#public messaging

[willowreader]

We can, and must, do more to protect students in higher education from the risks of post-COVID condition

Postsecondary students are particularly vulnerable to repeated COVID-19 infections, putting them at risk for post-COVID condition, or long C

All students need protection. Repeat Covid infections are dangerous.

[eelhound]

"[Mehdi] Hasan

I think one of the reasons so many people — leftists, liberals, progressives, people who support the Palestinian cause, Muslims trying to fight back against Islamophobia — lose in public debate is because there is an assumption of 'we are morally correct and factually correct; therefore, we will win.' As I write in [Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking], just having the facts and being on the right side is not enough. Clearly, that’s been demonstrated to us time and time again. There’s a lot of confirmation bias, as I write about in the book, especially in an age of social media where we cluster in our own groups and information silos, and then we say, 'We’ve got all the best arguments, how can we lose?'

I remember when Brexit happened, a number of people said, 'Hold on, but it’s stupid! Everyone I know is against it!' Well, yes, everyone you know is on your social media feed, and what were the arguments for it? Brexit is a classic example where the right and the Brexit-ers were able to talk about the 'sovereignty, freedom, liberty, and British tradition,' and get people really worked up emotionally talking about abstract concepts and values.

Meanwhile, the anti-Brexit side was talking about the costs of trade and what it will cost to change our trade deal with the EU — very uninspiring technical stuff. Progressives and liberals have always been a little bit too technocratic, managerial, and bureaucratic for my liking — I want to see a bit more energy and passion.

So, yes, there’s a famous story from either Plato or Aristotle about the rhetorician and the doctor: if they were to go city to city giving out medical advice, who would the people listen to? They’d listen to the rhetorician, not the doctor because the doctor may have the actual qualifications, but can the doctor convince the public? No. The rhetorician can because they have the skill set and the tricks. That’s how dangerous and invaluable rhetoric can be.

And you’re right: in the wrong hands it can be used for all sorts of horrible things — incitement of violence, for example. In the right hands, you get an MLK, or a Churchill in World War II.

[Nathan J.] Robinson

On things like climate and COVID, there is a failure to understand that just because you’re right on the facts, you still have the task of getting the public messaging and rhetoric right. Going to battle with bad ideas is not just a matter of proving facts.

Hasan

Absolutely. I think COVID is another example of that. You have the right and conspiracy theorists pushing 'freedom and liberty,' and the other side saying, 'Have you checked my latest peer reviewed paper on masking?' It’s not a fair fight."

- Mehdi Hasan being interviewed by Nathan J. Robinson, from "Mehdi Hasan on How to Argue and Win." Current Affairs, 12 April 2023.

[tmblrexodus]

TWITTER

Theme Customization ✘ 

Subdomain (username.domain.com) ✘

Following ✔ 

Dashboard ✔

Active Community ✔ 

Multimedia Posting (text/photo/video/audio) ✔

Public Messaging System (asks) ½ (if you count tweets?)

Private Messaging System (messaging) ✔

Multiple Blogs In One Account (group or sideblogs) ✘

Likes ✔

Reblog ✔ 

Notes ✔  

Tagging System ✔

Native Blog ✔

Blocking ✔ 

TOTAL POINTS: 11.5/15.

[tmblrexodus]

KIWI.QA

Theme Customization ✘ 

Subdomain (username.domain.com) ✘

Following ✔

Dashboard ✔

Active Community ✔ 

Multimedia Posting (text/photo/video/audio) ✔

Public Messaging System (asks) ✔ (it’s a Q&A site with some flair, so this is the main feature.)

Private Messaging System (messaging) ✔

Multiple Blogs In One Account (group or sideblogs) ✘ (you can create group blogs that you can invite people to as you want, a lot like sideblogs on Tumblr)

Likes ✔

Reblog ✔ (“share”)

Notes ✔  (For shares, likes, answers and comments)

Tagging System ½ (You can pick topics and create new ones.)

Native Blog ✔

Blocking ✔ 

TOTAL POINTS: 11.5/15.

[desmond-the-queer-dragon]

Update on sending messages and asks

I don’t receive a lot of asks nor messages from random people, but when it comes to talking with people that is something I have no issue with.

However, I am going to need to turn off anon asks and public messaging for a bit.

Regarding public messaging, I need to state this for the record: I am no one’s therapist nor am I someone who can handle other peoples issues as of right now. If you are someone I have known for a while, that’s different. But I am hanging on by a thread myself and I cannot handle another persons problems-especially if I don’t even know you and you come out of the gate with your issues. The best I can do is point you towards resources and hotlines.

I would love to help if I could, but I cannot and that’s the unfortunate truth of it.

Anon asks are most likely going to be turned off for good because no matter what, I always get some sort of ableist, transphobic, and homophobic hate message and I’m sick and tired of having to go through the process of tracking the anon down.

You want to say that shit? Say it with your profile assholes.

[amiscellany]

Further dispatches in the realm of Canadian-flavoured stay-home propaganda (previously). 

This is the work of the Zulu Alpha Kilo agency, and they have versions for a variety of other countries & regions too.