The Algorithm in Social Media...

 

This video:

deals with how Russell Brand's content (and espoused political leanings) changed as a function of the number of hits he got on social media.  Of course, recently, with reports of sexual assault surrounding him, Brand has gone full tilt born again Christian.  But clearly he was monitoring how his content changes garnered increased social media clicks and therefore advertising money flowing to him.

I was reminded of this given the evolution of one "Zen teacher"  in particular, who likes to have an edgy online presence himself.  Well, he's gone from edgy to rather transphobic, to being red-pilled these days or so it seems.   So I can't help but wonder if that teacher is riding the algorithm for fun and profit in the manner of Russell Brand.  

If that is the case, in my view that's as bad or perhaps even worse than another Zen teacher's appropriation (and copyrighting???) of "Big Mind" a while back. 

On the other hand,  he might not be riding the algorithm.   Then again, he does have the demographic/financial issues that the "Big Mind" guy would inevitably have as he gets older, but I don't know either way.   I was just struck by the juxtaposition of Brand's trajectory, as outlined in that video, and the Zen teacher I'm discussing here.   It could all be unconscious - that's what The Algorithm is designed for - increasing user engagement without them being consciously aware that it's being done.  And that he recently put out a video bemoaning his financial state, well, that's a data point.  Regardless, while Buddhists I know would meet  a red-pilled guy with equanimity, it doesn't by any stretch mean that it's desirable to be red-pilled - it is not the way it's currently as used a sly reference to The Matrix. Rather, it's being used in the manner of... wait for it if you haven't heard this... being red-pilled towards, uh, reactionary monarchism as promulgated by a tech bro friend of Peter Thiel and Elon Musk, one Curtis Yarvin, writing under a pseudonym.  Yes, even if you're a cis guy, things are going to get very, very weird; the weird have not only turned pro, they're tech billionaires.  As far as the desirability of being red-pilled is concerned, maybe you can ask some descendants of the Romanovs or the Korean royal family; to sum up the history of monarchy with yet another movie reference,  monarchy is like a box of chocolates.   You never know what you're going to get.   MIS (Managing Information Systemes) departments are similar if you've ever had to interact with them. I was lucky in my last job that the MIS folks were top-notch, once they accepted that we weren't going to be a Windows-only office.  But I've had some folks... well... one was actually a criminal, criming the office. So it is with enlightened tech-bro despots too.  But I digress.

Recently the Zen teacher's been trashing other Zen teachers who have the temerity to offer consolation and compassion to those who are deeply upset by the recent election.  In doing so I was struck by his utter lack of self-awareness; that his critiques of others actually apply more to himself than anyone else.  That is, as I know it, there is no separation amongst beings, and his trashing of course, is making an illusory separation. 

Since he's only about 60, I suggest strongly that, if he wants to be taken seriously as a Zen teacher, that he, you know, deepen his training, because what he is writing and saying is, in my view, at odds with "dying on the cushion," even as one goes about one's daily life tasks, chores, and rest.

I haven't, as you may have noticed, named him, but if you've been around the Buddhist blogosphere or social media world for a while, you probably know who he is.  I haven't named him because there is more important work to be done, and that work is to  deepen the endeavor to abide unmoved mentally and emotionally in these times, to continue to work with the breath throughout the day, putting all into the dantian (丹田).    That is really being edgy, I think, though it isn't clickbait, and won't bring in oodles of ad dollars.   And in that practice, there is actually no separation between me and that teacher.  In that practice, there's simply no need for a social media food fight; on social media I've already said my piece anyway.  And that piece in a nutshell is what I've written here:  He should get a Zen teacher. 

And we should all deepen the practice. 

PS: That teacher - and Brand - also remind me of the term conspirituality.  If you're not familiar with the term, by all means do click the link.  Yes, folks, it's possible to be a Zen Buddhist without going down the rabbit hole.  I shouldn't have to write that, but these days, you never can be too cautious.