The Facebook opium den
Published: Sun, 09/08/19
Especially questions about Facebook... which I got more than I know to say on the subject.
But first up, a troll nips at my ankle:
“Your emails are getting duller and duller with each passing week Ben. Maybe you need a new schtick.”
BEN SETTLE: Who are you?
Next, Lucas, a proud SJW, attempts a glorious drive-by snipe:
“Hey not sure if you’re interested in history at all
But look into our transition from a matriarchal society to a patriarchal.
Also: you sound like a dumbass.
:)
Have a nice day.
BEN SETTLE: Don't sell yourself short Chuckles, you sound plenty matriarchal.
After which Tito fanboys out over Amazon:
(responding to an email I wrote about why Amazon’s days are numbered due to pricing)
“This argument was somewhat valid 8 years ago. Amazon keeps growing and growing in different ways."
BEN SETTLE: Bezos himself said it last year to his shareholders:
“Amazon is not too big to fail...In fact, I predict one day Amazon will fail. Amazon will go bankrupt. If you look at large companies, their lifespans tend to be 30-plus years, not a hundred-plus years.”
Tailed by Danno dropping by to say:
“Love all your emails, Ben, but thought I'd let you know that even as a true fan, I have hard time reading them because -- They show up too wide! Which makes the side-to-side eyeball sweep tricky.”
BEN SETTLE: A true fan would simply shrink/narrow his email reader window…
With hotmail user Andrew asking:
"Hey ben. Dude. I even VIP you and your emails still end up in junk mail. What gives?"
BEN SETTLE: I suggest anyone using hotmail, yahoo, msn, and any other free email addresses that are known to be especially hostile to marketers, get a real email address with their own domain, like real businesses have, and they'll probably see less legit marketer messages in the junk folders.
And finally, a newer reader asks:
“Why aren’t you on Facebook I cant find you anywhere on there. everyone should have a social media presence, where is yours?"
BEN SETTLE: The list of reasons I high-tailed it off there is long and indistinguished.
Like, for example:
The ho'ing out of personal data.
The blatant political de-platforming.
And also the psychological, hormonal, and emotional fallout regular users are experiencing, without even realizing it, and whether they think they are "immune" to it or not, making it like a virtual version of the Old West opium dens.
And on that note:
Anyone who has been on Yours Selfish's list a while knows I rarely - i.e. never - plug anyone or anything but my own offers, websites, books, etc, unless I am getting paid as an affiliate or benefiting in some other way.
I’m in the publishing business, not the charity business, after all.
And, ironically, I even vehemently warn against doing such in this month's "Email Players" issue.
But today I'm breaking my own rule & making an exception.
And I'm doing it for someone I don't even know.
And, who's a life coach of all people.
Proof we really do live in strange times...
Anyway, "Email Players" subscriber Ken McCarthy (the undisputed "founding father" of internet marketing) sent me the link to the video below about how, as loopy as Facebook is making people now, it is only going to get infinitely worse.
It’s all by design, too.
At least, according to Facebook’s co-founder.
And now that Facebook's getting in the dating app game, I suspect all the privacy-breaching and zombie-like addiction to likes, pings, & alerts, as well as the intelligence-butchering and virtue signaling and suicides... will accelerate at breakneck speed.
If you want to watch it, go here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmXcjvL9VSc
Happy Facebooking...
Ben Settle
P.S. Speaking of the BookFace and things I never ordinarily do:
A few years ago, I founded what was — according to many of its members who haunted many business groups — one of the most rabidly engaged and addictive (probably even a part of the overall problem talked about in the above video...) Facebook groups in my industry, called “elBenbo’s Lair.”
Not the biggest group, by any means.
In fact, one of my gimmicks was to have an aggressive immigration policy blocking most people from getting in at all, and then ruthlessly kicking people out for the smallest of infractions, and sometimes for no reason at all.
But, I do believe it was one of the most engaged groups.
Anyway, here is why I bring it up:
Last month I made an offer to my Email Players of the Horde in the August issue, that resulted in doing half a dozen or so one hour consults, which I hardly ever do. And, I started thinking about the possibility of having a small event right here in the Chateau Settle Tower where I sit now, that looms high atop elBenbo’s Bluff - and is essentially the beating heart of elBenbo’s Lair incarnate.
It’d be limited to no more than 4 people.
And, I am thinking 2 or 3 would be ideal.
But either way, it’d cost at least $10k - and probably more - for a full day of hot seats and a feeding-frenzy of idea exchanges with the room, plus travel and lodging in one of the hardest places in the US to get to, according to many yokels ‘round here.
I mention this to put some “feelers” out there only.
It is still very much in the brain fart stage.
And it would not be until next year some time, if I do it at all.
There also wouldn’t be any other non-paying people, experts, speakers, or anyone comped to “pad” the room with or whatever. There’s barely enough room in my office lair for just a few people as it is. It'd be just me, the paying attendees, and my long-suffering dog Zoe - talking about your business plans, marketing, emails, strategy, goals, Mission, future, or whatever you want I am qualified to yap about.
I’ll talk more about this if the idea keeps haunting me, and if there is any demand for it.
But for now, and in the meantime:
I highly suggest listening to the video above if you are active on Facebook beyond just keeping in touch with family and friends, and are interested in ways to sharpen your mind, protect your time, and have a huge advantage over your social media-addicted competition in the days, weeks, months, years, and decades to come.