Talks at Google: Noam Chomsky [video] • Hacker News Board

Re: Talks at Google: Noam Chomsky [video]

#41

Post by varjag » Mon, Jul 31, 2017, 11:46 AM UTC

mistermann wrote: post #38

This is in my opinion one of the most important and relevant to current events Chomsky excerpts that I've ever seen: Noam Chomsky - Neoliberalism Is Destroying Our Democracy https://youtu.be/uh8PpYRD5to?t=152 (Starts at 2:35, "and then a third thing happened..."; personally, I would suggest ignoring the various TV clips spliced in as that to me seems like the projections of the politics of the editor of the video and…

It's a perfect example of the modern far-left and far-right convergence. Both have anti-globalist agenda, contempt for human rights and only slight disagreement over who exactly has to be eliminated for peoples' better life. Only now they were able to peacefully face off over the Internet and like each other's tweets.

Re: Talks at Google: Noam Chomsky [video]

#42

Post by varjag » Mon, Jul 31, 2017, 11:55 AM UTC

AimHere wrote: post #37

varjag wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you allow the same middle ground fallacy for Holocaust?

Check the dates. If you were trying to assess claims of an extraordinary and unprecedented mechanised genocide by Nazi Germany in 1943 or early 1944, when it wasn't obvious what was actually going on, and when all people had to go on were reports from a handful of escapees and refugees, then yes, being careful with the evidence would be the appropriate response to the Holocaust claims available at the time, just as b…

Quite contrary, it was fairly well reported. The reason Chomsky grudgingly accepted the fact of genocide was the Third Indochina War, when coincidentally in 1978 the communist Vietnam moved in to displace Pol Pot. Were it not Vietnamese but say Americans, he'd deny the genocide to the day.

Right now he denies that chemical attacks by Assad govt have happened in Syria, so the old man is still in the same denial business - OPCW reports be damned.

Re: Talks at Google: Noam Chomsky [video]

#43

Post by loceng » Mon, Jul 31, 2017, 2:18 PM UTC

demonshalo wrote: post #36

Frogolocalypse wrote: post #17

The world will lose one of the great modern-day thinkers when Chomsky is no longer with us. It's hard to fathom how he remains such a clear thinker at his age.

His contribution to linguistics is definitely great and no one can take that from him. But to call him a great modern-day thinker is a bit of a stretch.

Who would you consider great modern-day thinkers?

Re: Talks at Google: Noam Chomsky [video]

#44

Post by loceng » Mon, Jul 31, 2017, 2:29 PM UTC

no2empire wrote: post #10

theplatapi wrote: post #2

Chomsky wrote the foreword to a French book denying the Holocaust and spoke at the headquarters of Hezbollah - an internationally recognized terror group - amoung other asinine things. Why does anyone respect this guy?

Faurisson was sentenced to jail for "denying the Holocaust" as you put it. Chomsky believed Faurisson had the right of free speech "even if Faurisson were to be a rabid anti-Semite and fanatic pro-Nazi" as Chomsky's statement said. Chomsky said to use his statement as wished, and it was put as the preface of a Faurisson book. When people ask him about this Chomsky says he has signed hundreds of free speech petitions…

This is the type of example scenario where I think 'AI' could come in handy - or really posting bots - as to insert at minimum a link to when certain phrases or statements are detected on public or semi-public forums and the like. A lot of misinformation can quickly get shared, generally one side or the other using as propaganda.

Re: Talks at Google: Noam Chomsky [video]

#45

Post by RealityNow » Mon, Jul 31, 2017, 4:03 PM UTC

krona wrote: post #23

RealityNow wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because he's one of the most prominent, influential, and cited intellectuals of our generation.

Perhaps your generation. Of those things that gave him prominence and influence, they were done decades before I was born. The guy is a linguist. I wish he would stick to what he's good at.

I'm in my 20s. What's amazing is that his commentary on politics, economics, and international relations is just as relevant now as it was back then.

Re: Talks at Google: Noam Chomsky [video]

#46

Post by Frogolocalypse » Tue, Aug 01, 2017, 1:06 PM UTC

demonshalo wrote: post #36

Frogolocalypse wrote: post #17

The world will lose one of the great modern-day thinkers when Chomsky is no longer with us. It's hard to fathom how he remains such a clear thinker at his age.

His contribution to linguistics is definitely great and no one can take that from him. But to call him a great modern-day thinker is a bit of a stretch.

Hey, if you haven't read any of his books, I would recommend it some time. He has a mind like a steel trap. His books are meticulously researched, and he has a sad dry humor.

But what you also get is hope. I've always felt that the reason he does what he does, is because we can point to openness, and draw a clear line between today and the past. Not recognizing what we do in the world leads to barbarism. The world has been rejecting barabarism consistently for centuries. Even a century ago, in america, the discrimination was horrendous. It is better because democracy allows us to question the implementation of government. And he asks the big questions.

Re: Talks at Google: Noam Chomsky [video]

#47

Post by mistermann » Tue, Aug 01, 2017, 2:56 PM UTC

varjag wrote: post #41

mistermann wrote: post #38

This is in my opinion one of the most important and relevant to current events Chomsky excerpts that I've ever seen: Noam Chomsky - Neoliberalism Is Destroying Our Democracy https://youtu.be/uh8PpYRD5to?t=152 (Starts at 2:35, "and then a third thing happened..."; personally, I would suggest ignoring the various TV clips spliced in as that to me seems like the projections of the politics of the editor of the video and…

It's a perfect example of the modern far-left and far-right convergence. Both have anti-globalist agenda, contempt for human rights and only slight disagreement over who exactly has to be eliminated for peoples' better life. Only now they were able to peacefully face off over the Internet and like each other's tweets.

The far left has an anti-globalist agenda?

What do you mean by "contempt for human rights" in this scenario?

"who exactly has to be eliminated for peoples' better life." - what do you mean by eliminated? And who are the candidates?