I'm
noticing a trend on social media, particularly on YouTube. People are
now speaking in code in order to avoid censorship through AI and the
algorithm. When you use certain words, apparently they have ways of
shutting you down, and you could ultimately be suspended. This is where
technology is taking us.
One of the content
creators I enjoy on YouTube covers music. The problem is, what's
happening in the world right now is crossing paths with the music
industry in a significant way. Concerts are being canceled due to the
health concerns brought about by the pandemic and the reactions to it.
Last year, we weren't able to have concerts at all. This year, we can
have them, but you have to follow their rules to do it.
Anybody
asking questions is basically being told to trust the science. The
problem is, what science are you supposed to trust? Do you go around and
research what different scientists are saying and come to your own
conclusions, or do you merely listen to the scientists they parade out
on TV? Who has the authority here? Who do you trust?
The
person covering music would rather talk about music. He covers a style
of music that doesn't get much recognition these days. He likes to tell
us about the new bands that are out there playing that style, but of
course most people went to listen to the old bands play the old songs.
What's gotten his attention is some of those old band members who are
giving people medical advice, and he disagrees with them.
My
concern is that we ought to be able to have a discussion about things
without mincing words. We should be able to say what we mean, not get
cute by saying terms like "do the thing". One of the principles our
country was founded upon is the freedom of speech. If we can't talk to
each other and make ourselves clear, we're not getting the full picture
when we make our decisions. We're given propaganda and told to accept
it.
It didn't start with the current pandemic
situation that we're going through. It started before that. It was used
to stifle certain political opinions that some people couldn't handle.
Because people are actually generating significant revenue making videos
on YouTube, they're not taking a stand against what's going on there.
At least ways, they're not doing it in a meaningful way. Instead, they
are speaking in code in order to sneak past the censors.
This
does make me wonder about something. At what point do we say enough is
enough and stop bowing down to the censors? At what point are we free to
give our honest opinions? Nobody says I'm right simply because I
believe differently than you do. It's just what I believe and the way I
live my life. You may see things differently. We are coming to a point
where if you don't believe, think and do as you're told, you are deemed a
threat to society. Is speaking in code really the way to fight this?
