Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg Content moderation and its dis-content-moderators (with Ada Palmer)
Jul 6, 2022
Ada Palmer, a cultural historian at the University of Chicago and author on Renaissance thought, delves into the nuances of censorship. She discusses how information revolutions shift power dynamics, why extreme voices thrive in new media, and the paradox of well-meaning censorship leading to unintended consequences. Palmer questions the ethics of censorship, emphasizing the need for diverse communication channels. She also explores historical misinterpretations and the dominance of dystopian over utopian narratives, advocating for more stories of collective agency.
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Early Adopter Effect
- New information technologies lack established control mechanisms, creating opportunities for marginalized voices.
- This "early adopter effect" amplifies fringe views, leading to societal discomfort and calls for censorship.
Ditto Machine and Early Adopters
- The ditto machine, a mid-20th-century duplication technology, enabled marginalized groups like civil rights activists and the KKK to spread their messages.
- This illustrates the early adopter effect, where new technologies amplify previously silenced voices, both positive and negative.
Villains Don't See Themselves as Such
- Individuals spreading harmful ideas rarely see themselves as villains.
- They often believe they are acting for the greater good, even when causing harm.
