The decline of Facebook and the chilling effect of social media

[wumpus]

@kerzain

So, does Wumpus only dox gman in his spare time, or does he just sit around doxing everybody?

When there is probable cause (as in dozens of flags on a user) I relay that information to the mods, so they can understand how the software works and what they need to be looking at when many flags are cast on a user.

You need to understand you’re talking to someone who is a paid, professional right wing pundit – he essentially works for Trump. Tom said as much here:

@tomchick

I have since found out, however, that my friend didn’t tell me about one of his jobs working for a certain well-known media outlet. He claims he withheld the information because people treat him differently when they find out. He says he’s lost friends over this job. I can understand. I certainly felt betrayed that he hadn’t told me this, and it cast a new light on his posts in P&R. Whereas I had seen a young and articulate guy politely arguing out of a sort of youthful naivete – did I mention he’s basically a kid? – I was in fact reading the work of someone who is a professional part of the machinery doing irreparable damage this country.

Some of you said as much. I ignored your claims based partly on the fact that he was a friend, but also on the fact that you guys can fend for yourselves. The threads were instructive to me as a way of seeing how Trump supporters present their case. In fact, I hoped in the course of conversations with him, he would come around on some of the issues being discussed. I still kind of hope that, by the way.

But how can I, in good conscience, let the situation stand? How do I reconcile my position as an administrator on a site that guarantees anonymity with my feelings about the current political situation? For all the good the internet is doing, it’s been used lately as a calculated tool to undermine the institutions of democracy, to present lies as facts, and to further the agendas of Russians, the alt-right, junk science, xenophobia, and so forth. This was arguably an instance of that right here under my watch. Shouldn’t I do something? And how does all that square with the fact that this guy is a friend of mine?