I’m been looking for a solid way to express what Facebook has been doing with me. I think I have it. Here goes...
A govt office publishes data showing that 2+2=4. The data is released without any commentary; just raw data. The conclusion is irrefutable.
A few days later an Executive Branch official holds a press conference at which he states - without evidence - that the public should now hold the view that 2+2=5.7. Soon thereafter numerous “math experts” are interviewed by the media. They say everyone should absolutely hold the view that 2+2=5.7. In fact, anyone who rejects that 2+2=5.7 is a “math denier”, they tell the public.
Not long afterward I make a video in which I present the actual data released by the govt showing 2+2=4. I posit to my audience that one of two things must true; either the data is wrong or the narrative being promoted by the establishment wonks is non-factual. Both cannot be true.
I point out there is no evidence the data is inaccurate and the narrative being promoted by the establishment wonks is offered without any supporting evidence. I suggest the public is best served by following the data/evidence rather than blindly accepting the unsupported narrative of wonks.
Facebook moderators come along, thinking to themselves, “Who the fuck does Champion think he is? It doesn’t matter whether 2+2 equals 4 or 5.7. That’s completely beside the point. What’s important is that everyone gets on-board with 2+2=5.7; we all need to be rowing in the same direction on this. In order to prevent anyone from considering 2+2 might not be 5.7 we’ll repeatedly suspend Champion, ban him from advertising, and dramatically slash the reach of his professional page. We can’t refute that 2+2 really is 4, but we make sure no one sees Champion’s facts, data, or evidence indicating it is not 5.7; we can silence him. Fuck him.”
