James Williams

Tech ethics at Oxford, formerly Google. Author, 'Stand Out of Our Light.' Reluctant Twitterer. Burrito enthusiast.

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

Twitter is a profoundly compromised medium. I minimize my own use of it wherever possible. If you wish to contact me, please email me at [email protected].

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

https://t.co/6Q9axocaeO

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

@LauraMattiucci Glad to hear you're giving attention to these issues as well! And so heartened to hear the book was helpful in your thinking. Absolutely agree on the importance of taking a long view w/all of this.

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

"Books are in no hurry. An act of creation is in no hurry; it reads us, it privileges us infinitely."

[The Paris Review @parisreview]

“Reading should commit us to a vision, should engage our humanity.”

Rest in peace, George Steiner (1929–2020). Read more of his Art of Criticism: https://t.co/hsVvuMOYaM

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

Historians, if there are any, will one day be flabbergasted that our knee-jerk 'cancel' culture did not take aim at the obviously corrupt incentives of Twitter itself. We all have a moral obligation to dismantle and destroy its influence, which is incompatible with democracy.

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

In other words, banning "political advertising" is simply a deflection from the fact that Twitter as a "platform" is utterly compromised from top to bottom, and as such is totally contrary to the aims and processes of democracy

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

Twitter has not banned political advertising. It is simply exploiting the meaninglessness of the term "advertising" for its own benefit. "Earned" still means "earned according to the success metrics of an advertising platform." It is a fake gesture. And the show goes on.

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

To commemorate the Fourth I will simply share these great and prescient words of Lincoln's, in his Lyceum Address of 1838: https://t.co/Pbl8NVXzNh

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

@C___CS I guess etymologically, if 'revolve' means 'turn around' or 'turn back,' it's still in one sense kinda true... :)

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

@georgikantchev a veritable coop d'etat

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

@joshawlondon Deeply heartened that you found it valuable!

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

@gregmepstein this is partly why @GeorgeLakoff said the left in America is just as anti-science as the right - because they decline to take into account the reality of human psychology in their rhetorical choices

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

@nateandersen Totally agree re: the answers. :) Grateful for your attention, and so heartened it was of value for you

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

@codingaustralia The planet will be fine. The question is, how will *we* fare? On the long view, I'm very bullish. In the near-term, though, it may be a rough ride...

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

@romerotron @reidhoffman @timoreilly @tristanharris Totally agree. But, sadly, it's just one more example of how the so-called "techlash" of late has completely failed to understand, clarify, or reform the actual threats to human freedom that are in play

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

Very much enjoyed the whirlwind tour across Italy his week for the Italian version of my book, which was kindly translated by @abcdeeFFe & published by @effequ. Grazie mille! #scansatevi

[The Nine Dots Prize @NineDotsPrize]

Looking for the perfect audiobook for the commute home tonight? We're pleased to let you know that you can currently listen to @WilliamsJames_ #9Dots Prize winning book, Stand Out of Our Light, for FREE at : https://t.co/GkeUjaHhkF

[Princeton University @Princeton]

🥁 And the 2019 #PrincetonU Pre-Read is ...

"Stand Out of Our Light" by @WilliamsJames_! 📖 https://t.co/YBmXY6WPDb

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

Each year, all new @Princeton students read the same book in a wonderful tradition called the 'Pre-read.' This year, that book will be my recent exploration of a topic I care about deeply. Thrilled & honored for the book to be a part of this tradition.
https://t.co/I4kWQWNzCD

[Jess Phillips @jessphillips]

Every single politician who joins in with anti-politics populism, who defines their patriotism in order to enrage the country rather than to love and protect it will no doubt get some retweets. Make sure those retweets are worth it, I guarantee you'll regret it.

[James Williams @WilliamsJames_]

@fmanjoo I'm not sure what Apple's mission is anymore, or how any of this stuff relates to it. But I do know they missed a fantastic opportunity to call Apple Card "HyperCard"