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'Why YouTube's New Plan to Debunk Conspiracy Videos Won't Work' (vortex.com)

Slashdot reader Lauren Weinstein believes YouTube's plan to combat conspiracy videos with "information cues" is "likely doomed to be almost entirely ineffective." The kind of viewers who are going to believe these kinds of false conspiracy videos are almost certainly going to say that the associated Wikipedia articles are wrong, that they're planted lies... Not helping matters at all is that Wikipedia's reputation for accuracy -- never all that good -- has been plunging in recent years, sometimes resulting in embarrassing Knowledge Panel errors for Google in search results...

The key to avoiding the contamination...is to minimize their visibility in the YouTube/Google ecosystem in the first place... Not only should they be prevented from ever getting into the trending lists, they should be deranked, demonetized, and excised from the YouTube recommended video system. They should be immediately removed from YouTube entirely if they contain specific attacks against individuals or other violations of the YouTube Terms of Service and/or Community Guidelines. These actions must be taken as rapidly as possible with appropriate due diligence, before these videos are able to do even more damage to innocent parties.

160 of 308 comments (clear)

  1. "Weinstein"... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    'nuff said.

    1. Re:"Weinstein"... by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 2

      ((( IN STEREO )))

      FTFY

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
  2. Censoring vs. Educating by Tinsoldier314 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Lauren's supposition that Wikipedia information will simply be ignored and that Youtube should simply censor the videos is based on a dodgy notion that censoring speech we don't like is somehow better than combating it with truths. Yes, they may ignore Wikipedia but not all of them. It may take longer but it's the more righteous path than censoring. imho

    1. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by the_povinator · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I believe Lauren Weinstein used to be paid as some kind of Google shill and now that the agreement has been terminated, he seems to have turned on his former employer. Most of his posts now seem to have an anti-Google bias.

      --
      The .sig is dead, and I believe I had a hand in killing it.
    2. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by the_povinator · · Score: 5, Informative
      ... also, who exactly is going to decide what information is "bad" and what is "good"? Google itself?

      I notice Lauren's attitudes towards censorship have not changed. When he blogged on Google+, he would delete any comment on his posts that disagreed with him even in a mild and reasonable way.

      --
      The .sig is dead, and I believe I had a hand in killing it.
    3. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Obviously far-left communists confused about their gender should be responsible for dictating to the rest of us what's true, what's false, and what ideas are too powerful for normal peons to know about.

    4. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 3, Insightful

      ... on a dodgy notion that censoring speech we don't like is somehow better than combating it with truths.

      And yet, you should never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience. Also, YouTube can do as YouTube pleases. They're not the government and they don't have a monopoly on the online video space.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    5. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If a baker has to make cakes for gay weddings, YouTube has to offer an equal platform for diverse users that they might disagree with.

    6. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      That's hardly a good analogy. Customer relations in shops tend to be regulated, especially for certain attributes of individuals. And I'm pretty sure Google wouldn't refuse to distribute a video of a gay wedding.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    7. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by drinkypoo · · Score: 2

      Yes, they may ignore Wikipedia but not all of them. It may take longer but it's the more righteous path than censoring. imho

      There is a danger in giving a wingnut a soap box. Not only does it embolden the wingnut, and give him a sense of authority because people are stupid enough to figuratively look up to people they literally have to look up to, but it also legitimizes them by associating them with your brand of soap.

      On the other hand, carriers who moderate some content are sometimes held responsible for moderating more content. It's best to moderate no content, except as demanded by the law. But how do you avoid legitimizing the nutbags? You put a notice next to what they say that makes it clear that you don't agree. Which, of course, is what they are doing.

      If all it accomplishes is that some of the nuts post less videos to Youtube because they don't want a WP link on their video, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    8. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 2

      They give you a soapbox here...

    9. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by Berkyjay · · Score: 2

      censoring speech we don't like

      It's more censoring speech that is not fact but passed along as fact. If it can be proven not to be factual, then it shouldn't be afforded any sort of censorship protection.

    10. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Only the founding fathers did not discuss about arson, but did about being able to express one's ideas.

      And of course, frome somebody's point of view, maybe YOU are the arsonist/little kid here.

    11. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 1

      According to court precedent, a baker has to bake a cake for a gay wedding. But they cannot require him to ice it with "God is dead". If a white supremacist couple comes into a Jewish bakery they must be served, but they can't require swastika icing.
      Youtube is a private company, not some sort of public square or civic space that must accommodate free expression in all forms. They offer an equal platform to everyone no matter what their political persuasion. (Being a private entity, they're not required to, but they do.) But if you upload nothing but crap, and they decide it's crap, they have the right to kick you out. Unless the cops show up to arrest you because someone didn't like the politics in your videos, no U.S. court will consider your First Amendment rights to have been infringed. They'll just say you can upload your videos somewhere else if you don't like it.

    12. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by tomhath · · Score: 1

      It may take longer but it's the more righteous path than censoring.

      It's only righteous if they are completely fair in determining when to link to the "accurate" story. But there is no way that can ever happen because you will never get anyone to agree on what's fair (especially with Google making the call).

    13. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      They give you a soapbox here...

      Sure. And Slashdot has built a reputation for permitting wingnuts like me to speak freely. But Youtube has no such reputation...

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    14. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by jader3rd · · Score: 1

      If a baker has to make cakes for gay weddings, YouTube has to offer an equal platform for diverse users that they might disagree with.

      When the gay couple removes the cake from the baker, no one attending the wedding will be associating the wedding with the baker. There's a clear division between the two. But with hosting a video on YouTube, YouTube is associated with the video. It's not difficult to see the video to YouTube connection, whereas with the baker one would had to go way out of their way to associate the gay wedding with the baker.

      The gay wedding does not tarnish the bakers good name. Hosting democracy destroying videos on your website does tarnish your good name.

    15. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by preflex · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's more censoring speech that is not fact but passed along as fact. If it can be proven not to be factual, then it shouldn't be afforded any sort of censorship protection.

      Aaaand there goes all of fiction, since it can be proven to be non-factual.

      No, not all of fiction. Only fiction being passed along as fact. This is why teaching creationism in public schools is outlawed. It is demonstrably false.

      Also, there goes an scientific discoveries that are against the currently understood science.

      If they can be proven to be non-factual, it doesn't matter if whether it goes against the currently-understood science. It's simply not true, and shouldn't be passed along as fact. If a claim it is merely unsubstantiated, that's one thing. If a claim is demonstrably false, that's another.

      Let's not forget that newspapers are now going to have trouble breaking scandals, especially against popular figures

      Can the scandals be proven not to be factual? You do understand there's a difference between that and not being able to prove that it is a fact, right?.

      What's that? You say science and news can prove themselves correct? Well, how are they going to do that, when they can't publish because they're being censored? No one hears the arguments, no one's mind is changed, and the Groupthink is reinforced once more.

      The burden of proof is on the censor. The scientist and journalist cannot prove that they are absolutely true, but if they can be proven to be false, then it is junk science or fake news.

    16. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by swillden · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I believe Lauren Weinstein used to be paid as some kind of Google shill and now that the agreement has been terminated, he seems to have turned on his former employer. Most of his posts now seem to have an anti-Google bias.

      In your world, does anyone ever say anything merely because they believe it, rather than because it supports their tribe or pays their bills?

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    17. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by Z80a · · Score: 1

      What the of author of the article is failing to see is that there's no such thing as "conspiracy theory switch", and there are a bunch of people on the middle of this path to crazy shit that can most likely be tossed off the path of the gay frogs.
      But i think allowing people to post debunk responses to videos would help quite a bit too, as you have video vs video instead of video vs boring text, and even allow you to post videos of people that are not considered exactly left but still debunking the thing.

    18. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by jenningsthecat · · Score: 1

      Also, YouTube can do as YouTube pleases. They're not the government and they don't have a monopoly on the online video space.

      Fundamentally I agree with you, but I'm still a bit uneasy. Really, YouTube DOES pretty much have a monopoly when it comes to the average citizen being able to upload a video and having a decent chance of it being seen by at least tens of thousands of people. With great power comes great responsibility. If YouTube either is ineffective at rising to that responsibility, or doesn't take it seriously, then perhaps legislative intervention is in order. And perhaps it's NOT in order - I'm simply saying that a knee-jerk proclamation on either side of that argument may be ignoring some complexities that ought to be considered.

      --
      'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.
    19. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by walterbyrd · · Score: 1

      The phone companies are not monopolies, and are not government, should they be able to censor your calls, or your messages, or the websites you visit?

    20. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by fafalone · · Score: 2

      Pointing out the legal difference between categories of people that are protected under anti-discrimination/civil rights law is Flamebait now? How the quality of discussion has fallen.
      Look, I wasn't saying whether it's right or wrong, or even whether it's right or wrong for groups that are protected, just that law prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, and sex (which the courts have ruled includes sexual orientation). That means you can't refuse service to black people, but you *can* refuse service to right-wing conspiracy theorists.

    21. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by Berkyjay · · Score: 1

      Aaaand there goes all of fiction, since it can be proven to be non-factual.

      Straw man much?

    22. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by elrous0 · · Score: 1

      Her main supposition is that the videos that will be censored will, of course, be the ones that disagree with her own specific brand of liberal politics. And that will probably be true at first. But what never occurs to her or her ilk is that someday the winds could change out of nowhere, and it could become *their* speech that's suddenly being censored. When you create the censorship machine, it's pretty arrogant to think that only you and your allies will ever control it.

      Robespierre sent many men to the guillotine in the name of the Revolution, until the day the Revolution turned against him and it was him being marched to the platform. On that day he realized all-too-late that the oppression you create today can easily be turned on right back on you tomorrow.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    23. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Cake? Forced to write message? Ok.

      Videos? Forced to host message> ok.

      If one is ok so is the other. The rest of your point is fluff.

    24. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      That's hardly a good analogy. Customer relations in shops tend to be regulated, especially for certain attributes of individuals. And I'm pretty sure Google wouldn't refuse to distribute a video of a gay wedding.

      Do you just not know what an analogy is?

      A person can argue that Google has a right to not serve certain content or provide service to some individuals. This argument would be the very same a bakery could use to decline the request for a wedding cake for a gay couple.

      This observation draws a comparison between political speech and gay marriage. It says nothing about Google's stance on gay marriage,

      And yes, it is true that there are regulations controlling for one of these and not the other. GP's deeper point was that either both should be regulated or neither should.

    25. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

      The way that I pontificate safely here is to tick the 'no karma bonus' by default. I could always post with the +1 but I figure that makes it more likely to get modded down and loose 'excellent' rep or whatever they call it. As long as you stay safe 'below the radar' posting at 1 you get enough mods up to make it safe to take some mods down. I would hate to waste time staying conformant to the groupthink on /. Life is too short.

    26. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by meglon · · Score: 1

      Which shows the problem with most conservative thinking... turning a complex nuanced problem into a 5 second soundbite only shows that you don't understand what the fuck is going on.... and dipshits who marked you as "insightful" are as stupid as your comment.

      While a business can refuse to serve anyone, they are not allowed to discriminate against certain groups. These bakers who refuse to make wedding cakes are not simply refusing to serve someone, they intentionally go out of their way to make sure the people (and everyone else) know that they're intentionally discriminating against a class of people that it's illegal to.

      That is not the same as Youtube censoring some video's for content, and it takes an incredibly stupid person to think that it ... and when someone makes such a stupid statement, it only reinforced that absurd notion in people who are too stupid to understand what's actually going on. That is the same as these dipshits who post conspiracy theory bullshit.

      https://xkcd.com/1357/

      Censorship is still the wrong approach, because stupid people will still be stupid, and will continue to fuck up things because of their stupidity.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    27. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by meglon · · Score: 1

      There's a bunch of whiny rightwing asshats on slashdot that routinely mod down any posts that show the fantasy land they live in doesn't come close to reality.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    28. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by wellingj · · Score: 1

      I award you no points.

    29. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      They would never censor a video of a proud black woman from Africa chanting, "black power!"

      They would instantly ban a proud white man from Germany chanting, "white power!"

      This is racist, sexist, illegal and discriminatory.

    30. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by Tinsoldier314 · · Score: 1

      And yet, you should never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.

      You're right, don't argue with an idiot, but in this case we're not talking about arguing with the one in the pulpit, we're trying to educate his followers (the viewers on YouTube) and I think that's different in a very meaningful way.

    31. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by q_e_t · · Score: 1

      Of course people who actually believe things get air time.

    32. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by meglon · · Score: 1

      ...and while the black woman is chanting black power to rise up from discrimination, those white men are chanting white power to oppress everyone else even through genocide if need be. Again, you're trying to compare to different things. I get it.... in mind numbing stupid alt-right fantasy land, it's the poor white man who's always the victim. Stupidity is truly an endless resource.

      https://xkcd.com/1357/

      People with any form of intelligence are getting tired of stupid asshats like you thinking your lies and ignorance mean a damn thing. When you wonder why the world is going to shit.... look in the mirror; that's why.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    33. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by meglon · · Score: 1

      So, you missed the part right there in where i said "censorship isn't the way to go." I get it, you're too fucking stupid to read.... once again a dipshit to prove my point.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    34. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      True, some people *can* be successfully steered away from bullshit, but my understanding is that those who need it most are only reinforced.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    35. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I believe Lauren Weinstein used to be paid as some kind of Google shill and now that the agreement has been terminated, he seems to have turned on his former employer. Most of his posts now seem to have an anti-Google bias.

      Weinstein has been around since the ARPANET days, and probably hasn't needed to cow tow to anyone in his career for a while (regardless of whether they pay him or not):

      * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauren_Weinstein_(technologist)

      He started the PRIVACY forum back in '92:

      * https://www.vortex.com/privarch.html

      I don't always agree with him, but I think his bona fides speak for themselves.

    36. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      seriously, neighbor, this is remedial and settled. "Yes there is a danger. Wingnuts get to stand on soapboxes anyway," is what free speech means. Article _One_, the first one, should not be a controversial position. Why is this even up for discussion?

      Because you (and others like you) don't understand the first amendment. Google is not obligated to provide a soapbox to a wingnut in the first place, and they're well within their rights to take their soapbox and go home, or to decide who can stand on their soapbox.

      The first amendment is a limitation on government, not on corporations.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    37. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      IT seems you've already chosen, for yourself, to not read anything. Clearly, you don't need white cis males to decide that for you; if you did, you'd see that many of us would decide you should read as much as you can. The post you replied to with such angst (and ignorance) would be a good starting point.

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    38. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      If we could weaponize [...] stupidity

      What do you think propaganda is?

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    39. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      My personal feeling is, if you're going to lobby the government, then you have to follow all the rules the government follows, including the first amendment. Because at the point of lobbying, you are now directly trying to influence and control government.

      My personal feeling is, let's get the corporate money out of politics.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    40. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by DRJlaw · · Score: 1

      If a baker has to make cakes for gay weddings, YouTube has to offer an equal platform for diverse users that they might disagree with.

      Fine - show me where a baker has been forced to make cakes for gay weddings. It will be difficult since that case has yet to be finally decided.

      Until it is, you haven't even even validated the premise of your argument.

    41. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 1

      Worse yet, due to the nature of wikipedia, there will be hundreds of new applications for editors and contributors and very quickly, Wikipedia's information will be the same as the videos it is linked to.

      --
      SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
    42. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by bingoUV · · Score: 1

      This is why teaching creationism in public schools is outlawed. It is demonstrably false.

      How would you "demonstrate" creationism is false ?

      Or do you mean that teaching creationism in public schools is demonstrably not outlawed ?

      --
      Bingo Dictionary - Pragmatist, n. A myopic idealist.
    43. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by mjwx · · Score: 1

      If a baker has to make cakes for gay weddings, YouTube has to offer an equal platform for diverse users that they might disagree with.

      Sigh... Since when has being an idiot been a protected attribute? There I said it, people who believe in conspiracy theories are idiots. Same with people who use the parent poster's excuse, they're also idiots.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    44. Re: Censoring vs. Educating by Stolovaya · · Score: 1

      That's a huge assumption. Some people will see that a black person can take all kinds of pride and do all kinds of things in regards to being black, so why can't a white person do the same? That's called equality.

      And that's not a good XKCD. The author confuses the 1st Amendment with the general concept of Right to Free Speech.

      You've shown that you're not for equality.

    45. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by Tinsoldier314 · · Score: 1

      Parent censored by the very people who claim to vehemently support free speech, because they found the content disagreeable. An act as telling as expected.

      Morons, have you ever heard of an "own goal"?

      1) Anyone who has posted in this thread is unable to moderate so your assertion that Parent was "censored by the very people who claim to vehemently support free speech" can't be entirely true.
      2) You assume the motivation for the moderation is opinionated and not based on some other criteria (e.g. unnecessary personal attacks during civil discourse)
      3) You use similar name-calling, unfortunately debasing an otherwise potentially meaningful argument.
      4) Slashdot.org did not delete the post or take any automated or official action, rather, a random selection of Parent's peers "down voted" the post. Likewise, down votes of videos on YouTube does not constitute censoring by YouTube. While institutions such as the Federal Government and YouTube should not be in the business of deciding what is appropriate speech, ones peers are allowed to pass judgement.


      It is unfortunate that you and Parent were not able to frame your arguments in a more civil manner as they would have been interesting points to discuss.

    46. Re:Censoring vs. Educating by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      I would hate to waste time staying conformant to the groupthink on /. Life is too short.

      I don't stay conformant to the groupthink at all, and yet only once or twice in my long /. history have I had low enough karma to lose my posting bonus.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  3. Idiots by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The problem is that they think they know best for everyone else. Their default position is authoritarian and dictatorial.

    The best way to entrench an idea is to tell someone they're wrong, and be a smug, condescending, elitist asshole while doing so.

    So... Basically why the Democrats lost in 2016, and why the left in general is losing the culture war. They can't get over how fucking smart they think they are, and how stupid everyone else is for not thinking the same thing.

    1. Re:Idiots by Notabadguy · · Score: 1, Insightful

      The problem is that they think they know best for everyone else. Their default position is authoritarian and dictatorial.

      The best way to entrench an idea is to tell someone they're wrong, and be a smug, condescending, elitist asshole while doing so.

      So... Basically why the Democrats lost in 2016, and why the left in general is losing the culture war. They can't get over how fucking smart they think they are, and how stupid everyone else is for not thinking the same thing.

      This.

    2. Re:Idiots by secretsquirel · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Well most of the people who watch those vids are indeed too retarded to be helped. Still, maybe somewhere there's a kid who doesnt know any better, and these messages will save them the time of having to look stuff up and find out the the video is for retards.

    3. Re:Idiots by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      No, the right burned people outright, both in the shape of the KKK and the Nazis.

    4. Re: Idiots by zilym · · Score: 1

      Indeed. I believe Facebook tried this idea of flagging postings they deemed unfactual, and it backfired. The people considered the flag a âbadge of honor" and were quite proud of themselves when they achieved their goal of getting flagged. The same thing is going to happen on YouTube.

    5. Re:Idiots by iNaya · · Score: 1

      Farenheit 451 didn't come from the right

      I'm not sure what this statement means, but the man that wrote that book was conservative leaning Ray Bradbury.

      https://www.nationalreview.com...

      --
      The Unicode standard is over 20 years old. Why does Slashdot not support it?
    6. Re:Idiots by acrimonious+howard · · Score: 1

      KKK and Nazis don't represent the right any more than Stalin and Mao represent the left.

      So we all agree KKK and Nazis represent the right to some degree. The difference is the thousands of people that proudly march with KKK and Nazi banners in America, while I've never seen a Stalinist. In other words, one side is reping 'elitist asshole', and it's not the dems.

    7. Re:Idiots by DRJlaw · · Score: 1

      The best way to entrench an idea is to tell someone they're wrong, and be a smug, condescending, elitist asshole while doing so.

      So... Basically why the Democrats lost in 2016, and why the left in general is losing the culture war. They can't get over how fucking smart they think they are, and how stupid everyone else is for not thinking the same thing.

      Whereupon the Trump wing of the Republican party immediately adopted the same attitude because "fuck you, we won."

      8 more months till that comes crashing down, and I'll be throwing the party.

  4. Of course it won't work by aglider · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Because you need humans for debunking.
    And humans are biased.
    AI won't be of effective help as it lacks trasversale knowledge.
    And in the end, you need humans to train AI and to sample the outcomes.

    It won't work.

    --
    Sent as ripples into the electromagnetic field. No single photon has been harmed in the process.
    1. Re:Of course it won't work by Lost+Race · · Score: 1

      trasversale knowledge

      ???

  5. Censorship & who decides by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The problem with Lauren's proposal is: Who decides. No matter which side of the debate you are on, picking the other side, saying they are lying, and then censoring them, only makes them believe that they are being censored & oppressed. Do that enough and you'll get the Trump supporters who don't believe anything printed about him in the MSM. On the flip side, Bernie's supporters were claiming their votes were being scammed by the DNC, until it turned out to be true. But if the truth had been censored because it was "lies", the truth would never have come out.

    1. Re: Censorship & who decides by Stolovaya · · Score: 1
  6. "De-Platforming" by BlueStrat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's how opposing voices are to be swept from public view & dissemination. Google, Facebook, Twitter, et al are all working along the same path to de-platform views conflicting with Leftist/Progressive dogma and silence them. It's not too far down this path where we get to the pogroms, camps, and ovens part.

    Strat

    --
    Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
    1. Re:"De-Platforming" by SoftwareArtist · · Score: 1

      Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.

      Right. Because liberals are constantly campaigning for increased police power, more government surveillance, and less protection of civil rights, while conservatives campaign against them.

      Oh, wait a minute, it's the other way around. Well, whatever. I Know I'm Right Anyway.

      --
      "I'm too busy to research this and form an educated opinion, but I do have time to tell everyone my uninformed opinion."
    2. Re:"De-Platforming" by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

      Google, Facebook, Twitter, et al are all working along the same path to

      So go to Gab then. You'll fit right in.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    3. Re:"De-Platforming" by Kohath · · Score: 1

      Right. Because liberals are constantly campaigning for increased police power,

      A.k.a. Gun control. So yes.

      Also licensing laws for professions, telling people what health care they must purchase, prohibiting plastic grocery bags, mandatory recycling, etc., etc. etc.

      more government surveillance

      Snowden caught which president’s administration spying?

      and less protection of civil rights

      Gun ownership is a civil right.

      while conservatives campaign against them.

      Oh, wait a minute, it's the other way around.

      50 years ago maybe you could make this argument. The facts don't support it now, and they haven't for a long time.

    4. Re:"De-Platforming" by Kohath · · Score: 1

      Name calling is not an argument. People aren’t going to surrender to totalitarians like you for fear of being name-called.

    5. Re:"De-Platforming" by Altrag · · Score: 1

      A.k.a. Gun control. So yes.

      So liberals want to regulate dangerous weapons. Conservatives want to regulate your penis/vagina. Which do you think is worse for society, or even for you personally?

      Snowden caught which presidentâ(TM)s administration spying?

      Obama's. And Bush2's. It went at least as far back as post-9/11 paranoia. Not to mention the government has been trying to spy on people for decades now, consistently and under both parties. Anyone remember Joe McArthy?

      Gun ownership is a civil right.

      So is freedom of religion, yet the right wingers have no problems denouncing Islam every time there's a terrorist attack (even when the attack was perpetrated by white Christian dudes against other white Christian dudes -- they still try to find a way to either blame Islam or shift the conversation to "Muslim terrorists."

      50 years ago maybe you could make this argument

      You can still make the argument today, as I just did. Conservatives may want to regulate and remove a different set of your rights, but at the end of the day you still have less rights.

      The main difference is the purpose of doing so: The left wants to do so for (yes, sometimes misguided) public health and safety reasons, while the right seems to want to remove your rights mostly for religious reasons. That latter part is a big problem since the US is supposed to be secular. (And of course both parties are happy to remove your rights if it nets their donors a payday..)

    6. Re:"De-Platforming" by Kohath · · Score: 1

      Conservatives want to regulate your penis/vagina.

      You mean 50 years ago? I had neither of those 50 years ago.

      Liberals support a vast police power over individuals. Why do we have to submit to the gun control police OR the historical sex police (or, for that matter, the plastic bag police)? Why don't liberals stop bullying people so you don't have to defend bullying people? Conservatives have (mostly) stopped. Liberals are ramping it up.

      Gun ownership is a civil right.

      So is freedom of religion, yet the right wingers have no problems denouncing Islam every time there's a terrorist attack (even when the attack was perpetrated by white Christian dudes against other white Christian dudes -- they still try to find a way to either blame Islam or shift the conversation to "Muslim terrorists."

      "Denouncing" is free speech. Liberals denounce whites and Christians and try to divide us all the time. They should stop it (in my opinion), just like the Conservatives trying to divide should stop it.

      You should stop defending the bad guys with "everybody does it" arguments. I'm not defending them. I'm saying everybody should stop doing it.

    7. Re:"De-Platforming" by Altrag · · Score: 1

      I had neither of those 50 years ago.

      You didn't have a gun 50 years ago either. You're well aware that I was using the collective "you" in that statement.

      Liberals support a vast police power over individuals.

      Say what? Its one hell of an extrapolation to claim that say, Sweden (pretty liberal) and North Korea (vast police power) are somehow even remotely similar.

      Why do we have to submit to the gun control police

      For the same reason you have to submit to the "car control police" or the "food safety police" (if you work in a restaurant.) Any time you have the power to injure or kill people, there should be some sort of check on that power to balance it out.

      the historical sex police

      You tell me. I'm not the conservative here. I fully support people expressing their sexual desires in any form they like providing its consensual. And its definitely not "historical." There are plenty of states with anti-sodomy laws on file. Trump himself has made specific attacks against transgender individuals. There's continual attacks on gay and lesbian folk. Never mind when you get into things like abortion rights. That's all happening right now, every day in the US. Its hardly "historical."

      Why don't liberals stop bullying people

      Say what? I'm not sure how you construe "we need to stop letting our kids get killed" as "bullying."

      Conservatives have (mostly) stopped

      Yeah. Conservatives are all perfectly nice to the Muslim community, the Mexican community, the LBGTQ community, etc.

      "Denouncing" is free speech.

      Yes. So?

      Liberals denounce whites and Christians

      We denounce bigoted asshats. The fact that most of the bigoted asshats in the US happen to be white Christians is coincidence. We'd just as quickly denounce say, a Myanma Buddhist if they were being a bigoted jerk. Of course conservatives like to read the liberal disgust over the Rohingyan genocide as "loving Muslims" rather than what it actually is -- denouncing hatred in _all_ its forms.

      try to divide us all the time

      Now you've run into a bit of a problem. On one hand, you have the bigots who are intentionally trying to divide us. On the other, you're that denouncing the bigots divides the bigots from the rest of us. There's one big difference though: Bigots can learn to be less hateful but black people can't learn to change their skin color and gay people can't change what shape of genitalia turn them on.

      You should stop defending the bad guys

      When did I do that? Unless of course your definition of "bad guys" is gay people, Muslims, etc who have done nothing wrong beyond not being like you. If that's your definition then I definitely will not stop defending them until such time as they no longer attacked for merely existing.

      Conservatives always want to see things through an "if you're not with us, you're against us" lens and they try to force what they see of liberalism into their viewpoint. But we don't fit that mold at all -- we _just don't care_ who you are. We only care what you do.

      Your skin tone, your religion, your sexual preferences. In the liberal view none of those make up a person. Only how you act and how you treat others makes up a person and if that person is an asshole, then we feel fully justified in calling you out in the (admittedly rather small) hope that you'll recognize something in yourself that you need to change to become a better person.

      Of course, that entire wall of text has a big caveat on it: We use the conservative/liberal dichotomy in more than one way, and we're not very good at distinguishing our usage. A person can be socially conservative and fiscally liberal. Or the other way around. You can support gay marr

    8. Re:"De-Platforming" by Kohath · · Score: 1

      TLDR. But for this

      Why don't liberals stop bullying people

      Say what? I'm not sure how you construe "we need to stop letting our kids get killed" as "bullying."

      Gun owners are innocent. That’s why sending government agents after them is bullying. Gun owners are just as innocent of shooting kids as Muslims are innocent of terrorism and gays are innocent of molesting children. Safety isn't a justification to go after innocent Muslims or innocent gays or innocent gun owners.

      Why do you support government persecution of innocent gun owners? You support it because they're not like you.

    9. Re:"De-Platforming" by Altrag · · Score: 1

      Gun owners are innocent. Its the guns themselves that are the problem. Simply by existing, those weapons pose a threat. Its kind of what the word "weapon" implies. That's why I will continue to insist that we should be taking measures to ensure and yes, if necessary enforce, responsible use and storage of those weapons. A hell of a lot of crimes committed with illegal firearms would be eliminated (or at least committed with a less deadly weapon) if "illegal" meant "had to go find a shady black market dealer" rather than "nicked it from my friend's dad who keeps it in his unlocked kitchen drawer" or "bought it from some kid at school who did that."

      As for your comparisons.. lets pick an easy one: If "terrorism" was a physical object that we could just say "OK ban that" then I'd be all for it as well. And we still do what we can to prevent potential terrorists from getting their hands on things like large quantities of chemicals that are common used in bombs. Even something like simple garden fertilizer.. if someone notices you buying it in what they consider to be excessive bulk, the FBI may be flagged and if you're not an active farmer you may well get a visit or be put under surveillance for a while.

    10. Re:"De-Platforming" by Kohath · · Score: 1

      If banning guns and sending government agents out to take guns from people by force isn't bullying innocent gun owners, then banning the Koran and sending government agents out to confiscate Korans by force isn't bullying innocent Muslims.

      Of course it’s bullying them. You should stop advocating it. You should stop trying to justify it. Don't bully innocents.

      (That goes for Conservatives bullying innocent Muslims and innocent gays too — just in case someone is keeping score.)

  7. Antagonism helps Conspiracy by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    A single video with some far-out theory? Crackpot.

    A far-out video with a host of other videos and links claiming it's false? Obviously a kernel of truth someone is trying to cover up, they can't tell me what to think...

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Antagonism helps Conspiracy by lgw · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Far better is to link to equally far out crackpot conspiracy theories that disagree with the first. It's the style of these things that appeals: let me tell you the secret that will make you smarter than the smug assholes who look down on you. Simply present the truth in that style.

      Shit, I just figured out why 12 Rules for Life is selling like it's printed on money. Damn psychologists knowing more about psychology than me and getting there first.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    2. Re:Antagonism helps Conspiracy by lgw · · Score: 1

      So, identify intersection points of community (the posts, videos, etc about which users are related) weighted to adhere to a quantifiable stylistic norm time series. Use the topical semantic classifier to force antithetical communities into each others' spaces. Not actually force, but make the domains "one click away" through in-platform recommendations.

      In this way, communities of strife would be further separated from less contentious ones. They would hopefully, expend themselves against each other, and normalize out.

      That's a damn good idea. Sadly, there's no evidence that Google algorithms use anything but the video description/keywords and thumbnail to learn about the content, and related links seem to be based on clickthrough, so opposing views get filtered out by the algorithm.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    3. Re:Antagonism helps Conspiracy by Kohath · · Score: 1

      Now can you figure out why Michael Isikoff's book about the collusion between Trump and Russia is selling way more than 12 Rules?

      Telling gullible people exactly what they want to hear has paid off many times throughout history.

    4. Re:Antagonism helps Conspiracy by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      Telling gullible people exactly what they want to hear has paid off many times throughout history.

      That's never been more true.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
  8. Same retard who thinks ad blockers are unethical ! by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is the same retard who thinks:

    https://plus.google.com/+Laure...

    "For the record, I don't run any ad blockers. Basically, I consider them unethical"

    /sarcasm Apparently going to the bathroom during an ad is unethical.

    And now he thinks censorship will work?

    Only cowards censor.

    Why?

    Ignoring a problem doesn't make it go away.

    ONLY by having a rational discussion, where people are FORCED to confront their biases will they ever learn to see the pros/cons of BOTH sides.

  9. Mod parent up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Youtube are idiots who're really busy virtue signalling in a way that doesn't get them called out on censorship.

    Lauren Weinstein is a complete and utter fuckwit who thinks the content of the proposal matters somehow and proposes to censor, thereby making youtube arbiters of who gets to have free speech and who doesn't.

    Both are idiots and for their sins need to get off the internet.

  10. Eat it? Then the cake will be gone! by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 1
    Google wants all the revenue generated by the conspiracy theory peddlers and some minor peg for a media spin doctor to rattle off a long list of things Google has done to provide access to the accurate information. That is all.

    Whatever solution or mitigation one suggests, if it cuts into google ad revenue it is a non starter. As far as Google is concerened.

    --
    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
  11. Flat Earthers are the perfect counterexample by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

    You can go on YouTube and see all shows of videos "proving" the Earth is flat. The shape of the Earth being round doesn't require complicated physics and a graduate degree yet people insist it is flat. There is nothing you can do to change the minds of these people.

    --
    Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    1. Re:Flat Earthers are the perfect counterexample by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Flat Earthers don't believe the Earth is flat. It's a joke, and it's fun to try and contrive ridiculous explanations for physical phenomena (moon, stars, day/night cycle, etc.) that pass increasing levels of scrutiny.

      They offer nullable hypotheses, accept contradicting evidence, and revise. They're following the exact style of reasoning that astronomers did up until a century or so ago. They're just having a laugh by anchoring to the presumption that the Earth is flat.

      If you don't get the joke, you're dumber than you think they are.

    2. Re:Flat Earthers are the perfect counterexample by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      If you don't get the joke, you're dumber than you think they are.

      You were saying?

      Clearly you don't actually talk to these people. There are some people on this world that don't believe in basic science. You apparently think they don't exist.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    3. Re:Flat Earthers are the perfect counterexample by _Sharp'r_ · · Score: 1

      To be fair, his username is "UnknowingFool", so his position on this is appropriate...

      --
      The party of stupid and the party of evil get together and do something both stupid and evil, then call it bipartisan.
    4. Re:Flat Earthers are the perfect counterexample by tomhath · · Score: 1

      There are some people on this world that don't believe in basic science.

      There are also people on the world who can't see a joke when it hits them in the face.

    5. Re:Flat Earthers are the perfect counterexample by UnknowingFool · · Score: 2

      Have you talked to these people? Some of them are not joking. They truly believe in things like the Earth is flat. They are also are the same people who don't believe in blood transfusions and people are possessed by "evil spirits". The problem is that these people take these "joke" videos seriously as fact.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    6. Re:Flat Earthers are the perfect counterexample by joemck · · Score: 1

      No, you can't convince many flat earthers to change their minds. But their videos are roundly laughed at by almost everyone else and make great fuel for Professor Stick videos.

      Any sufficiently outlandish conspiracy theory will eventually out-satire any attempts to satirize it. The better response is to allow people to see how ridiculous it is for themselves. Hiding it only makes people seek it out more because they aren't allowed to see it, and seeking it out makes them more receptive to it.

    7. Re:Flat Earthers are the perfect counterexample by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      And how many Flat Earthers do you personally know? I know quite a few. They are not joking.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    8. Re:Flat Earthers are the perfect counterexample by _Sharp'r_ · · Score: 1

      My teenage kids debate it with their friends. They're completely joking and so are their friends. It's used to make obscure physics references.

      The newsworthy guy with the rocket recently, he was completely joking.

      So I guess you just hang out with a different crowd.

      --
      The party of stupid and the party of evil get together and do something both stupid and evil, then call it bipartisan.
    9. Re: Flat Earthers are the perfect counterexample by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      So to be clear you don't know any actual Flat Eathers but somehow you can assert that they are all joking?

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    10. Re: Flat Earthers are the perfect counterexample by _Sharp'r_ · · Score: 1

      Do you always resort to argument by trying to define conversational terms to exclude what you're arguing about? You know that's not actually an argument, right?

      We were talking about "Flat Earthers", not "actual Flat Earthers". The kind who post videos on Youtube with whimsical arguments they don't actually believe about flat earth theories. Yeah, I know some of those kinds of people.

      --
      The party of stupid and the party of evil get together and do something both stupid and evil, then call it bipartisan.
    11. Re: Flat Earthers are the perfect counterexample by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      Do to try to weasel out of admitting your flaws in logic by trying to impose conditions that didn't exist until you made them up? If I said scientists overwhelmingly support climate change would you say your buddies don't support it so not all scientists support it. If I asked what fields of science they work in, then you'd admit they have no science backgrounds but read science news stories but they're "scientists". Because rather than admit you don't really know Flat Eathers and at the same time you can't possibly know who or what I know you made an assertion about what I know.

      1. Flat Earthers are all joking
      2. I don't know Flat Eathers

      You cannot prove #1 and you certainly cannot know #2. Yet you are certain about both.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    12. Re: Flat Earthers are the perfect counterexample by _Sharp'r_ · · Score: 1

      You're projecting quite a bit here.

      I've never made either the statements (#1 nor #2) in your post which I am replying to, so it's pretty amusing that you're using things you just made up about what you apparently believe I think to claim that I am certain about you in regards to them.

      How about you try quoting what I've actually posted in this topic and then explaining why you disagree with it, rather then attempting to put words in my mouth and then claiming I'm the one who is being illogical.

      I definitely stand by my original claim that your username is very appropriate for your statements, as demonstrated by the way you're trying to argue here.

      --
      The party of stupid and the party of evil get together and do something both stupid and evil, then call it bipartisan.
    13. Re: Flat Earthers are the perfect counterexample by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      I've never made either the statements (#1 nor #2) in your post which I am replying to,

      When you posted: "My teenage kids debate it with their friends. They're completely joking and so are their friends. It's used to make obscure physics references.The newsworthy guy with the rocket recently, he was completely joking. So I guess you just hang out with a different crowd." You are indeed admitting that you don't know any Flat Earthers. How can you know that the people who post videos are in fact joking? You can't know. This is my point #1.

      So when you posted this: "To be fair, his username is "UnknowingFool", so his position on this is appropriate..." What were you trying to say? You were saying I didn't know anything even though I do know actual Flat Earthers and you do not. This is point #2.

      How about you try quoting what I've actually posted in this topic and then explaining why you disagree with it, rather then attempting to put words in my mouth and then claiming I'm the one who is being illogical.

      I did above. Please reference what you wrote. However instead of admitting #1 and #2 you got defensive when it was #1 and #2 you were saying all along.

      I definitely stand by my original claim that your username is very appropriate for your statements, as demonstrated by the way you're trying to argue here.

      I see you are indeed doubling down on your own ignorance. You cannot possibly know that any or all of the people who posted the videos are joking. And you cannot possibly know who I know. Yet you won't ever admit this, will you?

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    14. Re: Flat Earthers are the perfect counterexample by _Sharp'r_ · · Score: 1

      While you posted what I said, once again, all you did was try to put words in my mouth, rather than responding to what I actually wrote.

      You are indeed admitting that you don't know any Flat Earthers. How can you know that the people who post videos are in fact joking?

      I didn't say either of those things. In the sentence "They're completely joking and so are their friends.", "They're" refers to the subject of my previous sentence "My teenage kids".

      You were saying I didn't know anything even though I do know actual Flat Earthers and you do not.

      It's pretty funny that you quote what I say, then turn around and give your "interpretation" of it, ignoring the words I actually wrote.

      I did above.

      Actually, you didn't. You couldn't even respond to what I actually wrote even after quoting it yourself. That's one serious mind reading complex you have.

      you got defensive

      Mind and emotion reading! Quite the assortment of super-powers you have there.

      You cannot possibly know that any or all of the people who posted the videos are joking. And you cannot possibly know who I know.

      Once again, I never wrote anything about "all of the people who posted the videos". Also, if you'd ever bother to read what I actually wrote, "So I guess you just hang out with a different crowd." would imply that I am "guessing" that you know a different group of people. That statement doesn't imply any claims on my part about "knowing" who you know or don't know, but simply a guess which actually guesses in the opposite direction you seem to want to falsely attribute to me.

      Please consider a reading comprehension course, 'cause you're flunking this one.

      --
      The party of stupid and the party of evil get together and do something both stupid and evil, then call it bipartisan.
    15. Re: Flat Earthers are the perfect counterexample by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      While you posted what I said, once again, all you did was try to put words in my mouth, rather than responding to what I actually wrote.

      I posted what you wrote. You can resort to denial all you want.

      I didn't say either of those things. In the sentence "They're completely joking and so are their friends.", "They're" refers to the subject of my previous sentence "My teenage kids".

      In response to whether you actually know Flat Earthers, you respond with "My teenage kids" but then admit they are not Flat Earthers. So to the topic of Flat Earthers, you start talking about other people than Flat Earthers.

      It's pretty funny that you quote what I say, then turn around and give your "interpretation" of it, ignoring the words I actually wrote.

      What you posted is clear above.

      Once again, I never wrote anything about "all of the people who posted the videos".

      Again my point: You don't know anything about the people who posted the videos, do you? Therefore you cannot know whether they are or are not joking.

      Also, if you'd ever bother to read what I actually wrote, "So I guess you just hang out with a different crowd." would imply that I am "guessing" that you know a different group of people.

      Again my point: I know Flat Earthers. But when you say: "To be fair, his username is "UnknowingFool", so his position on this is appropriate..." you are trying to insult someone who has MORE knowledge than you by implying that I know less.

      That statement doesn't imply any claims on my part about "knowing" who you know or don't know, but simply a guess which actually guesses in the opposite direction you seem to want to falsely attribute to me.

      Explain why you felt the need to try to insult someone.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  12. WTF- this is what authoritarian dictators do by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    No- no- you shouldn't be censoring results. People should discern for themselves what is and isn't true. There is a far greater danger to implementing censorship to democracy than there is from dumb fuckers believing some conspiracy non-sense. We already have tyrants in power- we don't need to further erode our freedoms to a point where we're all living in a NAZI or Soviet like shit hole. The United States is already well on that path and other countries like the UK have certainly achieved a great deal of this already. What we fought against in ww2 and during the cold war has been resurrected for implementation in Europe and is being pushed in the United States today. Censorship and redistribution of wealth schemes. At least with these older systems you could pay people off and they'd go away. Not so much with the European-style theft.

    1. Re:WTF- this is what authoritarian dictators do by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      So you are saying that YouTube which is owned by Google, a private company can't do what it wants because you object to it. So who is being "authoritarian" here? Google can ban all videos who are opposed vanilla ice cream but that doesn't make them any more authoritarian as the next private company that does.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    2. Re:WTF- this is what authoritarian dictators do by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

      No- no- you shouldn't be censoring results. People should discern for themselves what is and isn't true. There is a far greater danger to implementing censorship to democracy than there is from dumb fuckers believing some conspiracy non-sense. We already have tyrants in power- we don't need to further erode our freedoms to a point where we're all living in a NAZI or Soviet like shit hole. The United States is already well on that path and other countries like the UK have certainly achieved a great deal of this already.

      You don't realize that the recent turn toward tyranny is caused in large part by the ideas in those videos?

      There is some merit to censoring content meant to exploit people who are basically immune to factual information. Throwing facts at them does nothing. Discussing the issue has no effect on people who believe in an objective reality other than perhaps entertaining them, but helps to expose more people to it, some of whom are unmoved by facts. If you censor it, drive it underground, that helps reduce the exposure of the conspiracy-vulnerable to destructive nonsense ideas they can't be cured of, and it has no adverse effects on the rest of society. Disagree with censorship categorically if you want, but it does work for keeping those dumb fuckers from being infected with conspiracy nonsense.

      In the past we had this censorship. It was carried out by the professional and level-headed editors of magazines, newspapers, and TV stations, and nobody batted an eye. It's only relatively recently that any yahoo has been able to broadcast their own content cheaply and easily that has led to an explosion of what we now call post-truth thinking, since that censorship is no longer present.

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  13. Tax doesn't fund spending. by tonywestonuk · · Score: 2

    The economics doesn't lie - Tax doesn't fund spending, and cant fund spending.

    Yet this is against the mainstream politics view that it does and we need to cut spending, or increase tax to reduce the deficit.

    Will the mainstream attempt to limit visibility of these 'fake' articles that say tax does not fund spending?

  14. Agree. by gerald.edward.butler · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Originally, I was very supportive of the whole LGBT movement and feminism etc., but, it seems like they've just veered into a place where they are anti-free-speech, anti-white-man, anti-man, anti-normal. If you don't have some kind of social dysfunction, then you are the problem. It couldn't possibly be that they are wacko!

    1. Re: Agree. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Cutting off my cock and calling myself sally isn't normal? Well fuck me.

    2. Re: Agree. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Cutting off my cock and calling myself sally isn't normal? Well fuck me.

      Your comment deserves a "+5 hilarious" mod.

      Your comment also points out the underlying TRUTH that stuff like gender changes is some seriously messed up shit, and no amount of Hollywood propaganda is ever going to change this reality.

    3. Re:Agree. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I'm glad there are others that think the same way, I am a full supporter of universal healthcare and Bernie Sanders ideology, but this whole SJW witchhunt movement has alienated me.

    4. Re:Agree. by mrclevesque · · Score: 1

      I live in a town that contains an unusually high number of people who like to label others and claim everyone who gets a particular label is the same.

    5. Re: Agree. by mrclevesque · · Score: 1

      "gender changes is some seriously messed up shit"

      Don't you mean sex change?

    6. Re:Agree. by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      Feminist here. Against censorship and pro-free-speech. Being a white man myself in somewhat in favour of them too.

      Anyway, what she seems to be saying it's don't promote these videos. Don't remove them, but don't give them front page billing or put them high up the recommendations.

      Who decides? A better question would be who decides what gets promoted. Should popular TV news channels be giving equal time to flat earth and fake moon landing theories every time NASA gives a press conference? It's a spectrum, some conspiracy theories are more mainstream, e.g. climate change denial. There is no easy answer.

      As for the above conspiracy theory, if she was a Google shill why would she be saying YouTube's plan isn't going to work?

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    7. Re:Agree. by q_e_t · · Score: 1

      Originally, I was very supportive of the whole LGBT movement and feminism etc., but, it seems like they've just veered into a place where they are anti-free-speech, anti-white-man, anti-man, anti-normal. If you don't have some kind of social dysfunction, then you are the problem. It couldn't possibly be that they are wacko!

      There are a lot of people with differing views in feminism and in LGBT. Don't assume that all (or even more than a minority) are against free speech, men, white men, or anything else. I know a number of feminists, and those who are LGBT, and it is not reasonable to generalise either of these groups, let alone lump feminism and LGBT together. It's not necessarily reasonable to lump L, G, B and T together, other than they tend to face similar challenges.

    8. Re:Agree. by q_e_t · · Score: 1

      A gay friend of mine is universally loved, so doesn't seem to fit your stereotype. In fact, it's true of many of the friends I have in the LGBT community. There are irritating people, though, no matter what their sexual orientation, colour, or political views are. Hopefully I am not one of the annoying ones!

    9. Re: Agree. by q_e_t · · Score: 1

      It's not faith, it's trust that climate scientists are following scientific principles. I both know some climate scientists, and have worked with them, and they are much the same as other scientists. Most are pretty much normal people, as much as any group is. They don't always get it right, but no one in any scientific field gets it right all of the time. Faith does not come into it, though it's trust, which is a form of laziness in terms of not reproducing the work of tens of thousands of people all myself.

    10. Re:Agree. by q_e_t · · Score: 1

      Feminist here. Against censorship and pro-free-speech. Being a white man myself in somewhat in favour of them too.

      I'd place myself in the same grouping. It seems to be the logical one - to assume people are of equal worth until their actions prove otherwise, but to also give people second and third chances whenever it is reasonable to do so (love the sinner, if not the sin).

    11. Re: Agree. by q_e_t · · Score: 1

      It's funny... My wife pointed out just yesterday that almost every man she has ever heard call themselves a feminist turned out to be a sexual predator.

      That seems an odd assertion. Of my circle of friends, pretty much all would, if asked, consider themselves feminists, but none seem to be sexual predators. We're talking about dozens of men, here.

    12. Re: Agree. by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Ignore the AC. This is just the latest shitty bit of trolling they get up to. Seems to be some kind of reaction to guys like Weinstein finally getting called out. Sad to say it was started by Mashiki, who was the first to imply that I'm some kind of sexual predator.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    13. Re: Agree. by q_e_t · · Score: 1

      I find it hard to ignore.

      Personally, I am simply for equal opportunity, whatever shade your skin, or plumbing. Apparently that makes me a feminazi and sexual predator and anti-free speech, and a dozen other things I don't believe in, somehow.

    14. Re: Agree. by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      It's their favourite tactic. Try to paint you as some kind of monster.

      I really recommend this series of videos:

      https://youtu.be/4xGawJIseNY
      https://youtu.be/CaPgDQkmqqM
      https://youtu.be/wmVkJvieaOA

      TL;DR ignore them, make your compelling case. Don't apologise or try to defend against their accusations, because it's a losing proposition. I actually screwed up by doing that in my post above, although at least I didn't engage too much with their nonsense directly.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    15. Re: Agree. by mrclevesque · · Score: 1

      Interesting. Sex is often a facet of gender but I don't think it can determine it. There are so many factors that fall under biological sex that changing some facet(s) by surgery or other means, will always be change but it will never be a comprehensive or complete biological change, likewise philosophically as one's biological sex isn't a binary expression (genetically).

      On seriously messed up shit, assuming that's a thing, I guess that depends on who's doing the judging and what they're judging, likewise for gender change, which includes things like a women wearing pants, a man a skirt, or things of similar nature today, and surely that falls close to the mundane for most everyone.

    16. Re:Agree. by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      The problem is that the one irritating person in the group of 100 gets everyone's attention. Nobody notices the 99 members of the group who aren't annoying pieces of shit.

      This is just basic reality, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. This is also why it's important to treat people based on their words and actions, and not what they identify as. If the "normal" (for whatever that means) majority of the LGBT community would stand up, after the vocal sick minority, and declare "they are not one of us, we are not like them" rather than accepting them "because they identify as us", there would be a lot less hate toward the lot of them from people who don't know better.

      This is called education and it is up to them to be the educators of those who are ignorant of their reality. As an outsider to their world, people like you me cannot widely educate the ignorant on their behalf, because the ignorant simply turn around and call us ignorant (being outsiders and all), declare themselves right, and go on hating.

      Some of my best friends are as gay as the day is long. These are people who would bend over backwards (or forward, I'm sure) for me in my time of need. These are people who, yes, joke about trying to "turn" me but still respect me and my sexuality as a straight male (any my marriage, for that matter) and, therefore, deserve my respect as well. These are, above all else, people; they do deserve to be treated based on their individual actions, and not on the actions of a few sick and twisted individuals who have chosen to usurp their political, social, and gender identities.

      But, again, it's up to them to make themselves heard and let themselves be seen by the larger audience the sick and twisted individuals foist themselves upon. The best thing you can do for your LBGT friends is to make sure they understand this, and make sure they know they have your support.

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    17. Re: Agree. by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      Most sexual predators don't seem to be sexual predators until they're drugging and raping you. They're good at hiding it, otherwise it would be extremely difficult for them to practice their craft as they'd be spotted from a mile away and avoided.

      I say this as a (male) victim (of a female), myself. Yes, the knife does cut both ways. And no, I don't hate or avoid women for it; I just recognize the fact that the crazies and the sickos among us are very good at hiding their proclivities until the moment when they've chosen to victimize you.

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    18. Re:Agree. by ebvwfbw · · Score: 2

      I'm glad there are others that think the same way, I am a full supporter of universal healthcare and Bernie Sanders ideology, but this whole SJW witchhunt movement has alienated me.

      AC, that's one of the funniest things I've read today. I bet you don't even know what he's for. Bernie doesn't even know what he's for except he peddles the communist BS. Did you know that his honeymoon was spent in the USSR? Just google it. He's a commie and makes a lot of capitalistic money on useful idiots that believe him. Maybe even you.

      The SJW witchhunt is just more socialist bullshit. They are there to divide. They only do it because they see it as a license to be an asshole. Used to be a bully would have taken care of that type of person in school.

    19. Re:Agree. by ebvwfbw · · Score: 1

      A white man, who's a feminist, named AmiMoJo.

    20. Re: Agree. by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 1

      The only way sex doesn't determine gender is if you are so mentally ill you can't recognize the image in the mirror.

      --
      SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
    21. Re: Agree. by mrclevesque · · Score: 1

      Obviously biological sex doesn't determine gender which is typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones.

      "if you are so mentally ill you can't recognize the image in the mirror"

      Assuming you mean 'you can't recognize biological sex in the mirror', you'll probably need to look at more naked humans to realize it's not always that easy or even possible to determine sex visually.

    22. Re: Agree. by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 1

      it's pretty darn easy for me, has been most of my life, and I'm 100% face blind. I find biological sex easier to determine than the mythical "race" based on skin color.

      What mental illness do you have that you can't recognize your own biological sex?

      --
      SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
    23. Re:Agree. by Maritz · · Score: 1

      Of course, they're ALL like that - which is convenient, because if they weren't you'd have to think about things in a nuanced way, and you clearly don't have the brain cells to achieve that.

      It's nice when the world is simple enough to fit in your limited brainium isn't it? Phew!

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
    24. Re: Agree. by Maritz · · Score: 1

      I love your sig. Definite "I'm 14 and this is deep" material.

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
    25. Re: Agree. by Maritz · · Score: 1

      It's funny... My wife pointed out just yesterday

      Stop talking to your hand, neckbeard. It creeps people out.

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
    26. Re: Agree. by mrclevesque · · Score: 1

      "it's pretty darn easy for me"

      Is your sample too small? Because it's not always easy for qualified scientists and medical doctors to assign a sex based on visual appearance.

      And it gets even harder when more than external appearances are taken into account.

      https://www.nature.com/news/se...

    27. Re: Agree. by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 1

      Except I'm 47. And at 14, I would have *COMPLETELY* disagreed with both halves of that statement. At that age, I was more likely to be a rapist than to be moral.

      --
      SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
    28. Re:Agree. by Stolovaya · · Score: 1

      I think the problem is that the loudest ones, the ones that are generally covered in the media, are regressive rather then progressive. Level-headed progressives aren't as interesting or stir up the controversy that extremist regressives do. Someone saying that they want equality isn't a huge deal these days. Someone saying that there should be black-only segregated housing on college campuses is going to rile people up, and then other people will get riled up because of that. That all leads to sweet, sweet revenue.

      The shitty thing is that there's a lot of groupthink going on. I live in Seattle. Over the past 10 years, I've seen level-headed progressives turn into hate-filled regressives; they became the bigots that they so hated, and if you don't hate, you're not a part of the solution.

    29. Re: Agree. by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 1

      If it's that hard, take a DNA sample. But you're really talking about the .00001% corner case, aren't you? In which case I have to say, harming the majority for a small minority is called TYRANNY.

      Besides, it's well known that Nature is a partisan tabloid that has no basis in fact.

      --
      SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
    30. Re: Agree. by mrclevesque · · Score: 1

      "If it's that hard, take a DNA sample"

      Doesn't decide sex in the way you're thinking it does. Development from DNA through biology and epigenetics in the womb make a clear or comprehensive distinction impossible.

      "But you're really talking about the .00001% corner case, aren't you?"

      That's one in 10,000,000 but it's more like one in a couple of thousand for genetic/biological facets to be ambiguous, and one in 100 once the genetics and biology get played out through growth and development into various behaviors that don't conform or fall into clear male female categories.

  15. Re:Same retard who thinks ad blockers are unethica by Mal-2 · · Score: 1

    And how do you propose forcing someone to confront their biases? Like this?

    --
    How is the Riemann zeta function like Trump rallies? Both have an endless number of trivial zeros.
  16. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  17. Yay censorship by brucekeller · · Score: 2

    Nothing like a good ol' call for censorship early in the morning. If we get rid of conspiracy theory videos, might as well get rid of any religious videos. Also, if someone really does find out something and tries to publish it on youtube at least... instantly crushed. :) Maybe one day we'll be like Germany and the US government itself will be threatening fines for unliked information.

  18. Re:Well this debunkinof conspiracy by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

    Munchies, maaan....

  19. Yup by sexconker · · Score: 2, Funny

    The Wikipedia articles ARE wrong.
    They ARE planted lies.
    That's WHY Google is doing this.

  20. Re:Gay wedding cakes by mmdurrant · · Score: 1

    Goddamn.... still don't understand the 14th Amendment after so many real-life examples are paraded in front of you every day?

    --
    I see my shadow changing, stretching up and over me...
  21. Easy to explain by SuperKendall · · Score: 2

    Now can you figure out why Michael Isikoff's book about the collusion between Trump and Russia is selling way more than 12 Rules?

    Yes, because people enjoy a good fantasy that meshes with ideological beliefs.

    Myself, I like Trump but think people who spend their precious free time thinking about him are insane. Doubly so if they hate him...

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Easy to explain by PopeRatzo · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yes, because people enjoy a good fantasy that meshes with ideological beliefs.

      So, let me get this straight -

      Sales of a book that supports your worldview is proof that your worldview is correct, but... ...greater sales of a book that does not support your worldview is also proof that your worldview is correct.

      Oh, how I wish I had your perfect ability to surrender to confirmation bias. I've tried it, but having a conscience gets in the way.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    2. Re:Easy to explain by lgw · · Score: 1

      The Trump Russia book is exactly one of those conspiracy theories that make you feel smarter than those smug assholes that look down on you. There's no surprise why it's selling well.

      It is a bit surprising to see a self-help book selling well, but the answer is it's not mainly a self-help book - that's just an excuse to ramble on about interesting topics in psychology. By its very nature, studying psychology makes you feel smarter than normal people who aren't in on the secrets. Further, some of the psychology might even be true! (Color me skeptical of the entire field, but there is at least real science involved in neurology.)

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    3. Re:Easy to explain by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      Jordan Peterson is what a stupid person thinks a smart person sounds like. And, he loves making pronouncements on things about which he's completely ignorant.

      My favorite example is when he said that Disney's Little Mermaid is superior to Disney's Frozen because one comes from classical mythology and one was written by SJWs. They were both written by Hans Christian Anderson.

      And it's really rich that the alt-Right have made Jordan Peterson their champion. People who claim climate science is bogus are embracing..psychology!

      Jordan Peterson is the televangelist of the alt-Right. Like Christina Hoff-Summers, he basically tells his flock what they want to hear and makes a nice living doing it. Fleecing the yokels is always a booming business.

      https://www.themarysue.com/jor...

      https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/...

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    4. Re:Easy to explain by lgw · · Score: 1

      None of which has anything to do with his self-help book, which has as little to do with politics as any book about human behavior can reasonably be.

      But, hey, if he disagrees with your deeply held beliefs about which Disney Princess cartoon is better, by all means condemn him as an evil blasphemer! I'm not trying to start a holy war about such important topics here.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  22. Not going to want to minimize their visibility. by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    You'd lose the views and the adverts sold on those things are bound to be profitable. If you're gullible enough to think the last two or three school shootings were false flag operations you're probably in the market for some expensive supplements, some gold, or a bucket of food for that shed you call a bunker.After all, there's a sucker born every minute.

    The way you stop this is funding schools, especially the liberal arts. e.g. reading. Critical thinking is a skill and like any skill it can be taught. You're not going do do that with STEM. If you're bright enough for STEM you're usually bright enough to figure out critical thinking on your own. There's a reason the well to do always insist on a solid liberal arts education for their kids. It's how you teach dumb people to think.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
  23. Whoes to say by gabrieltss · · Score: 1

    What is truth and what is conspiracy theory? Or what is Truth or what is PROPAGANDA?

    Just because the government or the media says it makes it true? Is there REAL video of the incident or is it staged like a Hollywood film? How do you know Trump is REALLY president? You saw something on the Television, video, on the news? How do you know it's not a Hollywood staged video? Where YOU personally there WHEN it happened?

    You were ON SITE and physically SAW JFK shot by Oswald right? You PERSONALLY were on the 6th floor of the Texas Book Repository and WATCHED Oswald shoot JFK correct? You personally saw Oswald take 3 shots in 5.6 seconds with a Carcano bolt action rifle (which by the way too many experts have said and shown it CAN'T be done)?

    Just remember - how many people who heard the radio broadcast of "War of the Worlds" that it was REALLY happening? Millions.....

    The truth is what YOU PERCEIVE it is, it doesn't make it fact. The truth is what YOU want to believe, it doesn't make it fact.

    "Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it."
    - Adolph Hitler

    "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."
    - Josph Goebbels, Nazi propaganda minister

    "The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth becomes the greatest enemy of the State."
    - Josph Goebbels, Nazi propaganda minister

    "The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly - it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over."
    - Josph Goebbels, Nazi propaganda minister

    "It is the absolute right of the State to supervise the formation of public opinion."
    - Josph Goebbels, Nazi propaganda minister

    "Think of the press as a great keyboard on which the government can play."
    - Josph Goebbels, Nazi propaganda minister

    "Education is dangerous - Every educated person is a future enemy"
    - Hermann Goering

    --
    The Truth is a Virus!!!
  24. Wrong... by Camel+Pilot · · Score: 1

    I know several Flat Earthers... they certainly don't believe it is a joke. They are very serious. Almost all serious Flat Earthers are that way for religious reasons... they already believe totally bizarre stuff and the trip to Flat Earth isn't that far of a walk.

  25. Re:Same retard who thinks ad blockers are unethica by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    You should be able to, but not for his sake. If a Nazi can politely explain why multiculturalism is wrong and will lead to failure, and you can't provide any sort of counterargument then he will end up winning that debate. It doesn't matter if there isn't ever any formal debate, the idea of using censorship in the modern era is so self-defeating and stupid I almost think it's being done on purpose.

  26. Its not possible to "debug" conspiracy theories by Vektuz · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Once a person has been "caught" in a conspiracy theory is like being caught in a cult. They become evidence immune.
    1. All evidence that disproves the conspiracy is planted and thus part of the conspiracy. It must be suppressed.
    2. All evidence that can be construed as even remotely supporting the conspiracy is the only true evidence. It must be echoed.
    3. All lack of evidence either way is proof of a cover up by the conspiracy. The lack of it proves the conspiracy.
    4. Any authority figure that speaks out against the conspiracy is part of the conspiracy. They must be suppressed.
    5. Any authority figure that agrees with the conspiracy is part of the enlightened ones and is the only trusted source of truth. They must be echoed.


    Once someone has sunk that deep into a conspiracy theory (and I'm sure several readers have) there really isn't any point arguing with them or disagreeing with them or trying to engage with them in any meaningful way, they are lost.

    1. Re:Its not possible to "debug" conspiracy theories by Vektuz · · Score: 2

      Oh for sure there are, but I'm talking about people who are in the mindset that matches the points above. Showing them evidence has zero effect.

      There ARE some real conspiracies (see watergate, bigfoot, etc) which generally involve a small number of individuals, and in general are discovered somewhat quickly (timescale is hours to a couple years), but then you get the "grand" conspiracies which involves the to-the-deathbed collaboration of hundreds or thousands of people and multiple different international government and non-government institutions (some of which aren't our friends).

      The problem is that once a person has fallen to "grand" conspiracy belief, they tend to be the kind that believes all others, big and small.

      Basically, if you ever find yourself in a debate with someone who believes in a coverup of something that would take many thousands of people their entire lives to cover up from many different nations, you may as well stop debating. A conspiracy of that size unravels in months at most, hours more likely. The biggest such conspiracy to hold together was the landing by the allies during WW2, and that wasn't really a campaign to say something the opposite was happening, just that the landings were happening in a different place at a different time. And it only lasted just long enough to execute.

  27. Re:Well this debunkinof conspiracy by dgatwood · · Score: 1

    Seriously. Now if the weed dealers were dealing outside the school... oh, wait.

    --

    Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

  28. Re:Same retard who thinks ad blockers are unethica by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

    Well, I can tell you how NOT to do it.

    By trying to ignore the issue.

    That doesn't work.

  29. stupid move by gravewax · · Score: 1

    seriously if you are getting your information on topics from youtube videos you are already too far fucked up to be worth saving. Besides which throwing a spotlight on conspiracy theory garbage has the opposite effect, it reinforces it as after all why give focus to something and spend time debunking unless you have something to hide. You can't win arguments with people that have already burned out most of their logic brain cells.

  30. People like freedom by AHuxley · · Score: 1

    The freedom to publish.
    The freedom to comment.
    The ability to search and find a result with out another site getting placed over the results for political reasons.
    The freedom to search for any topics like history.
    The freedom to comment on politics.
    To talk about topics like illegal immigration.
    To talk about their OS.
    Cryptography and maths.
    About cars and trucks.
    The more a US party political brand attempts to get between the user and their use of search the more users will look for a better search brand.
    Stop putting party political SJW politics between the user and the way a user wants to use the internet.
    Give the user the results they want not new layers of your brands politics.
    Freedom sells. Censorship makes users seek out freedom.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  31. Remove 'push' tech by evanh · · Score: 1

    Wikipedia went through their hurdles long ago. As in 10-15 years ago. It is being managed at surprisingly good levels. It hasn't outwardly programmatically changed in all that time.

    This is testament to the basic 'pull' tech of ordinary HTML.

    The only real problem is the 'push' technologies that support rapid spread of ideas, any idea, good or bad. Eliminate 'push'ing and the fake news problem mostly goes away.

    Let the Web go back to what it was intended to be - an information repository.

  32. But how loose are adaptations of HCA stories? by tepples · · Score: 1

    My favorite example is when he said that Disney's Little Mermaid is superior to Disney's Frozen because one comes from classical mythology and one was written by SJWs. They were both written by Hans Christian Anderson.

    But does Disney's The Little Mermaid preserve the themes of H. C. Andersen's original story more closely than Frozen keeps the themes of "The Snow Queen"?

    1. Re:But how loose are adaptations of HCA stories? by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      But does Disney's The Little Mermaid preserve the themes of H. C. Andersen's original story more closely than Frozen keeps the themes of "The Snow Queen"?

      No. In fact, the opposite is true. Anderson's Little Mermaid ends with her dissolving into sea foam, whereas Disney has her marrying the prince or some shit. Frozen is more faithful to the original.

      But none of this speaks to the point, that everyone the alt-right embraces as some intellectual leader ends up being some flim-flam artist who wants to sell them special brain pills or self-help fairy tales. It's why fake news works on them, and it's why Donald Trump is their god-emperor. As long as there is sufficient reverse-virtue signaling, they will willingly suspend disbelief and discernment and follow in lockstep. It's "Listen and Believe".

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
  33. Re:Allright by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

    So again Google can't do what it wants because your feelings will be hurt.

    --
    Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  34. Re:Gay wedding cakes by q_e_t · · Score: 1

    It's a business, but those posting videos are not necessarily customers.

  35. Re:Same retard who thinks ad blockers are unethica by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    This is the same retard who thinks:

    https://plus.google.com/+Laure...

            "For the record, I don't run any ad blockers. Basically, I consider them unethical"

    The right to not be subject to unsolicited advertising arises under the 9th Amendment, as a right retained by the people, and the 10th Amendment, as a right reserved to the people. While Congress is limited by the 1st Amendment, the Bill of Rights is a higher legal authority and does have the authority to limit advertising, even that delivered through speech or the press.

    Hence, he has things exactly backwards: it's not only ethical to use ad-blockers, it is protection of a right that is routinely being violated by businesses in this day and age. It's the businesses that are being unethical - and the lawyers, and the government, in allowing the Bill of Rights to be violated on a routine basis. Every time I get an unsolicited email offer, or I get junk mail from businesses and have to spend time and money to throw it out, my rights are being violated. It's no different from people leaving their garbage in front of my door because they're too lazy to throw it out themselves. Sociopaths.

    If a specific citizen wants to receive advertising from a specific business or class of business, they can sign up for it. All marketing should be opt-in - and opting out should be easy.

    Further, the type of advertising to be received must be governed by an opt-in provision. If one does not wish to receive loud audio advertising that can cause permanent hearing damage, one should not have to do so by opting out of advertising with an audible component. The advertisers have no way of knowing what sound level the audience is using - people who are already hard of hearing will probably have the volume up and thus will be vulnerable to sound levels that might not cause harm to others.

    This should have been addressed long ago - and would have been addressed by any sort of ethical and competent government. The US legal profession has taken the massively unethical position that their time is valuable - and thus they can charge others for it - but the time of others is not valuable - and thus people can not charge others for sending unsolicited advertising to them in violation of their rights.

    If websites wish to be paid on advertisements, to be compliant with the Bill of Rights they must give people the option to opt-in to advertising from specific vendors, or a specific class of vendors - and until they implement that, they're breaking the law.

  36. Re:Same retard who thinks ad blockers are unethica by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

    +1 Excellent points! Mod up!

    > The US legal profession has taken the massively unethical position that their time is valuable - and thus they can charge others for it - but the time of others is not valuable

    Indeed. The greed of the legal system and their desire to maintain the status quo (It is illegal to "practice" law without having _their_ permission while ignoring the fact that founding fathers WERE lawyers is conveniently ignored.)

    The problem is they don't respect anyone else. That reminds of an old joke:

    Q. Why don't sharks attack lawyers?
    A. Professional courtesy.

    Notice what Tacitus said a few thousand years ago.

    The more numerous the laws the more corrupt the state.

    These scum over-complicate EVERYTHING. The tax code is 73,954 pages!!! WTF!?!?!

    The code is now nearly 74,000 pages long. That's about 185 times longer than it was in 1913, when the code was 400 pages. Source: CCH

    Instead of having ONE, EASY, sentence: "10% of all income is taxed" instead we get this bloated shit with so many loop-holes you have to pay an expert to "legally minimize" your fair share.

    > All marketing should be opt-in - and opting out should be easy.

    Agreed !

  37. Re:Exactly by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

    Non sequitur
    Did or did not Faux Noise lie about Hillary during the Election?