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Apple Removes Infowars from Podcast Directory

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Re: Apple Removes Infowars from Podcast Directory

#12
post #5

FB has also removed Infowars' page. https://www.facebook.com/InfoWars-80256732576/ FB doesn't cite a specific post (eg, the implication that some of the school shooting victims were part of a hoax), which is a pity.I dislike Infowars, but I like a consistently applied ToS: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dj6T8ppXoAIqbXB.jpg 'Glorifying violence' is vague - should all police/military/veterans/people who celebrate July 4 b…

They removed four pages https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2018/08/enforcing-our-community... and they mention that the posts were made in the last week, so that probably narrows it down?

Re: Apple Removes Infowars from Podcast Directory

#14
post #2

With Apple, Facebook and Spotify doing this (and lots of reporting about it) I'd say ... cue the Streisand effect. Sometimes it's better to just not do anything, but I guess that doesn't get you PR points.

Eh, no. The Streisand effect applies to getting attention to something that wouldn't have otherwise, and gaining momentum because of it.

This is about providing a platform to someone who willfully spreads lies.

There has been research into the effects of Reddit clamping down on hate speech a few years ago. Guess what: not giving assholes a platform actually works. It's still a cesspool but less so than it used to be.

Re: Apple Removes Infowars from Podcast Directory

#15
post #2

With Apple, Facebook and Spotify doing this (and lots of reporting about it) I'd say ... cue the Streisand effect. Sometimes it's better to just not do anything, but I guess that doesn't get you PR points.

I've seen Infowars regularly mocked in mainstream comedy TV shows. Shining light on Infowars misinformation / ill intent is probably a good thing.

Adding barriers to passive consumption, by vulnerable (misinformed) people, is probably also a good thing. It's not being censored/outlawed, just made slightly less convenient to access. Fake news are a threat to democracy.

Re: Apple Removes Infowars from Podcast Directory

#16

What if we find out the government were making the frogs gay?

As an Austinite (well now Iowan) who grew up with plenty of Alex Jones on the airwaves, it's stuff like this I'll actually-in a morbid kind of way-really miss. I suppose you have to be exposed to it long enough to grow numb to it but Alex Jones became a source of entertainment as I grew older just to see what wackiness he'd come up with next. Gay frogs still manages to put a grin on my face even on my most stressful days.

It was almost a contest between he and the considerably less inflammatory but still uniquely weird John Aielli.

This isn't, nor should be read as a defense of Alex Jones by any sane person-but an acknowledgement of the absurd. I mean come on. Gay frogs? You gotta admit--it's chuckleworthy.

Re: Apple Removes Infowars from Podcast Directory

#19
post #2

With Apple, Facebook and Spotify doing this (and lots of reporting about it) I'd say ... cue the Streisand effect. Sometimes it's better to just not do anything, but I guess that doesn't get you PR points.

Eh, no. The Streisand effect applies to getting attention to something that wouldn't have otherwise, and gaining momentum because of it. This is about providing a platform to someone who willfully spreads lies. There has been research into the effects of Reddit clamping down on hate speech a few years ago. Guess what: not giving assholes a platform actually works . It's still a cesspool but less so than it used to be…

Got a link, I'd (genuinely) like to see this research!

Re: Apple Removes Infowars from Podcast Directory

#20
post #2

With Apple, Facebook and Spotify doing this (and lots of reporting about it) I'd say ... cue the Streisand effect. Sometimes it's better to just not do anything, but I guess that doesn't get you PR points.

I totally disagree. I am sure cutting these dangerous people from the mainstream website will slowly kill them.
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