Things that annoy you (50 Viewers)

[SBT]

Nope. I laughed at it not for the arguments themselves but because you think I want no free press and total censorship. I said AI could replace the vast majority of them and stand by it.

It’s tiresome on this place people putting 2+2 together and getting 50. I do await someone writing an essay debunking Nick, anyway.

It’s crazy, all I did was say unprompted that I hope every journalist on the planet gets put out of work, now people are trying to suggest I don’t like the press?

 

---

[Nick]

It’s crazy, all I did was say unprompted that I hope every journalist on the planet gets put out of work, now people are trying to suggest I don’t like the press?

Guess it depends on the definition of a journalist.

Bit silly to say every single one. Glorified copy and pasters can go.

 

[SBT]

Guess it depends on the definition of a journalist.

Bit silly to say every single one. Glorified copy and pasters can go.

It’s already happening!

 

[Nick]

It’s already happening!

Copy and pasters going? Good.

Actual investigative journalists can stay. (I don't mean people who watch Facebook to ask if they can use somebody's picture of Jesus in toast).

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

It’s crazy, all I did was say unprompted that I hope every journalist on the planet gets put out of work, now people are trying to suggest I don’t like the press?

Not what I said, of course.

‘AI can replace the vast majority of journalists’ got turned into ‘I want Soviet style censorship of the press’. And I suspect you deep down know I’m right that if we’re going to encourage things like ChatGPT to be used as essay writing tools, ultimately the vast majority of hacks who report on factual events or write opinion pieces tailored towards their audience won’t be needed.

Those carrying out original investigative work would still be needed, along with those in editorial control of whatever media form it is. The providers of the rest would just switch from human to machine.

 

[SBT]

Not what I said, of course.

???

If there’s one profession I hope is made obsolete by ChatGPT it’s journalism

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

???

As a percentage, how many journalists are there carrying out original investigative work? Compared to the whole profession?

 

[SBT]

As a percentage, how many journalists are there carrying out original investigative work? Compared to the whole profession?

So you’re pivoting back to “I don’t dislike the press, I just think only a tiny fraction of them do valid work”?

 

[SBT]

I’m a true believer in the importance of a respected, well-supported and thriving education system. That’s why I dream of a day when almost all teachers get laid off and replaced by robots.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

So you’re pivoting back to “I don’t dislike the press, I just think only a tiny fraction of them do valid work”?

That isn’t my pivot it’s my belief

 

[SBT]

That isn’t my pivot it’s my belief

Which news outlets do you read? There are people on here with garbage news diets who I’m not surprised have a dim view of the media, I didn’t think you’d be one of them.

 

[Nick]

I’m a true believer in the importance of a respected, well-supported and thriving education system. That’s why I dream of a day when almost all teachers get laid off and replaced by robots.

Also known as COVID when parents became teachers

 

[Astute]

So you’re pivoting back to “I don’t dislike the press, I just think only a tiny fraction of them do valid work”?

Correct.

If you need evidence look no further than the CET. Wasps put lots of money into the CET in advertising trying to get people to support them. Nothing bad was ever reported about them. Money talks. But once they knew Wasps were finished and no more income coming from them (stopped paying the bills) the journalists were finally allowed to do their jobs properly.

 

[fernandopartridge]

@Brighton Sky Blue - how does the ballot work at school level? Does each individual school need to reach a threshold to strike or does the main ballot threshold give the teachers the right to strike? Just asking because my lad's school was open on the last official strike day

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Which news outlets do you read? There are people on here with garbage news diets who I’m not surprised have a dim view of the media, I didn’t think you’d be one of them.

Mostly the i and the Guardian. But again most of the pieces in there could be done equally well by a machine. And why do I read them-because of the content or where it comes from? The former, because I’ll probably agree with it.

 

[SBT]

Correct.

If you need evidence look no further than the CET. Wasps put lots of money into the CET in advertising trying to get people to support them. Nothing bad was ever reported about them. Money talks. But once they knew Wasps were finished and no more income coming from them (stopped paying the bills) the journalists were finally allowed to do their jobs properly.

The CET is a brilliant example of what happens when people lose respect for the importance of actual journalism, lay off as many journalists as they can, and try to replace it with an algorithm-driven approach instead.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

@Brighton Sky Blue - how does the ballot work at school level? Does each individual school need to reach a threshold to strike or does the main ballot threshold give the teachers the right to strike? Just asking because my lad's school was open on the last official strike day

Is he at a private or state school?

 

[SBT]

Mostly the i and the Guardian. But again most of the pieces in there could be done equally well by a machine. And why do I read them-because of the content or where it comes from? The former, because I’ll probably agree with it.

By the machine you’ve invented in your head, you mean? The machine which could presumably replace almost any industry on the planet, but which you have for some entirely non-malicious and non-petty reason earmarked for journalism as a priority?

 

[Astute]

The CET is a brilliant example of what happens when people lose respect for the importance of actual journalism, lay off as many journalists as they can, and try to replace it with an algorithm-driven approach instead.

More like forget about investigative reporting if that's where their income is coming from.

 

[shmmeee]

I’m a true believer in the importance of a respected, well-supported and thriving education system. That’s why I dream of a day when almost all teachers get laid off and replaced by robots.

Considering by far the biggest bottleneck in the system is enough competent teachers Id strongly agree.

 

[SBT]

Considering by far the biggest bottleneck in the system is enough competent teachers Id strongly agree.

I’ve got nothing against the tiny minority of teachers who actually do proper teaching. It’s just the thought of laying off the rest of them makes me all

 

[shmmeee]

The CET is a brilliant example of what happens when people lose respect for the importance of actual journalism, lay off as many journalists as they can, and try to replace it with an algorithm-driven approach instead.

Id argue it’s an example of what happens when your high minded investigative journalists kid themselves that they are the killer app of their industry and not second hand goods and wedding notices.

Good journalism faces a market problem. No one wants to pay for it. Until you solve that or fund it through something like the licence fee I’m not sure it matters what anyone else thinks. We’re heading for click bait all the way down to keep web advertisers happy.

There might be a model like Substack for a few high profile journalists but that comes with its own set of perverse incentives.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Is he at a private or state school?

Fucking hell, what do you think? State

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Fucking hell, what do you think? State

Nick’s daughter goes to a striking private school is why I asked. In the state school it will depend how many teachers are in the union that’s striking (NEU). If enough of them are in the NASUWT, the Head has enough staff to still keep the school open.

 

[SBT]

Id argue it’s an example of what happens when your high minded investigative journalists kid themselves that they are the killer app of their industry and not second hand goods and wedding notices.

Good journalism faces a market problem. No one wants to pay for it. Until you solve that or fund it through something like the licence fee I’m not sure it matters what anyone else thinks. We’re heading for click bait all the way down to keep web advertisers happy.

There might be a model like Substack for a few high profile journalists but that comes with its own set of perverse incentives.

Totally agree. It’s hard for many industries to meet your customers’ demands, maintain a quality product, and stay profitable at the same time, when all three factors are constantly changing. Journalism has arguably struggled more than most, and for many people that provokes vitriol rather than sympathy, and of course I get that - it’s a very powerful, very important, and often very controversial industry. I just wish the people who would happily dance on its grave would reflect a bit more on why they themselves consume so much media, why they often benefit from it too, and why it’s worth supporting those in the industry who would try to make it better, rather than race to the bottom of the algorithmic barrel.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I’ve got nothing against the tiny minority of teachers who actually do proper teaching. It’s just the thought of laying off the rest of them makes me all

This isn’t really the zinger you think it is-I actively am trying to get out of the profession. But I would value it above rank and file journalism regardless

 

[Nick]

Again though, there's a difference between Journalism and Content Creation surely?

 

[SBT]

This isn’t really the zinger you think it is-I actively am trying to get out of the profession. But I would value it above rank and file journalism regardless

You can’t fire me, I quit!

 

[fernandopartridge]

Nick’s daughter goes to a striking private school is why I asked. In the state school it will depend how many teachers are in the union that’s striking (NEU). If enough of them are in the NASUWT, the Head has enough staff to still keep the school open.

Just hoping my son's teacher isn't scabbing really

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

You can’t fire me, I quit!

That’s pretty much it, although I have doubled my salary in 5 years

 

[SBT]

Again though, there's a difference between Journalism and Content Creation surely?

I’m not entirely sure what you mean by the term, but I think I’d say that content creation is just a (mildly pejorative) way to describe a certain kind of journalism. Aggregating or digesting stories from elsewhere doesn’t win any Pulitzers but it is still journalism nevertheless.

I’m not saying they’re going to make any ‘All The President’s Men’-style movies about LadBible or Dream Team anytime soon, but there is also an element of skill to doing it well, which is why some outlets are better at it than others.

It’s also much cheaper and way more popular than conventional reporting too, so there’s that.

 

[SkyBlueSoul]

I actually agree with you on this bit... although thinking about it I had a week sick to go on holiday once - was instructed to lie on the floor as we drove past the school!

On the flip side to this, years ago (would have been early 90s) my Mum decided to take my brother out of school a couple of hours early one day as a treat and told them he had a dentist appointment. He didn't know and was gutted when he found out he was going to McDonalds and the park because a) he liked school and b) he actually enjoyed going to the dentist

 

[SBT]

This isn’t really the zinger you think it is-I actively am trying to get out of the profession. But I would value it above rank and file journalism regardless

For the avoidance of doubt, only a true psychopath would value rank and file journalism over teaching, which is surely one of the most honourable professions you could ever pick.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

For the avoidance of doubt, only a true psychopath would value rank and file journalism over teaching, which is surely one of the most honourable professions you could ever pick.

Well indeed. Harder to replace with machines though as good teaching needs someone able to form human connections with students and to control the behaviour of 30+ people. It certainly could do the marking and report writing side better than a human teacher though.

Would definitely complain less too

 

[Marty]

Crash for cash?

Possibly, would have thought at those speeds they wouldn't bother as surely the risk outweighs the benefits.