The streaming star on how to reject political violence while staying honest about Kirk’s rhetoric.

  • theparadox@lemmy.world
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    6 hours ago

    You know what, I’ll gladly admit I did not bring enough specific receipts and I’m talking in broad terms (although I provided plenty of examples to support my point).

    That’s why I brought you some examples which you discounted or simply ignored.

    You’re “examples”, paraphrased:

    • He doesn’t know the significance of the Western Wall

    • He called an Israeli that wasn’t a settler or IDF and called for “peace and a ceasefire” a Nazi

    Am I missing any?

    I don’t know much about the significance or controversy of the Western Wall. It’s where politicians get photos taken when they want to demonstrate their Zionism. I don’t see the open air prison that is Gaza, or it’s destruction, or the Settlements in the West Bank being directly related to the Western Wall.

    I don’t know anything about the interview or the guys comments on this allegedly reasonable, peaceful Israeli. Maybe he just decided a week before the interview that enough is enough. Maybe he is perfectly fine with the situation in the West Bank and the open air prison of Gaza, he just wants to stop worrying about the geopolitics of the conflict and his own safety. I don’t know because you did nothing but make assertions.

    Your points, paraphrased:

    • He just reads Twitter

    • His content is just slop

    • He doesn’t care, he just wants money

    He doesn’t just reads Twitter. He’s been on TV, He’s been in debates (literally was scheduled to debate Kirk in like a week or two as per this interview). I’ve seen him visiting other political programs. I’m not a fan but it’s obvious he does more than Twitter.

    The content I’ve described above is more than slop. He allegedly averages 49 hours a week. A lot of that is going to be trash and low effort. It’s not all he seems to do.

    Does he run ads for his own products, like the other grifters? Does he shift his position to maximize viewership or is he principled? I have seen and products (though I don’t really follow) and he has seemed pretty principled. Does he make money? Yes, he’s the largest streamer/influencer on the left. I’ve heard him called the Joe Rogan of the left and that we need of him. While I think that is a ignorant simplification and a bad metaphor, it sounds like he’s at least not just feeding rage bait and slop the entire time.

    What has he managed to achieve politically so far? What is he doing to build the movement up? He doesn’t seem to care. Why should I?

    What do you expect him to achieve? What would change your mind about him caring? What could he do going forward to earn your respect?

    • TheFonz@lemmy.world
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      3 hours ago

      These are fair points. I don’t expect 49 hours of content to be high quality. You are asking the right questions though. I like where this is going!

      If after ten years of streaming and media presence the most he can achieve is… More of the same, I count that as a loss. I do see him making bank though. Hasan has stopped most debates and has been adamant that they are useless. Where is the “turning point left”? Where is the canvassing? The fundraising? What legislation or policy is he pushing forward? He’s not a politician, but he has one of the biggest platforms and access. What is he doing with it?

      I’m not saying for the democratic party. For any party. Something beyond media punditry. Kirk built up a whole movement that overturned an election. Young white males showed up in droves to vote. As much as I despise Kirk, I see the damage he did because of how effective he is. I wish those on the left could move beyond online punditry and into organizing.