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vgr's profile
Venkatesh Rao
Venkatesh Rao
Venkatesh Rao
@vgr

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Venkatesh Rao

@vgr

This is my conversational account. For my work follow @ribbonfarm, @breaking_smart, @artofgig. Tweets are 90% vacuous views, apathetically held. Mediocritopian.

Los Angeles, CA
venkateshrao.com
Joined August 2007

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    Venkatesh Rao‏ @vgr 3 Nov 2018
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    I suspect it is fundamentally hard to think of language as a weapon. Trying to weaponize language is like trying to weaponize a kitchen. Sure there are knives and acids and stuff, but it's mainly designed to cook, not kill. Ditto language: designed to communicate, not damage.

    12:33 PM - 3 Nov 2018
    • 22 Likes
    • Anush . ❁ . Michael Porcelli Curio Christopher G dspiniak Will Strinz 🌐 Bowl of petunias Richard5832 Stotting Ungulate
    14 replies 0 retweets 22 likes
      1. Joscha Bach‏ @Plinz 3 Nov 2018
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        Replying to @vgr

        Like a hammer, language has great utility as a weapon. Language can be used to effectively change people's behavior in all sorts of ways: it has weapon-like characteristics. The solution may be to contextualize language to defuse its potential as a tool to inflict harm.

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      1. Dorian Taylor‏ @doriantaylor 3 Nov 2018
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        Replying to @vgr

        the medium is the massacre

        0 replies 0 retweets 3 likes
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      1. Brandon Gordon‏ @TheBeeGordon 3 Nov 2018
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        Replying to @Aelkus @danlistensto @vgr

        You should check out JL Austin’s “How to Do Things with Words.” You may find his idea of “speech acts” interesting.

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      1. David Walker‏ @walkerdavide 3 Nov 2018
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        Replying to @vgr

        Why so? The good intent in cooking is assumed but largely concealed until output. Only once ingested could the recipient judge for themselves. Language has volume and meaning as soon as it’s uttered. Digestion often not necessary to render sound judgment. More obvious.

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      1. fenugreek goddess worshipper‏ @reckoner165 3 Nov 2018
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        Replying to @vgr

        by that analogy, would you consider toxic messages/misleading news akin to food poisoning?

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      1. brrr Seitz‏ @BillSeitz 3 Nov 2018
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        Replying to @vgr

        Clearly you never watched Under Siege

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      1. mtraven‏ @mtraven 3 Nov 2018
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        Replying to @vgr

        on the other hand, the entire advertising industry, the profession of political speechwriter, etc. Not to mention the legal profession, who are almost exactly language-mercenaries.

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      2. Dan listens to the world changing‏ @danlistensto 3 Nov 2018
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        Replying to @vgr

        Um... lying is a thing. Is that not "weaponized" language?

        1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
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      1.  😈‏ @turtlekiosk 3 Nov 2018
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        Replying to @vgr

        the internet is a communication network but we still have "cyber warfare"

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