The Misinfo Hellscape

The Misinfo Hellscape examines the complex interplay between misinformation, societal implications of billionaire actions, debates on technology and science, and the contentious landscape Twitter has become under Elon Musk. It dissects misinformation in debates, branding, autonomous vehicles, geopolitics, rational discourse, and media credibility.

Misinformation Debate Tactics Brand Management Autonomous Vehicles Geopolitics Rational Discourse Social Media Impact Media Credibility Science and Technology Public Safety

The hottest Substack posts of The Misinfo Hellscape

And their main takeaways

You can't win podcast debates

39 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🎙 Podcasts Debates Rhetoric
  1. In podcast debates, being rational may lead to losing against opponents who evade facts
  2. Misrepresentation of facts can make it difficult to counter opponents in debates
  3. Interruptions, rhetoric, and avoidance of rebuttals can hinder winning podcast debates

Fact-check: Tesla's 17 fatalities, 736 crashes

19 implied HN points • 14 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Statistics Safety
  1. The misuse of data in the Tesla Autopilot story creates confusion about safety.
  2. Tesla's Autopilot and FSD are different systems with distinct levels of automation.
  3. Tesla's approach to sensor technology and self-driving advancements sparks debate among fans and critics.
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The UFO gimbal video that won't die

19 implied HN points • 20 May 23
🔬 Science Astronomy Optics Debunking
  1. The UFO gimbal video can be explained by standard optics and camera issues
  2. Conspiracy theorists lacking optics knowledge see the UFO video as alien technology
  3. Experts have provided detailed analysis debunking the UFO video, showing it's not evidence of aliens

Are vaccines placebo controlled?

0 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Vaccines Safety Efficacy Debate
  1. Vaccines do undergo placebo-controlled trials like other drugs, but it's more complex than just that.
  2. The primary focus of placebo-controlled trials for vaccines is on efficacy, not safety.
  3. Debating individuals like RFKjr who misrepresent vaccine trials can be challenging due to their ability to create confusion and introduce emotional arguments.

Tucker on Twitter: Episode #1

0 implied HN points • 09 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Transparency Conspiracy Theories Government Accountability Information Control
  1. Tucker Carlson criticized mainstream media's coverage of events, but relied on speculation and misrepresentation without evidence.
  2. Journalists value evidence and accountability to inform, while Tucker didn't focus on fact-checking or investigative journalism.
  3. Democratic governments have secrets, but transparency is valued. It is essential for journalism to question and verify information.