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Culture War Roundup for the week of March 11, 2024

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The algorithm was fine. You saying it's 'unintentional' is just you saying it because you don't feel good about it.

I'm saying it's unintentional because it's unintentional.

Same is true for 'conservatives'? What is your problem here with anything exactly?

"Not shown to people who want something else" doesn't apply. Many people do want conservative viewpoints.

There are more people who don't believe in the holocaust than there are American 'conservatives'.

Google is not aimed at Saudi Arabia or Iran.

You provide no evidence or information that demonstrates how or why it should be considered 'unintentional'. You could say the same thing about any result you don't like. So it's just you saying it. I mean, 'conservative' results are 'unintentionally' there. So they get removed. No problem.

"Not shown to people who want something else" doesn't apply. Many people do want conservative viewpoints.

'Conservatives' want to see those viewpoints. They are a minority. Most people are not wingnuts.

Google is not aimed at Saudi Arabia or Iran.

Google is not aimed at 'conservatives' either, obviously.

Again, what is your problem here, exactly? You are OK with banning things you don't like. That's the line you draw. Even if it's just words that don't convey any immediate or credible threat to anyone. Other people do the exact same thing. Are you just mad they are doing it to you? Doesn't that invoke any sort of introspection into just what you were doing to others? Can you not recognize some sort of need for a mechanism that deals with this issue that serves a broader scope than just your feelings and whim?

That, at least, was my original impression of 'centrists' or classical liberals. I imagined they were looking for a principled system that could 'make it all work'. But as you've shown, and like many other ones I've engaged with have shown, they have no principles that reach beyond their own nose. They have no conception of a principled system that might leave them in the vulnerable position of having to tolerate things they don't like. They just believe themselves to be so rational and correct about everything that they can't even imagine that their own emotions could lead them astray. In fact, they predefine themselves as morally correct and then use their own emotions as a compass. Operating under the impression that they've ascended beyond personal bias and whatever else. The extent of the worldview is 'my reasons are good, other peoples reasons are bad'. And then we play this ridiculous game of words we've been playing in this comment chain.

'Conservatives' want to see those viewpoints. They are a minority.

There's a minority, being less than 50%, and there's a minority, being less than 1%. Conservatives are the first kind; Holocaust deniers the second, outside of countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, which I have no qualms about saying Google should ignore.

Again, what is your problem here, exactly? You are OK with banning things you don't like.

Google is not banning Holocaust denial. Not showing it unless people ask for it isn't banning.

The extent of the worldview is 'my reasons are good, other peoples reasons are bad'.

What's the alternative to using reasons, even if you think your own are good and someone else's are bad--just don't use reasons?

And progressives have no qualms about saying wingnuts should be ignored. You're back at square one. Why should they care how many people believe in false things? Let the record stand corrected.

Google is not banning Holocaust denial. Not showing it unless people ask for it isn't banning.

And google is not banning wingnuttery. I mean, there are massive problems with denying people fair access to an algorithm. But hey, you can ignore those for deniers, why shouldn't progressives do the same for their outgroup? Just quash whatever it is you don't like before it gets the chance of gaining popularity.

What's the alternative to using reasons, even if you think your own are good and someone else's are bad--just don't use reasons?

I'm not looking for an alternative to reason. I'm looking for some self awareness and a broader contextualization of things so you can recognize the point of contention.

Why should they care how many people believe in false things?

Because Google is there to provide what people search for, and people aren't searching for false results.

why shouldn't progressives do the same for their outgroup

Because a substantial number of people want to find the things said by their outgroup, but no substantial number of people wants to find Holocaust denial (outside Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc.)

Then there's no problem with Google banning wingnut stuff.

Because a substantial number of people want to find the things said by their outgroup, but no substantial number of people wants to find Holocaust denial (outside Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc.)

Is it classified as 'substantial' when the amount of people clicking the holocaust denial link drive it to the top of Google search results? Are entire nations not 'substantial'? I mean, I agree in a sense. If we exclude everyone who might want to click the link, no one wants to click it.

Is it classified as 'substantial' when the amount of people clicking the holocaust denial link drive it to the top of Google search results?

Just because they click it doesn't mean they want it. It's like clicking on a scam, except that unlike a scam, which is false and trying to take your money, this one's just false. People don't want false pages.

You have no idea whether people wanted to click the link or not. When people click 'Top 10 Reasons Why the Holocaust Didn't Happen' I'd wager they know where they are going. It's a funny headline if nothing else.

People don't want false pages.

Then you have no problem with Google removing wingnuttery.

Wingnuttery is not 99% recognized as false, Holocaust denial is, unless you're in Iran.

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