this post was submitted on 10 Dec 2024
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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted, clever little truths, hidden in daily life.

Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts: 1

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Or maybe we require large newspapers and other single owner/large audience influencers to cite sources if they make claims and make them liable if it turns out to be false… […]

Well, defamation laws do exist ^[1]^. Other than things like that, I think one should be very careful with such times of laws as, imo, they begin encroaching rather rapidly on freedom of speech.

References

  1. "Defamation". Wikipedia. Published: 2024-12-09T15:41Z. Accessed: 2024-12-11T07:02Z. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defamation#Laws_by_jurisdiction.
    • §"Laws by jurisdiction".
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (4 children)

Defamation is very far away from our current situation. Europe is on the correct path imo in holding those who profit from disinformation accountable.

There should be no right to abuse others verbally or spread disinformation. Of course you can always use this in bad faith as a government but that is what we have assasins for.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Defamation is very far away from our current situation. […]

How so? Perhaps I misunderstood what you meant by "make them liable if it turns out to be false" — I think it's possible that defamation wouldn't account for all possibilities, but I think it's at least one thing that is covered by what you are talking about.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

[…] Europe is on the correct path imo in holding those who profit from disinformation accountable. […]

I'm unfamiliar with those specific laws. Could you cite what your referring to for my reference?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

No problem: the digital services act and the digital markets act. The best write up I could find ad hoc is this

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Thank you for the source 🙂

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

[…] that is what we have assasins for.

Imo, this isn't sustainable in a stable, and civil society.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That is correct. It neither needs to be nor is a society that allows abuse of power „civil“.

This new development showed that the ever going „we win, you lose, and you‘ll be happy about it“ does in fact have an antidote, although a horrific and regrettable one.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

[…] the ever going „we win, you lose, and you‘ll be happy about it“ does in fact have an antidote […]

I would argue that the antidote is compassion.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

In theory, yes. But thats not how social systems work. If you build a selfsustaining cycle of abuse held in place by dopamine inducing mechanics like easy to consume media you can manipulate people to do whatever you like, see the current shift to fascism. Nobody with a hint of compassion would vote for a fascist, hell nobody with an ounce of self interest would do that but here we are. Its like asking drug addicts to just not use the stuff. Not how humans work.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

If I understand you correctly, you seem to be outlining the paradox of tolerance.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

[…] There should be no right to abuse others verbally or spread disinformation. Of course you can always use this in bad faith as a government […]

For clarity, are you referring to the government abusing the judicial system to silence someone with opinions they don't like?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Among other potential abuses, yes.

People and companies have abused the judicial system as long as it has been in place. We havent (and shouldnt) dismantle it just because it can be abused.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

[…] We havent (and shouldnt) dismantle it just because it can be abused.

I hesitantly agree, though I would clarify that I don't think that's an argument for not improving the justice system.