[throwaway894345]

> If that's the case, then one is assuming that the public is incapable of discerning good ideas from bad ideas.

I'm assuming that the mob can't, and that even a democracy struggles; however, given enough debate good ideas will rise to the top more often than not. The viability of this kind of debate depends on free-speech ideals, however--our debate is presently very toxic in no small part to the fear that cancel culture inspires.

[shadowgovt]

What is the difference between "the mob" and "the public?"

[throwaway894345]

I wouldn't get too hung up on the term for the group as long as we both know which group I'm talking about. I used "the mob" because cancel culture behaves like a mob (a group seeking extrajudicial justice), and because it's silly to use "the public" to refer to <13% of the population (only 13% of US adults say cancel culture is not a problem, but the statistics don't differentiate between people who are indifferent about it and those who actively support it).

https://today.yougov.com/topics/entertainment/articles-repor...