4 ms·

"And the fact that tech platforms censor the right is a fact" Proof?

_heimdall 3y ago
The Twitter Files could help out here. Plenty of examples in there of tech censoring topics and individuals that largely fell into what most people would consider "the right" during our pandemic response. "The right" is generally defined as policital views focusing on individual rights. Tech platforms were blatantly censoring discussion that they believed could lead to vaccine hesitancy and individuals making their own decision. They censored topics related to alternative treatments and palliative care. The motivation was clearly to push individuals to go along with the recommendations from government authorities at the expense of individual rights, freedoms, and choice.
- Timon3 3y ago
  > The Twitter Files could help out here. We know that "The Twitter Files" were a completely one-sided effort to only release information on one political side. Hell, we even have evidence of the Trump White House asking Twitter to take down posts that make fun of Trump. The partisan nature of the release should not just put it into question, but (in my opinion) serves as direct evidence that the right is treated preferentially. If there really was a preference for the left, they would have shown just how few requests the right made, and just how few leftists were banned. But all of this information is kept secret, and it's kept this way for a reason.
  - _heimdall 3y ago
    To the original question of proof, it sounds like we agree that there is indeed proof that tech platforms were censoring the right. I purposely left the question open with regards to the left being censored. I expect it does happen and examples could be found - I simply don't have proof handy, possibly because as you said the Twitter Files seem to have been one side. The absence of evidence shoeing censorship of the left has no bearing on whether there is evidence that the right was being censored.
    - Timon3 3y ago
      > To the original question of proof, it sounds like we agree that there is indeed proof that tech platforms were censoring the right. No, we do not agree. A lot of what the right calls "censoring" is nothing more than "making the platform a space normal people want to participate in". By their conflation of very normal practices (e.g. banning people for racist language, or purposeful misgendering) with censorship I've stopped giving them any benefit of the doubt. You're free to show scientific assessments of censorship of the right, but until then it's nothing more than the usual propaganda for me.
      - _heimdall 3y ago
        > making the platform a space normal people want to participate in How are you defining normal here? Discussion of vaccine efficacy, test validity during vaccine trials, alternative medical treatments, and even the basic fundamental purpose of informed consent were all being censored. Those topics broadly fit on the right in general, with a focus on individual freedom, and aren't specific to the far right. Are you arguing that topics relate to a general opinion of individual vs collective views, broadly held by roughly half our population, aren't normal and should be isolated and silenced? Are you further arguing that its right for minority views to be thrown out, silenced, and those individuals stripped of their right to free speech? If so, where is that line drawn when compared to other political battles fought by the left to protect and shine a light on opinions of other minority groups?
        Timon3 3y ago
        I'm not interested in arguing the specifics, I've done so before. You're free to bring up scientific evidence for the claim of censorship. Until then I'll treat it as I try to treat pretty much anything "commonly known" - as hearsay.
        _heimdall 3y ago
        Evidence for censorship is never going to fit into a scientific context, especially when you're actually concerned with intent rather than statistical significance or similar data. You asked for proof and there's plenty out there. Claiming now that the proof doesn't count because it doesn't also prove the negative is asinine. Had you asked for proof that only one side was being censored that'd be a whole different question but you simply asked for proof that the right was being censored.

The Twitter Files could help out here. Plenty of examples in there of tech censoring topics and individuals that largely fell into what most people would consider "the right" during our pandemic response. "The right" is generally defined as policital views focusing on individual rights. Tech platforms were blatantly censoring discussion that they believed could lead to vaccine hesitancy and individuals making their own decision. They censored topics related to alternative treatments and palliative care. The motivation was clearly to push individuals to go along with the recommendations from government authorities at the expense of individual rights, freedoms, and choice.

Timon3 3y ago
> The Twitter Files could help out here. We know that "The Twitter Files" were a completely one-sided effort to only release information on one political side. Hell, we even have evidence of the Trump White House asking Twitter to take down posts that make fun of Trump. The partisan nature of the release should not just put it into question, but (in my opinion) serves as direct evidence that the right is treated preferentially. If there really was a preference for the left, they would have shown just how few requests the right made, and just how few leftists were banned. But all of this information is kept secret, and it's kept this way for a reason.
- _heimdall 3y ago
  To the original question of proof, it sounds like we agree that there is indeed proof that tech platforms were censoring the right. I purposely left the question open with regards to the left being censored. I expect it does happen and examples could be found - I simply don't have proof handy, possibly because as you said the Twitter Files seem to have been one side. The absence of evidence shoeing censorship of the left has no bearing on whether there is evidence that the right was being censored.
  - Timon3 3y ago
    > To the original question of proof, it sounds like we agree that there is indeed proof that tech platforms were censoring the right. No, we do not agree. A lot of what the right calls "censoring" is nothing more than "making the platform a space normal people want to participate in". By their conflation of very normal practices (e.g. banning people for racist language, or purposeful misgendering) with censorship I've stopped giving them any benefit of the doubt. You're free to show scientific assessments of censorship of the right, but until then it's nothing more than the usual propaganda for me.
    - _heimdall 3y ago
      > making the platform a space normal people want to participate in How are you defining normal here? Discussion of vaccine efficacy, test validity during vaccine trials, alternative medical treatments, and even the basic fundamental purpose of informed consent were all being censored. Those topics broadly fit on the right in general, with a focus on individual freedom, and aren't specific to the far right. Are you arguing that topics relate to a general opinion of individual vs collective views, broadly held by roughly half our population, aren't normal and should be isolated and silenced? Are you further arguing that its right for minority views to be thrown out, silenced, and those individuals stripped of their right to free speech? If so, where is that line drawn when compared to other political battles fought by the left to protect and shine a light on opinions of other minority groups?
      - Timon3 3y ago
        I'm not interested in arguing the specifics, I've done so before. You're free to bring up scientific evidence for the claim of censorship. Until then I'll treat it as I try to treat pretty much anything "commonly known" - as hearsay.
        _heimdall 3y ago
        Evidence for censorship is never going to fit into a scientific context, especially when you're actually concerned with intent rather than statistical significance or similar data. You asked for proof and there's plenty out there. Claiming now that the proof doesn't count because it doesn't also prove the negative is asinine. Had you asked for proof that only one side was being censored that'd be a whole different question but you simply asked for proof that the right was being censored.