Posted On: Monday - February 27th 2023 4:20PM MST
In Topics: Internets Websites ctrl-left
Nope, Peak Stupidity is not becoming the new Stack Overflow, (gotten LOTS of help there) or writing a new addition to the Idiot's Guide series. This is about how to use the part of the internet BUILT BY idiots. Don't get me wrong - user-provide content is a great idea. Amazon.com, with its idea of letting users voluntarily provide book review (only the beginning) being the first I can remember, is one I discussed in the old post The F.A.G.S. space and user-generated content.
I'm sure Wikipedia started out with the best of intentions. Most of the people who edit want to set something straight. The old "someone's wrong on the internet" cartoon (I'll dig that one up) syndrome makes well-read Wiki some low-hanging fruit, as they say. As I wrote in All Hail the Editing King of Wikipedia! about a guy who is one of the biggest editors, I would hope most people have the honesty to only edit pages on subjects they know well.
However, unless you're talking programming languages or something, things get political very easily, for example, the pages on, well, politics and politicians. Was Wiki co-opted by the Deep State at some point or other nefarious actors? It probably didn't need to be, as the editing of the biggest and most-used body of "factual" knowledge is bound to give people swell heads and penchants for dirty edits, done dirt cheap.
In general, I'd say the ctrl-left has more time on its hands for this sort of thing. Additionally, they are more politically minded than the right who would just like to be left alone, and those on the left are also prone to dishonesty pretty much by definition.
When I wrote up the post on US Congresslady from Georgia (R-7th district) Marjorie Taylor Green (MTG) and her writing about a "National Divorce last week, I used Wiki for some basic facts. That image in the top has got some basic facts. The rest of that Wiki page, like most others, must be "used" a certain way. This is new to lots of Americans. Most Russian people could have explained this to us, had they had access to Twitter, in the years 1917 to 1989.
The first sentence of this biography goes:
Marjorie Taylor Greene (born May 27, 1974), also known by her initials MTG, is an American politician, businesswoman, and far-right conspiracy theorist who has been the U.S. representative for Georgia's 14th congressional district since 2021.See, OK, I get that the latter bit is her bent, but it's just not a normal part of a description of who someone is. Does Wiki start off calling AOC and hard-left Socialist? Wiki-"simple", all I could get besides bikini pictures, does say "Socialist" but not "hard-left". Could they have called MTG simply a "Conservative" at the beginning? (That's our next post on MTG, though, a battle of MTG v AOC.)
The slurs and sleights continue with almost every sentence. Nothing about her is put in a good light, that is, for the average reader looking for the basic facts.
Greene has promoted antisemitic, white supremacist, and far-right conspiracy theories, including the white genocide conspiracy theory, QAnon, and Pizzagate. Other extremist conspiracy theories she has promoted include government involvement in mass shootings in the United States, murders perpetrated by the Clinton family (Clinton body count), and 9/11 conspiracy theories. Before running for Congress, she supported calls to execute prominent Democratic Party politicians, including Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. As a congresswoman, she equated the Democratic Party with Nazis, and compared COVID-19 safety measures to the persecution of Jews during the Holocaust, later apologizing for this comparison. During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Greene promoted Russian propaganda and praised Vladimir Putin. Greene identifies as a Christian nationalist.Just the facts, Ma'am? Well, they are not all made up, but the use of certain adjectives and this synopsis of MTG's political life in this way is not something that'd be done for someone of the left. The way you use Wiki for political information is to sort out the simple facts from all the opinions of the opinionated editors.
OTOH, for someone like me, the Wiki page has me smitten with MTG or "Large Marge". She apparently recently got divorced too, so ... what are you all waiting for? Sure enough, Wiki is in error about MTG's writings on the Hildabeast and Øb☭ma**, but I'd have no problem with it, along with most of what she's said and done per Wikipedia.
* Wierdly, a year before the Kung Flu PanicFest, I used the term "non-essential employee for this Feral Gov't worker/Wiki uber-editor.
** Again, one must read carefully to get at the truth on this Business Insider article too. See, the "hanging" was in the political sense:
CNN reported that in one Facebook post in April 2018, Greene spread baseless information attacking the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which was one of President Barack Obama's key policy achievements. Someone commented on the post, asking Greene, "Now do we get to hang them ?? Meaning H & O???""Let people off" meant politically let them off. She wasn't talking setting up nooses... not that there's anything wrong with that ...
The person was referring to Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"Stage is being set," Greene replied, according to CNN. "Players are being put in place. We must be patient. This must be done perfectly or liberal judges would let them off."
Comments:
Adam Smith
Saturday - March 4th 2023 1:27PM MST
PS: Thanks, Achmed! ☮
Moderator
Friday - March 3rd 2023 12:20PM MST
PS: Nice start on it, Adam.
Adam Smith
Thursday - March 2nd 2023 9:46PM MST
PS: Top of the evening to you, Mr. Corrupt,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBjPAqmnvGA
🎶The Devil went up to Harlem, he was looking for a car to steal
He was in a bind and outta his mind
And willin' to make a deal🎶...
“The devil gives up as there is no soul to steal.”
(Maybe Tyrone is a Jehovah's Witness?)
I've never heard of “The Devil went up to Harlem”.
(Can't find it online either.)(Sounds like fun!)
Please post the lyrics if you have them.
***
I like this version...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9uk9IcoQ0w
This one is pretty good too*...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98-JNZzfQj4
(*Completely new to me. I didn't know Natalie Stovall existed until about 12 minutes ago.)
Cheers to a great rest of the evening, Mr. Corrupt!
☮
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBjPAqmnvGA
🎶The Devil went up to Harlem, he was looking for a car to steal
He was in a bind and outta his mind
And willin' to make a deal🎶...
“The devil gives up as there is no soul to steal.”
(Maybe Tyrone is a Jehovah's Witness?)
I've never heard of “The Devil went up to Harlem”.
(Can't find it online either.)(Sounds like fun!)
Please post the lyrics if you have them.
***
I like this version...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9uk9IcoQ0w
This one is pretty good too*...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98-JNZzfQj4
(*Completely new to me. I didn't know Natalie Stovall existed until about 12 minutes ago.)
Cheers to a great rest of the evening, Mr. Corrupt!
☮
Al Corrupt
Thursday - March 2nd 2023 7:25PM MST
PS
Mr. Smith, I’m almost encouraged enough to,post the words for “The Devil went up to Harlem”… it’s to the tune of the song referenced by you attributed to C. Daniels and includes Tyrone, basketball and Nike’s of gold. The devil gives up as there is no soul to steal.
Mr. Smith, I’m almost encouraged enough to,post the words for “The Devil went up to Harlem”… it’s to the tune of the song referenced by you attributed to C. Daniels and includes Tyrone, basketball and Nike’s of gold. The devil gives up as there is no soul to steal.
Moderator
Thursday - March 2nd 2023 5:14PM MST
PS: Alarmist, I didn't even commend you for your Seaplane rating. Nice job!
Mr. Hail, I would like to make that 10 point Scott Adams/Dilbert synopsis into a post. Basically, I can keep all that as it is and just add a few comments. One would be that I don't think this guy was as impulsive as he may have looked, and I think he may have very well know his comic would get cancelled (as much as they can, anyway).
Also, regarding an earlier comment of yours on this thread, my boy used to check "GoComic.com" or something like that to keep up with "Breaking Cat News". I imagine they cancelled Dilbert too, but I'll get him to check.
Mr. Hail, I would like to make that 10 point Scott Adams/Dilbert synopsis into a post. Basically, I can keep all that as it is and just add a few comments. One would be that I don't think this guy was as impulsive as he may have looked, and I think he may have very well know his comic would get cancelled (as much as they can, anyway).
Also, regarding an earlier comment of yours on this thread, my boy used to check "GoComic.com" or something like that to keep up with "Breaking Cat News". I imagine they cancelled Dilbert too, but I'll get him to check.
Adam Smith
Thursday - March 2nd 2023 10:30AM MST
PS: Greetings, Mr. Hail,
Did you know 6 Million jews are killed every year by anti-semitism? [/sarc]
Thanks for the update on Scott Adams. So he's a target, eh?
I guess some people (who ever they are) don't like someone like Adams speaking their “unacceptable opinions” out loud for the world to hear. Funny that?
I'd also like to thank you for your report from the Rage Against the War Machine gathering. I enjoyed reading it. I've been meaning to comment on HailToYou but have been particularly busy this week. (Trying to do more work and less internet.) I hope this can somehow turn into a real resistance against NATO's warmongering that turns into useful policy that deescalates the situation. There is absolutely no reason for this war against Russia or the coming war against China. I hope peace prevails.
I hope you have a great day, Mr. Hail! ☮
Did you know 6 Million jews are killed every year by anti-semitism? [/sarc]
Thanks for the update on Scott Adams. So he's a target, eh?
I guess some people (who ever they are) don't like someone like Adams speaking their “unacceptable opinions” out loud for the world to hear. Funny that?
I'd also like to thank you for your report from the Rage Against the War Machine gathering. I enjoyed reading it. I've been meaning to comment on HailToYou but have been particularly busy this week. (Trying to do more work and less internet.) I hope this can somehow turn into a real resistance against NATO's warmongering that turns into useful policy that deescalates the situation. There is absolutely no reason for this war against Russia or the coming war against China. I hope peace prevails.
I hope you have a great day, Mr. Hail! ☮
Hail
Thursday - March 2nd 2023 7:15AM MST
PS
- minor update on Dilbert controversy -
Scott Adams poses a question today to his many critics and supporters alike:
Quote:
"If you are White, is it better for you to lie to Black Americans about where you think things are at, or be honest and see if you can figure out solutions?"
.
This just in -- sources say the SPLC has added to its "ADAMS, Scott (Dilbert)" file the following entry:
"Be it noted, the target today capitalized the word 'white,' a dogwhistle to his white-Supremacist supporters. Target still refuses to apologize for own racist rant."
- minor update on Dilbert controversy -
Scott Adams poses a question today to his many critics and supporters alike:
Quote:
"If you are White, is it better for you to lie to Black Americans about where you think things are at, or be honest and see if you can figure out solutions?"
.
This just in -- sources say the SPLC has added to its "ADAMS, Scott (Dilbert)" file the following entry:
"Be it noted, the target today capitalized the word 'white,' a dogwhistle to his white-Supremacist supporters. Target still refuses to apologize for own racist rant."
Hail
Thursday - March 2nd 2023 6:40AM MST
PS
- Dilbert controversy updates -
1.) The Dilbert creator announces he refuses to repudiate or apologize for the racist rant. No groveling.
2.) He says there are some Black social-media personalities who support him, but the "Race Grifters," including pile-ons by Jewish groups who are denouncing him (ADL, SPLC), make it seem there is an across-the-board consensus that the racist rant was a racist rant.
3.) Yesterday Scott Adams repeatedly called the Jewish CNN reporter Jake Tapper a "son of a b**tch," and told of how this same Jake Tapper had twice before tried take down Scott Adams for by alleging racism. The previous times it didn't stick. This time Jake Tapper is gloating about a successful takedown of a non-Woke evildoer.
4.) Scott Adams said Washington Post and CNN and others have hated him for years because he had been declined to join anti-Trump ritual denunciations. He points out he himself has called the Washington Post "fake news" regularly in his analysis of how U.S. news works, for years. The decision to cancel him was not some sudden outburst of Wokeness but something stewing a long time.
5.) Scott Adams identifies the Washington Post role in the anti-Dilbert cascade as the key to the whole thing. They proclaimed they were cutting Dilbert and then immediately began parading around proclaiming how good people they are for outting a bad guy. The ultimate cause of the Dilbert Cancellation was Wokeness, but the specific chain of events involved the Washington Post cancellation, after which hundreds of others followed their lead.
6.) One of the big pro-Wokeness media outlets (I think NPR) published a strange collection of comments from other cartoonists who say THEY knew Scott Adams was an evildoer all along and were glad someone finally stood up to him. There is something surreal about how instant it all is, ready-made, wrapped in recyclable plastic.
7.) Interesting extension of the controversy: Two days ago, the ADL claimed to have discovered evidence that Scott Adams has not show sufficient levels of belief in the Six Million Jews said to have been gassed in the 1940s.
8.) Dilbert.com is still up as of today, the March 02nd comic continues the pre-made serialized story of Dogbert becoming an Internet sensation by using cheap cons about "lassoing the energy of the cosmos using ropes of love."
9.) Steve Sailer has declined to comment on the story at all, although people often compare the two men -- by appearance, age, geographic location, political milieu, and now people who do racist rants which a coalition of Wokeness supporters have to fend off.
10.) Scott Adams popularity revealed in finishing second in the Boomer Cup 2019. In fact, Steve Sailer and Scott Adams faced off in the Boomer Cup. Steve Sailer narrowly edged out a victory, eliminating Scott Adams. If Scott Adams had mounted a campaign to win, he could have edged out Sailer.
See:
https://hailtoyou.wordpress.com/2019/11/10/the-great-boomer-twitter-tournament-boomer-cup-of-2019-results-and-analysis/
Scott Adams cruised through all the early rounds, defeating MorlockP, Katie Hopkins, and Nick Land.
In the semi-final round, he narrowly beat David A. French. Then, in the first-place match-up, Steve Sailer very narrowly won. Therefore Scott Adams finished in second-place in the Boomer Cup of 2019. (First place: Steve Sailer; third place: David A. French; fourth place: Jordan Peterson.)
- Dilbert controversy updates -
1.) The Dilbert creator announces he refuses to repudiate or apologize for the racist rant. No groveling.
2.) He says there are some Black social-media personalities who support him, but the "Race Grifters," including pile-ons by Jewish groups who are denouncing him (ADL, SPLC), make it seem there is an across-the-board consensus that the racist rant was a racist rant.
3.) Yesterday Scott Adams repeatedly called the Jewish CNN reporter Jake Tapper a "son of a b**tch," and told of how this same Jake Tapper had twice before tried take down Scott Adams for by alleging racism. The previous times it didn't stick. This time Jake Tapper is gloating about a successful takedown of a non-Woke evildoer.
4.) Scott Adams said Washington Post and CNN and others have hated him for years because he had been declined to join anti-Trump ritual denunciations. He points out he himself has called the Washington Post "fake news" regularly in his analysis of how U.S. news works, for years. The decision to cancel him was not some sudden outburst of Wokeness but something stewing a long time.
5.) Scott Adams identifies the Washington Post role in the anti-Dilbert cascade as the key to the whole thing. They proclaimed they were cutting Dilbert and then immediately began parading around proclaiming how good people they are for outting a bad guy. The ultimate cause of the Dilbert Cancellation was Wokeness, but the specific chain of events involved the Washington Post cancellation, after which hundreds of others followed their lead.
6.) One of the big pro-Wokeness media outlets (I think NPR) published a strange collection of comments from other cartoonists who say THEY knew Scott Adams was an evildoer all along and were glad someone finally stood up to him. There is something surreal about how instant it all is, ready-made, wrapped in recyclable plastic.
7.) Interesting extension of the controversy: Two days ago, the ADL claimed to have discovered evidence that Scott Adams has not show sufficient levels of belief in the Six Million Jews said to have been gassed in the 1940s.
8.) Dilbert.com is still up as of today, the March 02nd comic continues the pre-made serialized story of Dogbert becoming an Internet sensation by using cheap cons about "lassoing the energy of the cosmos using ropes of love."
9.) Steve Sailer has declined to comment on the story at all, although people often compare the two men -- by appearance, age, geographic location, political milieu, and now people who do racist rants which a coalition of Wokeness supporters have to fend off.
10.) Scott Adams popularity revealed in finishing second in the Boomer Cup 2019. In fact, Steve Sailer and Scott Adams faced off in the Boomer Cup. Steve Sailer narrowly edged out a victory, eliminating Scott Adams. If Scott Adams had mounted a campaign to win, he could have edged out Sailer.
See:
https://hailtoyou.wordpress.com/2019/11/10/the-great-boomer-twitter-tournament-boomer-cup-of-2019-results-and-analysis/
Scott Adams cruised through all the early rounds, defeating MorlockP, Katie Hopkins, and Nick Land.
In the semi-final round, he narrowly beat David A. French. Then, in the first-place match-up, Steve Sailer very narrowly won. Therefore Scott Adams finished in second-place in the Boomer Cup of 2019. (First place: Steve Sailer; third place: David A. French; fourth place: Jordan Peterson.)
Moderator
Wednesday - March 1st 2023 7:02PM MST
PS: Mr. Hail, "The Cloud" and all that worry me for another reason - control of all our "data", as in the records of our lives. (Well, not mine so much.)
Long March: "Maybe contemporary society is just too stupid for a free and open internet." It was good while it lasted. What, 15 years or so - 1995 to 2010?
Mr. Smith, here's a totally different "In God's Country":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3_9NErhvXc
U-2, with a great sound, but I was never sure what Bono was going on about ...
Long March: "Maybe contemporary society is just too stupid for a free and open internet." It was good while it lasted. What, 15 years or so - 1995 to 2010?
Mr. Smith, here's a totally different "In God's Country":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3_9NErhvXc
U-2, with a great sound, but I was never sure what Bono was going on about ...
Hail
Wednesday - March 1st 2023 6:59PM MST
PS
Adam Smith wrote:
"Dilbert.com is still working for me"
Scott Adams, in his semi-daily chat program and one day or two after his cartoon empire began to collapse, explained that he does not control Dilbert.com as it is part of a package deal owned he his syndicator. Comics are big business, so on reflection it's not so surprising that would be the case. He says he expect the plug will be pulled on Dilbert.com this week or so.
Today he went on an uncharacteristic angry tirade including against the ADL and "Jewish race grifters." But he also said he is a good friend of Israel.
Adam Smith wrote:
"Dilbert.com is still working for me"
Scott Adams, in his semi-daily chat program and one day or two after his cartoon empire began to collapse, explained that he does not control Dilbert.com as it is part of a package deal owned he his syndicator. Comics are big business, so on reflection it's not so surprising that would be the case. He says he expect the plug will be pulled on Dilbert.com this week or so.
Today he went on an uncharacteristic angry tirade including against the ADL and "Jewish race grifters." But he also said he is a good friend of Israel.
Moderator
Wednesday - March 1st 2023 6:50PM MST
PS: From Mr. Hail: "Comments sections are a little like this user-provided content." Yes, and that was a good point about how much we can trust the "users" that provide content in comment sections. Software "bots" really ruin a lot of fun - they've been hell on the use of the, what we used to call telephones too.
About Scott Adams, first of all, until a while into the kerfuffle, I was thinking he was Scott Alexander, that blogger/psychologist "Slate Star Codex" guy. Once someone brought up Dilbert, I realized, "oh, that's who he is" and yes, he's got F.U. money. I should write a post about this thing, Mr. Hail. Thanks for the 3 strips, BTW. I used to enjoy this comic about 2 decades back, closer to my cube-dweller days.
About Scott Adams, first of all, until a while into the kerfuffle, I was thinking he was Scott Alexander, that blogger/psychologist "Slate Star Codex" guy. Once someone brought up Dilbert, I realized, "oh, that's who he is" and yes, he's got F.U. money. I should write a post about this thing, Mr. Hail. Thanks for the 3 strips, BTW. I used to enjoy this comic about 2 decades back, closer to my cube-dweller days.
Adam Smith
Wednesday - March 1st 2023 11:59AM MST
PS: Good afternoon to you too, Mr. Alarmist,
Lol... That's pretty good advise.
Some parts of Texas look pretty rough to live in.
☮
Lol... That's pretty good advise.
Some parts of Texas look pretty rough to live in.
☮
The Alarmist
Wednesday - March 1st 2023 11:14AM MST
PS
Afternoon, Mr. Smith. It is indeed God’s country.
But your devil comment reminded me of an old joke at the expense of Texas:
“If I owned Hell and Texas, I’d rent out Texas and live in Hell.”
Afternoon, Mr. Smith. It is indeed God’s country.
But your devil comment reminded me of an old joke at the expense of Texas:
“If I owned Hell and Texas, I’d rent out Texas and live in Hell.”
Adam Smith
Wednesday - March 1st 2023 11:02AM MST
PS: Good afternoon, everyone,
I agree with Scott Adams...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq85b-YJDvQ
Dilbert.com is still working for me, Mr. Hail.
It would be kinda amazing if they seize his .com over his comments.
Wouldn't be surprised if his webhost cancels him Daily Stormer style.
***
Unfortunately, most of my wiki edits are quickly canceled.
This is one of the few edits of mine they left in place...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100th_Fighter_Squadron
(I wonder if they left it because they agree or because they're afraid to change it back?)
***
Spring is springing here in North Georgia!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEWGyyLiqY4
🎶 Saved by the sound of the been found
Dixie whistled in the wind, that'll get you Heaven bound
The Devil went down to Georgia but he didn't stick around
This is God's country 🎶
***
https://i.ibb.co/JQHpcg4/Large-Marge.gif
☮
I agree with Scott Adams...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq85b-YJDvQ
Dilbert.com is still working for me, Mr. Hail.
It would be kinda amazing if they seize his .com over his comments.
Wouldn't be surprised if his webhost cancels him Daily Stormer style.
***
Unfortunately, most of my wiki edits are quickly canceled.
This is one of the few edits of mine they left in place...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100th_Fighter_Squadron
(I wonder if they left it because they agree or because they're afraid to change it back?)
***
Spring is springing here in North Georgia!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEWGyyLiqY4
🎶 Saved by the sound of the been found
Dixie whistled in the wind, that'll get you Heaven bound
The Devil went down to Georgia but he didn't stick around
This is God's country 🎶
***
https://i.ibb.co/JQHpcg4/Large-Marge.gif
☮
The Alarmist
Wednesday - March 1st 2023 9:14AM MST
PS
The Scott Adams rant was pretty tame ... more of a Race Realist rant, if anything.
Maybe as a last Hurrah, he should have the Dilbert cast of characters show up in Ukraine as volunteers ... that would be good for a few strips. Catbert can play the US envoy to Keev.
The Scott Adams rant was pretty tame ... more of a Race Realist rant, if anything.
Maybe as a last Hurrah, he should have the Dilbert cast of characters show up in Ukraine as volunteers ... that would be good for a few strips. Catbert can play the US envoy to Keev.
The Long March
Wednesday - March 1st 2023 9:07AM MST
PS No room for commie Wiki.
Maybe contemporary society is just too stupid for a free and open internet.
Thinking for yourself isn't for everyone and many are happy to have a middleman to think for them.
I'm too busy laughing at the steaming pile that is Clown World to get demoralized.
Morale edit from Wiki would say to fold up like a Dollar Store lawn chair and fly the hammer and sickle from the mast. NEVER!
Maybe contemporary society is just too stupid for a free and open internet.
Thinking for yourself isn't for everyone and many are happy to have a middleman to think for them.
I'm too busy laughing at the steaming pile that is Clown World to get demoralized.
Morale edit from Wiki would say to fold up like a Dollar Store lawn chair and fly the hammer and sickle from the mast. NEVER!
Hail
Wednesday - March 1st 2023 7:11AM MST
PS
- The Dilbert racist rant -
Do you have any comment on the racist rant by the Dilbert cartoonist and the Wokeness defense mechanism that collectively acted to punish the racist rant?
Dilbert is a comic-strip mainstay since the 1990s, but died in February 2023. A full-ban, imposed by lockstep action by almost all the newspapers, then the syndicates, distributors, book publishers, and others. They sprang to action upon word of the cartoonist's racist rant.
Even "Dilbert.com," the long-running website that hosts the Dilbert comics, is somehow being wrested from the cartoonist following the racist rant. Dilbert.com, it is said, will shut down shortly.
Some of his final comics, created just before the racist rant and now being published, are on a topic related to this topic of Internet expertise--similar in thee to Wikipedia info-hegemony:
https://hailtoyou.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/dilbert-feb-27th-2023.gif
https://hailtoyou.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/dilbert-feb-28th-2023.gif
https://hailtoyou.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/dilbert-march-01st-2023.gif
(now that Dilbert is dead, I don't expect anyone will sue for me re-hosting these three)
- The Dilbert racist rant -
Do you have any comment on the racist rant by the Dilbert cartoonist and the Wokeness defense mechanism that collectively acted to punish the racist rant?
Dilbert is a comic-strip mainstay since the 1990s, but died in February 2023. A full-ban, imposed by lockstep action by almost all the newspapers, then the syndicates, distributors, book publishers, and others. They sprang to action upon word of the cartoonist's racist rant.
Even "Dilbert.com," the long-running website that hosts the Dilbert comics, is somehow being wrested from the cartoonist following the racist rant. Dilbert.com, it is said, will shut down shortly.
Some of his final comics, created just before the racist rant and now being published, are on a topic related to this topic of Internet expertise--similar in thee to Wikipedia info-hegemony:
https://hailtoyou.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/dilbert-feb-27th-2023.gif
https://hailtoyou.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/dilbert-feb-28th-2023.gif
https://hailtoyou.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/dilbert-march-01st-2023.gif
(now that Dilbert is dead, I don't expect anyone will sue for me re-hosting these three)
Hail
Wednesday - March 1st 2023 6:59AM MST
PS
The Internet and its key institutions providing a framing device to shape thought. That is a key to how things went so wrong in 2020. Not just the Panic over a flu virus we otherwise wouldn't have noticed door remembered at all (but in 2020 were saturated with 'info' about, and Pro-Panic commentary as with war-propaganda), but spiraled upwards to a point by which people who disbelieved were murderous subhuman monsters.
It's not just about a little bias here and there with Wikipedia, of course, it's about a whole system in which people outsource their thought in a sci-fi-novel type way to some network "in the cloud" (an interesting phrase that emerged as this system began to dig itself in; accessing all info "from the cloud(s)" seems as if borrowed from a sci-fi futuristic semi-dystopian novel). Needless to say, this is both dangerous and degrading to the human spirit at once.
The Internet and its key institutions providing a framing device to shape thought. That is a key to how things went so wrong in 2020. Not just the Panic over a flu virus we otherwise wouldn't have noticed door remembered at all (but in 2020 were saturated with 'info' about, and Pro-Panic commentary as with war-propaganda), but spiraled upwards to a point by which people who disbelieved were murderous subhuman monsters.
It's not just about a little bias here and there with Wikipedia, of course, it's about a whole system in which people outsource their thought in a sci-fi-novel type way to some network "in the cloud" (an interesting phrase that emerged as this system began to dig itself in; accessing all info "from the cloud(s)" seems as if borrowed from a sci-fi futuristic semi-dystopian novel). Needless to say, this is both dangerous and degrading to the human spirit at once.
Hail
Wednesday - March 1st 2023 6:42AM MST
PS
"user-provided content is a great idea"
Comments sections are a little like this user-provided content.
I happened to see the Yahoo News story on a reported wave of attempted drone attacks by 'Ukraine' deep into Russia yesterday. I read about thirty comments, sorted by Popular and then also sorted by Newest, and it seemed every single comment was some form of aggressive pro-war cheerleading, as if Ukraine were one of the Untied States (the United States of america and Holy Ukraine).
These days, and actually for some years now, we have to assume the possibility that something like this monolithic pro-war sentiment from Yahoo News commenters may not be what it seems. Are those accounts real people? How do we know? Is the "algorithm" fair? How do we know? Then there are questions of media bias, framing, propaganda, and war-drum beating, analog forms of unfairness.
I remember in 2013, the same Yahoo News comment-section ran about three to one against the near-full-intervention that Obama was ready to unleash against Syria over a supposed (and highly suspicious) poison gas attack. Seeing the Yahoo News commenters in 2023 all pro-war was both disheartening and makes me wonder if fake-comment farms funded by the CIA or Holy Ukraine or like actors are responsible for a lot of that, and in 2023 I must say I can't be sure.
The lesson is, "user-provided content" does not work the way advertised on the box.
"user-provided content is a great idea"
Comments sections are a little like this user-provided content.
I happened to see the Yahoo News story on a reported wave of attempted drone attacks by 'Ukraine' deep into Russia yesterday. I read about thirty comments, sorted by Popular and then also sorted by Newest, and it seemed every single comment was some form of aggressive pro-war cheerleading, as if Ukraine were one of the Untied States (the United States of america and Holy Ukraine).
These days, and actually for some years now, we have to assume the possibility that something like this monolithic pro-war sentiment from Yahoo News commenters may not be what it seems. Are those accounts real people? How do we know? Is the "algorithm" fair? How do we know? Then there are questions of media bias, framing, propaganda, and war-drum beating, analog forms of unfairness.
I remember in 2013, the same Yahoo News comment-section ran about three to one against the near-full-intervention that Obama was ready to unleash against Syria over a supposed (and highly suspicious) poison gas attack. Seeing the Yahoo News commenters in 2023 all pro-war was both disheartening and makes me wonder if fake-comment farms funded by the CIA or Holy Ukraine or like actors are responsible for a lot of that, and in 2023 I must say I can't be sure.
The lesson is, "user-provided content" does not work the way advertised on the box.
Moderator
Wednesday - March 1st 2023 5:53AM MST
PS: That says it all, SafeNow. Though non-political, that'd be like whichever (live) Beatle who wrote the song that supposedly says "Paul is dead" when played backwards trying to set the record straight that, no, there was no effort made to do that. Lots of people interpret songs their own ways, and it's often pretty interesting, but that doesn't mean the writer of it meant those things. I think you've got to believe the songwriter. "It was just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo to make sure it rhymes, that's all, sorry." "No! Say it isn't so!"
Adam Smith has led us to some edits of his, some of which don't stay very long. I could see writing some program that keeps changing it back to my way (the truth, that'd be). I guess that's what those "Capcha" tests are about, stopping that.
Adam Smith has led us to some edits of his, some of which don't stay very long. I could see writing some program that keeps changing it back to my way (the truth, that'd be). I guess that's what those "Capcha" tests are about, stopping that.
SafeNow
Tuesday - February 28th 2023 8:47PM MST
PS
Philip Roth once disagreed with Wikipedia on what the source or inspiration was for Roth’s own novel, “The Human Stain.” Roth tried to edit it. Wikipedia refused the edit. Their position was that the author of a novel is not a credible source regarding the writing of the novel. Wiki wanted the woke, not the accurate truth. This incident is a perfect example. Roth mounted an aggressive and well-publicized fight, and won, but how many are able to do that.
Philip Roth once disagreed with Wikipedia on what the source or inspiration was for Roth’s own novel, “The Human Stain.” Roth tried to edit it. Wikipedia refused the edit. Their position was that the author of a novel is not a credible source regarding the writing of the novel. Wiki wanted the woke, not the accurate truth. This incident is a perfect example. Roth mounted an aggressive and well-publicized fight, and won, but how many are able to do that.
Moderator
Tuesday - February 28th 2023 9:42AM MST
PS: Yes, that is a great graphic, Alarmist! I did see the story, but it was not on that source.
These people keep telling me that Ron DeSantis is Deep State or co-opted by them or what-have-you. Thing is, it's one thing, for cover, to run one's mouth against the invasion, against Woke Disney, etc, like Trump would. However, Ron DeSantis actually gets stuff done about it! (Trump never got around to getting it done on most issues.) What Deep State guy would go the whole nine yards? That doesn't make sense.
Then, my wife maintains that DeSantis could be much more easily blackmailed or threatened than Trump. I kind of agree, but you takes your chances. DeSantis is not filthy rich like Trump. He's not a known playboy either. However, I think Conservatives at this point are beyond worrying about the morals of these people. They just want something done toward the right direction.
These people keep telling me that Ron DeSantis is Deep State or co-opted by them or what-have-you. Thing is, it's one thing, for cover, to run one's mouth against the invasion, against Woke Disney, etc, like Trump would. However, Ron DeSantis actually gets stuff done about it! (Trump never got around to getting it done on most issues.) What Deep State guy would go the whole nine yards? That doesn't make sense.
Then, my wife maintains that DeSantis could be much more easily blackmailed or threatened than Trump. I kind of agree, but you takes your chances. DeSantis is not filthy rich like Trump. He's not a known playboy either. However, I think Conservatives at this point are beyond worrying about the morals of these people. They just want something done toward the right direction.
The Alarmist
Tuesday - February 28th 2023 6:29AM MST
PS
The lead graphic for this is epic.
https://notthebee.com/article/desantis-just-ended-disneys-corporate-kingdom-in-florida-names-new-members-to-florida-tourism-board
The lead graphic for this is epic.
https://notthebee.com/article/desantis-just-ended-disneys-corporate-kingdom-in-florida-names-new-members-to-florida-tourism-board
The Alarmist
Tuesday - February 28th 2023 6:13AM MST
PS
Large Marge is from Milledgeville? I splashed a J-3 on floats onto Lake Sinclair to meet up and do a little fishing with a friend there, and when I took off toward the end of a day, I saw a catfish that looked as big as a car near the dam. That is just about where middle Georgia starts to get pretty, though it is not quite God’s country that is north Georgia.
🕉
Large Marge is from Milledgeville? I splashed a J-3 on floats onto Lake Sinclair to meet up and do a little fishing with a friend there, and when I took off toward the end of a day, I saw a catfish that looked as big as a car near the dam. That is just about where middle Georgia starts to get pretty, though it is not quite God’s country that is north Georgia.
🕉