Sociologist Karl Folk and I break down some of the inauthentic methods that the American right wing outrage machine uses, and suggest some solutions to prevent mainstream media complicity.
On fire with this episode, Griff. You and Karl were very funny. Very on point. Great links too. Reflexive control is maybe not be a populist enough term to catch the imagination, but it is a great way to describe what is going on. Thanks.
Reading your links about reflexive control, it occurred to me that a stochastic version of this it explain why so many people are baffled by the uneven treatment of Biden v Trump in the The NYT, the WaPo, on CNN etc. Something is badly amiss when The Washington Post's Amy Gardner, who won a Pulitzer for investigating Jan 6, can fact check Biden's convention speech and claim Trump has not said he will not accept the election result if he loses. She had to reach so far in order to state that, she almost dislocated her shoulder.
The chilling effect of the near constant online threats, doxxing, and abuse of journalists is never discussed openly because admitting it influences them runs counter to most reporters' self-image and pride. But it is very real. I know of lots of journalists and editors who veer away from stories they should cover because they don't want the online hate. I don't think they even do it consciously. And the red-pilled MAGA mob doesn't care if their hate works or not. It's not highly organised. Journalists have to be accessible and that makes them easy targets for bitter keyboard warriors. But most reporters are not tough foreign correspondents or investigative journalists who tend to shrug off random death threats. Instead, the majority just want a nice cushy beat where they can file stories with no consequences for themselves. So they instinctively self-censor. Even worse, like little kids in a playground, they play up to the bullies. And, like a bully's lickspittles, they go after that bully's latest target.
On fire with this episode, Griff. You and Karl were very funny. Very on point. Great links too. Reflexive control is maybe not be a populist enough term to catch the imagination, but it is a great way to describe what is going on. Thanks.
Thanks Martin!
Reading your links about reflexive control, it occurred to me that a stochastic version of this it explain why so many people are baffled by the uneven treatment of Biden v Trump in the The NYT, the WaPo, on CNN etc. Something is badly amiss when The Washington Post's Amy Gardner, who won a Pulitzer for investigating Jan 6, can fact check Biden's convention speech and claim Trump has not said he will not accept the election result if he loses. She had to reach so far in order to state that, she almost dislocated her shoulder.
The chilling effect of the near constant online threats, doxxing, and abuse of journalists is never discussed openly because admitting it influences them runs counter to most reporters' self-image and pride. But it is very real. I know of lots of journalists and editors who veer away from stories they should cover because they don't want the online hate. I don't think they even do it consciously. And the red-pilled MAGA mob doesn't care if their hate works or not. It's not highly organised. Journalists have to be accessible and that makes them easy targets for bitter keyboard warriors. But most reporters are not tough foreign correspondents or investigative journalists who tend to shrug off random death threats. Instead, the majority just want a nice cushy beat where they can file stories with no consequences for themselves. So they instinctively self-censor. Even worse, like little kids in a playground, they play up to the bullies. And, like a bully's lickspittles, they go after that bully's latest target.