I wrote this blog on a plane on a little notebook flying to a funeral and it’s not my best but the best I could do and I wanted to get something in so here it is. Not even any pictures. Oh, well.
We are being gamed:
I’m reading Weapons of Math Destruction, by O’Neil. I highly recommend it because it is so informative, about how we are being manipulated and controlled by algorithms, computer programs we know nothing about. It has chapters on college admissions, loans, prison sentences, and other areas of life, some of which probably apply to you. We are being gamed.
It is very interesting,and well written, and yet I have trouble sticking with it. It doesn’t hold my attention for very long. I think partly because it is somewhat repetitive. One algorithm screws us in one area and then another one in another area and then —. But I’m doing ok reading it in chunks, even tho I can’t always even finish a chapter as a chunk.
Conspiracy Theories
The book provides support to conspiracy theorists, of which I think I may be becoming one. And I think this program I’m using which puts spaces in strange places may be in conspiracy with facebook, which keeps cutting the tops, or sometimes the sides, off my pictures.
Strategies
So my strategy is to commit to finishing it, because it is valuable information, and interesting in one sense, and to just keep reading chunks at a time til I’m done. And try to read a whole chapter as each chunk, but not to worry about it if I can’t.
So this is about ADHD, and how it causes me problems in my life, and about strategies to cope, but really it is a book recommendation. I hope you’ll follow it and give some comments for feedback.
doug
Michael Hyatt’s inspirational post just a little late for Thanksgiving Day
Tech challenged, includes some pictures anyway
Minimally significant comment o the day:
Well, guess what. I didn’t have my computer to provide pictures to put in but then I realized I could copy one off another post. So we are not entirely pictureless anyway.
living with ADHD
ADDadultstrategies 
Hi Doug. Yes, we are all being gamed in one way or another! The American public is being manipulated, often without our knowledge, in many unscrupulous ways. The most common method is through advertising. Weapons of Math Destruction describes the dangers of relying on big data analytics to solve problems. Of course, it is well known that statistics can be manipulated to support the results that are desired.
However, I’m more concerned with the way the American public was gamed during the recent Presidential election, and by politicians in general to gain widespread power. For example, politicians can use gerrymandering to control which party has a large advantage in a district. In the state where I live, there is a Congressional district that is about 120 miles wide east to west, but very narrow north to south – only about 20 yards at its narrowist!
Good luck with your reading, Doug. The more informed people become, the less likely they can be gamed by others! Jeff
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jeff – it is a mess I’m wondering if our ADHD makes us easier to game.
as always, thank you for commenting
doug
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Hi Doug. In my opinion, I don’t think ADHD makes us easier to game. I think people allowing themselves to be ignorant makes them easier to game. Don’t you agree?
As to O’Neil’s book, I believe a problem even bigger than “big data” is the prevalence of misinformation and propaganda in the political system that allows unscrupulous people to gain immense power in this country. If you Google “Fake news website” and “Post-truth politics” you can learn more about this. There’s a great article online by the Washington Post titled “‘Post-truth’ named 2016 word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries.” This article is quite enlightening, and proclaims that as of 2016 “It’s official: Truth is dead. Facts are passe.” Don’t you think these issues are also very important, Doug?
On another note, I recently saw a very good film that I thought you might enjoy. It was filmed in New Mexico, stars Amy Adams, Emily Blunt and Alan Arkin, and is titled “Sunshine Cleaning.” The film is really about a family’s attempts to stay together despite a number of obstacles in their way. Although it’s only my guess, Emily Blunt’s character may have ADHD. As always, thank you for your help as I deal with my ADHD! Jeff
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jeff – liked the film!
the problem is we have no way of discerning the truth.
thank you for commenting
doug
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