Technology Democratized Media | US Political Polarization

[@CynicalHistorian]

Thanks for watching! Please consider supporting the channel by buying merch: teespring.com/stores/the-cynical-historian Or by donating to my Patreon: www.patreon.com/CynicalHistorian See "read more" for corrections and bibliography. First, here are some related videos: Political polarization playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLjnwpaclU4wXxGRwtV4EGk_vuAH2VkODS Party Switch: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnOreXyAfJ2FmtU Culture War: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqHTlnqPpLx3rsk Neoliberalism: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXPTZ2yIlLBkl5I What caused the GWOT: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bX_almObnbxlpLs 12 Strong review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/opCZenl3mK1qhJo Snowden review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWHCpIBtrMeDpZI Waco review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6urnKSmaMpkoJI KZbin suppresses history: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6e1eJqriq98rpo anti-conspiracism playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLjnwpaclU4wWS-H7U62SqWWEA-y2eqzoQ 12 annoyances for historians: kzbin.info/www/bejne/anuZeoOeetCMo9E American Made review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYTWY6pqhtSbhJY "The Official Story": kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5PHnX-Ya6yobLc 1920 vs 2020: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5rcdpyEq750rJI Mr. Beats video on cycles: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqGwcqyvnKuSaJY *[reserved for errata]* *Bibliography* Kathleen Belew, _Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America_ (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2018), ebook. amzn.to/2XsIyXg Bill Bishop, _The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America is Tearing Us Apart_ (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008), ebook, scribd. amzn.to/3qb0Hs3 Gabriella Coleman, _Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy: The Many Faces of Anonymous_ (London: Verso, 2014), audiobook. amzn.to/3cTFPjE Megan Condis, _Gaming Masculinity: Trolls, Fake Geeks, and the Gendered Battle for Online Culture_ (Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2018). amzn.to/3gCCSpO Jeffrey Hart, _The Making of the American Conservative Mind: National Review and Its Times_ (Wilmington, Del.: Intercollegiate Studies Institute, 2014), ebook. amzn.to/3wGtJ5i Nicole Hemmer, _Messengers of the Right: Conservative Media and the Transformation of American Politics_ (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016), audible. amzn.to/2SIJSZ2 Ezra Klein, _Why We’re So Polarized_ (London: Profile Books, 2020), audiobook. amzn.to/31sqFLB Daniel Lucks, _Reconsidering Reagan: Racism, Republicans, and the Road to Trump_ (Boston: Beacon Press, 2021), audiobook. amzn.to/3wHugnp Andrew Marantz, _Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation_ (New York: Viking Press, 2019), audiobook. amzn.to/3iUfu90 D.J. Mulloy, _The World of the John Birch Society: Conspiracy, Conservatism, and the Cold War_ (Nashville, Tenn.: Vanderbilt University Press, 2014), ebook. amzn.to/3cQKene Angela Nagle, _Kill All Normies: Online Culture Wars From 4Chan And Tumblr To Trump And The Alt-Right_ (Winchester, UK: Zero Books, 2017), audible. amzn.to/3gG162I Kathryn Olmsted, _Real Enemies: Conspiracy Theories and American Democracy, World War I to 9/11_ (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2009). amzn.to/2unDgjI Parmy Olson, _We Are Anonymous: Inside the Hacker World of LulzSec, Anonymous, and the Global Cyber Insurgency_ (New York: Back Bay Books, 2012), audiobook. amzn.to/3vOMcLT Richard M. Perloff, _The Dynamics of Political Communication: Media and Politics in a Digital Age,_ 2nd ed. (2013; New York: Routledge, 2018). amzn.to/3cV6U65 Brian Rosenwald, _Talk Radio’s America: How an Industry Took Over a Political Party That Took Over the United States_ (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2019), audible. amzn.to/3gEnVnl

[@rubies2905]

Thank you for this video, it's fantastic! I also would love to buy more of your Merch...could you bring back Wiiiiillsoooon! 😈 and or make John Brown hero shirts lol Love your videos !

[@kgregorius8550]

I have always wounder why people put a dislike to your videos.

[@MaverickMSzero]

Dangit joe, no more hour videos

[@CynicalHistorian]

@@rubies2905 I didn't know the wilson one went down. they just randomly remove stuff and it's very annoying. thanks

[@CynicalHistorian]

@@MaverickMSzero trust me, I want to make shorter vids. I had too much to cover in this one, and I could've made it 10 hours

[@iammrbeat]

(Oh this one will be good) *Clicks on video to watch* (1 hour and 11 minutes long) This might have to be watched in chunks 😳

[@CasuallyConsistent]

Hey whats up? How's Mrs. Beat?

[@goldiv]

I'm a fan of longer episodes truth be told. I'm sure it can be dreadful to produce.

[@juanmanuel3418]

Mr.Beat, in your Amendments Wish List, repealing the 17th was important, but wouldn't most states do what they did in the 1900's and just choose the Senstor based on a state popular vote?

[@chaueter1041]

Love your vids as well mr Beat

[@christianweibrecht6555]

oh shit a long video without timestamps

[@warlordofbritannia]

For about the last six political years, I've had that bit from Lord of the Rings constantly going through my mind: "I wish it need not have happened in my time" "So do I, and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time given to us." Small comfort perhaps, but better than naught, I think

[@sunboi15]

Wow that is actually so true. Thanks for for sharing!

[@fibinock]

On election night 2016, after watching my state swing red, I got on my computer at 4 a.m just to watch that clip, and that's the only thing that let me get to sleep. Even my panic attacks are nerdy I guess lol

[@redblaze8700]

There’s only one thing you can blame all problems on: WILSOOOOON!!!!

[@alibizzle2010]

I remember the late 90s and the how we we had such hope for the internet. we innocently assumed people just needed access to the info and all our problems would be solved

[@BradyPostma]

I remember thinking that talking to people from around the world would increase empathy and tolerance. That is almost the opposite of what we've witnessed.

[@CynicalHistorian]

I think I still had that hope until 2015, or maybe later

[@tobiasglendenning7966]

The internet is tool, it makes existing wonders such as information, entertainment, friendship and productivity significantly better, but it also makes there worst aspects just as significantly worse, misinformation, hatred and coporate exploitation.

[@alibizzle2010]

@@CynicalHistorian I've reached the unfortunate conclusion that in the market place of ideas, as in any other market, power and immediate gratification trump utility and long term robustness.

[@BradyPostma]

I've even seen hardcore pro-market libertarians admit that the marketplace of ideas doesn't work. After all, if the market is so perfect and ideas are no exception, why isn't libertarianism the overwhelmingly leading political ideology?

[@MLaserHistory]

I did not expect this video to have such good jokes but it did. The jokes were often pretty on point.

[@accent1666]

Mr Laser! How amazing to see you here I started watching your content after Oversimplified used your work for that War of the Bucket in Modena

[@kelceyclark9917]

I swear every installment of the series got more and more memey and weird and I loved it!

[@tobiasglendenning7966]

I've always viewed the internet as a tool that makes everything more extreme. Never before has knowledge been more widespread, never before has misinformation been more widespread, never before has the ability for people to make friendships, never before has bullying been more widespread.

[@sleepyhead8681]

It's like A wild west with libraries everywhere and snake oil salesmen. I love it, enjoy it before it's regulated. :)

[@yungtoolshed251]

When Martin Luther translated the Bible from Latin to German and printed it during the early reformation and people could hear sermons in their native language, they couldn’t handle just how much “new” information they were learning a about the god that generations of their family had worshipped. Some Germans founded doomsday communes after they read the fire and brimstone parts of the Bible too many times. Every time the speed at which information can be spread increases, we see the issues we are dealing with now. The question is how do break the current media zeitgeist without infringing on free speech.

[@sleepyhead8681]

@@januarysson5633 More so is what I ment.

[@S4RGE007]

@tobias Glandenning I could bully u some, if you'd like

[@Hotshotter3000]

@@januarysson5633 He probably still thinks it's 2005 or something. While the early days of facebook and youtube weren't super big. The internet has been so strip-malled that most people's internet surfing time can be measured by a few streaming/social media sites as the majority, and maybe a few others that they visit from time to time. Websites spring up and are shut down all the time. But how many do you really visit every day?

[@sleepyhead8681]

I've been wating for this. The series is fantastic.

[@theshenpartei]

Same here

[@youjustgotcarled]

We gamers are oppressed, us pokemon go players can't even play it everywhere!

[@blcaplan]

This series has rapidly become the best practical explanation of the history of American politics.

[@amk4956]

So this is how democracy dies. As always a great video and for containing decades worth of information rather to the point.

[@CynicalHistorian]

"With thunderous applause"

[@warlordofbritannia]

@@CynicalHistorian “With thousands of upvotes,” I would say

[@dinotsar6396]

@@warlordofbritannia That line is sad but true, and the message it conveys is important. I would argue it almost redeems the prequels from the “I don’t like sand” nonsense.

[@KiraDaBeastNY]

I'd like to note that in a recent infowars show Alex Jones has himself *finally* admitted that his dad didn't just "have a book or two" by some John Birch Society people, but outright was/is a member of the John Birch Society something everyone has basically suspected forever.

[@Hotshotter3000]

Wow, one of the most prolific conspiracy theorists in the English speaking world had a father who was a conspiracy nutjob? Color me shocked.

[@KiraDaBeastNY]

@@Hotshotter3000 Oh no it's not shocking at all, but for a long time Alex denied that he or his family had any involvement in the John Birch Society that's why I'm noting it.

[@dinotsar6396]

I wonder what he thinks of the JBS. He probably glorifies them as great patriots fighting against the New World Order that just made him pay up in court for lying about the deaths of children.

[@profdc9501]

I think whether or not one agrees with the Cynical Historian, I do not think his intellectual honesty can be doubted. That is really the best that one can ask of a scholar.

[@TJF588]

This is a perspective I hope to carry more often, to appreciate honest approaches toward study and presentation, regardless how synchronous I find myself with the presenter’s conclusions.

[@bubb5225]

I am surprised at the reactions to this video, with most praising it & saying how much they learned from it. Maybe because I’m old I see it that way. I well remember all these examples you cited from Robert Taft to John Birch to AM-FM to Ronnie Reagan, before the internet & after the Internet, etc. I am a historian specializing in Antebellum American and can say positively that the nation was more divided in those days than now. And there was no internet. Only daily & weekly newspapers, most of which were totally slanted in one direction or other. They made no pretense at impartiality as they do today. The (NY) Courier & Enquirer, for example, a conservative Wall Street journal, always took up for the Whigs. The (NY) Post, Democratic (the Post has always switched back & forth). The (NY) Tribune, left-wing Whig. The (NY) Herald, claimed to be independent. This was the media that controlled America, which was split into slave states & free states. I don’t see the internet as the source of our current divisions, which have roots going back several hundred years. An unregulated internet, yes. Some method of regulation is needed. I can’t say what it would be exactly at this point. A method of regulation for content but more, for advertising. Our current liberal versus conservative split is awful. It’s depressing. I remember when it didn’t exist. However, it’s not as bad as the yelling, screaming, fistfights and riots that broke out every time a new state was admitted to the Union or new territory was claimed for the USA. When you concentrate on Antebellum times, it’s automatic to think - now, was X a state in 1845? Had Y been admitted by 1847? Where did the fighting take place in those years? (One answer = California). As for the Jan. 6 crowd with its frightful aggression, real & makeshift weapons, vile slogans, assassination goals & Rebel flags, the things they advocate were actively debated and legislated during the Antebellum era. They were taken seriously, generally speaking. So were these repulsive thugs such an incongruity? The main thing you left out is how the established media, in going from paper to electronic, has moved online and magnified its influence there for better or worse. The media, almost totally controlled by rich, conservative white males (even the liberal publications), lifted up Donald Trump to the presidency. The free and positive publicity it gave him served much to his benefit. His brand of masculinity matched theirs. I could say more but I’ve said enough.

[@quedtion_marks_kirby_modding]

I love how this is made with the future in mind. It expalins how social media works in a way that people who live in a time period were websites like twitter have died can still understand it.

[@CynicalHistorian]

thanks for saying that. I had to do a lot of structural analysis for this one, and I was worried it was overly broad

[@quedtion_marks_kirby_modding]

@@CynicalHistorian Your welcome, you did a good job.

[@A.S._Trunks]

@Safwaan For KZbin to fall, Google would also need to fall. Which probably wouldn't happen in our lifetimes.

[@A.S._Trunks]

@Safwaan Eventually yes, but I'm saying that it would take a long time

[@MrAlexSan00]

I was something big on 4chan from 2006 through 2011 I was shocked at how much 4chan shifted right and was wondering what happened since Anonymous still attacked Right Wingers. This answered nearly everything. Amazing video, Cypher!

[@sandianexpress1198]

Wait are you the Alex from Tennessee guy?

[@giygas100]

49:23 As someone who dabbled in this section of KZbin (regrettably), this is a little oversimplified and is missing some important details. In terms of the New Atheism, the movement splintered around 2012 with Elevatorgate and Atheism Plus which were about promoting feminism and other social justice issues along side atheism. Many atheists, especially online, already had fairly low views on feminism (or what they perceived as feminism) before GamerGate became a thing. The transition from atheist content to anti-SJW content didn't really go into full force until late 2015- early 2016 when it became very lucrative to do so. This coincided with a general shift towards anti-SJW content which included much larger youtubers at the time such as H3H3 and Leafy. It's also important to note that Trump and the rightward shift in discourse also created a schism in the "skeptic" community. Former skeptic channels like Thunderf00t and CultOfDusty began to openly distance themselves from the community from late 2016-2017 while others moved further and further right. Edit: Another important distinction to make is that channels that rose to prominence of the back of GamerGate like Sargon of Akkad, Sh0eOnHead, MundaneMatt among others were never a part of New Atheism and were anti-feminist channels from the word go. It was less of a direct transition from Atheism -> GamerGate -> Anti-SJW as the video implies and more said channels coming together with the aforementioned atheist channels who were drifting more and more towards Anti-SJW content (which admittingly did include GG content to some extent) to form the "Skeptic Community".

[@TheAlexSchmidt]

Yeah, 4chan/Reddit was left-wingish at first but it was the "New Atheist" kind of left-wing. The New Atheists had a somewhat anti-humanities bent of the type the Cynical Historian discussed in his Culture War video which was easy to exploit into a disdain for feminism.

[@TheAlexSchmidt]

Also, a big part of the online culture war in general was sparked by the general explosion in media/academic interest in geek/online culture. As gaming journalism went from being a niche field to an important and profitable one, and as games became seen as more artistic, the traditions of geekdom became increasingly scrutinized, especially its straight white male-dominated nature. Now, many parts of the fandom internet, especially LiveJournal in the early 2000s and Tumblr in the 2010s, had quite a gender and sexuality-diverse userbase for a while, but I don't think media coverage had really embraced that side yet and mainly focused on older (and typically cultivated by marketing) stereotypes of geeks as piggish basement-dwelling men. Of course, people who were close to this stereotype did exist and resented much of the push to challenge the non-diversity of geekdom in the media from people like Sarkeesian and Quinn, especially because of the marketing of previous years that had sort of told them they were right, and Rebecca Watson in the skeptic community. Hence why Gamergate got big and why it claimed to focus on "ethics in gaming journalism." (Disclaimer: I wasn't really there for these events, so I could very well be wrong.)

[@MrGksarathy]

@@TheAlexSchmidt I don't think the image boards were ever left-wing, either in Japan or the US.

[@brendenpeterson5684]

With the atheist sphere, I think that it has a bit more complexity then that too since there was also the more rationally oriented online atheists (cosmic skeptic, Matt Dillahunty, and rationality rules to some extent (he is pro trans and very much against the marginalization of the LGBT community but I also need to recognize the major mistake he made with regards to the trans athletes scandal he caused which did promote transphobia as he very much realized)) distanced or outright pushed against that.

[@giygas100]

@@brendenpeterson5684 I agree with you. The New Atheist Movement and atheism today would require a level of explanation that would necessitate its own video (not that I'm advocating for that).

[@c.w.simpsonproductions1230]

This is exactly what Biden didn't understand. The days when he was able to bring together the right and left in Congress were long gone by the time he took office, with many of his old colleagues either retired or deceased.

[@BenIsFiguringitOut]

Totally agree. He MAY be a better president for like the 70s or 80s. Today? Absolutely not. He’s stuck in the old days of bipartisanship.

[@JeffreyDeCristofaro]

I commend your profound, insightful contributions to YT, you are a true human being for sticking to the facts as presented by history and doing your best to inform many people of those facts as can and should be informed. I also applaud that you further came out as honest in not pretending to have solutions. Honestly, YT and all social media in general needs more people like you.

[@mschweig42]

Thank you for this series. You’re fantastic at contemporary history.

[@GriffinWulf]

tumblr wasn't defeated by 4chan in 2014, we committed suicide via dashcon

[@PobortzaPl]

So the ball pit was actually a deathbed?

[@DmytroEyorovych]

@@PobortzaPl fuck someone pissed in the deathbed

[@posthumousc4913]

This is a video everyone needs to see regardless of party.

[@Pab1oRomirez]

Possibly one of the best things I have ever watched on KZbin, I salute you sir and hope that calm thought and a search for facts takes precedence in all western democracies before it’s too late.

[@danielsobhi]

Certainly one of your best videos. Thank you for your content and your attention to detail and humor. Keep up the phenomenal work.

[@Real-ChunkyBrain-]

A very good in depth view on internet culture. I've basically grown up in this political polarization and it's kinda releaving in a not so nice way to see how we have gotten here. Idk how, or if, we will actually move on from this. But I hope we can make the world a safer and fairer place.

[@SPENCEx1x3]

I was one of those types who got into politics during the anti SJW craze. I don’t remember quite when I got out of that community but thank god I did.

[@bionic-tale4313]

@@SPENCEx1x3 Yeah, me too.

[@BenIsFiguringitOut]

I’m cynical to be honest. As long as the internet is what it is, I don’t see how it gets better.

[@jasonfuentz8717]

@@BenIsFiguringitOut See the two comments above yours. It is possible.

[@JacobT-1]

Thank you for all your hard effort and amazing videos. Incredible quality and educational. Really has helped me understand what is happening and why is happening. You are a true Patriot. You've not only informed me but also calm me down during these crazy times. Thank you so much. Really appreciated the Black Panther episode too!

[@NankitaBR]

This video is amazing. I'm saving it to my favourites to have it at hand whenever I need to see this again or show it to someone.

[@bryandacote8109]

This is one of your best videos!

[@richcreecy5119]

Good shit as always my dude!

[@chadatchison145]

Thank you Cypher for this very important video, I wish it would go viral so more people see it.

[@LaceyAnn]

The hour really flew by, wow. I appreciate the work you put into this, thanks!

[@nnnn-oh8bi]

It is incredible how you could summarize so well what has happened in recent years, seeing this polarization and its consequences has been hard. This is an exceptional job thanks for doing it.

[@swayback7375]

I’m only 5 minutes into this video but damn man, this series has been very informative to me. I wish more people could watch this AND learn from it

[@velvetgoldmine4300]

Wow, Cypher, this was a great episode! I've loved this entire series! Thank you for putting so much time and energy into it; it was well worth it! I don't often comment, so I hope this helps your algorithm 😉 I definitely want your channel to be as successful as possible.

[@golddoommarine]

This is best analysis of technology and American polarization I've seen. Thank you.

[@monolith834]

This one takes the cake- seems to be your best work so far published here I've seen.

[@chaueter1041]

Another brilliant, well written and researched video. You rock Cypher.

[@Cameroo]

Great video essay. I could listen to your stuff all day! I can't wait to see you continue the series! Thanks for all your time and effort you spend on these.

[@DrHotWarLove]

Cypher: "This was irony poisoning." JREG: *dId SoMeBoDy CaLl My NaMe?*

[@Shadurak]

Ok, so what I got out of this is that the abandonment of critical thinking based on facts and logic in favor of quick gratification based on fiery demagoguery was always there since before I was born('93). That's...quite depressing, to be honest. I've always shied away from online communities because it feels that I'm back in kindergarten or grade school - like everyone is shouting in short, single sentence statements, more willing to espouse their preconceived bias than engage in a dialogue. That bit in the middle about people identifying with the products they consume sounded especially troubling. How can you identify with something that was clearly made to profit off of your disposable income? How can you give a part of your identity, the way you observe, examine and define yourself, to corporations whose only concern is how much cash they can squeeze out of you? That sounds sooo creepy and bone chilling, for some reason. Wrong on a fundamental level that I can't quite put my finger on. In any case, I can see how much work you've put into this work. It was very nice to hear where the terms that are in everyday use originated. Keep doing what you're doing, fellow admirer of Diogenes.

[@brindlekintales]

> fiery demagoguery was always there since before I was born('93). Same here, and i was born 1950. Demagoguery goes way back...maybe even as far back as when the first apes dropped from the trees and started to walk erect! Definitely before my time.

[@rpsclerici]

Basing your personality on what you buy can be a subtle process. A blend of advertising, tribe mentality and sunken cost fallacies, I believe. You like red, so you buy a red shirt. You begin to see people that also bought that red shirt as people who think like you. Ads explain to you why that red shirt is *the best* shirt. And, after all, if you, a smart person, chose to buy that shirt, it should be the best shirt. It took me some time to realize how dumb I sounded when arguing with friends about which game console was better as a kid. Not because discussing hardware is bad on itself, but how dumb our arguments could get and the mental gymnastics we performed to never feel like we were wrong.

[@nefsartdigital9317]

People who consume/buy things identify with those things. I realize I have taken part in this by identifying myself as a weeb for consuming anime/manga related stuff. Today I am learning that I am very dumb.

[@BenIsFiguringitOut]

Yup! Social media has helped people stay emotionally immature especially when it comes to talking about political issues. People don’t think logically or critically; it’s just about owning the other side…smh!

[@KevinButler55]

I've been waiting a while for this, and it did not disappoint! Fantastic analysis, thank you for your research

[@dx3217]

I love how you started with Bo Burnham with Welcome to the internet

[@christianmartinez774]

This has been an amazing series! Learned a lot from it.

[@ILikeVideos62]

Congrats on a great series!

[@Kobolds_in_a_trenchcoat]

Also for those looking to get the books but they aren't available at your particular library, most libraries in the u.s. are part of a library exchange program. What this means is that any library in the state is willing to send any book it has to your library (free on your end) just so long as you simply ask. So, if, say, Edward Said's Orientalism isn't available (that one probably would be, it's incredibly famous and important in the social sciences right now. I'm just using it as an example) at your library but is available three cities over, you can probably just ask your local librarian for help with an inter-library loan and, three weeks or so later, free on your end, you can pick it up and have it for a set time. Still a library so you need to return it but more or less free. I'm less familiar with the outside the u.s. world. I don't know if this is a thing in European countries or anywhere outside the u.s., I'm not even certain it exists outside Texas but I'm willing to bet it does. This is just a piece of advice and advertising for your local library.

[@wassupwo]

Awesome comment!

[@jere9maz]

amazing series dude! keep up the good work

[@nathanielkingsbury6355]

Great video, Cypher! It was especially interesting to me to hear about how the differing capabilities of AM and FM radio led to differing content on the two platforms -- in engineering school I've learned about these different capabilities and why they are the way they are, but they were always discussed in the abstract, as pros and cons of the system, without me ever realizing the effect on content.

[@MortalWombat1988]

This piece is more informative and better produced than it has any right to be. Commenting to sway the algorithm gods to show this channel favor. Also...boy I'm sure his feline majesty will have his paws full with this comment section.

[@keepyourbilsteins]

Among your best. Thanks cipher. Bought a Tshirt today.

[@CosmoShidan]

This is a work of art Cyph! Hands down!

[@estebanmorales6487]

This is a proper, proper chronicle of our times. Absolutely flawless!

[@Kain5th]

Yeah its crazy reliving it all and seeing the past few decades led to our current day

[@OblivionKnight76]

Videos like this need to be seen my millions. Maybe I'm too optimistic, but I just hope it'll open some people's eyes

[@MasterTSayge]

GREAT VIDEO AS ALWAYS!! 😎👍🏼

[@paularmson4633]

This documentary is about the USA, but there is a lot of insight here for Australians.

[@dylanlarson1786]

It would behoove you to use the knife hand in more content

[@jacobmcclellan7399]

Bo Burnham to start? This is going to be a good one Edit: That was a great video!! Thank you for making this series, here's to hoping it won't get demonetized

[@Maxarcc]

I came to eerily similar conclusions as you in my master thesis this year. Misinformation is absolutely a market failure. It's not the internet, it's web 3.0 specifically.

[@rr3901]

Great segment! I watched it on Patreon and I’m watching it with my husband now.👍🏾

[@Coastpsych_fi99]

Your channel is refreshing.

[@xanderarmstrong6198]

Hey Rittenhouse's weapon was not illegal, he was dismissed on all accounts in court

[@epicpandareviews]

The more I watch your videos, the more I like watching your videos

[@ContourGlobe]

10 minutes in. What a finale Cypher! Fantastic so far and can already see the amount of work put in. Cant wait to finish.

[@yeoldenew]

Another great watch, keep up the good stuff!

[@nektu5435]

I didn't really realize how little I knew or understood about history and politics until I found your channel. I admit that binging your content has made feel overwhelmed and even terrified at times. I do find some solace in knowing that there are people in the world like you able to make sense of a lot of it. Understanding history helps me to better navigate my social life and the world at large, much like understanding physics helps to build better technologies. I love science and I love history. I sincerely thank you for your hard work in all of you've done to make these videos available to someone like me.

[@TheGeogreOrwellShow]

Stumbled upon your channel I like it a lot so far keep it coming

[@peepeemgee1656]

Amazing video as per usual, keep up the great work!

[@jimmothypakistan5223]

Another great video. Shocking how much my ideology and world view has changed after discovering your video about communism myths

[@tytre44]

Thank you for your work.

[@insertcolorfulmetaphor8520]

Excellent video, mate! Your characters and the editing used to mix them into the videos... Brilliant dude! Great job!

[@alibizzle2010]

I actually disagree in so much as the old media model of limited bandwidth meant that media was actually more susceptible to democratic control. I grew up with left wing comedians bemoaning the conservatism BBC but I actually think the current system is worse. I had way more influence on the BBC than I will ever have over FB or google. I think there was something to be said for common shared experiences. even if the TV on offer as crap we shared it in common.

[@Dong_Harvey]

Well, the internet used to be way more than some oligopoly split amongst various backstabbing advertising concerns. Before 'Web2.0' . it was really easy to just have your piece and occasionally explode for no reason other than somebody found you interesting. It's also never too late.. Free / Open source technology allows for anybody to just kit together alternative approaches to web presence, albeit with no advertising budget

[@mycoolhandgiveit]

no you didn't

[@swayback7375]

You earned a sub from with this series. It’s really good and so packed with info I keep rewinding

[@internchangelabosa6342]

Currently binge watching all your videos a lot to catch upon.

[@raphaelcorletta6809]

You are one of my favorite history KZbinrs, but since you quoted Rush I like you even more.

[@CorporateSycophant]

Watched a ton of your vids now, I love them. I joined your Patreon because I support you keeping real history alive and well. Keep up the great work!

[@BigWoodzCBCL]

Great job putting this all together!!! Awesome work!!

[@sumanthbalaji1768]

Absolutely amazing video bro

[@mcwildstyle9106]

Fun Fact: Gamergate got much larger because of the creation of the gamergate hashtag from Alec Baldwin And yes I said Alec Baldwin, AKA Animal Mother from Full Metal Jacket fame Edit: I think if we pray very hard for destroying the two party system and for Teddy Roosevelt to come back from the grave, everything will be okay And on a side note, fuck Woodrow Wilson

[@jimbotheimpaler4756]

Brilliant work. Thank you.

[@theJMBgamer]

Uh oh, is this comment going to get deleted for saying "you forgot to cover the invention of papyrus around 2900 B.C.". Aside from that glaring omission though, this video is really great. Looking forward to the wrap-up video for this polarization series.

[@Dong_Harvey]

Hey, without papyrus, we would never have good joints And thus millennia of 'chronical' thinking sessions

[@CristianDirkhising]

I still find hope in the internet. It has helped me immensely discover knowledge I would never have taken the time to book learn like music, history, politics, art, etc. such as this very channel. Maybe society will eventually move away from the attention economy once we evolve more in our thinking. Here’s hoping I suppose. Really great and in depth vid!

[@mikehudgins8545]

I really enjoyed this one. Thanks for making it.

[@floydthibodeaux1844]

Holy crap, thank you for introducing me to “welcome to the internet”!

[@MVera1044]

Thanks for the content

[@TennesseeJed]

Amazing work, sir!

[@litenantjv]

It was a long video, but a pleasant one. It took me some time to finally watch it all, but anyway, good job man !

[@tessfairfield6435]

This is an excellent breakdown of how we got to where we are. I’ve been a life long history fanatic and your videos are some of the best I’ve ever seen. Keep fighting the good fight

[@JPWack]

One friggin hour!, how lovely

[@adrianaslund8605]

"What do such machines really do? They increase the number of things we can do without thinking. Things we do without thinking-there’s the real danger" Leto II God Emperor of Dune

[@williamgoo7621]

The problem is not just on the right wing or alt-right media. These would fade out if they don't have audiences. The main issues lies on why there are people who would willfully trust them as "sacred truth" and be agitated to perform action that is dangerous to the public. These are something that should be thoroughly investigated.

[@eacalvert]

Omg the beginning Cypher took off the gloves and I freaking love it!!!!!!

[@distractedgenome9222]

Can your next vid be about how we went about learning from our mistakes in the past to improve the country? I really need to see that vid. Thanks for all your hard work and effort. Your content is very educational and enjoyable.

[@theshenpartei]

This was probably the best video you made so far 10/10 keep up the great work

[@pavelandreev4727]

Cypher, you are a shining light in a world of darkness! Much love from Bulgaria, keep that nuanced cynical content coming!

[@leonst.7471]

Wish this video had more clicks but keep em going Cypher even if youtube hates them!

[@blumrich1970]

Excellent work!

[@MinuteMedia]

This is why I'm subscribed!

[@reagansims3202]

The only solution I see to this is the abolition of the two-party system.

[@CynicalHistorian]

Easier said than done

[@sleepyhead8681]

Maby at the local level winning elections is possible. Bolth parties will fight that harder than they do good legislation for American citizens.

[@John_does]

Not sure how much it will work, it will in some level, but extremisim takes hold in many democracies around the world, even those without such system

[@accent1666]

Man what a situation, but I'm going to watch this from far away and see where this will this take us Hopefully for the better, this decade in going to be definitely interesting, and already 4 or 5 important events happened in 2020 and 2021, we'll see how the rest will play out But that was an amazing video, the sources and information and examples are appreciated Cynical

[@LadyTylerBioRodriguez]

What a paradox, with all the worlds knowledge and connection to every country, we often feel dumber and more partisan. We humans really know how to ruin a good thing.

[@dinotsar6396]

I find it fascinating. We have the capacity to be more connected than ever before and know more than ever, yet misinformation is even more rampant than at any point in history I can think of and we lack the capacity to understand each other. It’s strange. We should be heading towards a utopian future, but this utopia is really a dystopia.

[@azeezyusif3403]

This is such a great video, you’re topics on this channel really open my eyes