Because the “free for all” market that gave rise to Alex Jones and FOX news, etc. really improved American society…
If the answer is that these media "hack" the human brain, then I don't think that banning the producers is the right way to go. The root cause is that people are too easily tricked. Banning the producers will only cause other media, such as YouTube or Facebook, to fill the gap.
I would say that the answer to solve this is education, but unfortunately many states have decided that education is the bad thing, instead of blantantly misleading information. Even if you could teach it successfully in school, how many adults are going to go back to school to learn the media they're consuming is bad? If you're an ardent fox news viewer, how will you view that information?
It's not a solve but it's a help.
I wouldn't say this is a great analogy, because leaded gas was the only gas available, and alternatives to cars were disappearing in many cities. If you wanted to participate in the economy, you pretty much had to use gasoline.
You could argue the market would have gone there anyways, but it's actually insane how much damage to human health and the environment was done in the interim until regulation forced the matter.
In a liberal society we allow things we don't like in order to maintain individual freedom as a higher good than "perfect" society.
Those who do envision "perfect" society and pursue it with the power of the state are the worst sort of authoritarians, because it's all done "for your own good", no matter what you think.
Although I don't have an opinion on this particular podcast situation, this statement doesn't hold any water. You are implying that if people do something, it must not be bad for them because.. people continue to do it.
There are tons of things people do that are objectively bad for them. Hard drugs (fentanyl, etc.) being an easy example.
The free market has saved me thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars in home repair costs. From changing my blower motor, to installing my Ecobee w/o a common wire, to installing ceiling brackets correctly, repairing my garage trolley.
The free market gave me podcasts and podcasters which taught me a ton about international conflicts and their history. Gave me access to brilliant environmentalists and conservationists doing incredible field work.
The real price I had to pay was hearing people endlessly, endlessly, endlessly complain about, and in so doing, amplify people that they don't listen to, disagree with, and think are harmful.
And also "woodworkers" who would take transformers out of microwaves and run the resulting current through bare nails to make fractal lightning patterns in wood. If you're starting with a blank slate on wood-based projects how do you differentiate the former from the latter?
You're basically saying that the way you avoid doing something dangerous recommend by others is by already knowing that it's dangerous. Well duh.
I also don't know what point you're making.
Since some people can't tell who the experts are and what a beginner is, we need to regulate youtubers?
This is super interesting, thanks for the tip.
Here’s an overview for anyone that’s curious:
I disagree with the premise however: it’s not that American media has so much influence on American consumers, rather American media is producing the product that their consumers want. The influence is basically reversed.
But from where I’m standing, only one party is committed to cutting off its nose to spite its face… and it’s not the Dems.
The reason for the two alternate realities in the same country is primarily to do with what information you consume.
As an exercise, go to the front page of Reddit everyday. You will almost always notice on the first page or the first few there are always posts on politics. And the vast majority of these posts are the "bad" takes/actions/scandals on rebuplicans/conservatives.
If you go to r/conservative , you will see the "bad" takes/actions/scandals of the democrats/liberals.
On Reddit the echo chamber for democrats is the entirety of Reddit except for a select few subs. The echo chamber for conservatives is in their own subreddits. On conservative websites this is the opposite.
If one looks only at the Reddit front page, no doubt they would not like the republicans because it's a highlight of their low points. I.e a Reverse Instagram, post all the bad parts of your life.
This is the issue. The two realities is from getting information about how "good" your side is and a feed about all the bad stuff from the other side.
The reason why you think 50% of the population is like that is precisely because the information you have received about that side is their bad highlight reel. And they will equally think the other 50% of the aisle is brainwashed because of all they are viewing your bad highlight reel
The mechanism heavily contributes towards group-think, with any dissenting opinion being completely buried.
Usually, delusion in the form of institutional acceptance. Religion, nationalism, etc.
Currently in the US, in the form of institutional rejection, which is equally dishonest, but considerably more messy.
You either believe in the relevant principle or you don't. These sort of side-swipes at bedrock American principles are completely uncalled for
They have both been sued for billions of dollars and lost in court for sustained campaigns of damaging lies.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/10/us/politics/alex-jones-sa...
All I did was point out that they aren't able to say whatever they want without permission or friction because there are consequences to intentionally lying over time to hurt people.