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This quote seem to talk about a group controlling the judicial process, which is unlike the situation Tim Ferris describe where people are punished in an extraj

This quote seem to talk about a group controlling the judicial process, which is unlike the situation Tim Ferris describe where people are punished in an extrajudicial manner without due process.

jamestimmins 9y ago
Interesting take. I interpret "against the tendency of society to impose, by other means than civil penalties" as saying that the penalties are explicitly extrajudicial (exile or censure of some kind, presumably). I'm totally open to the possibility that I'm wrong though!
- asabjorn 9y ago
  I think it’s quote extraordinary the way opinions are currently imposed at large scale by mob rule, enabled by social media and other technology that made this much more feasible. It’s tech that is used to identify, research, shame, coercing corporations into punishing, and as a tool for spreading the word on the action to any other that might hold that opinion. In the past, as far as I know, the only way to do this was to impose through the judicial process because of limits in organizational capability.
  - jamestimmins 9y ago
    I think I follow. My understanding of your point is that in the past due to limited tools for organization and communication, this level of mass public shaming or mob-based response wouldn't have been feasible. Is that a fair characterization? If so, while it's true that the scale was more limited, there are certainly ample examples of extrajudicial responses for unpopular ideas and actions, from simple social ostracizing, up to getting tarred and feathered (which happened to British loyalists during the American Revolution).
    - asabjorn 9y ago
      Yes, that is my point. Technology acts as a large amplifier to extend reach and increase effectiveness. Previously you could at best expect to impose on a relatively small geographic area around you, and it was much harder to organize and needed a majority to agree with the action. It seems like the mobs, like before, are comprised of a minority while the quiet majority is trying to avoid the crosshairs. Unfortunately that quiet majority voted Trump when no one was looking. In the same way as belittling your partner rarely leads to anything good, doing the same at scale in a democracy does the same.

This quote seem to talk about a group controlling the judicial process, which is unlike the situation Tim Ferris describe where people are punished in an extrajudicial manner without due process.

jamestimmins 9y ago

Interesting take. I interpret "against the tendency of society to impose, by other means than civil penalties" as saying that the penalties are explicitly extrajudicial (exile or censure of some kind, presumably). I'm totally open to the possibility that I'm wrong though!

asabjorn 9y ago
I think it’s quote extraordinary the way opinions are currently imposed at large scale by mob rule, enabled by social media and other technology that made this much more feasible. It’s tech that is used to identify, research, shame, coercing corporations into punishing, and as a tool for spreading the word on the action to any other that might hold that opinion. In the past, as far as I know, the only way to do this was to impose through the judicial process because of limits in organizational capability.
- jamestimmins 9y ago
  I think I follow. My understanding of your point is that in the past due to limited tools for organization and communication, this level of mass public shaming or mob-based response wouldn't have been feasible. Is that a fair characterization? If so, while it's true that the scale was more limited, there are certainly ample examples of extrajudicial responses for unpopular ideas and actions, from simple social ostracizing, up to getting tarred and feathered (which happened to British loyalists during the American Revolution).
  - asabjorn 9y ago
    Yes, that is my point. Technology acts as a large amplifier to extend reach and increase effectiveness. Previously you could at best expect to impose on a relatively small geographic area around you, and it was much harder to organize and needed a majority to agree with the action. It seems like the mobs, like before, are comprised of a minority while the quiet majority is trying to avoid the crosshairs. Unfortunately that quiet majority voted Trump when no one was looking. In the same way as belittling your partner rarely leads to anything good, doing the same at scale in a democracy does the same.