[stinkbeetle]

> And now the tools are there for anyone to generate bullshit at a scale commensurate to their wallet.

Democratizing propaganda. Not sure the previous state of affairs where propaganda was accessible to the ruling class and their media corporations was better, it might have just seemed that way because there appeared to be less conflict when it came to them telling you what was in "your own best interest".

I do have to say though, I certainly am enjoying watching the wailing and gnashing of teeth from the prior monopoly holders on propaganda though, lashing out desperately in the face of their waning influence. They want so desperately to censor the commoners (for our own good, naturally).

[TFNA]

As the other person mentions, much of the strident political stuff one sees online is generated by foreign state actors, so not democracy. But alongside that, a significant amount is generated by content creators in other parts of the world who realized they could cash in on America's internal problems. This has been well known since the reportage on North Macedonian content farms during the 2016 election. People falsely pretending to be from your country for profit-making isn't democracy, either.

[chairmansteve]

> Democratizing propaganda.

Not really. A lot of the disinformation is generated by authoritarian state actors.

[Canada]

Yeah, it's not as if the entire corporate media is a benevolent group of organizations who want to tell us the truth.

[stinkbeetle]

Yes really. Those "authoritarian state actors" were already "generating misinformation", but even if it wasn't, the fact that it is more accessible to more people means it is democratizing.

[customguy]

As if this polarization does anything but atomize and disenfranchise people even further. As if people cannot communicate and work together with people who aren't in the exact same cult as them are more than LARPing slaves spitting on their own equipment that shows cartoons of the other during their 24/7 of hate. As if the people and companies whose fortunes are exploding further are "gnashing their teeth".

As if people who fantasize about putting people in virtual pens (thinking of Yarvin here) give one singular fuck about you or anyone you care about.

> They want so desperately to censor the commoners (for our own good, naturally).

"the commoners", i.e. Peter Thiel gushing to Epstein about balkanization... you're getting played like a piano.

edit: I should have phrased that last bit differently, we are all getting played like a piano. Factual reality itself, which "normal" people need to survive and defend themselves against sociopaths and assorted groups, is under attack, and I suspect by many parties who don't even like each other. What they all hate honesty and open discussion.

Hence the bubbles. We're all in dimly lit clubs and just repeat stuff that originates from who knows where. We never ask. But it's just us, sticking it to "the man" who cannot possibly have his fingers in it. I'm so tired of it, and I really want that to come across :P

[stinkbeetle]

You appear to be unhinged. After you calm down, I would be happy to overlook this thing you have written here and pretend it never happened if you would like to attempt a more rational conversation about my previous comment.

[customguy]

Reading emotions into text because you totally can parse and refute what I wrote. It's fine.