Jordan Peterson Announces Free Speech Platform ‘Thinkspot’

NewsBusters ^ | June 12, 2019 2:22 | Alexander Hall

[FewsOrange]

An upcoming free speech platform promises to provide users the best features of other social media, but without the censorship.

The subscription based “anti-censorship” platform “Thinkspot” is being created by popular psychologist Dr. Jordan B. Peterson. It’s being marketed as a free speech alternative to payment processors like Patreon in that it will “monetize creators” and as provide a social media alternative to platforms like Facebook and YouTube.

Peterson discussed Thinkspot with podcaster Joe Rogan on June 9, emphasizing a radically pro-free speech Terms of Service. He described that freedom as the “central” aspect saying, “once you're on our platform we won't take you down unless we’re ordered to by a US court of law.”

That will be a profound contrast to platforms that ban users for “misgendering” people who identify as trans, or for tweeting “learn to code” at fired journalists.

The only other major rule on comments he mentioned was that they need to be thoughtful. Rather than suggesting that some opinions are “off limits,” Peterson said they will have a minimum required length so one has to put thought into what they write.

“If minimum comment length is 50 words, you’re gonna have to put a little thought into it,” Peterson said. “Even if you’re being a troll, you’ll be a quasi-witty troll.”

All comments on the website will have a voting feature “and if your ratio of upvotes to downvotes falls below 50/50 then your comments will be hidden, people will still be able to see them, if they click, but you'll disappear.” He later added a caveat saying that was still being mulled over and that “We don't know if 50/50 is right.”

The platform, with its subscription-based service, will also directly subsidize content creators.

Peterson said that a handful of major free speech proponents including Dave Rubin, Michael Shermer are on board to be beta testers for Thinkspot.

Peterson’s daughter Mikhaila spoke encouraged podcast listeners to sign up as testers for the platform in its current beta phase, before the intended August 2019 launch.

“We’re in desperate need for a platform that doesn’t arbitrarily decide to throw people off because of random crowd mentality,” she said.

On Twitter, Peterson also called for beta testers on June 10, “Per the Joe Rogan podcast this week, I'm backing a new platform called thinkspot, currently in Beta. Get on the waitlist here, exciting announcements coming very soon. http://thinkspot.com.“

[FewsOrange]

It is subscription based so it won't attract nearly as many users as a free site. It will be a very niche site.

[AndyTheBear]

Sign me up.

[DoughtyOne]

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Just $643.00 dollars to 97.00%

[Steve Van Doorn]

subscription based will not attract new people. Good luck with that.

[Mr. K]

There are other groups thinking of this.

I’ve told them about FreRepublic, the history (buckhead, Dan Rathergate, Clinton articles that went public because of FR, etc)

But most of all, an instant user base.

And some names like major radio show hosts are interested in supporting and promoting a new platform.

[Boogieman]

I’m sure they are going to have to back off an entirely subscription-based service because you just can’t build something from the ground-up that way.

Better to allow the social media aspects at least to be free and just have content-hosting that is accessible by subscription.

[VanDeKoik]

It may be necessary.

The problem is that the word gets back to actual alt-right types (and leftists posing as them), and they will bum rush to sign up, and then flood the site with “Hitler did nothing wrong” crap.

Tip off Vox, and there you go.

[freedomjusticeruleoflaw]

I would be shocked if Peterson did not at some point “moderate” the posts on his website.

[FewsOrange]

—— “I would be shocked if Peterson did not at some point “moderate” the posts on his website.”

The article mentions a an up-vote/down-vote feature.

“All comments on the website will have a voting feature “and if your ratio of upvotes to downvotes falls below 50/50 then your comments will be hidden, people will still be able to see them, if they click, but you’ll disappear.”

This will almost instantly result in group think where any opinion contrary to the majority on the site will be downvoted.

[thoughtomator]

> minimum comment length is 50 words

yeah good luck with that

[aquila48]

Agree.

[PsyOps]

I would likely pay..... hell, I just saved some money by cancelling my Netflix & Hulu service :-)

[PsyOps]

Who cares? Free speech is Free speech. Take to bad with the good. Tell ‘em to go pound sand.

[OldNewYork]

Didn’t Gab try, and not quite succeed?

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Please elucidate. Do you mean to convey your sincere best wishes? Is your comment meant to be sarcasm, and your real meaning is to express doubt that Peterson’s idea will work? If so, what is the basis for your doubt? Perhaps you have succeeded in proving Peterson’s point. Respectfully submitted for your consideration. (Word count = 53)

[thoughtomator]

It is my heretofore considered opinion, notwithstanding objections to the contrary, that the imposition of a minimum word count will encourage an excessive loquaciousness not conducive to clear expression of concepts, ideas, and language; therefore, I predict that any attempt to impose such a minimum will be summarily rejected by the social media audience.

[thoughtomator]

Unfortunately, Gab’s CEO has all the attention span of oh look a squirrel.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Point to you.

[Balding_Eagle]

Maybe if you haven’t met the 50 word minimum your post simply won’t post.

And the post of yours that I am replying to will most likely be down voted quickly and simply disappear.

[VanDeKoik]

“Who cares?”

They do. Like a person with sense would.

If those guys want to join so badly, then pay up, and go for it!

Let those that want to pay help cover the costs of starting the place up, then toss it open to the pubic.