there are some things in here I'm not sure I'd agree with (primarily involving who is classified as what), but the overarching hypothesis seems reasonable
https://www.wired.com/story/not-youtubes-algorithm-radicalizes-people/
― like, I’m eating an elephant head (katherine), Thursday, 24 October 2019 00:10 (four years ago) link
The thing is, we had a sort of rebranded nazi party which became so big on YouTube that they could run for parliament, and after they were at long last banned from the algorithm for racism, the viewership of their videos fell 87%.
― Frederik B, Thursday, 24 October 2019 07:51 (four years ago) link
Interesting one for me listed there is Red Ice TV, I'm familiar with them from around 2007 when they were a conspiracy theory interview podcast called Red Ice Creations with my flatmate used to listen to all the time. The host was a very softly spoken Swedish guy, the show was interesting to listen to as I got the impression that he shared my opinion that the interviewees were people with fascinating delusions who he respected for their power to create and live in alternative realities. But looks like I may have been wrong about this.
― mfktz (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Thursday, 24 October 2019 08:42 (four years ago) link
full paper, by the way, is here https://osf.io/73jys/
again, there are some things I'm not sure about, for instance this: It can take days or weeks to produce one hour's worth of text content on Facebook or Twitter, but in some cases, creating one hour's worth of video content takes exactly one hour.
I mean... sure? if you're already someone established enough to livestream, live, with zero production values whatsoever, and have people care. but if you're not, this is not really going to get you any traction (as anyone who's stumbled upon, like, low-production-value let's plays with 40 views knows). the stuff that goes viral is either by a person who is known, or at least known in fringe circles (or tenacious/gonzo enough at self promoting that they can become so), and/or has surprisingly high production values
― like, I’m eating an elephant head (katherine), Thursday, 24 October 2019 13:03 (four years ago) link
(which seems like a nitpick, but half the framework of the study is that there is a greater supply of videos largely for this reason)
― like, I’m eating an elephant head (katherine), Thursday, 24 October 2019 13:04 (four years ago) link
i haven't read the whole paper but i don't really like what i'm getting from the wired story, it's got this "well, ACTUALLY..." vibe to it, the idea that people are fundamentally "moderates" who are "radicalized" is certainly a questionable assumption but a lot of it comes across like an apologia for youtube, which i don't think is necessary?
― Spironolactone T. Agnew (rushomancy), Thursday, 24 October 2019 13:40 (four years ago) link
My main takeaway was that the audience already existed, it was just underserved. That certainly feels correct to me.
― El Tomboto, Thursday, 24 October 2019 14:12 (four years ago) link
I also didn’t understand the way they compared viewership numbers between cable and youtube? It seemed like they just made up an arbitrary ratio to represent “globalness” and assumed a can opener
― El Tomboto, Thursday, 24 October 2019 14:14 (four years ago) link
to be fair "making up an arbitrary ______" describes more viewership numbers than you'd think
as far as the "well actually," that's kind of to be expected when presenting any sort of counter-argument; it did not come off as an apologia for youtube so much as "it's not as simple as unplugging the third reich feeding tube"
― like, I’m eating an elephant head (katherine), Thursday, 24 October 2019 16:14 (four years ago) link
― like, I’m eating an elephant head (katherine)
but is anybody arguing that it _is_ as simple as unplugging the third reich feeding tube, or are people just arguing that, you know, unplugging the third reich feeding tube might be a good thing, all things considered? the whole "counter-argument" aspect of it just strikes me as questionable framing
― Spironolactone T. Agnew (rushomancy), Friday, 25 October 2019 01:04 (four years ago) link
Not sure what the full story is here, but looks like popcorn time to me
Milo just uploaded leaked audio of Richard Spencer reacting to the death of Heather Heyer and the negative press it did to his movement.Just in case there was any question of the so-called "dapper white nationalist" being a raged fuelled hateful monster.Explicit warning. pic.twitter.com/KpVk2fLYSu— BAILEY, THE LIBTARDTARIAN 🃏 (@atheist_cvnt) November 4, 2019
― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Monday, 4 November 2019 04:34 (four years ago) link
What a sad pathetic human
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Monday, 4 November 2019 04:52 (four years ago) link
remember when people wrung their hands bc he got punched? remember that? you remember when people said that it was bad? people said that.
― i'm not a government man; i'm a government, man. (m bison), Monday, 4 November 2019 05:06 (four years ago) link
i just sitting here remembering his nice little chat on NPR
― A-B-C. A-Always, B-Be, C-Chooglin (will), Monday, 4 November 2019 05:18 (four years ago) link
"Octaroons"? Wtf. I imagine that Trump's ranting in private is similar in tone if a little less ideologically ornate. (I do by the way know what an octaroon is but I kind of doubt Spencer would know one if he saw one.)
― viborg, Monday, 4 November 2019 05:21 (four years ago) link
But when it comes to spending time on the internet talking about how great punching people is, well...I'd posit that if you're such a fan of punching, it's best to just get out there and do it, and limit the amount of energy you devote to talking about it.
― viborg, Monday, 4 November 2019 05:23 (four years ago) link
no
― i'm not a government man; i'm a government, man. (m bison), Monday, 4 November 2019 11:47 (four years ago) link
it’s very good that people perform open heart surgery but ya don’t see me slicing up people’s torsos!!! i leave that to the pros, just like i leave nazi-punchin to antifa.
― i'm not a government man; i'm a government, man. (m bison), Monday, 4 November 2019 11:49 (four years ago) link
guys i think richard spencer is cancelled now
― non-euclidean lenin (bizarro gazzara), Monday, 4 November 2019 11:51 (four years ago) link
i have to wonder where milo uploaded that given that he's banned from every social platform except for maybe planet penguin iirc
― non-euclidean lenin (bizarro gazzara), Monday, 4 November 2019 11:52 (four years ago) link
Point:
― viborg, Monday, November 4, 2019 12:23 AM (six hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Counterpoint:
Richard Spencer vs Rage Against the Machine pic.twitter.com/jzGLS4eNtM
― Mazzy Tsar (PBKR), Monday, 4 November 2019 12:04 (four years ago) link
More story itt
In an attempt to push back on attacks on followers of white nationalist Nick Fuentes, who represent a pro-Trump wing of the Alt-Right, Milo Yiannopoulos has published a damning audio clip of Richard Spencer following Unite the Right. Don't lose site of the big picture, a thread. pic.twitter.com/j1zqstvPst— It's Going Down (@IGD_News) November 4, 2019
― I want to change my display name (dan m), Monday, 4 November 2019 13:08 (four years ago) link
https://gizmodo.com/8chan-is-back-and-calling-itself-8kun-now-1839592841
― Le Bateau Ivre, Monday, 4 November 2019 13:10 (four years ago) link
lmao, rip in peace this huge-headed oaf's youtube channel
YouTube banned Sebastian Gorka because he won't stop playing Imagine Dragons on his channel. https://t.co/7Jiuvd0Jda— Will Sommer (@willsommer) November 5, 2019
Gorka, who didn’t respond to requests for comment, didn’t appear to realize on Monday afternoon that his channel had been deleted. After one Twitter user complained that Gorka’s links were going to his now-deleted channel, Gorka mocked the poster, tweeting “you really should try harder” and ending the message with a laughing-crying emoji.
You really should try harder. Try searching for my YouTube channel again. You and your 13 followers!😂😂😂 https://t.co/k2VPX1fvxS— Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) November 4, 2019
― non-euclidean lenin (bizarro gazzara), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 13:40 (four years ago) link
I wish it were because they're cracking down hard on fascism but cracking down on Imagine Dragons is nearly as good
― esempio (crüt), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 18:23 (four years ago) link
Proud Boys lawyer Jason Lee Van Dyke, a violent racist with a penchant for murder threats, boldly accepts the fascist label he's always had, claiming that he's more of a Mussolini than a Hitler.Big day for fascists telling on themselves!(h/t @popehat) pic.twitter.com/pY2hLgYp0q— Andy Campbell (@AndyBCampbell) November 4, 2019
― I want to change my display name (dan m), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 21:12 (four years ago) link
Is it really telling on yourself if you are proud to be a fascist? The fact these guys try so hard to hide their beliefs and cultivate an air of respectability is the most pathetic aspect of their whole schtick. They know it's unacceptable and that they aren't going to convince most people otherwise, so they dance around the truth.
― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 21:16 (four years ago) link
why is Gorka's twitter name "Sebastian Gorka DrG" and his handle "@SebGorka"
― now let's play big lunch take little lunch (sic), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 21:24 (four years ago) link
where is his branding consultant
also lol at him trying to appearance-shame other right-wing commentariat
― now let's play big lunch take little lunch (sic), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 21:26 (four years ago) link
gotta emphasize that he has a doctorate. which he got from a diploma mill.
― wasdnuos (abanana), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 21:57 (four years ago) link
I'm a bit late on the Spencer tape thing -- but from reading "Everything you love will burn", the punching actually gave Spencer some street cred within the movement. Prior to it he was seen as a 'suit' not involved in the 'real' movement.
― wasdnuos (abanana), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 22:06 (four years ago) link
sad https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/paypal-moves-to-terminate-far-right-youtube-personality-stefan-molyneuxs-account/
― Captain ACAB (Neil S), Wednesday, 6 November 2019 10:52 (four years ago) link
rip big man, heaven needed an extremely stupid white nationalist 'philosopher'
― Titanic was cliched Marxist crap. (bizarro gazzara), Wednesday, 6 November 2019 10:53 (four years ago) link
― esempio (crüt), Tuesday, November 5, 2019 1:23 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
― Suggest Banshee (Hadrian VIII), Wednesday, 6 November 2019 13:55 (four years ago) link
in case anyone wants to do some digging, this is horrifyingly unsurprising
Apparently the entire SQL database of the international neo-fascist Iron March forum (where Atomwaffen first properly organised). Contains info on all users, including user emails, IP address, and private messages, as well as all posts and comments. Enjoy. https://t.co/iq8D7IRorU pic.twitter.com/GTzz31HxGs— Jake Hanrahan (@Jake_Hanrahan) November 6, 2019
― I want to change my display name (dan m), Wednesday, 6 November 2019 18:15 (four years ago) link
oops sorry meant to link to a different tweet discussing how many active duty US military are included in this dump… "a lot"
― I want to change my display name (dan m), Wednesday, 6 November 2019 18:19 (four years ago) link
haha awesome, the more exposure the better
yeah plz link to that as well!
― Book Doula (sleeve), Wednesday, 6 November 2019 18:19 (four years ago) link
more info in follow up tweets
Going through this, there are a *lot* of active duty U.S. soldiers on this forum. https://t.co/PmwvS6uNin— Aric Toler (@AricToler) November 6, 2019
also use a VPN if you're gonna try downloading that archive
― I want to change my display name (dan m), Wednesday, 6 November 2019 18:23 (four years ago) link
NYC Psychology Professor Secretly Moonlights As White Nationalist Co-Host Of Richard Spencer's Podcast
For years, Joshua Dietz has taught psychology at New York City’s public and private universities. Students at Kingsborough Community College describe him as a “modern professor,” easygoing and informal. He plays guitar in his spare time, and maintains a hypnosis practice in Downtown Brooklyn, providing emotional counseling and “assertiveness training.” He was an adjunct at St. Francis College, just a few blocks away, as recently as last fall.But when he’s not teaching undergrads or hypnotizing passive men, Dietz is lecturing under another name: Josh Neal, avowed white nationalist and co-host of Richard Spencer’s podcast.Operating under that thinly-veiled moniker, Dietz hosts the McSpencer Group alongside Spencer, perhaps the best known American neo-Nazi and a founding member of the so-called alt-right. For hours at a time, Dietz and a rotating selection of guests help plot the future of the white identity movement, touching on subjects from eugenics to Kurt Cobain (“a symbol of white displacement”) to the “negrofication” of American culture.
But when he’s not teaching undergrads or hypnotizing passive men, Dietz is lecturing under another name: Josh Neal, avowed white nationalist and co-host of Richard Spencer’s podcast.
Operating under that thinly-veiled moniker, Dietz hosts the McSpencer Group alongside Spencer, perhaps the best known American neo-Nazi and a founding member of the so-called alt-right. For hours at a time, Dietz and a rotating selection of guests help plot the future of the white identity movement, touching on subjects from eugenics to Kurt Cobain (“a symbol of white displacement”) to the “negrofication” of American culture.
― shared unit of analysis (unperson), Friday, 8 November 2019 19:34 (four years ago) link
interesting thread
Thread: The booing of Charlie Kirk, Don Jr, and Kimberly Guilfoyle by alt-right activists was the culmination of a month-long campaign that received no press attention.— Matthew Sheffield (@mattsheffield) November 11, 2019
― piscesx, Tuesday, 12 November 2019 19:27 (four years ago) link
This debate between Destiny and Nick Fuentes shows how shallow Fuentes's arguments are
Here's a podcast episode that covers Fuentes
― wasdnuos (abanana), Tuesday, 12 November 2019 19:45 (four years ago) link
Q: Why should this deserve any press attention?
it seems pretty meaningless
― Suggest Banshee (Hadrian VIII), Tuesday, 12 November 2019 19:53 (four years ago) link
xp
― Suggest Banshee (Hadrian VIII), Tuesday, 12 November 2019 19:54 (four years ago) link
i think anytime you see that people on the far-right who have realized that being extremely online and posting about esoteric-hitlerism on their gab account "basedevola" isn't that productive, and that they can appeal to a wide-swathe of white folks with just social conservatism, white nationalism and anti-elite discourse a la steve bannon it's a bit worrying. though it's funny to see toilet paper usa being targeted from the right
― -_- (jim in vancouver), Tuesday, 12 November 2019 20:01 (four years ago) link
Fascinating!
― El Tomboto, Tuesday, 12 November 2019 20:03 (four years ago) link
UF student president faces impeachment after “smoking gun” email shows he worked with Trump campaign to pay Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle $50,000 for on campus speeches despite law against using public funds on political campaigns #BecauseFlorida https://t.co/eJcQAuirV9— Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) November 13, 2019
― El Tomboto, Wednesday, 13 November 2019 03:07 (four years ago) link
IMPEACH
― grebbmoolb (crüt), Wednesday, 13 November 2019 03:26 (four years ago) link
The office of UF student president has been shockingly compromised! I say, forget impeachment, but make the fucker pay it all back.
― A is for (Aimless), Wednesday, 13 November 2019 05:04 (four years ago) link
making a mockery of the dignity of office the student body presidency
― Jeff Bathos (symsymsym), Wednesday, 13 November 2019 05:07 (four years ago) link
Imagine helping Don Jr make a buck.
― the public eating of beans (Sparkle Motion), Wednesday, 13 November 2019 05:14 (four years ago) link