this post was submitted on 04 May 2024
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[–] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 24 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)

Yeah. You're right that we've always been dumb and stupid and would do stupid shit to impress our peer group

But I firmly believe social media has inflated the definition of "peer group" to include "internet followers", which jacks the whole stupidity up to 11.

For example, you're a nineties kid walking through the mall with your friends in your JNKO jeans and your slap-it watch. One of your friends decides he's going to be an idiot by balancing on the railing of the second floor and you all have a good laugh. Edit: If his friends hadn't been there, would he have done it? I doubt it. But now his "friends" don't have to be there, because they're just random followers to give him social media points.

That's sort of what I meant. Its not the we didn't do dumb shit as kids, its that social media credit has motivated people to do dumb shit when they normally wouldn't.

Edit: also, WE grew out of it. Nowadays they are socially and financially incentivized to NOT grow out of that phase.

[–] deathbird@mander.xyz 7 points 6 months ago

Yeah. No one ever gave me AdSense dollars for nearly busting my fucking head.

[–] RyruGrr@lemmy.world 6 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Truth. As an 80s kid / 90s teen, I feel pretty lucky to be alive. I'm grateful for the few times in my life when common sense kicked in, and I said no.

[–] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 5 points 6 months ago

Same. Was thirteen in 89. Graduated in 94. Hit Y2K at 23. Basically peak Clerks/Dazed and Confused generation.

To make matters worse I grew up in a small town where there was nothing better to do THAN do stupid shit with friends.

[–] postmateDumbass@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

Natural selection will find a place to strike.