Potential
Civil Conflict Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fear and doubt, what's it all about?
Can't keep holding back the need to scream and shout
Our voice's, idea's, unheard for so long
Was always held back from what could go wrong
Always questioned why, complained and cried
Drowning in our sorrow, fear, tears, and lies
When will it stop? When will it end?
The choice is yours to make my friend

Don't let time decide your fate
Don't let your past control today
Rotting away as time goes by
Living in meaningless, purposeless lives
A plague that spread across this land
Our voice's, idea's, are now at hand
So why question why?
Complain or cry
Drowning in our sorrow, fear, tears, and lies
It's time to know that all we'll ever need
Is found in the center of our being
Don't let time decide your fate
Don't let your past control today
Fear and doubt, what's it all about?
Can't keep holding back the need to scream and shout
Our voice's, idea's, unheard for so long
Was always held back from what could go wrong
Always questioned why, complained and cried
Drowning in our sorrow, fear, tears, and lies

When will it stop? When will it end?
The choice is yours to make my friend

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Civil Conflict's song "Potential" address the themes of fear, doubt, and the struggle to find one's voice and purpose. The verse begins by questioning the meaning and impact of fear and doubt, stating that they cannot hold us back from expressing ourselves and standing up for what we believe in. The voice and ideas of the singer and others like them have been suppressed for a long time, hindered by the fear of potential consequences. The lyrics acknowledge the tendency to question, complain, and cry in the face of adversity, but also highlight the need to break free from this cycle.

The song emphasizes the importance of taking control of one's destiny and not allowing external factors, such as time or past experiences, to determine one's fate. It criticizes the idea of living a life without purpose, merely existing as time passes by. The lyrics suggest that there is a collective plague of people living this way, but now it's time for their voices and ideas to be heard. The repetition of the lines "Don't let time decide your fate, don't let your past control today" underscores the message of personal agency and the need to break free from the constraints of fear, doubt, and past failures.

Line by Line Meaning

Fear and doubt, what's it all about?
Questioning the source and meaning of fear and doubt.

Can't keep holding back the need to scream and shout
Feeling the urge to express oneself openly and boldly.

Our voice's, idea's, unheard for so long
Our thoughts and opinions have been ignored and suppressed for a significant period of time.

Was always held back from what could go wrong
We have always been cautious and hesitant due to fear of potential negative consequences.

Always questioned why, complained and cried
Consistently wondering about the reasons behind our situation, expressing dissatisfaction, and showing emotional distress.

Drowning in our sorrow, fear, tears, and lies
Feeling overwhelmed by negative emotions, deception, and internal conflicts.

When will it stop? When will it end?
Yearning for the resolution and cessation of our current circumstances.

The choice is yours to make my friend
We have the power to decide and influence our own destiny.

Don't let time decide your fate
Discouraging the reliance on circumstances and the passage of time to determine our future.

Don't let your past control today
Advising against allowing past experiences and mistakes to dictate our present actions and mindset.

Rotting away as time goes by
Gradually deteriorating and losing purpose as time progresses.

Living in meaningless, purposeless lives
Existing without a sense of meaning or direction in life.

A plague that spread across this land
Referring to the widespread negative impact or influence that has affected society as a whole.

Our voice's, idea's, are now at hand
Our thoughts, opinions, and innovative concepts are finally within reach and can be expressed.

So why question why?
Challenging the need to continuously question and seek reasons for our circumstances.

Complain or cry
Indulging in a cycle of complaining and expressing sadness and frustration.

Drowning in our sorrow, fear, tears, and lies
Feeling overwhelmed by negative emotions, fear, deceptive situations, and falsehoods.

It's time to know that all we'll ever need
Realizing that what we truly require is already within us.

Is found in the center of our being
The source of fulfillment and contentment lies within our own core essence.

Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Adrian Tapia

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

car9800

33w↑1

If anything, the founders granted the rural regions and, especially the south, political power and influence way out of proportion of their percentage of
the overall white male population. Institutions such as the Electoral College, US Senate, the counting of enslaved blacks as "3 fourths of a person"
to boost the numbers of congressional House seats from southern states. Was all done to allow the slave states to dominate the national agenda
through political alliance with western frontier states and mid-atlantic commercial-driven states with large Irish immigrant populations that could
be mobilzed by early Democratic "Machines" in urban areas such as New York and Philadelphia.

That is why of the 15 Presidents before Lincoln. Most were Southern slave owners or northerners who were friendly to Southern interests.
Only the New England-based John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams, presidencies could be called pro-Northern sectional interests
and both were effectively neutralized by strong southern/northern allied interests in Congress.

What the election of Lincoln represented was the rise of Northern sectional power not only in the White House but in the US Congress as well.
The South could see that its control of the national agenda was gone so they picked up their ball and tried to leave. They effectively flipped over
the chess board when they saw they couldn't win every game.

All comments from YouTube:

The8224sm

33w↑125

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
John F. Kennedy

Dan

31w↑6

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson

Jarrod Schaller

31w↑3

...what a quote. One of my favorites

Hazel

31w

Could you explain the context of that quote in this discussion? Thanks.

The8224sm

31w↑1

Can you be more specific about your question?@Hazel

4 More Replies...

stprk

34w↑16

“How Civil Wars Start and How to Stop Them" An excellent book. I think a civil war is less likely in fully autocratic regimes, as the pressures on the people are very intense, the opposition is either absent or largely suppressed and has little strength to resist. However, in anocracies, the ruling and opposition forces are almost equal in terms of election results and vote rates. Thus, when the government resorts to violence to intimidate opponents, it is more likely that the opposition will respond, so civil war is more likely. Only I would disagree that she calls the instigators of violence as "ethnic entrepreneurs", should be "ethnic provocateurs".

YouTube Sucks

35w↑868

The crowd was silent and let her speak even when she touched on current political divisions. Disciplined people are a breathe of fresh air.

akaziaj

34w↑15

Rare as finding a needle in a haystack these days.

RexWave

34w↑48

They’re mostly Canadians. It’s in Vancouver.

angellique c

34w↑16

They were as scared as the rest of us

John D

34w↑5

One of the best interviews on YouTube is "Jared Taylor Talks With Tree of Logic about Race Debates, White Victimhood, and More."
Although I doubt that Tree was converted to white nationalism, the entire conversation is is surprisingly cordial.

pelican hill

34w↑24

They were Canadians. They are alarmed by the de-evolution of their neighbors to the south but they aren't surprised.

80 More Replies...

Sean RC86

33w↑97

Very noteworthy that she only included the gender designation “white Men” when identifying the instigators in the US Capitol on Jan 6. When describing other groups inciting civil wars, she identifies an ethnic group with no gender-based subdivision.

Marcus Slotiuk

33w↑4

Here’s the key point at 5:40

Marcus Slotiuk

33w↑1

5:40 is the key. Consider the antebellum south as well.

Rn 48

31w↑1

It's the current thing.

Tom Leslie

31w↑10

All the other groups were led by men as well. It’s amazing that this woman singles out her own race as the problem, while attempting to sidestep blame for herself by putting all said blame on the men.

8 More Replies...

#IsThereEnough

32w↑10

Thank you bringing attention to the conditions that breed conflict and war and revealing its impact on the entire world, not just in the US like the title leads us in with. It is a global issue. It's a great, clear, analysis, supported by data. It's probably a lack of time, but wrapping up on the "fight" for democracy is the language that keeps us at war. Democracy is an agreement and the fight actually may not matter so much as that, what do we exercise agreement about, with each other, and with ourselves. That is the real meaning of democracy. That each individual exercises choice, most of all in language.

Isla Game

32w↑8

If anyone has some general concept of our political systems current turmoil like myself, it is not groundbreaking to realize we're heading for a civil war.

Alex P

31w

Yes, but it must not be violent! Use the tools provided by Dr. King and Gandhi to effect essential change by maintaining essential moral authority, peaceful non-compliance. Over time, I think the Union itself will be dissolved, not only due to economic problems but social and political philosophy.

Seeker After Truth

36w↑258

Scary stuff for sure, but completely possible. Just look at how divided we are and how toxic our politics has become.

Keemer Waters

35w↑6

Vote green. Cornell West

Northman1963

35w↑34

If you don't vote blue you're giving Trump another chance.

37 More Replies...

Manuel Barrios

35w↑77

In the U.S., Civil war is completely optional. We can avoid it by simply using Article V of the Constitution which invokes for a Convention of States to amend the constitution. COS from article V gives power to the people to have check and balances onto its government when the government has grown too powerful. The Convention of States (COS) is explicit in that 2/3 (two thirds) of the States must agree in having a convention, so 34 States. The COS movement started as a result of the Obama years and during the Obama years. Since then, 19 States have passed legislation through both of their chambers to agree to have a Convention of States as specified by Article V (Checks and Balances). Many other States have already passed it through one of their chambers. Their intention is to reduce the power of government, introduce a 2 term limit for Congress and to create fiscal responsibility. In other words, to cut off the money and power that the government currently has, forcing the government to no longer have access or benefit from both the media and the corporate powers. Look it up. Sign the form to request for a Convention of States. Educate yourself on Article V of the constitution.

Wanderer

32w↑9

I wonder who the majority of those states are? Looks a little, red.

RedHawk

32w↑1

A States convention will inevitably get to the debate surrounding the breadth of the 2nd Amendment as well as whether or not abortion is a constitutionally protected right. It would be a brawl.

Lea Garner

32w↑1

When you say government, I think you mean Federal government, since the states are government also.

20 More Replies...

Otto Mechanic

34w↑20

I totally agree that more discussion needs to be addressed on this sensitive topic for sure. I predicted this over 20- 25 years ago. The world is changing, so why are we just standing by until it's too late? Thank you, God bless our nation; the men and women in uniform too.

Jonathan Morrow

30w

Unfortunately, it is already too late. By 2016, the shift and divide already happened and now we are seeing each side grow. All we're waiting for now is the break. Unless we can get someone to talk sense into every single American, which is not possible, it's going to happen.

Michael Inscoe

30w

The division started in 1859 and never really stopped. It's just getting worse.

2 More Replies...

Artist Temple

33w↑26

I've seen it coming and was grateful to hear Barbara's suggestions. I would also love to learn about more bridge-building tools for groups and persons with different identities, political, and religious beliefs, and ideologies. Interpersonal tools for healing are equally a significant and essential part of the solution equation.

brian shao

33w

😮

Micah

32w↑4

she lost me at 5:30, she says the exact opposite of what reality has shown. American Civil war was about white people getting black people out of slavery, Russian civil war was economic disparities causing revolution just as two examples of it not being "white people who are losing power". but when she clarifies by saying 'especially ethically based civil' her point is she is trying to oversimplify the reason that all civil wars start is because "white people" which is true to some examples but obviously not the case for everything like she tries to make it seem.

No One

31w

The only way to get along is to allow freedom to all. In that way, your ideology doesn't matter. If your argument is less freedom for everyone, you have no argument.

InPursuit

30w

Look up the Braver Angels organization.

1 More Replies...

Brian Smith

34w↑50

The American Revolution was technically a civil war with the whole of the 13 Colonies in a state of rebellion against the Crown. For us, the result was all 13 Colonies uniting to be a single nation. The US Civil War was won in 1865 for the primary cause of keeping the US unified a result was the freeing of slaves. In 1861 and before also during the war Americans identified by their states. You can see it in the units of the Union and Confederate Armies. The Units bore the name of the states where they were formed. After this conflict, people identified as Americans. This current civil strife possibly leading to full-on civil war once settled may well have similar results where the group think will consider themselves American before their ethnic identification. However, this has to come from more than enough people have to die violently to sicken the public enough over this ethnic decisiveness that is being stirred up and maintained by the establishment for their own gain, not ours. Unified, the American public is the biggest threat to those who wish to have all of this power. The conclusion is this, It doesn't matter what your skin tone, ethnic background, or even your personal lifestyle choice is. It's America, you can be what you want. You have that right, but it is tempered by responsibility for your actions. You cannot perform Satanic Human Sacrifice or honor Killing. You cannot harm a child sexually or promote the sexual slavery of minors and adults. Your rights end where someone else's start. You are not permitted to harm others. It is criminal. You also do not have the right to push and force-feed your philosophy or way of life onto others who disagree with it. This sort of item can lead to civil law. I can think of reasons why someone would need to kill another person in self-defense, execute a convicted murderer, and be on a battlefield in the middle of a war. Murdering someone because you hate them due to their way of life, skin tone, ethnicity, politics, or religion is crazy and criminal. Face reality people, not everyone will like you or accept you. It should be among the very first lessons you learn as a small child in kindergarten, once learned, you don't associate with that child or children that don't like you. Today, the crazy and the obscene are being forced on us to accept it or else is the given message. Yet some groups have special protection encoded into law, and you have to tip-toe around them. It's not right. Identity politics is one of the causes of what is coming. This is a big country, with plenty of room, and more than enough niches for each group to find their own space. There is no need for this deliberately manufactured civil strife. If we have to fight, let's fight the ones manufacturing the propaganda that is causing the civil strife.

Dick H

33w↑7

Tell the Governor of New Mexico this. She needs to hear it.

Matthew Gardner

32w↑2

Dracarys👑🔥🐉

Samantha Anderson

30w

Yes yes yes

2 More Replies...

Kevin Mulhall jr

33w↑64

The irony of having a conversation about discussing the predictability of civil war with the CIA 😂 The cognitive dissonance is breathtaking

Salvadore Marinaro

31w↑1

This is what I'm saying

Its like they don't understand that you don't give fire to children

Ryan Manner

30w↑3

I don't think you know what cognitive dissonance is.

4DCResinSmoker

36w↑287

One thing I've learned is that there are those that always profit from chaos. Even the US government isn't immune to using fear to help drive policy and motivate the behavior of its citizens. After all, to the political elite and 1 percenters, we're just expendable fodder. Who only exist to service their aspirations.

sandponics

36w↑11

Traditional journalists and media owners are the ones who profit the most from chaos.

Evan Levy

36w↑6

What do you think this video was intended to do? 🤷🏻‍♂️

24 More Replies...

Jasmyne Emmerick

34w↑11

This captivate me, and I'm looking forward to reading Walter's book _How Civil Wars Start: And How to Prevent Them_. I've been thinking about this TED talk for the last two hours.

John Collins

34w

If this can [ captivate ] you, Newton's Cradle must be mesmerizing.

charles caldwell

35w↑13

At this point I don't see how it is avoidable. The mutual distrust and disdain each side feels towards the other is getting worse and worse.

Scott Gregg

32w↑4

I too have studied civil wars. They are all disasters. What benefits society in the long run always rises to the top, regardless of a war or not. Civil wars are usually started by people that want to keep things they way they are, that is very true. Yet those people think that the violence they unleash, was really forced on them by the change at hand. So they do not see that they are to blame. They think the change is to blame.

Rn 48

31w↑1

By definition the 'change' is the blame? All the examples she cited were countries that were 'diverse'. A set of rules/laws/regulations worked for one group, but not another, proving once again that 'diversity is our strength' is just a meme. Like the former Yugoslavia she mentions, partitioning it is the best way to avoid civil war.

Nirad802

31w↑1

@Rn 48 Sometimes, you can't just "impose" a band-aid solution.

For example, every group in Yugoslavia was per se for partition. The problem was the concept of partition. How it should be implemented, where should borders be set etc. And that led to a series of wars, war crimes, economic collapse and chaos.

1 More Replies...

Jennifer Pryor

34w↑2

The saddest thing about preventing tragedy is that no one will ever be certain this or that action DID actually prevent it. Thank god for data!

Liberty In Peril

33w↑25

That's the dependable thing about identity politics and social engineering: it always leads to war.

Scott Koehlinger

32w↑4

And my question would then be which party seems to driving the hardest the identity politics

Rn 48

31w↑3

But, but, but ... diversity is our strength said the nice CIA lady. We can show the world and that... 🤣

No One

31w

@Scott Koehlingerboth parties in their own ways

1 More Replies...

Waleed Alowaiyesh

36w↑519

My favorite part was at minute 2:36 "The second factor was whether citizens in these anocracies had formed political parties around identity rather than ideology."

bikebudha01

36w↑28

She 100% nailed that part...

jonnibegood1

35w↑10

Yes, that was the clincher...! 😢

Guitarzen

35w↑25

More of her nonsense since identity is ideology now, vice versa.

Paul Reimer

35w

Yes.

9y2bgy

35w↑13

@Guitarzen Can you be more specific?

68 More Replies...

Antonio Brasse

35w↑16

I think we'd have an easier time changing our government than we'd have in getting social media companies to do the right thing.

Eat the Rich

33w↑2

Governments can regulate or even neuter social media. It happens in many countries that lean into despotism. "Liberal" governments have to step up and REGULATE. In particular, the US should revoke Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act 1996 that says social media companies are not PUBLISHERS.

Anim Mouse

31w

@Eat the Rich Regulate aka censorship.

1 More Replies...

Bill Hart

35w↑261

As an American who's lived abroad for all of the 21st century and with people from a number of these war-torn areas this is the most important 13 minutes my countrymen need to see and listen to. Thank you for the difficulties you have endured to learn of the root causes and the courage to make this presentation WITH solutions to make a path toward a playbook for peace.

Natalie Stewart

34w↑13

Thank you, you are right. She provided solutions. The social media part I should have figured out but, I knew the corporations part cause they own the politicians.

JD S

34w↑7

Bill, come on man.....those Americans who REALLY need to hear this, NEVER WILL. Even you know it....

Eric Wilson

33w↑1

I'm 9, upside down, inside out, and one minute ahead of time d 6 I M M I 6 + 1 minute 'outbreaks' Albuquerque Philadelphia 2035 'We run Montana' British Militia Milley designed conop8888 a British zombie deterrent program. Yes, we'll be in a civil war!

Steve Kluesner

32w

@Eric Wilson Still hoping your wrong

7 More Replies...

Jeffery Mistich

31w

So much to unpack here, and so much more to tell. Great talk!

Patrick Threewit

31w

I've listened to her before and I agree with all she said, but then I don't get sucked into this political jabbering.

Martha Zziwa

34w↑6

This information is amazing the only thing that’s iffy is the solutions. Cooperations pouring into the people is amazing, but with her example of South Africa there were sanctions involved that hurt businesses enough for them to step in. What would hurt the profits of American businesses enough to get them to actually care about the population?

Becca_SoCal

30w↑1

I agree. And capitalism doesn’t give a crap about people, society or potential civil wars, as long as they’re making money. Her solution of using So Africa as an example is a false equivalency. Our societies are not the same and they were and have been teetering on being a third world nation. Again, we are not the same.

TheSunDreamers

33w↑92

I agree we are in perilous times. If Americans were left to our own devices, we would work it out. But the media and the political class benefit from our division. It keeps them in power. This can't end well in the short term until those who profit from division are removed from power.

Steve Kluesner

32w↑3

I believe that democracies "always" work better with a greater percentage of the populous/citizenry committed to and engaged in the shared effort to make it work ; we still have a lot of that going on but we should be promoting an effort to regard it as much more of a central theme and engage less in divisive diversions that have been and/or are a source of instability. 😁😁🤔

TheSunDreamers

32w↑5

@Steve Kluesner I 💯% agree. Well said. I know I am asking the impossible, but I wish we could just let the past be the past, and focus the present and the future. What is sad to me is we are in a position now truly for America to be all it was created to be. But we are so hung up in our flaws of the past, that we fail to see the potential that still lies ahead.

magnusx99

32w↑2

@Steve Kluesner Exactly the opposite, as people become more involved with politics they take up positions and take sides, then they start to see people on the other side as wrong and a threat, think how when you were a teenager and politically neutral and got along with all your friends, but as you got older and some went left, some went right and now they don’t like each other.
As long as you have a powerful and overbearing govt that impacts your life then more is at stake, the more powerful the govt, the more invested you are to ensure that govt is doing what you want. Societies throughout history have eventually moved from limited govt to total govt and then collapse, Plato, Jefferson and other philosophers often talked about the inevitable outcome of democracy is tyranny.

Bradley Boyer

32w↑1

Agreed. My only issue with conversations around this is that they make it seem like there isn't one group of people driving this. There is. Politics and media success comes from division. People are no longer elected because of their talent or merit. It's however they can paint the other side as a "monster."

The current regime, which has existed for the past 50 years, intentionally uses division to maintain power. We will overcome without them or crumble with them.

4 More Replies...

Agnes Gray

36w↑121

Have you analyzed the causes of the Civil War between the North and South to see if your studies hold true for those times? I'm just curious. I listened intently to what you said and hope your message gets through to everyone. I have been terribly afraid of just this happening here. It almost seems our government is pushing our people to fight one another. 😢

tobyyawn24

36w↑37

Our civil war was far different then most of the civil wars in world. If you look at the Spanish civil war. It matches pretty close to what is happening today. The American civil war was a failed rebellion where the south wanted to become it's own country separated from the north. Regular civil wars is two groups fighting for control of the whole country.

Christer Dehlin

36w↑31

@tobyyawn24 Yes, but it was still very much a clash of two cultural identities, which lines up perfectly with what she's saying.

72 More Replies...

ShyBoy_Savage

34w

I mean.. a civil war in any country is not an impossibility. Sadly, we as humans seem to always find conflict between each other..
Combine that with people with twisted thinking or who have extreme ideologies (most often those with that mindset..most often have some sort of mental illness) ... then, the possibility becomes even more prevalent and possible.

Kim Horton

34w↑7

I left social media in 2015 because Facebook was so full of absolute crap being forwarded(shared) around that was irresponsible and irrational. People on social media don’t feel as if they need to be responsible. People on Twitter live getting flamed

Larry Maciejewski

31w↑2

It's a wonder she can stand on that stage straight with all the spin she's throwing out there

Amerigo Demuto

34w↑5

Love this idea. The only issue I see was pointed out directly in the South African example- Businesses elected their profits over the goverment sanctions and change happened quickly. This is not the case in the US, therein lies the real core issue, businesses are raking in profits freely in America, giving better wages and better healthcare and hopeful quality of life cuts into those profits. And, as in the South African example... businesses choose profits every time.

Old Fogey

31w

Amer I disagree think American business places profit over quality of life everytime!

Amerigo Demuto

31w

@Old Fogey That is what I was getting at as the issue.American businesses are NOT going to offer those things freely to employees because it cuts into their profits. The South African example illustrates companies fighting government sanctions that hurt their profits. US companies will not make quality of life changes because it hurts their profits to do so. We agree.

Nathan Braidman

31w

And now South Africa is heading towards failed state status. Over 500,000 people murdered since 1994 including thousands of white farmers who provide most of the country's food. Infrastructure is falling apart with power cuts common and roads and railways increasingly neglected and derelict. The country is now a corrupt cesspit and businesses are facing many more, problems than they ever did under pre-1994 sanctions. The respected Cambridge economist, R W Johnson has predicted the impending balkanisation of South Africa as the various ethnic groups band together for safety and protection. ( The widespread July 2021 riots were a foretaste of what is to come in the future.) Never forget that identity is the ultimate stuff of politics since it poses the most fundamental question of all " Who do you think you are "?

1 More Replies...

Aaron Wilson

32w↑12

The idea of January 6th being the start of a civil war is hilarious…like, did you even 2020 Floyd Riot????

Karl Ip

36w↑543

As a non American, hearing the list of civil war she listed out, and seeing how America had their hand in many of those “civil wars”.. just wow.

bart thomassen thomassen

36w↑43

This woman is cherry picking data and is flat out incorrect in many of her statements and assumptions. Iraq was about Jihadism, Iran and the millennia old Sunni Shia division. The US did not cause these but it did end a brutal dictatorship and crush ISIS and AQI. Yugoslavia also had nothing to do with the US, it began when Tito died and due to Serbian dominance and refusal to give up power. These wars were only ended by American Intervention, that the Europeans could not deal with alone. This is why those wars continued so long, due to a lack of US leadership.

So, the view you are expressing is inappropriate as well.

46 More Replies...

Ito

35w↑55

Sounds like she’s advocating exactly for the reasons Americans would fight against.

Jorge Martinez

31w

Good point. Does that mean CW is inevitable? Scary.

2 More Replies...

LILY NAW

35w↑1

On the other hand, the world might not survive until another 30 years because of the chaos that we are facing nowadays. I have also thought that it would be a huge exodus coming from the US.

House Christoph

33w

There's nowhere to go.

Dr. JD Voice

31w

Good job TEDTalks!

Ignatius J. Reilly

34w

Always start with an understandable and coherent thesis.

Christian Barger

33w↑4

10:13 As a kid in the 90s, my family was Middle Class. As I grew up, the paychecks stayed the same, but we became poor. Families all around us became poor. I was one of the children in this transition. She is dead right.

Eric Ferguson

36w↑19

One factor unconsidered is whether there's an issue that at least one side sees as existential and beyond compromise. Most civil wars have been about who would be king, or whatever title, because only one person can be the ruler in a monarchy or dictatorship, so that uncompromisable and existential: if your side loses, you might be killed. If I'm going to look at at a country in terms of how likely it is to break out in civil war, my first question will be what is the uncompromisable issue?

Richard Smith

36w↑9

King Donald

paul moss

35w↑5

Good vs. evil. Both sides feel they are the good. Me included.

Brown 25

34w

@Richard Smith And the events of January 6th bears that out.

Eric Wilson

33w

I'm 9, upside down, inside out, and one minute ahead of time d 6 I M M I 6 + 1 minute 'outbreaks' Albuquerque Philadelphia 2035 'We run Montana' 'British Militia' Milley designed conop8888 a British zombie deterrent program. Yes, we'll be in a civil war!

4 More Replies...

davehshs

33w↑3

The question for U.S. businesses is, will they be willing to pay higher, living wages, or will they continue to choose greed-driven exaggerated profits?

Vann Junkin

30w

they will never choose better living wages

Mark E

32w↑2

Thomas Jefferson fully expected a second American revolution. In his writings he was disappointed that the govt hadn't been overthrown and reformed before his dead. He felt it was essential to preserving democracy. This generation is to busy on their cell phones to be bothered.

Grumpy Seabee

31w

She says all of this with so much acceptance… as if it’s ok

Rev Russ

35w

Somebody should review how it went last time. S'matter of fact, someone should review how most all of them go.

GBeret83

32w↑1

Absolutely, and it's much closer than you think. Except this time it'll be the truly needy fighting against the truly greedy!

Austin Kelly

37w↑549

She is spot on with the algorithms of social media companies being a large issue that 99% of the population does not understand.

smugandsmarmy

36w↑33

I’m convinced that 99% of Silicon Valley doesn’t fully under how those algorithms work.

Austin Kelly

36w↑3

Haha I'd bet on that as well@smugandsmarmy

TheMagicMeatMachine

36w↑20

So she's saying limit speech, that sounds maybe not cool

Radagast Brown

36w

@J DubTough luck 😂

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Ryan Stack

35w↑55

I really like how she advocates for censorship and fails to realize how each extreme of the spectrum is to blame for the current state of the country.

Ster E

33w↑8

She never once advocated for censorship. She advocated for social media being regulated so that the algorithms don't continually feed your preference. If you're a white nationalist you're gonna get more white nationalist posts in your feed. The algorithm is about making money. It's not about keeping you well informed. And most people, especially those who identify with a movement, will purposefully not seek out information the counters their desire.

Rob

32w↑13

@Ster E she advocated for one side determining what is acceptable for amplification, that is, in a sense, censorship. It makes sense for social media to show you what you're interested in seeing. Just as it makes sense for other businesses to give the consumer what they want.

Bam

31w

⁠@Robwhat she said is best for stability, total freedom isn’t real, freedom it’s self is an abstract idea. In the face of destruction freedom is not existent, the truth of the matter is that people are meant to be ruled this is an evolutionary and even theological fact!

No One

31w↑1

Do you know what happens to a man when you silence him? It doesn't make him want to turn away from violent means, it makes him want to turn towards them.

Roser

31w↑2

That includes extreme centristism

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FOMO MOFO

31w↑2

She’s my professor haha. Super cool person ❤

Ink Dry

32w↑4

So to prevent civil war we need to regulate social media? So who will do the regulating?

David Baise

34w

She was great on the old Today show. Thanks!

GetsumJ

32w↑5

I would challenge the theories laid out by Ms Walter. Not all Civil wars follow the criteria, specifically in placed like the Ukraine and Vietnam.

н.джед.т

30w

1) "Most influential factors in" does not equal "Are sole & determinative factors of"; 2) Both of those were situations of outside colonial power reasserting control, which led to war.

GetsumJ

30w

@н.джед.т - like I said- you should study the Ukraine Civil war, go back to 2006

н.джед.т

30w

@GetsumJ Okay. 2006. How, exactly, did Yushchenko's pretty face get spoiled by dioxin? Heavy farming, was he?

Немножко слышал уже. Цветная, ладно, но простая гражданская? И, на самом деле, "anocracy" была.

Orwellian Horseman of the Apocalypse

36w↑96

The whole "It happened before. It will happen again. It's just a question of when." line from the Bruce Willis '98 movie Armageddon applies to this subject as well. Good luck everyone. If history rhymes then in a few years things are going to go crazy world-wide for a couple of decades. Enjoy the roaring 20's while they last.

Vulpine Machine

36w↑24

People call me crazy for predicting civil war, but it's probably one of the most reliable things to predict. Believing there WON'T be conflict is the delusional position to hold.

Burt Kuttstadt

35w↑13

I would say the 1990s were the Roaring 20s because the US has been at war for basically two decades starting in 2001.

Orwellian Horseman of the Apocalypse

35w↑8

@Burt Kuttstadt Maybe - that's that's the thing with history rhyming. I see the war on Terror as something more akin to the decades long military intervention in Central and South America the US started in 1904 with the Roosevelt Corollary and continued for decades to help US corporations.
There's also that idea of an 80-year cycle so that the War on Terror was the WW1 event, the financial crash happened in 2008, and Putin invading Ukraine is the comparative WW2 event in which case the 2030's should be pretty sweet.
But with COVID happening just about 100 years after the Spanish Flu pandemic it's easy to keep with the 100-year cycle comparison too. And our booming economy reads to me like what it was historically back during the 1920's. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens in a few years.

Eric Wilson

33w

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Josh Murry

34w↑17

That was very informative, very precise, and gives me hope that as more citizens are learning and unlearning about how our government works necessary change will happen.

michael ikoro

33w↑1

😂😂😂😂 you are joking right

youtube ventura.nu

30w↑1

While this seems like obvious sarcasm, it scares me to think that this person might be serious.

Rogue 604

35w↑4

I think she picked the wrong city and country to do this TED talk. Canadians are actually quite well educated. Especially in Vancouver, the air is really fresh and we can smell the B.S from miles away.🤥

rjhoody

32w

Are nations typically better off or worse off after civil war?

MONICA ANICA

35w↑1

All true. Thank you for the synthesis. God help us 🙏

Paul Torres

32w↑2

"As long as there are those that remember what was, there will always be those that are unable to accept what can be. They will resist." - Thanos

John Conway

30w

That has a scary dystopian undertone that channels Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge and Mao's Red Guard.

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Gazes Also

36w↑114

That was quite a plot twist. Business can save us. I suppose they have the power. But it's not their mandate. When businesses are confronted with ethical choices and profit it'll be profit first. Businesses do not coalesce around social issues unless it's in their interest.

linguaphile42

36w↑17

That's what she's saying -- it's definitely in their interest to operate in a non-war situation.

Gazes Also

36w↑9

@linguaphile42 You're right. But she glosses over important detail. How does that mechanism work because as obvious as it sounds, the history of the world is not one where businesses just do what it is good or even in their interests. Take climate change. I think I've made my point.

The line "businessess don't coalesce around social issues" was the response I got from my political science house mate when I asked him how come businesses did nothing as Zimbabwe collapsed. The mechanism which played out in South Africa was due to political and social pressure which affected the profits of foreign banks. In other words, they were concerned about profits (in the US) but this was due to the threat of their US clients punishing them not because of the crime against humanity playing out in South Africa.

Meanwhile, mining companies were perfectly happy to stay and even today they operate in problematic states extracting resources in cohoots with kleptocratic governments. During apartheid South Africa, several companies left selling their assets to those willing to take the risk while many remained. Businesses don't evaporate. Take IBM. They left, but instead operated through its subsidiary ICL. Many large multinationals remained such as cocacola, car manufacturers etc.

linguaphile42

36w↑4

@Gazes Also I'm sure she's not saving that in every instance business leaders saved the day, but just pointing out that in the largest economy in the world, which has very little in common with Zimbabwe, business would have a marked interest in avoiding civil war, and could have a huge impact. Otherwise, we are SOL.

Gazes Also

36w↑2

@linguaphile42 well, did she not mention South Africa and Zimbabwe? Yes she did. Of course it's not every instance, but maybe just name one...

Lance Walker

36w↑1

If what is moral and what is in the best material interest of a corporation are misaligned, and indeed as you seem to be suggesting, mutually at fundamentally odds then in means necessarily that what is moral cannot be derived by nature from which profit is, and could only be, understood to derive. I'm not a believer in God in the way you must be, but regardless of whatever religion you believe in, your teleology of a morality separate from nature is inconsistent with reason.

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MStep66

34w

Excellent!!! I pray America listens before it’s too late😢

Jesse

33w

They won’t

Bill Meyers

32w

@JesseGood.

Zaid Adham

34w↑11

An amazing talk. She touched on many realities that most people are in denial of. She gave examples and cited precedent, and she warned of the outcomes and provided solutions. The one thing she avoided doing is answering her own question. She knew it was going to cause controversy and outrage, because it's most likely true: Yes. The United States is indeed headed towards another civil war. I recommend reading Sir John Bagot Glubb's essay "The Fate of Empires and Search for Survival." The signs of this day and age were all there when it was written in 1978.

Eric Wilson

33w

michael ikoro

33w↑4

The democrats are to blame for that war.

Micah

32w

FinnaBinnaConna

32w↑53

The CIA lady does a decent job delivering the government veiled threat to conservatives

Hazel

31w↑2

Why is an explanation of the possibility of civil war threatening to conservatives? Can you explain your thoughts further? Thanks.

Richard Burton

30w↑2

Indeed! They believe in their perverted wicked Lies.

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George Klima

32w

I'm skeptical that businesses can step up and steer countries away from civil war. In the US, they are creating instabilities: agribusiness, petroleum, health insurance, private prisons, pharma...

madfidler

32w

At first, I said "Say Identity politics just one more time.."
And then I understood her actual point.
She isn't wrong.

Yvaelle

36w↑76

I was almost 8 minutes into this wondering, "How have I heard this before? It just came out 4 days ago and I haven't watched it yet." I read her book years ago and this speech is nearly verbatim - great book if anyone is looking for more on this topic.

AquaeAtrae

36w↑4

Thanks for noting her book. I'll go find it right now. This is SO important to understand and act on.

AquaeAtrae

35w↑7

...found it on Audible - "How Civil Wars Start" by Barbara F. Walter. Thanks again!

John Collins

34w↑1

I never desire to converse with a man who has written more than he has read. - Samuel Johnson

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Robert Cuny

32w

Barbara F. Walter mentions some groups or individuals she holds responsible for the US national instability since 2016. Referencing the numerous examples from history: How those groups and individuals mentioned by the speaker are dealt with by those in power will provide a very clear answer regarding how the US government is to be classified in the future.

Tiffane

34w↑1

This is this is such an amazing powerful message.

geno

31w

The antidote to war is not love, it’s money.

Scott Tillman

35w↑46

It's interesting how these self-proclaimed "experts" have such simple solutions for complicated problems.

Alan Hawley

35w

Then the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of the earth. “Come, let us make our father drink wine, and let us lie with him that we may preserve our family through our father.” So they made their father drink wine that night, and the firstborn went in and lay with her father; and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. On the following day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father; let us make him drink wine tonight also; then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve our family through our father.” So they made their father drink wine that night also, and the younger arose and lay with him; and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.

Victoria Insley

34w↑1

Only so much they can touch on in 13 minutes

Brown 25

34w↑5

I'm sorry you can't see that she IS an actual expert on this topic.

Scott Tillman

34w↑10

@Brown 25 There is no such thing as an expert on civil war. You could be a historian but even then you'd have other historians who would disagree with you. She says she can predict the future, but she cannot. It's just a made-up title to get attention and money. Per Wiki. she is an "American political scientist who is the Rohr Professor of International Affairs at the School of Global Policy and Strategy at the University of California". Which means nothing, literally. It's just a bunch of words strung together to sound impressive. But it only impresses people with little or no real education.

Brown 25

34w↑1

@Scott Tillman Okay but I missed the part where she proclaimed herself an expert, or did you devise that on your own . Can you point that part out for me ? I apologize if I missed it but all I saw was a person stating why she was qualified to speak on the subject. You could essentially say that no one is an expert in anything based on your logic of others disagreeing .

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MaNuLaToR Official

33w

I've always loved Barbara Walters! WOOT!

Pete'sPete

37w↑292

Problem is, some people are gonna hear this and think we need to fund a way to crush warmongers before they begin when in fact we should be looking at alleviating the conditions that cause resent.

Orangeman on steroids

36w↑11

That’s not her agenda.

Pete'sPete

36w↑15

Of course it's not. That's just the message some listeners would take.

mimosveta

36w↑13

you should be minding your own business. she talks about these wars as if they just happened and she observed them, but she actually plotted them. there's not a single person oin the world today that has ever been helped by americana7i meddling. just leave us all alone, and if you want civil war, do one on your self.

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Kiera Cameron

35w↑15

The U.S. was not founded as a democracy. It was founded as a constitutional republic. The people who started the U.S. though (rightly so) that the issues of rural folks are just as important as the issues of urban folks. The same applies to other small groups.

car9800

33w↑1

TitoBeMe

35w↑22

I read her book, very interesting points are made. Great speech as well. Voters and policymakers should take heed.

Sanyu Tumusiime

33w↑2

She's totally wrong. How can we unite as a country if democrats hate our flag? We can't deal with them here.

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hiren patel

31w

100% agree with you. Canada and India right now facing this problem. Please help to solve this issue with Stop heat speech . Heat speech in under a freedom of speech is not allowed. 🙏🙏🙏

Wing Surf Camp

33w↑6

Thank you for your brilliant presentation of complex factors in layman’s terms.
And thank you for your courage to tell the world.

Tyler Sizelove

33w↑1

Social media and main stream media are just as bad if not worse in coercing division amongst the people.

innertubez

36w↑7

This was a very helpful if disturbing talk. I did not see the social media part coming, but it does make a lot of sense. I suppose that the "social media" of the time before the U.S. Civil War had some similarities in terms of identity politics and being an anocracy. But the biggest difference I see now is that spread and speed of social media. It's out of control, and it is distracting, addictive, and appeals to getting the most people seeing a post or video. That leads to inaccurate and sensationalist content that has already led to some of the violent outbursts like January 6, as Walter states. I just wonder if the qualitative differences between old-style media like newspapers, magazines, and even network television and modern instantaneous global media is too much for our species to use effectively without going for each others' throats.

Henry Skupek

35w↑3

More censorship of social media is not the answer. It's one of the root causes of many social problems. In recent years, devisive language has become obviously more prominent. Less or no censorship, and the removal of the use of algorithms favoured by wealthy anarchists is required

Robert King

34w↑1

It's been thought that without Thomas Paine, the revolution wouldn't have been successful. Obviously impossible to say for sure. But, again there was influence with the federalist papers, and again in the age of 'yellow journalism' regarding the sinking of the Maine.

Eric Wilson

33w

Tommy Haynes

33w↑1

@Henry Skupek She was not advocating censorship . Just gettign rid of the built in algorithms that elevate the most provocative material .

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Udonkuku Sam

31w

I especially love that the establishment is well aware of the fact, they've completely screwed everything up. They sent a soothing mouthpiece to dissuade tensions and revolt. But that may be precisely what's needed to reset the tide. I long for peace like every man. However, peace at the expense of high costs and low pay is not something any of us wants.

John Wetmore

32w↑6

The current Liberal government is discriminating against the traditional people who have families going back to the founding of this country. If it takes Civil War to bring back the kind of America I grew up in then BRING IT ON!!!

Salvadore Marinaro

31w

It might happen

Danny Swanson

33w

Интересно, спасибо

Hustle Bones University

32w

She’s like hey we could increase the quality of life for Americans during some of the worst times but you know what would be better? Controlling the internet so people can’t organize.

17 Planets

31w

9:50, she needs to read up on current events in South Africa.

Sean G

36w↑90

The one thing world governments might agree on is that social media are dangerous.

H.M. MELD

35w↑8

Says the one who's posting via social media

Tim Minh

35w↑8

@H.M. MELD He stated a fact not an opinion

Vincent Ingram

34w↑2

And... "The peasants are revolting".

John Collins

34w↑5

Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one. - A.J. Liebling

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Warrin Bang

34w

The question is what would be the incentive for those elitist who feel their power and social status threaten to compromise their position for the greater good.

Jeff Forbus

33w

Once you realize you have a problem responsible people find a solution. I live in the Houston TX area and when hurricanes or heavy flooding occurs people unite. Neighbors get the BBQ pits fired up then begin cooking for one another, in some cases their entire neighborhood! People simply pick up a hammer, saw, shovel, and walk into someone’s home, without being asked, and help rip out sheetrock, carpet, trash, and etc. I’ve often said a hurricane is good for society - it drives mankind to unite! No, I am not calling for hurricanes every year, but I would like for people to reflect on how much better they felt after ignoring all the rhetoric and simply getting busy helping one another! It’s a choice and a solution! Focus on one another then this irrational behavior will end.

Dylan Francis

31w↑1

She said the CIA doesn’t spy on it’s people? 😂

john stirling

33w↑1

The real tragedy of this talk is that, the people who should be paying attention to this are the very people who would and will never listen to it.

Neil Turkington

36w↑16

Brilliant insight! Now, if we could only motivate ourselves beyond common complacency.

St.George Guardabassi

32w↑11

This is very simplistic and it does not address the core cause of the problem. Her solution is to suppress opposing parties by censoring social media and to use businesses to force the population to accept the changes to society that are causing the issue. Her solution would have been to prevent the revolutionary war which I believe was worth fighting and brought about more good than had it not been fought.

1000 Siskos

34w↑3

I am glad you raise these concerns and agree with your solutions, they need to be stronger not weaker. Education of the masses is the first step. You have a well informed point of view and I am glad you are sharing it. However, I pray and hope we do not have a civil war, because no one will win, we will all lose. I hope that what we are experiencing is a great social upheaval. A period of soul searching that leads to a better future, a better government. Much depends on the 335 million people of this country, since we are the voters. Much depends on how educated and well informed Americans are. Many of us are not. Many of us are easily brainwashed. Many of us volunteer to be brainwashed by what we hear, see and do. Many of us join groups that influence us and our thinking. Many of us have distanced ourselves from those that have become too extreme. The extremists have grown, and government is distrusted by many. This makes this a very large problem. White supremacy is one of the primary cause of our problem. A goal toward democracy, equality and education need to be part of the solution. We can learn from the past if we change our behavior.

Eric Wilson

33w

PenelopePitstop

33w

She calls it a civil war but some will call it a financial revolution.

Jake Snakes

31w↑2

She once again isolated the right and then wonders why we feel attacked because of our beliefs on a daily basis

Greg Stewart

32w↑3

I liked it when she talked about democracy and using corporations to extend political authority in the same breath. That was super new and fresh!

AffidavidDonda

32w↑3

yes, it worked so well for South Africa! they thrive now, right?

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Eric Glover

36w↑440

One of the questions I have had for a while is how much control the donor class has over this movement. The 1% who want the administrative state disabled but do not want a civil war, which would be very bad for business. People tend not to buy things when they are too busy planning attacks on their own government and fellow citizens. The wealthy class got the SCOTUS they wanted, the tax cuts they demanded, and anti-union judges throughout the federal system. They just want to maintain control without the messy effects of mass violence and a ruined economy. They funded this movement. They set up the propaganda machine that radicalized tens of millions of voters. Do they have any power to reign things in or do these things just have a life of their own nobody can control? I'm guessing the latter.

Antony Mossop

36w↑45

"The law of unintended consequences"...

cc Rider

36w↑38

It all comes down to us letting traitors and fascists continue to breathe.

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Kirk Westphal

34w

Among many other things, the US is an outlier among our peers in having a) the highest inequality, and b) the full presidential system of government.

Being stuck with 2 parties is something the founding fathers warned us about, and it’s breeding polarization and the inability to bring compromise and stability. (Ranked choice voting and/or proportional representation could solve this.) Also, if we can’t think of a better system than UBI to address inequality, then I suggest we consider it.

Urbana Hokies

31w

The ability of a society to entertain honest introspection and self analysis is key to its long-term survival. Through the years this has been the driving force in creating a more perfect Union in America and it has set her apart from many of the great nations that preceded. That openness to introspection allowed us to heal after a bloody Civil War and guided us through all the societal changes since. It has propelled us to evolve. So on one hand, I truly appreciate what Ms. Walter is saying here, but on another I am a bit alarmed. On the issue of free speech she made a casual remark that she is not suggesting we weaken it. We could have another discussion about whether de-amplification is curtailing free speech. But let me get one point very clear: In a truly free society, none of us can ever be afraid to voice an opinion and none of us can be afraid of the opinions of others. We need to be a melting pot of ideas, not just people. If one group among us feels that it is not being heard they can and often do resort to violence. We have seen that on both sides of the political aisle in recent years. I would strongly caution against Ms. Walter's idea of using social media algorithms to put down ideas we dislike. Are you sure you want these groups feeling even more marginalized when you take away their "bullhorn"? Not a good idea. The point is, it's not their voices that will harm us, it's the FEAR of their voices. As Ben Franklin put it: “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” Think about it for a minute. What group or entity is going to be given the power to de-amplify voices? How will they decide who gets this treatment and how much to use? Is it wise to give them such power? When and how do we expect them to cede that power and return us to normal? Read up on the rise of Fascism in Europe in the 20th century. While it's true that Nationalism and ethnic divisions played vital roles, so did the public's will to surrender freedoms to empower elements of government in addressing their FEAR. Let's solve this by talking more... as opposed to listening less.

Larry Adams

32w↑3

I hope so.. God I hope so. The United States tree of freedom needs to have its branches rattled the way this country has been handed to his right now proves in 1775 + 6 when we pulled our self away from a tyrannical government but now 200 and something years later that same tyrannical government has has poked its head again a call to arms I say again it's time for a call to arms we need to vote the time is now. And when we start we will give no quarter.

Lou Smith

31w

I found it interesting that she never mentioned the fact that we are a constitutional republic.

Richard

32w↑4

I think her heart is in the right place but unfortunately delusional.

Michael Geltz

35w↑55

But who decides what gets amplified on social media? The tech companies? The government? There has never been a time when censorship protected the good guys.

Will Nelson

32w↑11

She just ever-so-casually tosses that out there, doesn't she? It's not "censoring", it's "preventing amplification". "What we need is for the right people to control what ideas get spread!" OK, lady...

RedHawk

32w↑2

OK, if you insist I will volunteer. I really don't trust anyone else to do it.

Sean

31w↑2

People keep talking about censorship but in my 50+ years of being alive, I’ve never experienced a society where more people’s (sometimes dangerous and hate-filled) opinions have been given a voice. If these voices are being censored, it’s not working.

Curious Thinker

31w

There is a harmonic balance that needs to be struck within our society. Not everyone in the society has to agree with what that balance should be, but there should be a large enough portion of the intellectual elite that do. While being "intellectual" gets a bad rap in this society now, this wasn't always so. There are certain parts of society that are just better able to see the bigger picture than other people are. This isn't a knock on those who can't, as they have their own part to play within society. However, what they enter into the common discourse does indeed have less innate value on average.
Extremism on both sides of the isle needs to be addressed, as it can often be very destabilizing. Intellectual discourse needs to be encouraged and promoted vs hate mongering. Posts and videos that are simply just spewing lies need to be tagged as such. There are many things that we can do without outright sensoring everyone, but those who want to destroy society instead of bringing it up need to be pointed out as such.

Will Nelson

31w↑1

@Curious Thinker Look at the experiences of Girordano Bruno and Galileo. Who was the "intellectual elite" at that time, who saw further and more clearly? Doesn't it trouble you in the least that many of the "intellectual elite" during the Renaissance -- the ones who were absolutely certain they knew what was true, best for society, God, and all humanity, and who were genuinely striving for good and had the very noblest of intentions -- persecuted Galileo and Bruno? I am amazed people forget these lessons. What fools.

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Vicky Camarena

34w↑13

The problem with censorship of social media is who will determine what is censored. This is the problem with no easy solution. There will always be biases as to what is permissible. So this is a BAD IDEA!

R AB

31w↑1

She is not talking about censorship. She is talking about making sure the algorithm doesn't promote or amplify a certain message. Like China controls Tik Tok and the algorithm their children use and the content they see is totally different than the one ours do. It's not by accident. It makes sense. She's talking about the democratization of algorithms. not the same thing as censorship. Burning books. that's censorship.

Anim Mouse

31w

@R AB Twitter or X algorithm is now open sourced, and seeing how it works, it does not promote or amplify a certain message, what it does is simply show more posts that you like, like if you are like seeing cat pictures, more cat pictures will appear on your feed. What she is actually proposing is to stop you from seeing cat pictures on your feed.

jones jones

33w↑4

"We have to fight for real democracy."

Except we don't live in a democracy, thankfully. We live in a constitutional republic. She sounds very much like Jessica Cecil from the Trusted News Initiative. They're both pretty frightening individuals.