What is Facebook?

[Bundokji]

...ideally, a wise man has nothing to hide except for practical reasons...
Such as?

Our worldly laws are not meant to be perfect, but they are necessary to organize the relationships between individuals within the group (practical reasons). ....

I'm looking for examples of what you consider "practical reasons" per your first quote above. Since the topic is Facebook and we're in the news forum, I'm focused on discussing mundane rather than dhammic reasoning.

The two are inseparable in my mind. The mundane and what you described as "dhammic reasoning" are one! What is the use of Dhamma if not in everyday life and our relationship with ourselves and the other?

The difference i am referring to is psychological and has practicle consequences. For example, if i know something about you and i have the choice to either remain silent, or to talk to you privately, or to address you in public, the criteria would be why i chose one of the above? If the underlying intention is ill will for instance, the choice or action would cause suffering to both of us. Privacy here is a mere factor (something to be used), not an end in itself.

Similarly, if i am doing something harmful, then talking about it (even though difficult) might help me stop doing it again, and in that case talking about it would be a good idea because the underlying intention is wholesome (to end fear). This is what i meant about the therapeutic effect, and Christians use what they describe as "confession" in their practices which is a good practice in my opinion. The only problem is that they link it to the idea of "sin" which is unnecessary and harmful.

Most people post on Facebook for the wrong reasons (self promotion). And wrong reasons lead to more fear because the underlying cause is fear. In the case of the wise, his intention is exactly the opposite, which is the elimination of fear (suffering). This is why, going against the grain is what Buddhists do, and that does not make them different species from their fellow humans, but simply wiser.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,



Metta,
Paul.

[alan]

I do love that one, Retro.

[rightviewftw]

Feel bad for zuckerberg, sure there is something he would rather do than going to these meetings.

[Spiny Norman]

Why we, as human beings, are so concerned about privacy?

Why we, as human beings, have this neurotic need to tell the whole world about the trivia of our lives?

[Spiny Norman]

Feel bad for zuckerberg, sure there is something he would rather do than going to these meetings.

Yeah, wondering how to spend all his money. Poor dear.

[Bundokji]

Why we, as human beings, are so concerned about privacy?

Why we, as human beings, have this neurotic need to tell the whole world about the trivia of our lives?

I think because it helps us experience our existence through feedback. We prefer the feedback to be positive probably through measuring how many likes or shares we get on our posts in the case of Facebook, but even a negative feedback is still preferable to us than no feedback. Maybe because our existence is not real in the first place, seeking re-assurances or justifications (either in the positive or the negative) becomes the main driver of our behavior.

However, as long as self view is still present in us, i believe that adopting an objective view of one's self by renouncing our interests and personality (even if for a short while) is a step in the right direction. The idea of "privacy" both in the legal and social sense is often used as a tool to convey a carefully fabricated image of ourselves and in the process, creating expectations about future behavior which often become a cause of suffering. I am not an expert in the Vinaya, but i remember that some offenses requires the monk to go and talk about it to other monks to cause embarrassment when the offense falls short of disrobing.

While i agree with your description that it is all a trivia, facing certain aspects of ourselves and exposing them publicly helps us realize our own insignificance, and probably to stop acting as if our shit does not stink. Some philosophers built a philosophy out of these simple truths such as Michel de Montaigne who mentioned in his book stories about a man who committed suicide out of shame for not being able to control himself when he farted at dinner banquet, or a woman who was so embarrassed to chew in public and always ate behind a curtain, and another man on his death bed who requested to be buried in his underpants so no one could see his penis. Out of these simple observations comes friendly reminders such as "on the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our bottom" or "kings and philosophers shit, so do ladies".

Try to compare the above with Ajahn Chah for instance who advised his disciples to counter their sexual desire by thoughts of women defecating. Objective thinking about the world might not be the final aim of the path, but helps us become less infatuated and more balanced in my opinion.

[binocular]

Why we, as human beings, have this neurotic need to tell the whole world about the trivia of our lives?

Because it's not actually trivial at all.

But beyond that:

[Kamran]

Facebook buys your data from other places too, like the grocery store you shop at.

So even if you don’t post much they have a lot of data on you.

Btw the government is doing a lot more too with regards to monitoring you under the guise of terrorism but actually just to get more power.

[Spiny Norman]

Why we, as human beings, have this neurotic need to tell the whole world about the trivia of our lives?

Because it's not actually trivial at all.

From what I've seen it mostly is trivial.

But beyond that:

Sharing personal problems with friends and family is one thing, but broadcasting them to a world of strangers is another thing entirely - it seems strange to me.

[Spiny Norman]

But we do mind if our identity is "scraped" by an unknown person or entity

Or if our data is collected and sold on to shady political organisations.

[chownah]

Why we, as human beings, have this neurotic need to tell the whole world about the trivia of our lives?

Because it's not actually trivial at all.

From what I've seen it mostly is trivial.

Trivial or not, it seems very obvious to me that it is clinging to identity. I can't really see much of a use for facebook that does not come under the categoroy of clinging to identity.
chownah

[cjmacie]

Here's an interesting bit from the Congressional hearings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdqUfJm ... e=youtu.be

Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo is represents Silicon Valley, and, btw, Facebook contributed to her re-election campaigns to the tune of some $38,000.

[rightviewftw]

go away facebook

[aflatun]

go away facebook