Rogan and Spotify
making concessions to the Big Gov/MSM/Big Pharma/Big Tech narrative is the last thing we should be doing right now
Both Joe Rogan and Spotify have now issued responses to the recent controversy over alleged COVID-19 "Misinformation" on Rogan’s podcast. Here’s Rogan’s:
A few observations:
Those trying to get Rogan's podcast censored are asking for their view—which apparently is the Gov/MSM/Big Pharma/Big Tech narrative—to go unchallenged. This narrative has been wrong many times, as Rogan and others have pointed out. In addition, we are now starting to see that it's the product of a massive coverup by Dr. Fauci and his associates. Most importantly, this narrative is being used to force people to undergo medical treatments against their will, for a virus that is now less dangerous than the flu. Rather than granting concessions to those who support this narrative, shouldn't we be pushing back harder?
Instead, Spotify is choosing now to follow the Big Tech social media platforms and add labels to "controversial" discussions about COVID-19. They’re even bragging that they’re the first podcast app to do this. By doing so, they will be impeding the dissemination of certain points of view, in defense and support of that narrative, which, again, has been shown to be wrong numerous times already. Moreover, if the narrative's critics are right, following its advice it is actually causing suffering and costing lives. And of course, once this pattern of thought control is established, it will no doubt be applied to other issues affecting our lives and freedoms. So, by deciding to put labels on those podcasts, Spotify is lending its support to this Gov/MSM/Pharma/Tech cabal, which today is potentially more dangerous to human life than any virus.
As for Rogan, I would ask him to revisit something he recently discussed with Dr. Jordan Peterson on his podcast: if Rogan, as a concession to these haters, starts to do podcasts featuring other viewpoints, podcasts which he is not personally interested in doing, then it will show. He will not enjoy doing them as much, and they will not be as interesting to listen to. So, as my grandmother would have said, "Don't 'should' on yourself." He “should” do exactly as he's always done: pursue the truth and state the truth as he sees it, as and when he's motivated to do so.
As “should” we all :)
I think the best thing he could do would be to hold his ground and ignore this: But, as I think is obvious, some Spotify executive forced him to do this---they are likely using some aspect of his contract against him.
However, if the MSM wants their side to be represented, then this gives Rogan an opportunity to oblige them by setting up a debate. For example, he could moderate a debate between Malone and Fauci. And if Fauci turns down the invitation---and all other advocates for the MSM narrative do as well---then they had their chance to stop the spread of "misinformation" and obviously didn't care enough to show. And if the men whose job it is to safeguard our health do not care enough to debate, then obviously they do not consider this to be much of a threat to our health.
Rogan has a chance here to up the ante by suggesting the health establishment debate their critics---and then to use their refusal to defuse this criticism.
I agree that this is a concession that Joe Rogan and Spotify should never have offered. Who are Neil Young and a cabal of clueless musicians to dictate to the rest of us what the “consensus” views actually are on these issues? When highly qualified doctors and scientists are clearly being pressured into silence, that’s just an insult to our intelligence. That government bureaucrats and the crony corporations carrying water for them are necessarily the ones that actually represent that consensus is arguably the real misinformation here.