covid, politics, "opinions."
Overheard from the TV in the other room:
"Meanwhile, Niel Young wants his songs off Spotify because he disagrees with what Joe Rogan has to say about the vaccine. Where do we draw the line on these things? Isn't everybody allowed to have an opinion?"
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Okay, a couple of things. You must face the consequences of harmful ideologies. Free speech and the right to your own opinion only protects you from the government, not anyone else.
Yeah, people are allowed to have opinions, but we must also recognize that having an "opinion" is not a harmless thing, when that opinion is ill-informed, flies in the face of all medical expert knowledge, spreads false information which actually puts people's lives at risk, etc. Opinions aren't free from criticism, and they should not be taken as equivalent to the guidance of experts and those more knowledgeable on a subject. Rogan's opinion on the vaccine is worthless if he does not know about vaccines and epidemiology.
It feels like every time the right wing is criticized for spreading harmful misinformation, propaganda, and lies, they cover it up with "That's just my opinion, man. Are you trying to censor me?"
"Meanwhile, Niel Young wants his songs off Spotify because he disagrees with what Joe Rogan has to say about the vaccine. Where do we draw the line on these things? Isn't everybody allowed to have an opinion?"
---
Okay, a couple of things. You must face the consequences of harmful ideologies. Free speech and the right to your own opinion only protects you from the government, not anyone else.
Yeah, people are allowed to have opinions, but we must also recognize that having an "opinion" is not a harmless thing, when that opinion is ill-informed, flies in the face of all medical expert knowledge, spreads false information which actually puts people's lives at risk, etc. Opinions aren't free from criticism, and they should not be taken as equivalent to the guidance of experts and those more knowledgeable on a subject. Rogan's opinion on the vaccine is worthless if he does not know about vaccines and epidemiology.
It feels like every time the right wing is criticized for spreading harmful misinformation, propaganda, and lies, they cover it up with "That's just my opinion, man. Are you trying to censor me?"
re: covid, politics, "opinions."
Joe Rogan is some internet personality who makes videos and podcasts on usually political issues, talks with experts and "experts," and generally has a lot of influence. I'm not entirely sure of his political leanings - I'm thinking a little right of center - or of what he said about the vaccine. Just that some conservative pundit on television was using him to pretend to be oppressed.