Funny little algorithmic anecdote.... Out of the 7 likes on this comment, 6 went to my "primary" inbox in gmail, and Aaron's like was the only one to show up in my "promotions" inbox :P
By time kids are 8, or 9 they know Santa is a fictional character made up by adults who pushed the lie of his existence since they were babes. They bought them toys and clothes, and gave all the credit to a fat man with a sled driven by Reindeers. There are clues along the way before they conclude Santa is not real, and I know of no adult who believes Santa will be here for Christmas. It's been some 75 years that Russia has become our boogeyman. In the beginning they had kids diving under their desks, or standing in the hall during drills, and wearing dog tags around their necks. You would think after all those years and our many lying wars that have killed millions, American's would know who the boogeyman is. Well, I just can't take it anymore, can't take how gullible the American people are, and never learn, and continue to buy every lie they're told.
Fran - It just goes to show how effective propaganda is. It goes back to the old saw that if you tell a lie often enough and loudly enough, people will believe it.
Ignorance always helps the propaganda machine, and now the media, corporately owned, no longer feels they are arbiters of truth. They're money making outfits that operate in the best interest of the corporate world and the politicians that serve them. You also have a public willing to rationalize our every mistake as well. A cousin told me that Saddam was responsible for the death his people, since he failed to protect them. An idiot, no, but someone with a master's degree and husband who is a doctor. People's capacity for rationalization is unbelievable.
Yes, it is. It never ceases to amaze me that people can be so well educated yet so lacking in the ability to critically analyze what they see and read.
I remember that some years ago, the Texas Republican platform included a provision that critical thinking should not be taught in any public school or college in the state.
Dumbing down the populace is part of the plan to replace our democracy (such as it is) with a theocracy controlled by the white, Republican, Christian nationalists. Look into the Christian Dominionist movement if you're not familiar.
One of the most common discussion replies all across the internet is something along the lines of "we need to teach critical thinking in schools", and that always strikes me as off the mark.
There are basics about how to check sources, distinguishing statements of fact versus opinions/rhetoric. There are logical fallacies to know about as well as common perceptual errors etc.
But all of these things are merely tools (that most people don't need to be formally taught because they're readily available). The ability to think critically is more of a talent than a learnable skill.
Most importantly, awash in a sea of information, the ability to hack through it all requires way, way more time than most people can or should spend trying.
Thus we are left with the old proposition that we need editors/writers we trust to collect and curate and summarize reality for the rest of us. And that's suspiciously like the model we've been using since the advent of the printing press.
I have to disagree with your third paragraph. Although some folks may have a talent for critical thinking, the use of those tools you mention can be taught. Just because they are available doesn't mean people know how to use them in analyzing information.
I'm 72 with a college degree and I have always been able to think critically. However, over the past ten years I have learned a lot about the meanings and uses of rhetoric and logical fallacies. As a result, my ability to understand and analyze what I see and read has been greatly enhanced. Just like other tools, people need to be shown how they are used and what they mean. It's not a skill that just comes naturally (or not).
It's one thing to know that some information doesn't seem quite right, but it's much better to understand how and why it's not right. Familiarity with rhetoric and logical fallacies can make critical analysis almost second nature so that one can see the falsity of arguments as they read them rather than having to stop to figure out what's wrong. At least that how it works for me.
Sadly we can no longer depend on editors and writers to curate and summarize accurately and with as little bias as humanly possible. We are stuck having to do it for ourselves.
I have to disagree with your third paragraph. Although some folks may have a talent for critical thinking, the use of those tools you mention can be taught. Just because they are available doesn't mean people know how to use them in analyzing information.
I'm 72 with a college degree and I have always been able to think critically. However, over the past ten years I have learned a lot about the meanings and uses of rhetoric and logical fallacies. As a result, my ability to understand and analyze what I see and read has been greatly enhanced. Just like other tools, people need to be shown how they are used and what they mean. It's not a skill that just comes naturally (or not).
It's one thing to know that some information doesn't seem quite right, but it's much better to understand how and why it's not right. Familiarity with rhetoric and logical fallacies can make critical analysis almost second nature so that one can see the falsity of arguments as they read them rather than having to stop to figure out what's wrong. At least that how it works for me.
Sadly we can no longer depend on editors and writers to curate and summarize accurately and with as little bias as humanly possible. We are stuck having to do it for ourselves.
Up too late, but tomorrow is Saturday. I think the main reason my cousin and her friends on Facebook, also very well educated, and very well off, came across as a bunch of dumb asses was due to their absolute allegiance to a Biden win in 2020, out of fear Trump would take office once again and they as republicans would be identified with him and his "deplorable" base. The media often referenced his sexual behavior in degrading terms, and they believed he went to Russia where he had whores piss on the bed the Obama's slept on. They believed in Russia-gate even after the Mueller report and justified his impeachment in the House. They believed he actually told people to drink chlorine bleach to deal with Covid. When I explained he no doubt was thinking of chlorine as an antiseptic and something comparable, an antiviral, could be developed for Covid one woman told me to kill myself by drinking chlorine. I got her good though, and told her I felt she was threatening my life and needed to report her to Facebook. She removed everything she ever addressed to me. Well, this was the degree of their rage. The democrats, the mainstream media, and the left played on the strong emotions Trump evoked in many people and easily manipulated them into non thinking human beings. Just google cult and you won't come up empty handed, since that's what they turned Trump and his base into. I'll read about the Dominionist movement tomorrow, sounds interesting.
It is truly amazing how deep down the rabbit hole some people can fall. Glad you put that woman in her place. She really went overboard. Sadly, that seems to be all too common.
The divisiveness in our society is bad enough, but the rage that so many feel is making it almost impossible to have a reasonable conversation and accept disagreements.
I think it is due in large part to the frustration from the COVID restrictions, inflation, lack of products due to supply chain issues, and a generalized fear of what's coming next. Life has become precarious for a lot of people who were quite comfortable before the pandemic.
Trumpism is indeed a cult. It even seems to be resistant to interventions that usually work with cult members. However, it does appear that Trump is losing a of of followers lately as his mid-term candidates did so poorly and he has now descended into promoting NFT scams.
Maybe, doG willing, Trump will continue to slide into irrelevance as a loud-mouthed old man to whom most people pay no attention. At least I can dream, can't I?
I think you missed my point. Anti-Trumpers can be quite vile, and attack you and fail to see their own hypocrisy. I didn't vote for Trump, but I didn't join the hate bandwagon for the 4 years he was in office, nor do I think he presented a threat to our democracy, whereas the democrats did in their determination to remove him from office based on lies, and using Russia as their instrument of hate. No new Middle Eastern wars, unique for the 21st century, and he didn't bring us to the brink of a possible nuclear one. If you ask me anti-Trumpers turned him and his base into a cult that defined them in very prejudicial terms.
Please delve a little deeper into the FBI pre-warning to Twitter to expect a "disinfo" dump involving Hunter Biden. The FBI had possession of Hunter's laptop for nearly a year before this warning. It also apparently had inside information (wiretaps?) on Rudy Giuliani's plan to release this to the press. This begs more questions: Did the FBI have probable cause to obtain a surveillance warrant? Or was there a FISA warrant involved? How much pre-planning was involved in getting 50 former intelligence officials to be lined up and ready to denounce the release as Russian disinfo?
Finally, rather than these dribs and drabs on Russia-gate, when are you going to publish the book on this scandal?
Wonderful to hear, but don't stop with these "dribs and drabs"(a somewhat insulting characterization of your articles). You're doing excellent work on all topics you cover.
Thank you so much for the reply, Aaron.. I forgot to add that I see this issue as so important because it all happened just days before the extremely close 2020 presidential election. Was all this deep state activity and Twitter censorship just an elaborate election interference scheme by the FBI?
Chris G - Can you supply a link(s) for your claim that the FBI had Hunter's laptop for a year before their warning to Twitter? I was not aware of this and have not seen this claim elsewhere.
The article reveals that two FBI agents armed with a subpoena took possession of the laptop from the computer store owner John Paul Mac Isaac on December 9, 2019.
It is always refreshing to read an article by Aaron in the face of the Manichean narratives that seem to weaponize everything for partisan, cynical ends. The dominant narrative has immense holding power, but what happens when that narrative hits the wall? Hopefully, not WWIII.
The FBI, Twitter and Facebook were all on the same team. The Social Media companies had to know that Hunter Biden’s laptop was not Russian Disinformation because the claim was so palpably ridiculous. However, it gave them cover to do what they wanted to do: censor the story. Similarly, the FBI (and the former intelligence officials who signed the bogus Russian disinformation letter) knew that the media needed a reason to censor the story and, therefore, provided it. Keep in mind that, in the case of Facebook, Zuckerberg spent $400 million of his own money to defeat Trump. The FBI gave him what he wanted.
So the FBI tells Twitter that there will be Russian disinformation leading up to the 2020 election and to expect it to include info on Hunter Biden.
I don't know the precise timeline, but it sounds like the FBI knew about Hunter's laptop before it's existence was made public by The New York Post. Did the computer repair shop tell them, or did they find out from surveillance on Hunter and the laptop itself?
Enquiring minds want to know.
Edit: I see above that Chris G claims the FBI had the laptop for a year before it's warning.
Aaron has a ton of integrity. That is important to me. I fund Sirota, Kulinski, Krystal, Kyle & Friends, and now Matt. I am not happy that Taibbi published his story on Biden's laptop on Twitter. If Taibbi doesn't end his bromance with Musk and quit feeding Musk's #TraitorTrash agenda, I will cancel my subscription with Matt and use it to offset this subscription with Mate.
I've been a fan and supporter of Taibbi longer than you are likely old. People like you just can't handle disagreement. Instead of arguing facts, you have to boost your tiny ego by turning everything into a personal attack. I disagree with you. Get over it. You disagree with me? I don't give a fuck. It is my money. I don't need your permission how to spend it. I think Matt is getting played, and Musk is enjoying all the attention the Twitter Files are getting Twitter. Don't like it? FO.
When I signed up for a paid sub here, it asked why. I thought this was a private answer to Aaron. If I had know this was a public introduction of sorts, I'm sure I would have said something different. Regardless, stay out of my face. You have your opinions, and I have mine.
I certainly wouldn't have commented if I'd known it wasn't meant to be public but you're the one being rude. My tiny ego has been online since 1990 and I comment under my own name (have fun googling me, google's certainly having fun with me so no reason why you shouldn't).
Glad you support Maté. While you're editing your comments why not just delete them and I'll do the same. ?
Good stuff. Aaron.
This is what good journalistic analysis looks like.
Funny little algorithmic anecdote.... Out of the 7 likes on this comment, 6 went to my "primary" inbox in gmail, and Aaron's like was the only one to show up in my "promotions" inbox :P
Great work as always. Best $5/month I ever spent.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." - William J. Casey, CIA Director
Hat tip to the DNC machine for driving propaganda farther than CIA could without help.
The CIA and the Democratic party have merged.
Booz Allen runs NSA they all belong to Wall Street and nearly all work against us.
By time kids are 8, or 9 they know Santa is a fictional character made up by adults who pushed the lie of his existence since they were babes. They bought them toys and clothes, and gave all the credit to a fat man with a sled driven by Reindeers. There are clues along the way before they conclude Santa is not real, and I know of no adult who believes Santa will be here for Christmas. It's been some 75 years that Russia has become our boogeyman. In the beginning they had kids diving under their desks, or standing in the hall during drills, and wearing dog tags around their necks. You would think after all those years and our many lying wars that have killed millions, American's would know who the boogeyman is. Well, I just can't take it anymore, can't take how gullible the American people are, and never learn, and continue to buy every lie they're told.
Fran - It just goes to show how effective propaganda is. It goes back to the old saw that if you tell a lie often enough and loudly enough, people will believe it.
Ignorance always helps the propaganda machine, and now the media, corporately owned, no longer feels they are arbiters of truth. They're money making outfits that operate in the best interest of the corporate world and the politicians that serve them. You also have a public willing to rationalize our every mistake as well. A cousin told me that Saddam was responsible for the death his people, since he failed to protect them. An idiot, no, but someone with a master's degree and husband who is a doctor. People's capacity for rationalization is unbelievable.
Yes, it is. It never ceases to amaze me that people can be so well educated yet so lacking in the ability to critically analyze what they see and read.
I remember that some years ago, the Texas Republican platform included a provision that critical thinking should not be taught in any public school or college in the state.
Dumbing down the populace is part of the plan to replace our democracy (such as it is) with a theocracy controlled by the white, Republican, Christian nationalists. Look into the Christian Dominionist movement if you're not familiar.
One of the most common discussion replies all across the internet is something along the lines of "we need to teach critical thinking in schools", and that always strikes me as off the mark.
There are basics about how to check sources, distinguishing statements of fact versus opinions/rhetoric. There are logical fallacies to know about as well as common perceptual errors etc.
But all of these things are merely tools (that most people don't need to be formally taught because they're readily available). The ability to think critically is more of a talent than a learnable skill.
Most importantly, awash in a sea of information, the ability to hack through it all requires way, way more time than most people can or should spend trying.
Thus we are left with the old proposition that we need editors/writers we trust to collect and curate and summarize reality for the rest of us. And that's suspiciously like the model we've been using since the advent of the printing press.
I have to disagree with your third paragraph. Although some folks may have a talent for critical thinking, the use of those tools you mention can be taught. Just because they are available doesn't mean people know how to use them in analyzing information.
I'm 72 with a college degree and I have always been able to think critically. However, over the past ten years I have learned a lot about the meanings and uses of rhetoric and logical fallacies. As a result, my ability to understand and analyze what I see and read has been greatly enhanced. Just like other tools, people need to be shown how they are used and what they mean. It's not a skill that just comes naturally (or not).
It's one thing to know that some information doesn't seem quite right, but it's much better to understand how and why it's not right. Familiarity with rhetoric and logical fallacies can make critical analysis almost second nature so that one can see the falsity of arguments as they read them rather than having to stop to figure out what's wrong. At least that how it works for me.
Sadly we can no longer depend on editors and writers to curate and summarize accurately and with as little bias as humanly possible. We are stuck having to do it for ourselves.
I have to disagree with your third paragraph. Although some folks may have a talent for critical thinking, the use of those tools you mention can be taught. Just because they are available doesn't mean people know how to use them in analyzing information.
I'm 72 with a college degree and I have always been able to think critically. However, over the past ten years I have learned a lot about the meanings and uses of rhetoric and logical fallacies. As a result, my ability to understand and analyze what I see and read has been greatly enhanced. Just like other tools, people need to be shown how they are used and what they mean. It's not a skill that just comes naturally (or not).
It's one thing to know that some information doesn't seem quite right, but it's much better to understand how and why it's not right. Familiarity with rhetoric and logical fallacies can make critical analysis almost second nature so that one can see the falsity of arguments as they read them rather than having to stop to figure out what's wrong. At least that how it works for me.
Sadly we can no longer depend on editors and writers to curate and summarize accurately and with as little bias as humanly possible. We are stuck having to do it for ourselves.
Up too late, but tomorrow is Saturday. I think the main reason my cousin and her friends on Facebook, also very well educated, and very well off, came across as a bunch of dumb asses was due to their absolute allegiance to a Biden win in 2020, out of fear Trump would take office once again and they as republicans would be identified with him and his "deplorable" base. The media often referenced his sexual behavior in degrading terms, and they believed he went to Russia where he had whores piss on the bed the Obama's slept on. They believed in Russia-gate even after the Mueller report and justified his impeachment in the House. They believed he actually told people to drink chlorine bleach to deal with Covid. When I explained he no doubt was thinking of chlorine as an antiseptic and something comparable, an antiviral, could be developed for Covid one woman told me to kill myself by drinking chlorine. I got her good though, and told her I felt she was threatening my life and needed to report her to Facebook. She removed everything she ever addressed to me. Well, this was the degree of their rage. The democrats, the mainstream media, and the left played on the strong emotions Trump evoked in many people and easily manipulated them into non thinking human beings. Just google cult and you won't come up empty handed, since that's what they turned Trump and his base into. I'll read about the Dominionist movement tomorrow, sounds interesting.
Hope you gat a good night's sleep. :-)
It is truly amazing how deep down the rabbit hole some people can fall. Glad you put that woman in her place. She really went overboard. Sadly, that seems to be all too common.
The divisiveness in our society is bad enough, but the rage that so many feel is making it almost impossible to have a reasonable conversation and accept disagreements.
I think it is due in large part to the frustration from the COVID restrictions, inflation, lack of products due to supply chain issues, and a generalized fear of what's coming next. Life has become precarious for a lot of people who were quite comfortable before the pandemic.
Trumpism is indeed a cult. It even seems to be resistant to interventions that usually work with cult members. However, it does appear that Trump is losing a of of followers lately as his mid-term candidates did so poorly and he has now descended into promoting NFT scams.
Maybe, doG willing, Trump will continue to slide into irrelevance as a loud-mouthed old man to whom most people pay no attention. At least I can dream, can't I?
Stay safe.
I think you missed my point. Anti-Trumpers can be quite vile, and attack you and fail to see their own hypocrisy. I didn't vote for Trump, but I didn't join the hate bandwagon for the 4 years he was in office, nor do I think he presented a threat to our democracy, whereas the democrats did in their determination to remove him from office based on lies, and using Russia as their instrument of hate. No new Middle Eastern wars, unique for the 21st century, and he didn't bring us to the brink of a possible nuclear one. If you ask me anti-Trumpers turned him and his base into a cult that defined them in very prejudicial terms.
Brilliant work Aaron! So many new parallels to consider...
Aaron -
Please delve a little deeper into the FBI pre-warning to Twitter to expect a "disinfo" dump involving Hunter Biden. The FBI had possession of Hunter's laptop for nearly a year before this warning. It also apparently had inside information (wiretaps?) on Rudy Giuliani's plan to release this to the press. This begs more questions: Did the FBI have probable cause to obtain a surveillance warrant? Or was there a FISA warrant involved? How much pre-planning was involved in getting 50 former intelligence officials to be lined up and ready to denounce the release as Russian disinfo?
Finally, rather than these dribs and drabs on Russia-gate, when are you going to publish the book on this scandal?
Thanks -- good points. Re: book, I'm working on it now, will be out next year.
Wonderful to hear, but don't stop with these "dribs and drabs"(a somewhat insulting characterization of your articles). You're doing excellent work on all topics you cover.
Thank you so much for the reply, Aaron.. I forgot to add that I see this issue as so important because it all happened just days before the extremely close 2020 presidential election. Was all this deep state activity and Twitter censorship just an elaborate election interference scheme by the FBI?
Chris G - Can you supply a link(s) for your claim that the FBI had Hunter's laptop for a year before their warning to Twitter? I was not aware of this and have not seen this claim elsewhere.
Thank you.
Here’s one: https://nypost.com/2022/12/04/fbi-warned-twitter-of-hunter-biden-hack-before-censoring-the-post/
The article reveals that two FBI agents armed with a subpoena took possession of the laptop from the computer store owner John Paul Mac Isaac on December 9, 2019.
Thank you, Chris. I had missed those details.
It is always refreshing to read an article by Aaron in the face of the Manichean narratives that seem to weaponize everything for partisan, cynical ends. The dominant narrative has immense holding power, but what happens when that narrative hits the wall? Hopefully, not WWIII.
The FBI, Twitter and Facebook were all on the same team. The Social Media companies had to know that Hunter Biden’s laptop was not Russian Disinformation because the claim was so palpably ridiculous. However, it gave them cover to do what they wanted to do: censor the story. Similarly, the FBI (and the former intelligence officials who signed the bogus Russian disinformation letter) knew that the media needed a reason to censor the story and, therefore, provided it. Keep in mind that, in the case of Facebook, Zuckerberg spent $400 million of his own money to defeat Trump. The FBI gave him what he wanted.
So the FBI tells Twitter that there will be Russian disinformation leading up to the 2020 election and to expect it to include info on Hunter Biden.
I don't know the precise timeline, but it sounds like the FBI knew about Hunter's laptop before it's existence was made public by The New York Post. Did the computer repair shop tell them, or did they find out from surveillance on Hunter and the laptop itself?
Enquiring minds want to know.
Edit: I see above that Chris G claims the FBI had the laptop for a year before it's warning.
Thank you, Aaron.
FYI -- Here's what a source said about the CIA and JFK's assassination -- Dec 15, 2022
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tucker-carlson-heres-source-cia-jfks-assassination
Aaron has a ton of integrity. That is important to me. I fund Sirota, Kulinski, Krystal, Kyle & Friends, and now Matt. I am not happy that Taibbi published his story on Biden's laptop on Twitter. If Taibbi doesn't end his bromance with Musk and quit feeding Musk's #TraitorTrash agenda, I will cancel my subscription with Matt and use it to offset this subscription with Mate.
Let me know if you do so I can double my donation to Matt (while still giving money to Maté).
Trash talking Taibbi is a tell, so thanks for telling us about yourself.
Excellent post...I'll just add a few more gift subscriptions for Matt and Aaron to my Christmas list.
I've been a fan and supporter of Taibbi longer than you are likely old. People like you just can't handle disagreement. Instead of arguing facts, you have to boost your tiny ego by turning everything into a personal attack. I disagree with you. Get over it. You disagree with me? I don't give a fuck. It is my money. I don't need your permission how to spend it. I think Matt is getting played, and Musk is enjoying all the attention the Twitter Files are getting Twitter. Don't like it? FO.
When I signed up for a paid sub here, it asked why. I thought this was a private answer to Aaron. If I had know this was a public introduction of sorts, I'm sure I would have said something different. Regardless, stay out of my face. You have your opinions, and I have mine.
I certainly wouldn't have commented if I'd known it wasn't meant to be public but you're the one being rude. My tiny ego has been online since 1990 and I comment under my own name (have fun googling me, google's certainly having fun with me so no reason why you shouldn't).
Glad you support Maté. While you're editing your comments why not just delete them and I'll do the same. ?
I'm sorry. I don't usually read all the comments and didn't realize you were a parody account.
Like Taibbi said, "There's something awesome about outing Twitter on Twitter."
I'm sure he will write many long-form articles on the Files soon enough