Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms X

So now we have X, or eX-Twitter.
It seems that there are a few IT entrepreneurs who want to dominate the world. Apparently Musk has plans to create the dominant "social" app.

What a contrast all this is to how the internet started with open standards, search engines without publicity, even YouTube had little publicity and what there was was not intrusive. Email and SMS messages were a standard format that could be viewed on the device or operating system of your choice.

What do we have now? A jungle of incompatible messaging systems where every promoter wants exclusive rights to data-mine your messages and collect the details of all your contacts; and intrusive advertising makes veiwing many sites such a pain that it is often easier to just abandon viewing some sites than continue.

Don't get me wrong, I understand someone has to pay for the services but the end result is too many parasites in the system that just add to the cost of everything without actually providing anything of value.

I just wish that we could have a standard messaging system (like email and SMSs) where we could use the service provider or app of our choice for ruotine messages and, perhaps more funtionallity when messaging users of the same system.

It is true that the plain SMS is now somewhat limited in today's world but an enhanced version of MMS supported by all the major messging apps would be wonderful and could be set up in susch a way that you could effectively message users of apps that are different to your choice of app.

A dream? of course it is! the main players in the world of "social" and messaging apps have no intention of co-operating with others in their mad lust for power, wealth , and, above all, domination.

I was on Twitter quite early but soon realised it’s just a mass of hatred and gave up quite soon after. It’s a vile place. I occasionally get emails linking me to various conversations with those I ‘used to’ follow and occasionally I take a quick look and soon realise it’s a complete waste of mind space and time

YouTube is fabulous for me. I’ve gone Premium to get rid of the adverts and it’s the best £12 I spend a month. I have loads of interests and hobbies. Wargaming, miniature painting, crafts, military history, playing tennis, keyboards and piano in a covers band, and now I’ve just moved to a new house, the number of times I’ve typed in ‘how to …. ‘ for various DIY projects recently with top informative videos coming back in my searches is just invaluable

The various Facebook groups I belong to are interesting as well and it seems to have a good community spirit in the groups I belong to and certainly doesn’t seem to be as vile as X

WhatsApp groups for my various activities is now a vital communication tool for me: Organising games of tennis with various partners and chatting to fellow band mates inbetween gigs and practices and chatting to various friends in small groups. Posting silly amusing ‘funnies’ is always good for a laugh

Other than Twitter, the other two social media apps I can’t seem to get on with are Tick Tock and Instagram. Instagram is just boring, just pretty pictures with no real discussion or genuine interest and it all looks false. Tick Tock is another platform that just wastes time, might be slightly amusing but after 2 minutes of getting caught watching utter rubbish, I get angry with myself for having wasted 2 minutes of my life

Stewart, I can totally relate to that description of the various platforms. It would be interesting to join up the typical age groups of the various platforms to indicate the content and attitude!

I agree with Peter re the "you have to be on this new app" fashion cobblers. I used to make phone calls on my phone. Last week someone new I had been introduced to asked for my mobile number. In order to add it to their WhatsCrap sp they could speak to me in the future. Automatic assumption I am on WhatsCrap?

I now have about 16 apps used for various different things that can do at least voice and usually video plus a phone tool that almost never gets used. Ordering take-aways being about the most consistent and thats only because Just Eat cannot find our tiny village and the local food places don't want to waste money going on-line. Our best Chinese place just posts their menu on the local village facebook page and gets no complaints.

For me the real issue comes down to removing human contact and the ability to relate to others, like a trip to the pub and meeting new people in a realistic manner. Avoiding the loonies. Well at least loonies to me.

I cannot imagine how people who grow up now, using the web, on Insta posting photos of their botox brows and pumped up lips at the teenager stage are going to manage getting into a real relationship and develop a perpetual bond. I am a dinosaur. Mind you it may help slow down the over-population of the world if Durex could leverage this change and do a bit more advertising.

So much for progress.

I use Google Mail, Apple Messaging and WhatsApp. Nothing Else.
I "exist" on Facebook and Linkedin, but never post.
I do not use Facebook, although my wife does. She tells me that my lack of use of Facebook is because I'm a grumpy old dinosaur. True, but I'm happy.
The App I use the most is WeatherPro and RainToday. Next is my Kindle reader and then Waze.

I use apps mostly on a desktop and resist adding pointless apps to my phone.
I actually prefer to use voice mail than email to chat... talking of chat, what is "Snap Chat"??
What is Instagram?

My usage of “X” has changed. In the beginning I found it to be a valuable networking tool that added value to my business. In retirement, I now use it as a news aggregator- so,etching it does quite well for the topics I am interested in. The discussion element has long since ceased to have any value - for the reasons given above.

Threads has yet to establish itself but is a (for now) much nicer place than “X”.

Instagram is a useful means of keeping tabs on nephews and nieces who post pictures on there from time to time. The algorithm that shows you suggested posts is a pain in the proverbial.

Xitter is a mess. I've been on it since the v early days, when *all the tweets* scrolled on the twittr home page!

Now I filter out the cacophony with Lists - I have a list for Journalists I read, for Formula 1, for conference speakers, friends, and so on.

As for the main feeds, the algorithm makes them self-fulfilling echo-chambers, playing back what the algorithm thinks I'm interested in. The signal to noise ratio is very poor, and I spend next to no time there now.

Will

I have been a passive member of X for years and this thread reminds me to quit. It never made sense to me, it's boring to "follow" anyone and I don't post anything there. If something is supposed to be important that someone writes on X then I read it in the paper anyway. Instagram I have only for market research purposes in desk research studies. Tiktok is something for 17 year olds. I am an avid youtube user, from astronomy to audio, guitars to cars and politics. Very refreshing to watch and listen to e.g. the Times Radio interviews on the Ukraine war.

I only use emails, Apple messaging and WhatsApp. Apple messaging only for the family group or individual family members a ndWhatsApp to sort out our golf tee times.
I generally avoid Faceache although the local Morgan group one is useful. Don't use any of the other apps so I must be another dinasour. I prefer to actually talk to other people either face to face or on the phone.

PJ, you might like to join sone of the larger scale modelling groups on Facebook. They are really interesting
The ones I belong to are:
I love Scale Models
Scale Model Universe
The Model Shop Scale Modelling Community
Art of Scale and miniature Modelling

There are also some just dedicated to aircraft that might be of interest

When RC models get out of hand:

https://www.facebook.com/HorizonHobby/videos/6396121083835540