I would add that it has also becoming a defining requirement to openly state, racist, sexist, anti lgbtq+ and certain lies, to advance as a candidate in the GOP primaries now.

The voting base is looking for affirmation on as many of those boxes as possible and those who try to stay silent, and especially those who go against, pay a price.

While some Dems certainly lie, it is not a requirement voters are looking for.

Assisted by those who want to exclude huge swathes of people from the main stream or make them feel deeply unwelcome, looked down on, condescended to, personally attacked and lied about.

I've never understood those who think that pushing so many into the exclusive arms of fox etc is a good idea. Hard to think of anything more politically stupid. My best attempt at understandign it, is that it is a form of tilt.

It's a form of mental illness.

Like pointed out earlier, Fox is literally the #1 biggest cable news network in the US, it is broadcasted world-wide and is one of the biggest news networks in the world. It is also, contrary to many of its peers, growing at a healthy rate.

People watching Fox News, even if they are doing it exclusively, are pretty much the definition of mainstream.

OK but you literally moderated a hate site.

I am not sure what you mean above?

Are you suggesting forums like this should allow all CT's, to ensure those derps are not excluded and relegated to certain rabbit holes only?

As Rotten Tomatoes had no TOS to prevent discussions going wherever they basically went in the early days. And when the CT derps understood that, they started flooded the boards and derail any discussion by introducing ridiculous CT's, getting a few people annoyed to reply and fight with them and then reply with the same spam over and over killing each and every thread, they entered.

As a result they updated their TOS, banned trolling derails and CT's.

The CT spreaders had found a parasitic relationship they could exploit. A healthy vibrant chat forum established without CT's that they could spam their garbage into.

that is what Trump and those like him want with Twitter and FB and other SM. They know Trump can spam his garbage on Truth Social and it will get almost no notice as no one cares enough about it to go look for it. It can only gain traction as Spam in an already established place where it will annoy existing posters and get engaged that way.

Politically speaking, conspiracy theories can be effective recruitment tools.

The problem is that you're not going to recruit anyone on radical networks and forums, because the people there are either believers already or they are these to watch the spectacle.

Extremists want to get into the mainstream exactly for that reason. This is what a lot of people fail to grasp. This isn't the '90s and these people aren't Joe (36) posting on alt.black.helicopter in between flaming people on IRC.

These are highly sophisticated, coordinated and hugely successful movements with tried and tested strategies to elevate them on social media, mainstream media and recruit new followers. They also have intellectual pundits who are very adept at weaseling their ideology into a palatable form and spread it into mainstream political discourse.

The problem is that you're not going to recruit anyone on radical networks and forums, because the people there are either believers already or they are these to watch the spectacle.

Then the existence of places like fox news make no difference. I do not believe that for a moment. They are having a huge influence on a massive chunk of the population

CT's are a big problem but no excuse for excluding most people, making them feel highly unwelcome etc. Most people believe all sorts of ****.

These are highly sophisticated, coordinated and hugely successful movements with tried and tested strategies to elevate them on social media, mainstream media and recruit new followers. They also have intellectual pundits who are very adept at weaseling their ideology into a palatable form and spread it into mainstream political discourse.
Yes but these people are the enemy. People we should not be aiding at all.

You're trapped in the idea that these are merely misguided individuals.

These aren't groups you are going to "convert" or make see the light, when they are in the mainstream is too grow and recruit. This idea that extremism will go poof when given the soapbox and microphone is ideological superstition. What aids against extremism is recognizing the tactics used and not being gullible.

The far-right has used the same tactics since the 30s. They play the victim, the blame out-groups for all problems, they organize events and portray any opposition as "the actual problem", they rabidly attack liberal democratic ideals as weak, they accept no responsibility, they seek to recruit and infiltrate military and law enforcement, and they seek coalitions with conservatives, usually through "intellectuals" who make their extremism sound like merely strongly worded patriotism.

How successful are they? Well. After a far-right rally in Charlottesville, where they marched and chanted for a race-war, chanted that all Jews had to die and one of their own killed a bystander in a political terrorist attack, the American president called them "very fine people".

No i'm not. As well being completely incorrect about my position, you're being ludicrously simplistic. Nothing is goign to solve the problems Not close. Not remotely. It's stupid even to frame the issue that way - no-one has anything like a 'make it go poof' answer.

The far right is gaining strength for various reasons. Aiding them by driving so many away from the mainsteam is very stupid.

Trying to win this debate by saying how bad things are is beneath you. I have no illusions at all about how bad the problem is - never have had for decades before arriving in P. The question is how best to handle it. Sometimes it seems other people handle it differently because the rise of the far right has shocked them too much to think rationally - a luxury i never had.

Trump is appalling but things are very likely to get far worse.

...

I have never suggested or supported allowing all CT's

Sorry, it's a total red herring.

It was about people not content. The shaming, personal attacks, condescension, lies etc etc designed to drive so many people away from the mainstream is a very stupid mistake

Isolating or denying oxygen based on content is a very good idea.

no need to be sorry. That is why I was looking for clarification and did not say you suggested that.

So are you then ok with banning the people who post and spread the CT's (trump derps and others) even that relegates them to only having certain rabbit holes to post in?

Ultimately yes (and often immediately if they're newbies). Depends how it's handled but if they refuse to comply with the rules then eventually they dont get to post

There's no excuse for seeking that outcome. Especially with the lying, personal attacks etc. Maybe one of the worst tactics is encouraging posters back into posting that isn't allowed.

You know what won't work for money long term? Letting old ******s in a room print money / decide interest rates.
You know what won't work for news/socials long term? Letting old ******s in a room decide the current thing telling polarized lies with FactChecks™.

Decentralization is key. Openness is key. This type of technology will be built and will succeed to at least some degree in the long run.

Oh god, the Bitcoin evangelists have arrived.

Because there are too many Libraries in the US anyway, we might as well start deplatforming them.


This is your America.


Cliffs:

- Once anointed the best small library in America set to close as they face right extremist risk of armed activists demanding books be removed and banned (400 of which not one was in that library) and also showing up to library staff homes armed and carrying their bibles.








(inb4Bahbah says something about Antifa threatening peoples freedoms)

Maybe libraries should start offering pornography, it would at least get more people to go there.