[turns0ut]

I can’t help but see social science as humans attempting to modernize memory of imperialism and religious belief embedded by prior experience.

Think of how popular it became as a field in the last 50-100 years as the populace became less religious. The US adult population recently crossed a threshold where <50% believe in higher power now.

No science gives social scientists higher powers of forecasting human future, yet we took the ideas and applied them with the same conviction some believe in gods, in the same way; a network of randos spreading their gossip, wrapping it in technical jargon biased by past ignorance.

Consider how much of this work was being leveraged against an ignorant public with no opt out button, via print and TV. How is that informed consent?

Social media comes along, upends those forms of media, creates a new meta awareness we lived in a society policed by high minded but normal people. That awareness means we can opt out of being influenced by intentional nudges, same as we opt out of believing in intentional nudges to abide higher powers.

Social science “worked” when the masses were unaware it was happening to them. As the public has become more aware of how it works, it’s all Soylent green; just people.