Please don’t allow censorship here

[ReallyLoudSilence]

Although I’m a fan of many of the artists opposing Rogan’s podcast, they should not get to decide what the world can see, hear or read. I can do without them if needed. I find it ironic that many of them used their music to fight against the status quo when they were young and at the peak of popularity, and now they want to shut down any dissenting voices. It is important that there is freedom of speech in this world, and that doctors, scientists and other experts are allowed to express their concerns. Silencing our experts is a recipe for disaster.

In that scenario, whoever has the most money wins.

[kitsune8526]

dasratzel

It definitely is a difficult question. Can we really say anyone is giving truthful information. The "facts" on anything change so quickly. The media called Robert Goddard stupid for thinking we can use rockets in outer space. They said that rockets had to have air to push off of and would not be able to operate in outer space.

Now it is a completely natural thing we are doing now more than ever.

https://www.thespacereview.com/article/1013/1

I would prefer to be able to see all ideas and use my own judgements and research to decide who to believe. I don't think anyone should be canceled unless they are straight calling for violence which would be illegal.

[Kiwi812]

I am supporting Spotify on this one. 

We live in a world with narrow views on main steam media for many topics. I want to be able to listen to many different ideas and opinions and formulate my own views and thoughts. 

Neil seems to have forgotten his own narrative....."of rocking in the free world." 

And Joni, I love you. "But not like we (I) love our freedom. "

[GuessImKarenNow]

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem people are getting true discourse on many topics, particularly the audience of Rogan, who blatantly lies on air without any counter argument. My problem is that Spotify is not just allowing for the playing of his podcast, it’s that they specifically are endorsing and promoting this disinformation without providing any caveat or disclaimer or counter statement that the information is dangerously outright, intentionally false. In fact, shows like Rogan completely discount and fear monger against ANY other media source that shares factual information, basically encouraging listeners to take everything he says as gospel. Furthermore, Spotify removed over 20,000 other podcast episodes that shared blatantly false information regarding the pandemic. So why does that policy suddenly not apply to Rogan? Because Spotify has an exclusive deal with him. It’s so so dangerous. As a healthcare worker who is seeing things from the front lines, I can always tell where someone gets their “news” when they start spouting falsehoods and inaccurate information. I’ve seen it first hand kill people. Like I said, I very much support having discourse between different opinions when those arguments are being made on factual information. This is not what that is.

[DavidPo]

No, that's not a headline from the Onion, but real life itself!

Cheers to Spotify for not caving to the cancel culture crowd. I've listened to Neil Young over most of the decades of my life. In contrast, I've never listened to Joe Rogan and probably never will. But, I'm not a fan of Young's obvious and pathetic attempt to force his politics on the rest of us.

Don't be fooled by the supposed moral concern over Rogan spreading disinformation about COVID. Young doesn't like Rogan because he doesn't align with Progressives like himself. So, Young, or others who provide him with the information, camp out on his podcasts looking for a mistake or a line that has been crossed to use as the noble justification to launch their campaign of hate. The ultimate goal is to destroy their political opponent. Haven't seen this? Doubtful, but, if not, try watching the liberal cable news shows and then watching the conservative ones, back and forth. If one gives this exercise enough time and effort one with a critical mind can easily identify the techniques employed.

Regarding the spreading of disinformation, there's a lot of that going around on both sides of the political divide. (One can, again, do the cable news exercise.) Most that complain only do so about the disinformation coming from their political enemies and ignore that coming from their political friends. Hypocrisy, yes, and Young is no better. Perhaps he could use his platform to unite rather than to further divide us, or, if neither, steer clear of these foolish debates. Him or Rogan is the choice he gives us? Can one get more divisive than this?

[philburk]

Free speech is great if people speak the truth. But Joe Rogan and other anti-vaxxers are deliberately spreading misinformation that is objectively and demonstrably false. These are not just opinions. These are lies that people are telling because they are entertaining and thus people can make lots of money doing it. That is an abuse of our precious freedom of speech. I will be cancelling my subscription.

[Neil31]

I've had unvaccinated patients cite Joe Rogan as part of their reason to not get vaccinated, even as they're being admitted to the ICU. His misinformation is killing people. It wouldn't even be as much of an issue if Spotify let us mute/block podcasts, but instead they promote/push it to ALL users.

[DavidPo]

In my opinion, people who take their medical advice from Joe Rogan are making an irrational decision. As I said, I don't listen to him nor do I plan to. I have my own doctors. Also, the reasons people give for not getting vaccinated are varied and stretch across the political spectrum. Some, I think, are more rational than others but I don't see myself making such a decision.

I wish that I could remember it, but there's an interesting song, in the form of a metaphor of driving a car, about a couple in a relationship struggling over who has the control. (If you know the song please post it here.) This is what I think of when I look at the culture wars between the left and the right. Sadly, this, I believe, is what motivates people like Neil Young. He'll filthy himself in the struggle by willing all parts of our lives to be tainted by politics.

I don't doubt your experience. That said, I stand by my statements. It's not about COVID.

[bssackett]

You should be cancelled.  Rogan is killing people.

[DavidPo]

bssackett,

Interesting remark. I'm not referring to you, but, based on the temperament of some people, many who make it, Neil Young probably included, have the same ill-regard for Joe Rogan as they do for the people who follow his advice. So much for the righteous indignation.

As to you, thank you for helping me make my point.

Also, do you find it as interesting as I that you spelled it as "cancelled" and I as "canceled"? I checked it out on Merriam-Webster and it turns out that your spelling is common to Brittan and mine to the US. I didn't know that before, but I was worried, after my original posting, that I had gotten it wrong.

[Thornburgh]

Thank you Spotify for standing up to Neil's bullying. Once you start censoring, it's a race to the bottom. I'm impressed.

[p2bno6dy3qyjsy5bf5le]

Censorship is different from not wanting to support something/someone who you feel is misleading people and doing damage to our social fabric. I can and will stop paying for a service that supports and enables such characters. Joe Rogan is free to say whatever he wants but that doesn’t mean we have to give him a platform. If Spotify throws him off their service, that is not censorship. Are you censored because you don’t have a podcast? Freedom of speech is not freedom for everyone to have a platform. You can agree or dislike his podcasts. But don’t defend him out of some misguided understanding of censorship and free speech. 

[p2bno6dy3qyjsy5bf5le]

If Joe gets canceled he can still speak. You don’t have a platform and you enjoy free speech - yes? Having free speech is not the same thing as having a platform. Should there be no limit on what a person with a platform can say? Whatever happened to personal responsibility? Neither Neil Young’s nor my money should be forced to support misinformation. Spotify can decide what they think is right. And if they decide to cancel Joe Rogan, that is not the same thing as infringing his free speech. 

[catman2]

Spotify need to stop providing a platform for disinformation that kills people . If I directed people into a burning house I would be convicted . 

1. Spotify pay historically low royalties to artists. Have the only streaming service without an HD option and now they encourage misinformation. Very disappointed. Been here since the very first day of Spotify in UK 😔

[hidef23]

Agreed, no way, if Neil Young don't wanna be on here let him go. He will crawl back ...

Spotify , you let him sing his anti government songs on here so keep on Rock'n the free world.

Thank you

[dasratzel]

Maybe I can ask a simple question..

And I truly am curious here... not just arguing.

When you read or hear something on this podcast, the news, or  other sources for that matter,  are there any specific resources you use to decide if the underlying data/information discussed under that topic is factual?

Then follow up question.  If there are portions of the discussion that are based on some data point that is not factual on that basis, what do you find is the best way to approach the rest of the conversation.  Is there any value to sorting through the conclusions and only throwing out conclusions that follow from the bad data.  Or is better use of time to just throw out the whole discussion?

Especially curious about the first question.  What is your reference point for verifiable data? 

[philburk]

> are there any specific resources you use to decide if the underlying
> data/information discussed under that topic is factual?

Yes, I read scientific journals. I also read reliable news sources such as the New York Times. And I value the opinions of experts like Dr. Fauci who has had a career studying infectious diseases. I also studied the immune system and worked in a microbial genetics lab.

> If there are portions of the discussion that are based on some data point
> that is not factual on that basis, what do you find is the best way to
> approach the rest of the conversation.

If someones is basing their arguments on misinformation and logical fallacies, and they reject science, then there is little point in debating them. I love freedom of speech. But freedom comes with responsibility. People are dying because some people are deliberately spreading lies and making millions of dollars doing so. I do not respect that and Spotify should not be encouraging it.

[Speedracer000]

Thanks for allowing freedom of speech Spotify! I do not consult with celebrities on medical advice; therefore, celebrities viewpoint of Joe Rogan spreading misinformation is invalid and abuse of their fame. I standby freedom of speech. Joe Rogan’s guests are medical professionals. I appreciate hearing the other side of the coin besides what mainstream media is feeding. I will formulate my own viewpoints on what is being reported. I don’t need Spotify filtering content for me. The vaccine does not help with spread of the virus it might help with symptoms but that’s a personal choice. I got delta without the vaccine and I don’t think my symptoms were any different than my fully vaccinated brother.

[Speedracer000]

• Thanks for allowing freedom of speech Spotify! I do not consult with celebrities on medical advice; therefore, celebrities viewpoint of Joe Rogan spreading misinformation is invalid and abuse of their fame. I standby freedom of speech. Joe Rogan’s guests are medical professionals. I appreciate hearing the other side of the coin besides what mainstream media is feeding. I will formulate my own viewpoints on what is being reported. I don’t need Spotify filtering content for me. The vaccine does not help with spread of the virus it might help with symptoms but that’s a personal choice. I got delta without the vaccine and I don’t think my symptoms were any different than my fully vaccinated brother.

[mrushmrush11]

I subscribed to Spotify for a premium subscription this morning.  I did it specifically because they are refusing to let loud malcontents shut down views they don't like.

As long as Spotify stands up to those bullies, I will continue supporting and listening to Spotify.

[tcg72]

Thanks for keeping The Joe Rogan show on, even though you censored it for awhile.  Neil Young has some pretty famous quotes disparaging the lgbtq++ community, especially during the height of the AIDS epidemic--but I never thought to censor him (maybe I should have, considering who I am).  Joni Mitchell has a famous photo of her wearing blackface at a party--but I have still listened to some her music.  These artists have every right to sell their catalogs, move their publishing and administration around from company to company, and promote their music so long as they still own it.  I find it ironic that musicians  who once espoused freedom are so beligerant towards others, but that is the difficult situatioin that they are creating.  I will take them off my playlist, for their sake, and would encourage Spotify to continue to practice good business sense.   I enjoy my premium membership and so do many of my friends and family--but censorship is not acceptable to us.  Thank you for providing a platform where people can make their own choices and have the freedom to listen, or not.  As long as Spotify allows that, we will continue to subscribe.