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That's where the cognitive dissonance here kicks in: the case for ISPs to be common-carriers looks much stronger (from any principled perspective) than does the

That's where the cognitive dissonance here kicks in: the case for ISPs to be common-carriers looks much stronger (from any principled perspective) than does the case for social media networks. And yet, because this is a party-political issue, you have the Republican Party swearing up and down that ISPs are not (presumably because common-carrier status implies net neutrality and this is unpopular with donors or something?) but that social networks are (because they exhibit "bias").

Meekro 4y ago
I agree that we should have both ISPs and major social networks as common carriers. Based on talking with Republican friends, I think the difference is that social networks are well-known censors. If Xfinity was known to censor as aggressively as Twitter and Facebook do, they would also be in favor of common carrier rules for them. But as it is, they're content to leave well enough alone.
anon291 4y ago
I think you'll find that if you talk with technically literate Republicans you'll find a lot of support for net neutrality. Unfortunately, my party's base is made up of people who are not super into tech unlike the Democratic party whose base is increasingly rich tech workers. On the other hand, my fellow Republicans do jobs you may think unimportant,like farming, plumbing, construction, etc. Perhaps, when you think about it, democrat regulations of these professions are equally ridiculous when you look at it from the perspective of someone in these professions. Half our political discord would be solved if we just thought of ourselves in the other person's shoes and listened instead of chocking it up to stupidity or malice. Half of my conservative friends have no idea how the internet works. They don't understand the wires behind it. When you explain to them what's going on, they become more sympathetic to net neutrality. Perhaps try explaining instead of dismissing?
- NovemberWhiskey 4y ago
  I'm not at all speaking about Republican voters; I'm talking about Republican politicians; sorry I didn't make that clear.
- colinmhayes 4y ago
  > jobs you may think unimportant,like farming, plumbing, construction, > Perhaps try explaining instead of dismissing?
  - anon291 4y ago
    I've not dismissed his core concern about lack of net neutrality. In fact, i agree with him and encouraging him to not give up..

Meekro 4y ago

I agree that we should have both ISPs and major social networks as common carriers. Based on talking with Republican friends, I think the difference is that social networks are well-known censors. If Xfinity was known to censor as aggressively as Twitter and Facebook do, they would also be in favor of common carrier rules for them. But as it is, they're content to leave well enough alone.

anon291 4y ago

I think you'll find that if you talk with technically literate Republicans you'll find a lot of support for net neutrality. Unfortunately, my party's base is made up of people who are not super into tech unlike the Democratic party whose base is increasingly rich tech workers. On the other hand, my fellow Republicans do jobs you may think unimportant,like farming, plumbing, construction, etc. Perhaps, when you think about it, democrat regulations of these professions are equally ridiculous when you look at it from the perspective of someone in these professions. Half our political discord would be solved if we just thought of ourselves in the other person's shoes and listened instead of chocking it up to stupidity or malice. Half of my conservative friends have no idea how the internet works. They don't understand the wires behind it. When you explain to them what's going on, they become more sympathetic to net neutrality. Perhaps try explaining instead of dismissing?

NovemberWhiskey 4y ago
I'm not at all speaking about Republican voters; I'm talking about Republican politicians; sorry I didn't make that clear.
colinmhayes 4y ago
> jobs you may think unimportant,like farming, plumbing, construction, > Perhaps try explaining instead of dismissing?
- anon291 4y ago
  I've not dismissed his core concern about lack of net neutrality. In fact, i agree with him and encouraging him to not give up..