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Neil Young-Spotify row underscores podcast disinformation issues

26 Comments
By Maggy DONALDSON

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The thing is that they have not been debunked

Yes they have, as easy to prove as every time you have been asked to produce an institution that says the contrary you have brought none.

This means the scientific consensus is clear and defined, not accepting this consensus is just a personal problem and it does not mean the consensus have not been reached.

The excuse of economic interests controlling every single institution of the world that deals with science and medicine is obviously not believable, specially because there are other examples like dexamethasone that completely disprove it by being at the same time very cheap and well accepted as effective.

This is not just "saying" that ivermectin disinformation have been debunked, it is demonstrating it by making a valid appeal to the authority the whole scientific community brings about the topic. When you fail to find even one single institution that supports your personal view there is no other valid option but accept that it runs contrary to what is has been accepted by science as correct.

Contradicting the mainstream is not the problem, contradicting valid scientific data that points clearly to one conclusion without any data to disprove it is what makes it disinformation.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Raw Beer

What terrifies some is that most people can make up their own minds if they have access to information; that is why they try to silence Rogan, because he invites top experts who say this that contradict the mainstream narrative.

Totally. Because most people are ill equipped to judge that the information is incorrect. Misinformation pedlars like Malone are dangerous and cost lives.

When Malone says that the vaccine doesn't work, despite overwhelming evidence that it does, may discourage some people (11 million audience) to not get a vaccine. And we have seen too many unvaccinated people die already.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Strange that Mr. Young thinks mere talk on Joe Rogan's rather eclectic podcast is more harmful than the activities of his Blackstone business partners.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Much of the criticism directed at the podcast were about Malone's description of Mattias Desmot's theory of mass formation. The way all the MSM responded to his statements almost confirms that mass formation has been achieved.

The criticism is not only about things unsupported, but about giving a forum for things that have been completely debunked, such as ivermectin use, which is a much more serious thing.

This is reason enough to criticize the podcast, including fringe things or even correct and science supported things do not make the disinforamtion less mistaken or debunked. Mixing true, unknown, unsuported and plain false things is part of what is being criticized, because it mislead people and puts in risk their health and lives.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

But they got arrested for trespassing onto private property, not for the content of their speech.

Not the incident I was talking about but they were not arrested for trespass, they were arrested for hooliganism and charged with hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. So yes, that ultimately was all about the content of their speech.

The incident I was actually talking about was in January last year when 3 members were arrested, along with thousands of others, for their support of Navalny. Again, that was totally about content of speech. I know I didn't make it clear. Apologies.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

"When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say." It's scary how many people are muppets of the media, and favour censorship. The mainstream media hate Rogan and his podcast because way more people listen to it than them. They are trying to take out what they perceive as competition. Very successful competition.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

For Spotify, Facebook, Google, et al, it about getting as many clicks as possible, in order to maximize their income. Social responsibility takes a back seat to money.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Science is not a popularity contest, it's a method to establish facts.

You do not understand what is the meaning of "scientific consensus", it has absolutely nothing to do with popularity but to what evidence has been found and how well it can be held against opposite opinions.

Saying that something is part of the consensus means the evidence supporting this (for example that ivermectin has no usefulness against COVID) is so clear that there is no significant disagreement about it, and this will continue until any evidence contradicts it (if ever). If someone persist on something that runs contrary to the consensus it means it runs contrary to the available evidence about it, and as such can be validly be called disinformation, and opposing disinformation is something positive that everybody should do, specially when it puts in rist the health and lives of the people.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

When Malone says that the vaccine doesn't work, despite overwhelming evidence that it does, may discourage some people (11 million audience) to not get a vaccine. And we have seen too many unvaccinated people die already.

What do you mean "when Malone says..."? That is not what he says. If you are going to criticize someone's statements or label them as misinformation, you should at least find out what they said.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I support that 100%, it is not disinformation

According to the best available science it is, as confirmed by the scientific consensus. Promoting something that has been completely debunked by science puts in risk the health and lives of people, and as such it is dangerous disinformation.

Disagreeing is not the problem, pushing that disagreement even without valid data that support that is what constitutes a problem. Disagreeing with the promotion of thise false information is not only something valid, it should be an ethical duty.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

@Bronco - Then hopefully Spotify will do right by all, Pay Rogan out his contract which they can afford and let him take his podcast somewhere more suitable like BitChute - freely accessible to all. Spotify can then get on with what they do best - MUSIC - and finally bring us lossless also.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

If you want some anti-disinformation software you need to speak to the experts. The Chinese government offer a world-leading package of blocks, filters, command and control, legal instruments and camps that has wiped disinformation off the map in mainland China and is now very effectively rolling out in Hong Kong. They would be very happy to sell their expertise to the US government to create an Internet with Chinese Characteristics in America.

Politicians like a bit of celeb glamour. If Neil Young and Joni Mitchell made a person plea to Xi, I'm sure they could get Biden a discount.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Raw Beer

When Malone says that the vaccine doesn't work, despite overwhelming evidence that it does, may discourage some people (11 million audience) to not get a vaccine. And we have seen too many unvaccinated people die already.

What do you mean "when Malone says..."? That is not what he says. If you are going to criticize someone's statements or label them as misinformation, you should at least find out what they said.

Malone said: “Omicron is a mild variant. It is absolutely able to escape prior vaccination” which would suggest that being vaccinated is a waste of time against Omicron, which is just not true. The vaccine slows transmission, reduces hospitalizations and deaths against Omicron.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

1glennJan. 31  09:41 am JST

For Spotify, Facebook, Google, et al, it about getting as many clicks as possible, in order to maximize their income. Social responsibility takes a back seat to money.

That's the phrase right there, 'Social responsibility'. Joe Rogan is responsible for the deaths of his listeners by telling lies. He knows they're lies, he knows they're falsehoods. He doesn't care. He's just like these conspiracy theory yo-yos. astrologers, Rubbish Limberger, rip-off artists, cult leaders, snake oil salesmen, televangelists, politicians, con artists, loudmouth demagogues with personality cults like TrashTrump.

You got to stand for something. Neil & Co. are to be applauded for their actions. I wouldn't want to be associated with such shysters either. That's the rock'n'roll spirit - stand against stupid wars, stand against injustices, stand against apartheid, stand and deliver!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Joe Rogan is responsible for the deaths of his listeners by telling lies. He knows they're lies, he knows they're falsehoods. He doesn't care.

I have to say, you are incorrect here. I've listened to the podcast a lot. He does care about the truth, and he tells it as he believes it, based on the scientists he listens to. I'd posit that he's not that good at determining which smart people are best to listen to, and sometimes places too much weight on the voices of celebrity scientists. I find celebrity scientists often have more vested in being controversial than being accurate.

But I've heard Joe correct stuff he's said on podcasts, regularly. He also has a guy who he regularly asks to fact check him in real time. He gets stuff wrong, no doubt. But your relation of your opinion of him doesn't match with the reality of what I've heard, and I've listed to hundreds of hours of his podcast - including the scientists that people have a problem with.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Not so ‘Fast & Furious’ there @Olive.“English-speaking countries” are not the only social media users going after public figures for their missteps:

China, May 25, 2021: “John Cena’s interview prompted a Weibo backlash in China, which considers self-ruling Taiwan to be part of its territory. Cena apologized and corrected what he thought was his error in translation.

and most infamously,

Japan, Apr 25, 2011: #TōhokudeYokatta “Good thing it was Tōhoku” casually made by Minister of Reconstruction Masahiro Imamura revisiting the numbers that represent the damage of the disaster. That night, PM Abe made an apology that Imamura had uttered inappropriate words during his presentation that hurt the feelings of the disaster’s survivors. It was too late to do damage control as Imamura’s words had made its way to Twitter, and enraged comments had popped up under the above hashtag. People called for Imamura’s resignation and nights later, the minister submitted.

*- @Olive 9:41am: “… a sickness that has infected English speaking countries.” -*

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Rogan, 54, has discouraged vaccination in young people and promoted the off-label use of the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin to treat the virus.

I support that 100%, it is not disinformation.

-1 ( +10 / -11 )

Like others has suggested, censorship is not the solution to disinformation. Infact, the solution to disinformation, is information.

So they should be required to promote counter posts, counter arguments. If it's a big enough issue, then explain, support and promote why he is wrong.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Neil Young-Spotify row underscores podcast disinformation issues

Give it up MSM, you’ve lost. You can’t spread your disinformation under the guise of journalism anymore.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Neil Young is just mad he hasnt been invited onto Joe's show.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

But do not interfere with another's person's right to listen to what they want to listen to.

Is Pussy Riot all good in Russia now?

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Much of the criticism directed at the podcast were about Malone's description of Mattias Desmot's theory of mass formation. The way all the MSM responded to his statements almost confirms that mass formation has been achieved.

This recent interview on GBN discusses what was said during the Rogan podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWtwedwIbVM

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Much of the criticism directed at the podcast were about Malone's description of Mattias Desmot's theory of mass formation. The way all the MSM responded to his statements almost confirms that mass formation has been achieved.

The criticism is not only about things unsupported, but about giving a forum for things that have been completely debunked, such as ivermectin use, which is a much more serious thing.

The thing is that they have not been debunked. What we have are various agencies and the MSM captured by pharma, and they are desperately trying to maintain their monopoly on the narrative. And they have a fit whenever experts express views (completely valid ones) that they do not like.

Just saying that one side has been completely debunked and that the other side is the scientific consensus supported by the best science, does not make it so. What terrifies some is that most people can make up their own minds if they have access to information; that is why they try to silence Rogan, because he invites top experts who say this that contradict the mainstream narrative.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

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