I’ve been thinking about how I see some people are being programmed. From some of the pro-Israel narratives I have noted criticism of the more controversial and radical leftist figures to discredit the cause they are supporting. It was already apparent that a considerable number of leftwing influencers who have previously been blindly supporting diversity agendas and the like are now against Israel and loudly criticizing its atrocities.
Several ‘popular’ leftist political live streamers, particularly on the streaming platform twitch seem to make themselves easy targets as strawmen. I see the pro Palestine influencer Hasan Piker often a target of criticism some deserving some not.
With the rise of social media and simultaneous collapse in trust across the political spectrum in mainstream media, alternative and many independent personalities have become very popular Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson being just some of many. But on the extreme end of social media addiction the flow of news and discourse has become too slow for those increasingly suffering from attention deficits.
This has given rise particularly during the isolation of the covid years to leftist political live streamers on Twitch. The leftist orientation seems a consequence of the social media apparatus being prejudice in that direction at least until very recently with Musk’s acquisition of twitter and Trumps re-election.
Unlike YouTube shows or podcasts, twitch streaming often devolves into the influencer trying to maintain an almost 24/7 commentary during their waking lives. This is both to maintain interest and stay competitive with other streamers. Revenue to the influencer from their streams is typically dependent on ad revenue which is dependent on viewers as with much of the internet space. When applied to a news space this encourages prioritising viewer numbers and sensationalist coverage to draw more attention much akin to tabloids. What’s more sensational than a good controversy? By antagonising other content creators particularly people whose views are in opposition to their own they can trigger reactions from other content creators and in turn gain more attention and views from both people supporting and opposing their position.
Now I would personally class these forever streamer commentators as extremely low in relevance for anyone seeking to be actually informed on world events. But by virtue of being so active when compared to more serious alt media figures these people generate a lot of noise and drama.
Those most active are nearly constantly online in a public manner. Forever commentating and talking with an audience that ranges from sycophants to people who hate them. Constantly needing something to say they rarely leave themselves any time to think and reflect before speaking leaving themselves open to mistakes. None if this is good for one’s mental let alone physical health. Slipnet’s observation in his earlier post comes to mind as it looks to me like these people are assuming the role of “reaction machines”.
People don't feel for others any more, they just react. Psychopaths were described by the C's as "reaction machines", and increasingly I see that our broader culture is trying to make each and every one of us a facsimile of this dire prototype.
These people due to the controversy they sometimes stir can end up with a larger reach and impact (both positive and negative) across the media space than their viewership figures may suggest. Their lack of consistent moral principles seems to lead to them forming obvious perhaps intentional targets for anyone wanting to diminish the legitimacy of criticism of Israel by association.