Hate Sells category archive
“But There’s No Other Possible Explanation” 0
New York University’s Social Justice Lab explores why persons who lean right politically are more susceptible to conspiratorial thinking than those who lean left. Here’s a bit, in which University of Cambridge (UK) professor Professor Sander van der Linden responds to a question:
Give the entire piece a read. It helps illuminate dis coarse discourse.
All That Was Old Is New Again 0
David discusses how the pandemic paranoia is being harnessed to fuel anti-semitism. (Warning: Short commercial at the end.)
Here’s the link to the MIT report David refers to.
Freedom of Screech 0
Spocko wonders why bullies not only pay no price for bullying, but are, indeed, actively rewarded. A snippet (emphasis in the original):
(snip)
The media never want to be seen as being against people’s speech. But threatening speech is not protected speech. When I use that phrase, it starts questions of definitions. What is the definition of a threat? What is “true threat”? What is actionable by law enforcement? What was the intent?
The justice system is slow. Social media & TV news is fast. When the media run threat stories, they usually can’t show any immediate legal consequences to the ones making the threats. Occasionally they can show people getting fired. Or kicked off social media. But often there are no negative consequences at all.
People are rewarded for their violent rhetoric with likes and shares. In some cases it leads to donations, electoral votes and political power.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Charles M. Blow points to what’s happening in Texas and warns of the threat of Jim Crow Redux. Here’s a bit of his article;
Furthermore, according to The Tribune, “In the proposed Senate map, 64.5% of the districts have white majorities,” and “white Texans make up the majority of eligible voters in 60.5% of the proposed congressional districts.”
How else to describe this other than racist gerrymandering? This is an attempt to lock in white dominance and control even after white people no longer have a numerical advantage.
Public Healthiness 0
At NJ.com, Clifford Kulwin reports on his visit to a polity where the pandemic did not become politicized. A snippet:
Shortly after my arrival, a friend emailed,“ do you feel safe there?” I answered honestly. “Safer than I do at home.”
Maskless Marauders 0
At the Hartford Courant, Kevin Rennie points out that words matter.
The Monster Next Door 0
I have resisted the temptation of join NextDoor. I had a sneaking feeling that it could lead to no good, because years of experience and observation have taught me that “social” media isn’t.
As evidence, I offer one person’s story.
It Was All about the Benjamins 0
Dartmouth professor Randall Balmer tells the story of the rise of the “religious right.” It’s not what you might think, and certainly not the stories they tell themselves. A nugget:
Follow the link for the rest.
Aside:
Many years ago, I visited Bob Jones U. while researching a paper I was working on for some class I forget which one but most likely a sociology class my senior year.
It was one of the spookiest places I have ever seen.
Easy Marks 0
The editorial board of the Las Vegas Sun is somewhat taken aback by Republicans’ willingness to believe anything. Here’s a bit:
Imagine his fellow legislators’ surprise in learning the findings of the report, including that the vaccine contains a “living organism with tentacles” and is causing the babies of vaccinated parents to be born “transhuman” with “pitch-black eyes.”
Amazing. And, of course, completely insane.
Follow the link for a litany of lunacy.
