Ask Lemmy

Not quite on topic, but I was never able to hate the situation with Werner von Braun. Space technology, both real and imagined, has always been an inspiration for me. It embodies the dream of aspiring to more and greater, can lift us humans above our roots as clever tool using animals. The science and technology is a great investment as it pulls every part of society forward toward a better future (and I know some of y’all will come to bad-mouth this, but se la vie).

Werner von Braun developed rockets for the nazis, and I believe was responsible for the V2s that caused death and destruction in the UK. And it’s a root that has developed in some of the worst of humanity. And the us government brought him over, let him avoid any prosecution, used his work and let him build on it. But the us civilian space program brought us the dream, the challenge, the inspiration with his help. I am fine with that.

My feelings on the situation are pretty much inline with his treatment in “For All Mankind” and I even feel somewhat sad for him.

I try not to, but it seems like most rockstars are shitbags and the stories don’t always come out until much later.

Depends on the level of bad and even though i will sometimes pirate some of it.

Yes, but I will go out of my way not to pay for it.

I was about to say no, but I still listened a bit to the last One Morning Left album after I learned the singer was caught grooming an underage girl.

It sucks because the album was in my top 5 of the last 10 years and now I can't listen to it.

As soon as the other bandmates learned about the situation, they dissolved the band. So good on them for killing their livelihood to at least make a difference.

IF I think I'm going to learn something from seeing their frame-of-reference ( like: HOW it's wrong ), XOR their reasoning ( ditto ), certainly.

How'm I supposed to learn anything if I only remain within comforting meanings??

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There is at least one tictoc lady I watch religiously, even though she is a MAGA nutter.

I hate to sound like this, but I'm not watching for her thoughts and opinions.

For me, it's a constant question of: does the good of this person make up for the bad. I think that's fair. I don't expect anyone to be perfect, but I can't enjoy art made by someone whose misdeeds/horrible ideology overshadow the greatness of the art.

Yes. I don't often buy media so I haven't yet tested if I would give them money, but I hope I wouldn't.

American culture in general... Like I already admit to myself I pay tax to kill people. Shit america monetizes immorality and you can reach your "American Dream" by utilizing it.

There's nothing moral about this life.

The nation we fund is sick.

There's criminals with a stronger moral compass and better manners than some "regular" Americans.

The production and distribution of much media means that it's practically impossible to avoid.

I try to avoid media when my consumption of that media significantly benefits bad people, and there is a reasonable alternative.

For example, I don't consume Harry Potter content because fuck jk Rowling. She is a key creative and a key beneficiary of consuming that media. There are alternatives within that genre I can read instead.
But I do use audible, despite them being terrible, because that's where my collection is and thats where new releases are.

I was going to say no, but for actual art, like music or tv shows, of course I do. I appreciate quality. I just have no interest in watching influencers be mean and/or stupid.

I try not to. If they have shitty political takes or real criminal stuff at least.

A lot of the time, if they're the writer or director, it shows though in the media.

Yes, all the time. Any behind-the-scenes stuff isn't even on my radar.

Nope, because the contributions from my viewership just promotes their horrible immorality/views and helps spread them by giving it attention. If I find out someone s a MAGAt or other country's equivalent I drop them like a bad habit. I have no desire to help promote their line of thinking, even if the content is benign, and social ostracizing is the only real tool I have. I have stopped watching artists, youtube channels, and such because eventually said person's views come into focus. Any support of them also promote harm to people I care about because they may be likely to support candidates that'd hurt them.

I watch Paul Miller shorts in short downtimes so yea I'm a bit conflicted lol

Yes, I have to admit a lot of the red pill dreck is entertaining in a mean-spirited way. And yes, political muck-raking and conspiracy theories as well. It satisfies some primal part of me I barely understand, and then I get back to reality

As is a lot of ai slop media, if you count that as immoral. It’s usually some space opera, romance or petty revenge fantasy written at middle school level, but I can watch a half hour escapist video that satisfies something in me.

Clearly “professional” media is partly to blame. I still try to stay objectively informed but the ongoing death of journalism makes that harder every day. In my chill out time I try to mind movies and tv shows to entertain me, but cable and streaming companies make it more painful every day." It’s really not worth it.

Certainly I am as well, filling up on the addictive sugar-laced snack foods of media, letting my attention span fade, and immersing myself in some twisted version of reality that can’t be good for anyone’s mental health. But I’m just saying the “healthy snacks” are priced out of reach and getting less and less shelf space

I try not to. It becomes a true guilty pleasure.

'immoral' or 'bad' are not qualities, they are judgments and they depend on one's own personal values and biases. I tend to not think in moral terms in regards to information, I worry more about being, well, informed.

I read newspapers to be informed (we don't have a tv, and I don't use social media at all for that purpose). I read newspapers and magazines from 'my political side' as well as from the different 'sides', including the ones I may completely be in opposition with (meaning I also pay for them). Why? Because listening to diverging voices, even ones I can disagree with, helps me to not take anything for granted and even less so my own biases take over and blind my own judgment.

I will also read some mean-spirited content (provided I consider them well made), and pay for them too. Because I consider they're are more important than ever in our badly self-censoring and chastised (not to say neutered) times. Freedom of expression should not be limited to what one agrees with, that's my (very simple, I'll admit that) logic.