own not so simplistic conclusions. That's news as you'll not see it on Twitter, IG or the majority of web-based services which only offer news in bite size chunks trather than gourmet meals.

It's funny how people have zeroed in on SM and Influencers as "The problem" but I think their a just another symptom of misfiring capitalism and mindless money worship. All the same old tricks have been played on us all over and over for 60 odd years. The diversionary tactics of showing us shiny things and people "living their best life" telling us we just need to graft that wee bit more to access all of these goods and imaginary lifestyles, it's wearing thin now. especially (and I know I always say this) when we have food banks in the UK today.

The truth is I'm happiest (and I think other people are too) when I have time to enjoy things and spend with my family and friends, time is a more valuable commodity than people realise.

I think we either need to see a fundamental change in how our billionaire overlords relate to us revenue generating plebs, or else there will be an uprising in the next decade

This sort of mindset Ain't sustainable:

But I know people who fit it...

Now which STWer best fits that model, cookeaa ?

Now which STWer best fits that model, cookeaa ?

Good Question? Who's got an Audi on Finance?

I am far from living up to this but it's one of the best things ever put down on paper. The religious part is purely optional.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.