Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by notch656a 1594 days ago
You mean other than the fact many of these episodes have been aired and publicly available for 4+ years, and only after an acute event of COVID controversy were they removed ? [0] That 113 episodes were removed in the direct aftermath of the call to remove "disinformation" by Rogan and subsequent ultimatums issued by several other artists, but that was just a coincidence? Are we really going to play dumb that after 4 years of some of these episodes being public, that the acute controversy isn't at play here? It's hilarious on face. Obviously racism is one of the easiest character assassination cards to play, so that was played. It has the double bonus of not having to directly address the content of the COVID episodes.

I can't even fathom how you think that this removal wouldn't be a result of the acute controversy.

>If Spotify is worried about the COVID narrative then leaving the COVId episodes up does not reduce their exposure.

It makes it look like something is being done, and at least some tic-for-tat is happening with Rogan. Spotify is clearly being pressured here, they're just trying to maximize profit. If they can use racism as an excuse while simultaneously placating enough of their viewers who are acutely pissed off while not putting themselves in the bad position of having to take a stance on COVID (which could fracture their viewership), then they're going to pick the easy racist angle instead to make it look like they're doing something.

Note the racist angle was really instigated by people trying to hurt Rogan for his COVID stuff, Spotify is just working with the outrage they've been dealt. Spotify doesn't want to get crucified as 'racist' along with Rogan. This way they get to placate the mob while simultaneously not having to take a COVID stance on paper.

[0] https://www.jremissing.com/