Jamrock

Waiting to see if anything human makes it out of the near-future

[Jamrock @jamrock]

I got asked recently to resolve the post/trans human debate (in a work context) and was exploring techno-humanism. This led me to Techno-Humanist Manifesto (Jason Crawford/@rootsofprogress) which I am now quietly working through. The content so far feels like it would align with or be well received by #anglofuturism supporters. It is certainly poking a sharp stick at some of my own thinking.

[Jamrock @jamrock]

Almost 20 years of being various different club nights on Twitter

[THE ZIMBALI LOUNGE @ZimbaliLounge]

@jamrock Thursday brings @kemishan hosted by @naselow

https://t.co/aRlzxgqpvK

[Jamrock @jamrock]

They set an appointment for June. Three people turned up today with no appointment. Even though work needs to be done on the main road they were starting to take up my driveway. The fun part: I could not ask them what they were doing or explain to them why they shouldn’t be doing anything because not one of the three spoke a word of English. Not. A. Word. Even Sky were astonished and they deal with Openreach blunders daily.

[Jamrock @jamrock]

I’ve encountered a lot of incompetence in my life but never the level of incompetence that @WeAreOpenreach have managed over the last six months. Even Sky are staggered (and embarrassed).

[Jamrock @jamrock]

@Substack how do you make an app this dysfunctional? Step one: tell me I’m not signed in and “do I want to sign out or ignore?”. Why would I need to sign out if I’m not signed in?! Seeing as Ignore just prompted the same message, I signed out. Now when I open the app, there is no option to sign in?! What is this shambles?

[Jamrock @jamrock]

Today's fun read: https://t.co/UycBgXyYdT

"These findings provide the first empirical evidence that humans increasingly imitate LLMs in their spoken language. Our results raise societal and policy-relevant concerns about the potential of AI to unintentionally reduce linguistic diversity, or to be deliberately misused for mass manipulation. They also highlight the need for further investigation into the feedback loops between machine behavior and human culture"

[Jamrock @jamrock]

@RohanEmpire @megha_lilly this is a great read @RohanEmpire

[Jamrock @jamrock]

I think there is too little discussion and comprehension of neoliberalism, relative to the capitalism that preceded it. As I understand it, neoliberalism removed the "double safeguard on capitalism" which were 1) the protective role of the state (through regulation, welfare and capital controls) and 2) the counter‑power of organised labour (union-busting in UK/US) and social institutions. This cleared the way for intensified profit‑seeking, inequality and "enshittification" that I think the OP refers to. This is no doubt an oversimplified take.

[Jamrock @jamrock]

@TowerofAdam1 thanks for reading, if I build on your idea, us Anglofuturist idiots may need to escape the 'culture of digitality' and reclaim the analogue sphere, perhaps along with revitalising customs.

[Jamrock @jamrock]

@Nina_Power_ I just wrote a small review of Psychopolitics and wanted to link it to something that (if my notes can be trusted) I think you said about challenging the Hegelian system at the end of last week's lecture on AI and Nature.

[Jamrock @jamrock]

I have been revisiting a chapter in Robert Hassan's 'The Condition of Digitality', titled The Culture of Digitality. Key arguments:

* The analogue base and superstructure can’t tell us about culture formation in the digital context.

* Digital production and consumption (base and superstructure) now exist within a single sphere

* This sphere creates a digital loop that excludes and alienates the individual and society from the analogue ‘circle of action’ that constituted a point of authenticity for humans

* Society no longer recognise the basis of our culture formation

* Digital culture does not recognise or promote tradition or creativity

* Edward Thompson argues for a difference between customs and culture, noting customs were more resistant to Capitalism

Source

Hassan, R. 2020. The Culture of Digitality. In: Hassan, R, The Condition of Digitality. London: University of Westminster Press. DOI: https://t.co/anM1txV7T1

[Jamrock @jamrock]

@TowerofAdam1 https://t.co/kTa89wZLj8 < I tend to write to try and make sure I have understood something rather than for an audience but let me know if it makes sense :)

[Jamrock @jamrock]

@Nina_Power_ Thank you for confirming (and for the other link). I was trying to write up my thoughts on that final lecture but needed to get Han's book straight in my head first. The full post is here (if interested): https://t.co/kTa89wZLj8

[Jamrock @jamrock]

@yahya7802 @Google update which app, exactly?

[Jamrock @jamrock]

Is this article, along with “retromania” and The Great Meme Reset, evidence of a foreclosed future or simply a rejection of digital and algorithmic culture (or both) https://t.co/hmMCJeMTFP

[Jamrock @jamrock]

it’s still incubating amongst those driving it with a plan to “launch” on 1st Jan 2026, alongside the revival of Vine (which is promising a zero tolerance approach to AI content). These young teens are rebelling Luddite-style against the algorithms and AI slop (which may be semi relevant to tonight’s lecture).

[Jamrock @jamrock]

Could anything resonate harder with Mark Fisher's 'slow cancellation of the future' than Gen Z/Alpha's 'The Great Meme Reset' movement and their zeal to bring back 2016-era memes?

[Jamrock @jamrock]

core to this movement is the revival of Vine (!) https://t.co/496rv1Sj9Q

[New York Post @nypost]

Jack Dorsey’s former boss revives Vine to escape ‘AI Slop’ https://t.co/9SIgDaz0pB

[Jamrock @jamrock]

@Nina_Power_ It's an ebook version on Kobo (an alternative to Amazon) and was available to buy and in my basket. When I returned to check out it had labelled it as "no longer available in the UK"

[Jamrock @jamrock]

@Nina_Power_ I swear this has happened since I put it in the basket (on https://t.co/102zzghqVc)