2018 archive
Facebook Frolics 0
Sunday’s New York Times had another article about Facebook and its effects on the discourse. The article focused on ethnic and religious divisions in Sri Lanka and a series of hate crimes and lycnhings.
As the briefest thumbnail, the authors examine how Facebook’s algorithm, designed to promote engagement with Facebook and consequently more on-line time for users, has a side effect of promoting hate speech; the authors theorize that this is because posts that incite strong negative emotions tend to be the posts that generate the most views. )To put it another way, hate sells.) They also discuss the obstacles Sri Lankan authorities encountered in trying to get Facebook’s attention to the issue.
The article is quite long, but I think it is worth your while. An excerpt:
Mything the Past 0
I think that Cheryl Rofer is onto something.
The actual “Old West” lasted about two or three decades.
The “Old West” that Hollywood created never existed. It was no more real than the South of Gone with the Wind.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
One must practice politeness so as to keep one’s hand in.
“One person sustained a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the left hand. Investigation revealed the gunshot was accidental,” police said.
Not the Mainstream, Just a Pathetic Eddy Off to the Side 0
No, Kyla Mandel, Mitt Romney is not the “GOP Mainstream.” Donald Trump is.
The stream has moved far to the right as a direct result of Richard Nixon’s southern strategy, which has come full circle and consumed the party, to the extent that it doesn’t even try to pretend any more.
Those who continue to give lip service to the mythical “moderate Republican” are living in a fable of their one creation. Worse, they are perpetuating the myth to the detriment of reality.
“Dear Leader” 0
Brian Greenspun, publisher of the Las Vegas Sun, finds the fanatical loyalty of Trump supporters to be disquieting. Here’s bit of column, in which he discusses a “focus” group after George Stephanopoulos’s interview with James Comey:
Follow the link for the complete article. It’s worth the three or four minutes it will take you to read it.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
If the other fellow had been holding his weapon, no doubt this would not have happened.
The gun discharged when he attempted to holster it, with one shot striking Allbright in the back of the head.
Tales of the Trumpling: Snapshots of Trickle-Down Trumpery 0
The play’s the thing with which to Trumple–the cast?
Hannity’s Litany of Lies 0
In Fox News style, Samantha strings assertions and hot air to build a case that Sean Hannity is a serial killer.
How Stuff Works, All the News that Fits Dept. 0
A Fifth Avenue Fable by Jay Bookman.
Facebook Frolics 0
Yet another Facebook user is surprised at how thoroughly he has been assimilated by the Zuckerborg. A snippet:
Republican Family Values 0
Pauline Reage would be taken aback.
