Live data from Hacker News

Slamming political rivals may be the most effective way to go viral

cam.ac.uk

1–10 of 123 posts

Re: Slamming political rivals may be the most effective way to go viral

#3
Yeah, feels we're screwed at the moment.

I subscribe to both DNC and RNC mailing lists and it's typical to see things like "Trump Rally BACKFIRES" and "The Radical Left is trying to destroy America". I try to laugh it off thinking people can't be dumb enough to buy into this, but then I'm gripped by the terrifying reality that actually yes, they are.

Dunking on opponents really wouldn't be all that bad if there was some actual debate progressing, where ideas could be tested and improved, but that seems to have stagnated to a large degree.

Re: Slamming political rivals may be the most effective way to go viral

#4
> Unless social media companies start penalising polarising content and rewarding more constructive posts,

Twitter and Facebook are not shy about having a hand in the conversation. If anything they reward polarizing content, and they've shown interest in censoring wrongthink, but do they have any interest in turning down the temperature?

> these platforms will continue to be swamped by political animosity that risks spilling into real-world turmoil.

It's more than a risk, it's been spilling into real-world turmoil for years.

Re: Slamming political rivals may be the most effective way to go viral

#5

People just regurgitate their sides last night narrative presented to them on their favourite news network. the commitment to truth has been lost. Its all about framing now.

"How can not everyone know the obvious truth I just learned about 5 minutes ago reading an opinion piece!?"

Re: Slamming political rivals may be the most effective way to go viral

#6

Yeah, feels we're screwed at the moment. I subscribe to both DNC and RNC mailing lists and it's typical to see things like "Trump Rally BACKFIRES" and "The Radical Left is trying to destroy America". I try to laugh it off thinking people can't be dumb enough to buy into this, but then I'm gripped by the terrifying reality that actually yes, they are . Dunking on opponents really wouldn't be all that bad if there was…

The use of slang like dunking, slamming, murdering, and so on by adults in a professional arena is embarrassing.

Re: Slamming political rivals may be the most effective way to go viral

#7

Yeah, feels we're screwed at the moment. I subscribe to both DNC and RNC mailing lists and it's typical to see things like "Trump Rally BACKFIRES" and "The Radical Left is trying to destroy America". I try to laugh it off thinking people can't be dumb enough to buy into this, but then I'm gripped by the terrifying reality that actually yes, they are . Dunking on opponents really wouldn't be all that bad if there was…

I suspect that there are varying amounts of return on effort, and that their strategists have learned that in a two party ONLY system, with low voter turnout regularly, that just agitating those already on your side to do something, in any way that happens, is more return on effort than convincing people or other variations.

There are feedback effects within their decision making that dampen and then eliminate new ideas, which reinforces "return to the party line" and opposite of "take our group in a new direction with this idea" ; anti-evolution basically..

Re: Slamming political rivals may be the most effective way to go viral

#8
I've noticed this hilarious thing where within the left leaning media sphere, the only verbs that Ocasio-Cortez and to a lesser degree Bernie ever engage in is "slamming".

They don't eat, sleep, debate, propose, or discuss. They just slam 24/7.

I googled her to verify the spelling on her name and the first headline was:

"Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slams the lack of diversity in an all-white group of lawmakers who drafted a bipartisan infrastructure deal"

Re: Slamming political rivals may be the most effective way to go viral

#9
Of course. Virality is a mob action… you always get a visceral reaction from the mob being against something.

If you’re running for local office, what gets more attention when you troll social media?

Talking about policy to improve storm sewers or claiming that your opponent is a communist who wants to kill children? What gets more attention?

In my hometown, a guy got on the non-partisan school board on a platform of being pro-gun, and against his “woke” opponent, who was accused of hating veterans.

Post reply on HN