4 ms·

"Raise his platform. Discuss him. Debunk his ideas one by one. You use whichever tools appeal to you" You are assuming this would actually have an effect. Give

"Raise his platform. Discuss him. Debunk his ideas one by one. You use whichever tools appeal to you" You are assuming this would actually have an effect. Given recent history I am pretty sure people would A) Not see your debunking because it isn't in their little echo chamber of targeted fitlered online news and content. B) Wouldn't believe you or critically think about any debunking anyway. There is a reddit bot that tries to post alternative news sources to subreddits for a given story to encourage a balanced news diet which is a laudable step in this direction. https://www.reddit.com/user/alternate-source-bot https://www.reddit.com/user/alternate-source-bot Just have a look at it's log to see which subreddits it is banned from: https://www.reddit.com/r/alt_source_bot_log/ https://www.reddit.com/r/alt_source_bot_log/

Tomminn 8y ago
If you can't persuade his base, then I guess you're not the person whose job it is to persuade his base. Be patient. One will come.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- diego_moita 8y ago
  No, it is not that simple. Your argumentation rests on the assumption that people are convinced only through reason. There are several professions and industries that work just by considering that to be naive. Prejudices, herd mentality, fear, anger and a lot more biological drives are the main drivers of most people beliefs. "Reason" is just a make up and varnish they apply to make it less ugly.
- Tomminn 8y ago
  @diego_moita I never actually said reason was the only tool in your kit. Rhetoric is broader than that.
- lovehashbrowns 8y ago
  Wait patiently for the "chosen one" to come, while he continues to grow his fanbase, spread misinformation, participates in fear mongering, and is praised by the president of the United States? Yes, sure, great plan. We can also have a grand old time debunking each and every single one of the crackpot theories that come out of the show, which surprisingly nobody has ever tried before!
  - acct1771 8y ago
    No, you're right, inhibit freedom of expression. There's no way that can go wrong after a while.
    - lovehashbrowns 8y ago
      There's no way letting him have access to millions of people via these giant platforms can go wrong either. Gotta preserve that freedom of expression and the marketplace of ideas.
    - whymauri 8y ago
      This is just the paradox of tolerance.
    - tchaffee 8y ago
      Forcing YouTube, Facebook, or the side of your house to host Alex Jones' content is inhibiting freedom of speech. People and companies have a right to not say things. If they don't, then please let me know when Alex Jones will be setting aside some of his website and paying for the hosting for my views. I have a lot to say. It would be great to piggy back on his 10 million visitors a month and get a free audience.
      - acct1771 8y ago
        When you become large enough that you are effectively replacing the town square, you have an extraordinary responsibility to let everyone have their soap box, because otherwise, you are dictating public opinion. For better or for worse, the ideas that grasp the most people have prevailed historically. Letting one small group of people, regardless of how they're chosen, or how self-righteous they feel, decide what's okay and not okay to say, will never end well.

Tomminn 8y ago

If you can't persuade his base, then I guess you're not the person whose job it is to persuade his base. Be patient. One will come.

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
diego_moita 8y ago
No, it is not that simple. Your argumentation rests on the assumption that people are convinced only through reason. There are several professions and industries that work just by considering that to be naive. Prejudices, herd mentality, fear, anger and a lot more biological drives are the main drivers of most people beliefs. "Reason" is just a make up and varnish they apply to make it less ugly.
Tomminn 8y ago
@diego_moita I never actually said reason was the only tool in your kit. Rhetoric is broader than that.
lovehashbrowns 8y ago
Wait patiently for the "chosen one" to come, while he continues to grow his fanbase, spread misinformation, participates in fear mongering, and is praised by the president of the United States? Yes, sure, great plan. We can also have a grand old time debunking each and every single one of the crackpot theories that come out of the show, which surprisingly nobody has ever tried before!
- acct1771 8y ago
  No, you're right, inhibit freedom of expression. There's no way that can go wrong after a while.
  - lovehashbrowns 8y ago
    There's no way letting him have access to millions of people via these giant platforms can go wrong either. Gotta preserve that freedom of expression and the marketplace of ideas.
  - whymauri 8y ago
    This is just the paradox of tolerance.
  - tchaffee 8y ago
    Forcing YouTube, Facebook, or the side of your house to host Alex Jones' content is inhibiting freedom of speech. People and companies have a right to not say things. If they don't, then please let me know when Alex Jones will be setting aside some of his website and paying for the hosting for my views. I have a lot to say. It would be great to piggy back on his 10 million visitors a month and get a free audience.
    - acct1771 8y ago
      When you become large enough that you are effectively replacing the town square, you have an extraordinary responsibility to let everyone have their soap box, because otherwise, you are dictating public opinion. For better or for worse, the ideas that grasp the most people have prevailed historically. Letting one small group of people, regardless of how they're chosen, or how self-righteous they feel, decide what's okay and not okay to say, will never end well.