4 ms·

I see two defects in your reasoning. First, our understanding of what constitutes physical violence is relatively reliable. Whereas our understanding of what c

I see two defects in your reasoning. First, our understanding of what constitutes physical violence is relatively reliable. Whereas our understanding of what constitutes misinformation is relatively unreliable. Therefore any comprehensive dictatorship of information would be relatively extremely more disastrous. Second, misinformation is self-limiting in its effects. If it is misinformation then those who consume and communicate it will be relatively weak and disorganized. Whereas those who consume and communicate good information will be relatively strong and organized. The present state of the mob versus the corporation is a clear example of that. The mob has the numbers but nevertheless, the corporation wins. Because the corporation is organized and the mob is disorganized.

Nevermark 4y ago
I appreciate your response. But while there are more gray areas in misinformation or harmful coordination or reinforcement of bad behavior (bullying, racism, fraud, libel, etc), relative to violence, that is far from a case where large quantities of harmful speech can’t be identified with openly discussed principles. Wisdom is never perfect, but it can be openly discussed and codified. That is a huge improvement over simply throwing up hands and watching people be crushed by underserved social persecution and manipulation. Also, any behavior that extracts value can expend resources for its own self-preservation. So fraud and rabble rousing, etc do not weed themselves out. Parasitical strategies work. Finally, I agree that organization of corporations and other close knit groups trumps the disorganized. Removing a judicial component would only make those powerful organizations more effective at bending society to their will. The answer is an organized government with publically created and adapted laws, with norms that reduce opportunities for corruption It’s far from perfect. Our systems could be “easily” improved by simple anti-corruption improvements - if entrenched interests could be overcome. But despite obvious flaws, they are vastly better than the mafia power structures that a vacuum of open legal systems reining in harmful dishonest or malevolent communication would ensure

Nevermark 4y ago

I appreciate your response. But while there are more gray areas in misinformation or harmful coordination or reinforcement of bad behavior (bullying, racism, fraud, libel, etc), relative to violence, that is far from a case where large quantities of harmful speech can’t be identified with openly discussed principles. Wisdom is never perfect, but it can be openly discussed and codified. That is a huge improvement over simply throwing up hands and watching people be crushed by underserved social persecution and manipulation. Also, any behavior that extracts value can expend resources for its own self-preservation. So fraud and rabble rousing, etc do not weed themselves out. Parasitical strategies work. Finally, I agree that organization of corporations and other close knit groups trumps the disorganized. Removing a judicial component would only make those powerful organizations more effective at bending society to their will. The answer is an organized government with publically created and adapted laws, with norms that reduce opportunities for corruption It’s far from perfect. Our systems could be “easily” improved by simple anti-corruption improvements - if entrenched interests could be overcome. But despite obvious flaws, they are vastly better than the mafia power structures that a vacuum of open legal systems reining in harmful dishonest or malevolent communication would ensure