Author | Lightnews

Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 7h

The human condition is such that one gets more attention if they demonize another group than if they try to understand that group.

It's evolution I guess. We're better served to be hyper vigilant towards threats.

Influencers hijack this tendency and in the process are destroying our democracy.

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 12h

Personal autonomy and self-definition are sacred.

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 18h

We have it fundamentally all wrong.

We're not polarized.

Instead, our media environment manufactures polarization by framing everything as outrage to gain attention.

Most people aren't bigoted.

Instead, the "influencers" we follow narrates political phenomena in ways that produce bigotry.

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 1d

Time management in writing, for me, is upside down.

I am better off *not* putting too much time on task if there is a block.

Instead of sitting there pondering for 30 minutes, I'm better off playing video games for 28, then writing that paragraph in the 29th minute.

Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 2d

To the sociologist, the phrase "perception is reality" is tautological.

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 2d

Wait...what does this mean?

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 2d

Everyone's favorite!

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 2d

My wish was granted.

Oh what a game!

Oh what a game!

Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 3d

I am watching one of the best games in World Series History.

All it needs now is a walk-off for the home team or a game ending defensive gem for the away team.

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 3d

I am watching one of the best games in World Series History.

All it needs now is a walk-off for the home team or a game ending defensive gem for the away team.

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 3d

Yes, yes I know it's naive.

But it would be nice if a politician just sat in front of the camera and told me what they are going to do if they are in office.

That's it.

I don't need to hear some obviously distorted claim, packaged with the worst possible headshot, about their opponents.

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 4d

Watching this documentary where the host speculates on the life of the *mixed-species* progeny of homo sapiens and neanderthals.

It's something to think about.

Kids can be cruel.

That bi-species kid, with the weird Homo Sapien jawline and Neanderthal brow ridges maybe never left their cave.

Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 5d

Baseball games have half time shows now?

I guess I haven't watched a World Series game live in a long time.

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 14d

When you read enough history, it's easier to see yourself as history in the making.

Like I can totally imagine an exhibit 500 years from now entitled "Man with Early AI."

Or more ominously "Early AI with Man."

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 14d

It's interesting our VP thinks low ratings is something he should talk about, much less use as an attack on someone.

In the warped world of our current leadership, your follower count matters more than your education or expertise.

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 15d

I don't, no.

But it's not because I approve of those ideas, only that I *disapprove more* of leaking communications that were initially made in confidence without the consent of those involved.

Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 15d

Also come on don't be naive you know folks behind closed doors say bigoted and hateful things. I'm never surprised because humans are going to human.

Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 15d

I think there should be a law against "leaking" private communications. Or at the least some understanding amongst media organizations that they should not air private communications without consent.

This kind of thing - betraying people's confidences for personal gain - strikes me as unseemly.

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Reposted by Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist)

Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 15d

So much for Facebook's renewed commitment to free speech.

And so much for this administration's condemnation of social media censorship.

How long will it be before the DOJ demands platforms remove news reporting on ICE?

Facebook suspends popular Chicago ICE-sightings group at Trump administration’s request

The group ICE Sighting-Chicagoland has been increasingly used in the last five weeks of President Donald Trump’s intense deportation campaign to warn neighbors that federal agents are nearby.

chicago.suntimes.com

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 15d

Crony capitalism is what it seems this administration is all about.

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 16d

"if this thing is new and improved then I want my money back for you selling me that inferior product last year."

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 16d

When I read my own analyses I read them as theoretically and factually correct but emotionally bereft.

And so it is with other academics, policy wonks, and technocrats.

This is why influencers have an upper hand with the public.

People are carried in the end by sentiment, not rationality.

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 16d

It's been a minute since I have been racially profiled.

I'm going to take a little break, play some Pong and enjoy the fruits of that... "interesting" experience in the grocery store.

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 16d

I'm 50...trying to enjoy every day because I don't know.

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 16d

This all makes sense to me. Huh. Thanks!

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Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist) @roderickgraham.bsky.social · 16d

Like seriously it's crazy how many of those folks followed the Chris Rufo - Charlie Kirk - Matt Walsh - Lara Loomer path to economic success and cultural relevancy.