ReasonRiffs

Degrees in philosophy and physics, doing a PhD in the latter. Other int. politics/economics/cycling/traveling/fitness/composition...

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

I want to see journalism taken seriously, facts taken seriously. We would never get away in the sciences with how facts are misused or fabricated on platforms like this.

Most people aren't equipped to, or simply don't, look for the crediblity of sources and the context.

Moreover, sensationalist rubbish, and simple solutions to complex problems are more likely to go viral. We need an even playing field where the slightly more boring but correct positions end up at the top of feeds and recommended lists.

That's the platforms responsbility. We can't have a 20th century attitude towards the problems of 21st century free speech.

To be clear, governments need to go less after individuals and hold platforms to account.

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

@AaronBastani What are the three main priorities of local voters? How are they measuring the candidates?

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

@AaronBastani It's a shame both local issues and the issue of friction with the EU can't both be discussed at the same time.

[Keir Starmer @Keir_Starmer]

Our support for Ukraine is ironclad.

We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security.

Slava Ukraini.

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

@AaronBastani @NotFarLeftAtAll The accent is also a Yorkshire accent, no chance this guy is local.

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

@Gracie_Blue89 There's a bit of a difference between a Yorkshire and Lancashire accent, that guy isn't local.

Burnham gave him an answer, he didn't like it, then continued canvasing. You make it sound like he just walked away.

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

Good question. For the US, I’d avoid direct government orders to remove lawful speech to avoid First Amendment conflicts.

Instead, focus on monetisation rules and liability when platforms knowingly recommend/ amplify illegal threats, incitement, or harmful false factual claims.

Don’t criminalise speech itself. Regulate the amplification and business model around it.

However, for serious non-compliance, punishments need to be more than hefty fines.

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

“Who decides?” is not really a devastating objection. Law deals with vague boundaries all the time such as fraud, harassment, incitement, negligence, public order, hate crimes, etc.

If courts can make bounded judgements under rules and review, why pretend every other institution becomes tyranny the second it has to interpret words.

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

Platforms should NOT have a right to algorithmically amplify and monetise extremist content without responsibility.

That’s a reasonable position. If your response is just “lol German free speech brainwashing,” then you’re putting noise where a counterargument should be which is pretty ironic.

FYI, I’m also not German.

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

Every one less vote for Labour is one more for Reform. It is quite literally impossible the Greens can win here.

What message does it send if the Greens are unwilling to stand down here to those of us in Labour who are open to future coalitions to avoid a split in the vote on the left.

That split is a gift to the far-right, I'm starting to wonder if its intentional, either that or you simply don't care about the threat. If this continues PLEASE do not complain about the cosequences of a Reform government.

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

@AaronBastani Well McDonnell is still a Labour MP, his views are also not exclusive from soft left positions. You could argue that the nationalisation of the railways falls into that intersection of policy positions.

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

-Russia invaded Georgia.
-Russia annexed Crimea and launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
-Putin’s own rhetoric frames Ukraine as artificially separated from Russia and Poland as a historic hostile force.
-Putin has accused Poland of “revanchist” ambitions towards western Ukraine the same pretext logic used against Kyiv.
-He also said Poland’s western territories were a “gift from Stalin” and warned: “We will remind them.”
-Russia murdered Litvinenko in London with polonium.
-Russia carried out the Salisbury Novichok attack; Dawn Sturgess, an uninvolved British civilian, died.
-Six people were jailed in the UK in 2025 alone for spying for Russia.
-Incendiary parcels caught fire at Leipzig and at a DHL warehouse near Birmingham, both cases linked to Russian sabbotage.

Maybe you don't care about your European neighbours but the UK itself has been hit. Maybe you also don't care as a socialist that Russia is one of the most unequal countries in the world who does little to deal with its poverty. It is insane to support an oligarchy whilst claiming to be left wing in any way.

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

@sleepy_devo Going to fight the migrant invasion, according to Tommy. Those mighty ships are the ships of the migrant hordes!

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

@UnionJacked__ This sounds reasonable, at least getting it in motion. It's been discussed for a while and is a realistic pace.

Anything more than this will be rushed and is likely to backfire.

It also has cross-party support.

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

I'm impressed you could get anyone in to defend that the UK has two tier policing.

Given the difficult situations police have to deal with many times a day it is unsurprising that policing can be imperfect. A fair discussion will involve comparisons with where policing is done well.

Sadly there is a chronic lack of respect for our police force.

Rather than trying to aid in its improvement there is a perpetual dismissal of it as failing. I can't imagine how poor the morale is of our officers which has hugely negative consequences.

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

@eilie49 @labourlewis You really think this is about one man?

https://t.co/HrYbvBPLCT

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

@garydunion @eilie49 @labourlewis You think it has no relevance to an aggressor what the military strength of a nation and its allies has before deciding to invade?

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

@teresatye_tye @KEdge23 Thank you for your good natured discussion.

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

@desir18581 @immanue18859452 @Lauren_Southern The extremes of open borders with no checks, no problems compared with all immigration must stop and there are no benefits from it, are two obviously objective extremes.

Where do you sit on the spectrum? Do you see any positives at all?

[ReasonRiffs @ReasonRiffs]

My argument is, few people would argue that just because a party was elected means that it made for a good government, especially in hindsight. Yes it is a legitimate government but it doesn't make it good.

On various fronts the 14 years of Tory rule has come at great expense. Cutbacks have lead to an underinvestment in infrastructure and communities alike, the extra costs put now on the NHS will be greater than if it had been invested in more gradually.

Additionally, during those years the government had the opportunity to borrow at low interest rates. This is no longer the case making government borrowing very difficult.

This is not to mention the increased friction in trade from Brexit hitting exports.