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You're assuming a hypothetical "informed viewer," who is able to consume multiple streams of information and make a rational choice. That's not what we're deali

You're assuming a hypothetical "informed viewer," who is able to consume multiple streams of information and make a rational choice. That's not what we're dealing with. The worst kinds of propaganda make their point with emotion, repetition, and invective. Most people can't tell the difference between that and real information. Thus, sources that seek to manipulate people will win against those that are fair and honest. The question is, if we as a society are just going to accept a significant proportion of our population being manipulated into accepting counterfactuals from whoever has the most Twitter followers.

forgingahead 6y ago
No I don't. Your point about "propaganda making their point with emotion, repetition, and invective" is a great descriptor of ALL media for the past several years, from all sides. If established elites are determining which media outlets are "correct" and which ones are "propaganda", then the disenfranchised, minorities, subjugated, and others who are outside this elite group have no way to amplify their voices without permission from the entrenched. Then, when those groups realise they don't have legitimate means of voice, they either choose to exit (migration), or armed action. This is the point Taibbi is making - don't back people into a corner.
- hackyhacky 6y ago
  You're right. I've been foolishly ignoring the subjugated minority of white, male, wealthy, Christian Trump supporters. Let's give a voice to this oft-neglected underclass. /s obviously.
  - forgingahead 6y ago
    Is this you? It's great that you feel empowered and have been successful in this country. Lots of minorities haven't been, and for reasons outside of their control, based in historical inequalities.[0] So do these minorities you reference have yours and other elites permission to post on Youtube? Or will they also get censored? [0]https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25025556 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25025556

forgingahead 6y ago

No I don't. Your point about "propaganda making their point with emotion, repetition, and invective" is a great descriptor of ALL media for the past several years, from all sides. If established elites are determining which media outlets are "correct" and which ones are "propaganda", then the disenfranchised, minorities, subjugated, and others who are outside this elite group have no way to amplify their voices without permission from the entrenched. Then, when those groups realise they don't have legitimate means of voice, they either choose to exit (migration), or armed action. This is the point Taibbi is making - don't back people into a corner.

hackyhacky 6y ago
You're right. I've been foolishly ignoring the subjugated minority of white, male, wealthy, Christian Trump supporters. Let's give a voice to this oft-neglected underclass. /s obviously.
- forgingahead 6y ago
  Is this you? It's great that you feel empowered and have been successful in this country. Lots of minorities haven't been, and for reasons outside of their control, based in historical inequalities.[0] So do these minorities you reference have yours and other elites permission to post on Youtube? Or will they also get censored? [0]https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25025556 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25025556