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Does he even have the money to pay nearly a billion dollars? Or is the point to bankrupt him with what seems like lawfare? America is not a place where people

Does he even have the money to pay nearly a billion dollars? Or is the point to bankrupt him with what seems like lawfare? America is not a place where people like being told to be quiet. Alex Jones went mainstream on the Joe Rogan show. Millions and millions of Rogan fans see Alex Jones are legitimized by this ruling. Joe Rogan has the biggest podcast in the world. Just some things to think about. Unintended consequences.

tptacek 4y ago
Those consequences being what, more people defaming the parents of dead children and losing their fortunes as a result? I don't think Rogan is dumb enough to make that particular mistake.
- norwalkbear 4y ago
  That's a very uncharitable interpretation. Whether you like it or not, Alex Jones is insanely popular and so is Joe Rogan. Their audiences votes and can certainly tip elections. I bet you never thought Trump would win in 2016. I knew that race would be close because I understand the mood of average Americans better than you.
  - lovich 4y ago
    What are you implying then? That if someone gets popular enough we should all just roll over and let them do as they please? I’m failing to see a different interpretation when you end with > Just some things to think about. Unintended consequences.
    - norwalkbear 4y ago
      Fining him nearly 1 billion dollars is excessive and sends a wrong moral signal to the moderate public. It makes the punishment look unusual and petty. Can anyone justify why the amount should be that high? Does he have 1 billion dollars? I would have fined him 200million something he might actually have. Using the law to make an example out of someone requires moral authority and the population to agree. COVID has shown us, America is split on that.
      - tptacek 4y ago
        Yes, it's in fact pretty easy to justify why the amount should be that high. My guess is that the distinction between 200MM and 900MM is not especially material to Jones at this point; either zeroes him out.
      - lovich 4y ago
        > Can anyone justify why the amount should be that high? Does he have 1 billion dollars? 1) InfoWars wasn’t some small blogger or random guy on the street. It’s a business with 10s to 100s of millions in revenue depending on which documents Alex Jones had for the day 2) Alex Jones had the opportunity to defend himself and instead either did not show up to his court dates or chose the opportunity to continue attacking the plaintiffs and doubling down on perjurious statements when given orders not to If anything the “wrong moral signal” being sent here is that even when your behavior is not functionally different from trying to rack up the highest damage amount possible, it’s still easily payable by our top echelons of society.
      - Jordrok 4y ago
        Jones's lies were unusual and petty. The punishment perfectly fits the crime.

tptacek 4y ago

Those consequences being what, more people defaming the parents of dead children and losing their fortunes as a result? I don't think Rogan is dumb enough to make that particular mistake.

norwalkbear 4y ago
That's a very uncharitable interpretation. Whether you like it or not, Alex Jones is insanely popular and so is Joe Rogan. Their audiences votes and can certainly tip elections. I bet you never thought Trump would win in 2016. I knew that race would be close because I understand the mood of average Americans better than you.
- lovich 4y ago
  What are you implying then? That if someone gets popular enough we should all just roll over and let them do as they please? I’m failing to see a different interpretation when you end with > Just some things to think about. Unintended consequences.
  - norwalkbear 4y ago
    Fining him nearly 1 billion dollars is excessive and sends a wrong moral signal to the moderate public. It makes the punishment look unusual and petty. Can anyone justify why the amount should be that high? Does he have 1 billion dollars? I would have fined him 200million something he might actually have. Using the law to make an example out of someone requires moral authority and the population to agree. COVID has shown us, America is split on that.
    - tptacek 4y ago
      Yes, it's in fact pretty easy to justify why the amount should be that high. My guess is that the distinction between 200MM and 900MM is not especially material to Jones at this point; either zeroes him out.
    - lovich 4y ago
      > Can anyone justify why the amount should be that high? Does he have 1 billion dollars? 1) InfoWars wasn’t some small blogger or random guy on the street. It’s a business with 10s to 100s of millions in revenue depending on which documents Alex Jones had for the day 2) Alex Jones had the opportunity to defend himself and instead either did not show up to his court dates or chose the opportunity to continue attacking the plaintiffs and doubling down on perjurious statements when given orders not to If anything the “wrong moral signal” being sent here is that even when your behavior is not functionally different from trying to rack up the highest damage amount possible, it’s still easily payable by our top echelons of society.
    - Jordrok 4y ago
      Jones's lies were unusual and petty. The punishment perfectly fits the crime.