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Comment by throwaway_374 | Hacker News Reader

I think the issue is exploitation to stoke hatred against minorities and women. Have you ever read the comments section on Breitbart? It's the new normalized Stormfront.

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Yes, I am fully aware of the vitriol, and again, not making a case for it. I am simply trying to be objective on the way manipulating media is perceived by the public and press. The ends don't justify the means for either side is what I am saying, and how surprised you don't find any cautionary tales from the other campaigns mentioned. I am a privacy advocate, and since taking media classes at NYU in 1982, I have always known this was going to happen - control of the media and public mindset. Polarization of the US into just a two-party system has allowed this to happen. It's good guys vs. bad guys simplicity - a much easier sell on the public for either side.

Is it fair to judge a web site by their comments section? I'm sure "The Guardian" or even Hacker News get pretty nasty comments, too. You could demand censorship, but maybe some people simply are against it.

Oh it's absolutely fair when there are calls for genocide against an entire people. Do you really want me to perform a statistical analysis on Breitbart comments with the word "muslim" or "black" or "jew"? Come on now, don't insult my intelligence - we're all smart people here.

I haven't looked at their comments - but sure, why not make such an analysis? What do you mean by "we are all smart people here" - everybody knows the earth is flat?

Edit: perhaps you could at least provide a link to a typical Breitbart comment section, full of hatred and calls for genocide?

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