XaiJu
The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe
The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe

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The Skeptics Guide #879 - May 14 2022 (Ad Free)

Dumbest Thing of the Week: Best UFO Picture; News Items: AI Artists, Molten Salt Battery, Trolling Science Journalism, Solar Thermochemical Hydrogen; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Action Bias vs Omission Bias; Science Fiction

 The Skeptics Guide #879 - May 14 2022 (Ad Free)

Comments

I agree completely. And even though face-punching is illegal, I don’t think it’s the first amendment which makes it illegal. And if one’s dickish behavior is egregious enough, it may inspire another to engage in face-punching despite the risk of consequences which might follow. Could someone please make a graph depicting the point at which risk of downstream consequences of face-punching intersects with the rising severity of dickish behavior? Thanks

RawkGWJ

Thanks for the response. The 1st Amendment does provide a level of protection - from the government. Even then it has limits. Social consequences are a different beast entirely, which are entirely valid. People calling out Neil Young for leaving Spotify is a perfect example. He was entirely entitled to take the course of action he did. It's his music, he doesn't have to associate with Joe Rogan. It's not a violation of the 1st Amendment because Neil Young isn't the government. It could arguably be "canceling," but that is entirely different and entails more than just silencing. Face punching, however, is illegal, even if it is a nazi-wanna-be. Being a dick is, within limits, freedom of expression. But when one resorts to, "Well, it's not illegal," then they're probably in a morally questionable area. It wasn't illegal to dump chemicals in rivers until it was illegal, but that still didn't make it okay to do before being outlawed.

Asymetra

That UFAP is a pit in the windshield of the aircraft that the photo was taken from. ::mic drop::

RawkGWJ

Too many people think that the first amendment protects you from any potentially negative consequences of your actions. If someone chooses to behave like a dick, that behavior is protected by the first amendment. But… Behaving like a dick may lead to negative consequences. It may lead to being fired from one’s job, one’s significant other leaving, or one being punched in the face. To insist that the first amendment protects one from such consequences is a ludicrous notion, yet many Americans seem to insist exactly that.

RawkGWJ

FYI: Some of us (maybe I'm the only one?) still listen to your show on an iPod exclusively. I listen to all of my podcasts this way. And if I'm in my car listening (where most of my listening is done), I use an FM transmitter to play it through the radio since the controls don't recognize the iPod operating system. If I'm walking the dog, I use wired headphones--I'm not so much a Luddite, but this tech works for me and is already paid for! I started listening way back in probably your second year of recording the podcast. I *am* on my second iPod, though; my current one (6th gen) is going strong, but I do worry what will happen when it dies. Maybe find a Zune? :)

Chris Bender

Trolling and Free Speech: Part of the problem with free speech is too many people think it's the right to be heard.

Asymetra


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