new dS word search (Fannish Fifty #31); how to block Youtube feed/recs (& Facebook, reddit, etc)

1) Got an email notification that Regina Keim posted a new due South Word Search on the Due South! Facebook page. Luckily the link was in the email notification - no need to go on Facebook.

B. I've been really pissed off lately by the crap that has been "recommended" in the sidebar/feed of what's "trending" on Youtube. Just vile crap that I DO NOT want to see, am NOT subscribed to, and have NO INTEREST IN. I really truly believe the algorithms are hijacked to show you crap you would never in a million years want to see, even if Google/Youtube track your Youtube usage (which Google/owner of Youtube does) and supposedly use your history to only show you what you like. That's a load of total bullshit, in my experience. It doesn't matter if I'm logged into my Gmail/Youtube account, or not - Youtube STILL tries to get me to watch crap that will upset me.

( rant about the dogdamn algorithms for feeds and recs, with some browser and extension solutions and notes and caveats )

I don't know why it's so fucking impossible to have a crap-free Internet experience. It didn't use to be. (OK, I'm old, and I remember a completely ad-free Internet... yes, I did use Netscape 1.0... what.) Oh, wait: it's because of corporate enshittification of the Internet, that's right! *facepalm*

But when I go on a site, I ONLY WANT TO SEE WHAT I CHOOSE AND WHAT I'M SUBSCRIBED TO ON THAT SITE- not what's "Trending," not what's "Recommended" (by WHO??), not what's in a "Feed" (feeding what? crap!!). Don't tell me what others are watching - don't care. Not interested. Don't tell me what's Trending - I really truly don't give a shit what everyone else is watching. The average person may be really into seeing what's trending but, as American Splendor pointed out, average isn't something to shoot for.

Yes: I know the best way to avoid all that crap is not to use Youtube at all - but there are some crafting vids I like to watch/search for, as well as other video topics I seek out from time to time (including ASMR vids and vids that claim the sound wavelength helps with concentration or bodily pain - I mean, I dunno if the latter is true, but it seems to help and I really don't give a shit if that's a placebo effect or not: I'll take it). Plus vimeo is pretty useless now unless you're a subscriber, which I'm not.

Anyhoo. Hope these tips help your Internet experience be as crap free as possible, at least in this day and age. Happy crap-free browsing!

Tony Craig did not DM me on Facebook, of course (Fannish Fifty #32)

So the other day I got a notification that Tony Craig (to whom I'm subscribed on FB - he doesn't post very much though) DMed me on Facebook. Strange, because I don't know him and have never met him that I recall (maybe at the 25th anniversary RCW 139 several years ago? honestly can't recall, that is mostly a blur).

( yeah that was not Tony Craig and here's how I know )

So be on the lookout for scammers pretending to be celebrities DMing you on social media, people. You probably already knew this, but... 99.99999% of the time, it is not going to be that celebrity... sorry.