Read on Twitter
Has anyone done a twitter thread on why the auspol hashtag progressively got worse over time?
Every now and then, there's a hashtag that goes trending on Australian Twitter that seemingly springs from nowhere.
Right now, #whatthebloodyhellhappened is trending and a good example of something that seemingly came from nowhere.
A person who logged onto Twitter would probably click on it to see...well... what happened.
A person who logged onto Twitter would probably click on it to see...well... what happened.
It comes back, as it usually does, to one YouTube comedian (?) who includes hashtags as a call to action at the end of the video for his audience of 100,000 people.
Whether or not a comedian who has primarily benefitted from actively promoting the Labor party (and interviewed their politicians) is bad or not is beside the point.
These videos and these followers tipped the scales of #auspol discourse.
These videos and these followers tipped the scales of #auspol discourse.
Any journalist who worked for News Corp? Their opinion is instantly dismissed and they are labelled a "Murdoch shill".
The rest of the media, including the ABC? All are deemed pro-Liberal.
The rest of the media, including the ABC? All are deemed pro-Liberal.
When a prominent voice in auspol consistently talks down the media and self-promotes his channel as the "only true source of information", users with 
in their names form a cult-like group against any dissenting voices/opinions.
in their names form a cult-like group against any dissenting voices/opinions.
This, to some degree, explains the reaction against Rachel Baxendale. #auspol
To end this thread, I make no judgements about whether this current trend is bad or not. I merely note that it exists.
But it is sad to see the decline of genuine political discourse in favour for comedy masquerading as information against anything related to the LNP.
But it is sad to see the decline of genuine political discourse in favour for comedy masquerading as information against anything related to the LNP.
To respond to some of the criticism of this thread:
- I do know where the came from, a lot of the replies to included them in their usernames
- I have watched a large majority of Friendlyjordies videos on YouTube (the thread itself is inspired by it)
(cont)
- I do know where the
came from, a lot of the replies to included them in their usernames- I have watched a large majority of Friendlyjordies videos on YouTube (the thread itself is inspired by it)
(cont)
- I didn't tag @friendlyjordies in the original thread
- The thread was my take on the effect that his videos have had on Twitter discourse and auspol in general
- My definition of a cult is listed below
- The thread was my take on the effect that his videos have had on Twitter discourse and auspol in general
- My definition of a cult is listed below
There's a lot of nuance to be found in discussion about Australian Politics online and I think its important to highlight these cases to avoid generalising.
I still stand by what I said about journalists getting a bad rap just because of the business they work for.
Final word: I'm glad these replies are holding me to account. Journalists aren't above meaningful criticism and I hope that everyone reads widely.
Don't just listen to one voice or one opinion!
Don't just listen to one voice or one opinion!
