3 ms·

Maybe he can channel those regrets into actually making things better by cracking down on white supremacists, even if it comes with some personal cost? https://

Maybe he can channel those regrets into actually making things better by cracking down on white supremacists, even if it comes with some personal cost? https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-algorithm-crackdown-white-supremacy-gop-politicians-report-2019-4 https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-algorithm-crackdown-... In short, Twitter has had the ability to algorithmically filter white supremacists for years, but they haven't enabled it because GOP politicians are white supremacists.

listless 5y ago
I understand your frustration, but my friend, this kind of rhetoric is neither true nor helpful in us solving real problems.
- MengerSponge 5y ago
  It's not a charitable interpretation, but not true? I dunno. That BI article probably wouldn't still be up, or would have had a stern talking-to from Twitter's lawyers, if it were just not true. Twitter isn't the most egregious actor (looking at you, Meta, and you, YouTube team at Alphabet), but the rhetoric of "white supremacists should not be welcomed in the public discourse" is both true and helpful. It's an effective North Star. "In their moral justification, the argument of the lesser evil has played a prominent role. If you are confronted with two evils, the argument runs, it is your duty to opt for the lesser one, whereas it is irresponsible to refuse to choose altogether. Its weakness has always been that those who choose the lesser evil forget quickly that they chose evil." -Hannah Arendt
kcplate 5y ago
It’s remarkable to me that especially after the last few years that people actually think that Twitter acts in the GOP’s best interest.
- pessimizer 5y ago
  If you're not 100% onboard, you're a traitor working for the enemy.
  - MengerSponge 5y ago
    "As we say in Germany, if there’s a Nazi at the table and 10 other people sitting there talking to him, you got a table with 11 Nazis." There are a few red lines that don't require subtlety or shades of gray or anything. It's the paradox of tolerance.
- MengerSponge 5y ago
  I didn't say that. Twitter's actions are self-interested, but not morally driven. They're not necessarily even rational in any long term way.
  - kcplate 5y ago
    >> Twitter has had the ability to algorithmically filter white supremacists for years, but they haven't enabled it because GOP politicians are white supremacists. You definitely seem to be implying that here. If all components of what you say are true…who is the only group that benefits? Perhaps I read it wrong.
    - MengerSponge 5y ago
      Twitter isn't actively promoting the GOP's best interests, but they also haven't acted as critically as they should.
      - kcplate 5y ago
        I think you can definitely make that case for both the Dems and the GOP.
      - kcplate 5y ago
        And to perhaps better refine that comment. I think that if you are going to engage in any form of censorship as a platform, you simply need to be consistent to the TOS you are operating under. I don’t think Twitter is consistent and tends to overlook TOS violations when it involves entities whose politics they will agree with.

listless 5y ago

I understand your frustration, but my friend, this kind of rhetoric is neither true nor helpful in us solving real problems.

MengerSponge 5y ago
It's not a charitable interpretation, but not true? I dunno. That BI article probably wouldn't still be up, or would have had a stern talking-to from Twitter's lawyers, if it were just not true. Twitter isn't the most egregious actor (looking at you, Meta, and you, YouTube team at Alphabet), but the rhetoric of "white supremacists should not be welcomed in the public discourse" is both true and helpful. It's an effective North Star. "In their moral justification, the argument of the lesser evil has played a prominent role. If you are confronted with two evils, the argument runs, it is your duty to opt for the lesser one, whereas it is irresponsible to refuse to choose altogether. Its weakness has always been that those who choose the lesser evil forget quickly that they chose evil." -Hannah Arendt

kcplate 5y ago

It’s remarkable to me that especially after the last few years that people actually think that Twitter acts in the GOP’s best interest.

pessimizer 5y ago
If you're not 100% onboard, you're a traitor working for the enemy.
- MengerSponge 5y ago
  "As we say in Germany, if there’s a Nazi at the table and 10 other people sitting there talking to him, you got a table with 11 Nazis." There are a few red lines that don't require subtlety or shades of gray or anything. It's the paradox of tolerance.
MengerSponge 5y ago
I didn't say that. Twitter's actions are self-interested, but not morally driven. They're not necessarily even rational in any long term way.
- kcplate 5y ago
  >> Twitter has had the ability to algorithmically filter white supremacists for years, but they haven't enabled it because GOP politicians are white supremacists. You definitely seem to be implying that here. If all components of what you say are true…who is the only group that benefits? Perhaps I read it wrong.
  - MengerSponge 5y ago
    Twitter isn't actively promoting the GOP's best interests, but they also haven't acted as critically as they should.
    - kcplate 5y ago
      I think you can definitely make that case for both the Dems and the GOP.
    - kcplate 5y ago
      And to perhaps better refine that comment. I think that if you are going to engage in any form of censorship as a platform, you simply need to be consistent to the TOS you are operating under. I don’t think Twitter is consistent and tends to overlook TOS violations when it involves entities whose politics they will agree with.