https://www.smh.com.au/national/anthony-fauci-on-australia-s-covid-response-ai-and-the-next-pandemic-20230727-p5drm8.html “there has been a phenomenal degree of #PoliticalDivisiveness, which spilled over into how we looked and acted towards the #pandemic,” he said. “#Students and young people who were enthusiastic about getting involved in #science and #PublicService see that #scientists are being #threatened, they’re being #harassed, and they’re being disrespected.”

An elderly #gay couple ran a rural restaurant in peace. Then new neighbors arrived

Conservative #Christian couple Mike and Melissa Washer moved their financial investment firm to The Plains, #Virginia village (population 250) and began #harassing the gay couple who ran a restaurant.

They filed injunctions, health complaints, tried to shut down the restaurant, #harassed restaurant patrons and vendors, and were caught on camera tossing dead rats onto the property.

The couple were participants in the January 6th capital #insurrection. During the #pandemic, they repeatedly attempted to shut down the restaurant by violating pandemic #masking health orders and entering the restaurant without masks in order to report the elderly gay couple to authorities.

When that didn't work, they began harassing the town and County inspectors, submitting freedom of information request acts for all letters and communications going back 10 years before the restaurant even opened..."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/interactive/2023/front-porch-restaurant-virginia-dispute/

1/n

But no matter where the scientists go, the media and decision-makers have to follow.

Twitter will not survive as this anti-science forum where #antivaxxers get #boosted and amplified and actual #scientists #harassed and doxxed.

About 50% of the hundreds of scientists I used to follow left twitter, either for good or for other platforms.

More will follow. The writing is on the wall.

@xenophora

One thing I notice is that it is generally ONLY WTGs (White Tech Guys) who complain about such things. Anyone who has ever been or has a chance of being #harassed can clearly see the benefits of FediBlock.

Like you say, a lot of the time instance A defederates from B, it is generally filled with chuds and/or their sympathizers.

1/2

@djnavarro @timnitGebru

aside from instance loads, we #TwitterRefugees brought an unusual number of orcs with us. they will keep coming. and the mastodon culture's defense is volunteer and is not paid bay area salaries. but they have been #Harassed long before we arrived and have norms for dealing with it. so i am trying to learn the local mores, and hoping not to cause undue fuss.