It wasn’t hard to see that a Twitter thread about being ratioed not being such a bad thing would result in that thread being desperately ratioed, but Atlantic contributing editor Yascha Mounk decided to give it a try anyway. His argument? Maybe being ratioed is a sign of courage and integrity, of not going along with the conventional wisdom of the Twitter mob.
“Being ratioed” is seen as a sign that a tweet is stupid—and its author morally or intellectually deficient.
But I actually think that being ratioed can be a sign of courage and integrity.
Here’s my defense of the ratioed tweet @TheAtlantic.
[Thread.]https://t.co/ycuWhb35Zx
— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) October 21, 2019
There’s no general agreement on the “necessary conditions” of what constitutes a ratio.
But the “sufficient conditions” are relatively clear: If a tweet elicits far more hostile replies than likes or retweets it has been ratioed.
— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) October 21, 2019
Now, some tweets get ratioed because they express hatred or bigotry, lies or obfuscations, or attempts to bully the weak.
In those cases, there can be something good and cathartic in collectively ratioing a bad tweet.
— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) October 21, 2019
BUT..
..what incentives are we creating if we equate the expression of unpopular opinions with moral or intellectual failure?
..and is mockery of the ratioed conducive to a public culture in which we can challenge received wisdom and change our mind about important issues?
No.
— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) October 21, 2019
Unless we believe ourselves to be the first generation in history to have discovered all of the correct opinions, we must stay alive to the possibility that plenty of arguments that are deeply unpopular today deserve to be aired—and perhaps even believed.
— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) October 21, 2019
Seen from this angle, the ratioed tweet can, in its small way, claim a proud inheritance: that of the banned book, of the argument made before its time.
In fact, a small share of today's ratioed tweets likely express opinions we shall one day come to see as obviously true.
— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) October 21, 2019
Recommended
So what does this say about the Never-Ratioed?
Either they always hold the same views as most of their followers.
Or they combine a strong sense of the way the wind is blowing with a consistent willingness to censor themselves when their opinions are unpopular.
Both are bad.
— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) October 21, 2019
We should not admire a writer who only ever synthesizes conventional wisdom.
And we certainly should never trust a politician who has the determination and self-discipline to hide from view any thought that might prove unpopular.
? Never ? Trust ? The ? Never-Ratioed ?
— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) October 21, 2019
OK, those clapping hand icons are just a bit too much. “Never trust the never-ratioed?” No.
So if we want to have meaningful debates on Twitter, we all need to exonerate the ratioed tweet.
First step: In future, when somebody writes an interesting tweet that is getting ratioed, post this defense underneath—even if you disagree with the actual tweet.
— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) October 21, 2019
Second step: Somebody should found an annual prize for the best – most prescient or insightful or thought-provoking – ratioed tweet!
— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) October 21, 2019
Final step:
Let’s introduce the “ratio ratio”: a numerical measure that indicates what percentage of a person’s tweets have been ratioed.
If it falls too low—less than one in 50, say—this should be seen as a humiliating indication that they are devoid of honesty or originality.
— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) October 21, 2019
Please share this defense of being ratioed to encourage the expression of unpopular views on Twitter (and elsewhere)!
And please feel free to share your opinion about my argument?.
Pretty sure this thread is getting ratioed anyway.
[The End.]https://t.co/ycuWhb35Zx
— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) October 21, 2019
He’s right about it getting ratioed. And the thing is, as much as Twitter might seem like a mob sometimes, it’s actually like the old letters to the editor page in the newspaper; except now, journalists who put out hot takes that aren’t so hot get feedback from everyone. People can actually respond in real-time to the actual author, and sometimes their posts are just crap.
Just here for the ratio
— 82Brew (@rodgers_jeff) October 22, 2019
Hmmmmmmmmm
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) October 21, 2019
Your first sentence is correct.
The end.
Enjoy the ratio
— Sandy 〽️ (@RightGlockMom) October 21, 2019
Exhibit A: That there are too many journalists on twitter.
— Sandy Parker (@RHWOOBsandy) October 21, 2019
Exactly.
— Harold Stickeehans (@StickeeNotes) October 21, 2019
Oh, sweetie. pic.twitter.com/15DV6EQxls
— Anthony Bialy (@AnthonyBialy) October 22, 2019
Just here for the ratio.
— Bridget Phetasy (@BridgetPhetasy) October 21, 2019
Fantastic pic.twitter.com/gyku2qGdfl
— Baby Billy O’G (@WOGFilm) October 21, 2019
— 100 Proof (@ChampionCapua) October 22, 2019
here ya go pic.twitter.com/5m8Yxlr7Dw
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) October 21, 2019
"I meant to do that"
— Huell Babineaux did nothing wrong (@jtLOL) October 21, 2019
I’m just here for the moral obligation to reply
— Aelfred The Great (@aelfred_D) October 21, 2019
You're just trying to get ratioed to prove your point, right?
— Yellojkt (@yellojkt) October 21, 2019
Sure, but being ratioed doesn't demonstrate the value of a tweet, either.
— Daniel Lee (@RealDanLee) October 21, 2019
tl;dr, just adding to the ratio
— Lo-Ping: The Cumpire Strikes Back! (@VidyaAndPandas) October 22, 2019
It's perhaps cowardly to censor or modify one's thoughts to avoid being ratioed. But being ratioed itself has no bearing on one's courage.
— David V. Johnson (@contrarianp) October 21, 2019
I would like to thank our brave soldiers and vets that have been ratioed on the battlefield defending this twerp's * I mean verified bona fide philosopher and hot takes dispenser * right to say stuff like this in public forum without a shred of sarcasm.
— lexsion (@lexsion) October 21, 2019
Getting ratio’d for trying to defend getting ratio’d pic.twitter.com/Jw5vs3P7Ps
— litquidity (@litcapital) October 21, 2019
At this point I'm obligated to contribute to this ratio
— Pasta man ? (@Altsurrealist) October 21, 2019
— Paul Sacca (@Paul_Sacca) October 21, 2019
Sigh…
I’d write a tweetstorm about everything wrong with this argument, but apparently that will just convince you you’re right. pic.twitter.com/nobbw9pdgv
— davekarpf (@davekarpf) October 22, 2019
Just here for for the ratio pic.twitter.com/pXVsq6drCu
— Fusilli Spock (@awstar11) October 21, 2019
just here to contribute to you inevitably being ratio'd
— irj (@causingdebate) October 21, 2019
you're gonna get ratiod for this one bro, and it's not because of courage and integrity
— Mr Dyspeptic (@katzenbrau) October 21, 2019
“When an audience boos it’s actually a compliment.”
Brilliant corporate-speak.
— Brook Hines (@nashville_brook) October 21, 2019
I'm just here for the real-time demonstration about ratios.
— Kenny E (@TarHeeled67) October 21, 2019
Here to add to the ratio to make you feel brave!
— Jenny Anne (@tantrumblue1) October 22, 2019
I’m here for the irony.
— AgainstTrumpDude (@TheAmishDude) October 21, 2019
One can be bravely wrong or bravely stupid. I don’t see the point in defending that.
— TriciaK (@Tribble_Bait) October 21, 2019
@BridgetPhetasy getting ratioed defending the ratio *may* be the quintessential phetasy.
— jongouty (@jongouty) October 21, 2019
It's "Inception"-esque.
— Jay Dubb (@JayDubbTX) October 21, 2019
Wait a second: Does anyone out there seriously think that a tweet's ratio is presumptive proof–or even probative evidence–of its value? Is that really a thing?
— Marty Lederman (@marty_lederman) October 21, 2019
Ugh. Counterpoint: Cillizza.
— John (@johnlk_80) October 21, 2019
I, too, will contribute to your self-regard.
— Poultrygeist ☠️ (@DucksForDuckGod) October 22, 2019
it's like poetry man pic.twitter.com/qxtotxSQAp
— Herbert West PhD (@EmceeColumns) October 22, 2019
lol pic.twitter.com/Nm9uNUdvTN
— Terry Bogard, CIA (@3rd_nrg) October 22, 2019
— Islamicat ??? (@_Islamicat) October 22, 2019
Must be hard to be so brave
— Niccccccc (@AgentDarraghFSB) October 21, 2019
can we ratio this
— Gamecock Wizard (@ITPilnnacTheWiz) October 21, 2019
We must
— Davena Osborne (@DaveOsb98145166) October 21, 2019
did you write this solely so you could get ratio'd and then point back to what you have written and be like "oh wow actually I'm courageous"?
— Dylan Lysen (@DylanLysen) October 21, 2019
I honestly don’t think I’ve ever encountered a ratio’d post that didn’t deserve it on it’s face.
A thoughtful but controversial post may get a lot of negative responses, but not a bad ratio.— Skip Intro (@pglover) October 21, 2019
He's right.
A ratio isn't always a sign that the tweet is stupid (and its author morally or intellectually deficient.)
Sometimes it's a desperate plea for attention.
In this case, it is both.
— Kyle Beckley (@Kyle_Beckley) October 21, 2019
Thread so long he ratioed himself
— Tyler (@tylerpeavler) October 21, 2019
Bless your heart
— Analytic Valley Girl Chris (@ChrisExpTheNews) October 21, 2019
It’s a duty to ratio you now
— Aric “The Wonderful Wizard” Wood (@NemoBane) October 21, 2019
Sorry bud, but I have to contribute.
— Alex Dunning (@alchased) October 22, 2019
It is a moral imperative to ratio this into oblivion- good god
— David the Dead ? (@DrawDaveDraw) October 22, 2019
"No really, guys, hear me out. I'm actually courageous!"
— Sensible Bosh (@BoshSensible) October 21, 2019
Wow what an important take!
— Cesar Ruiz de C.?? (@crdec123) October 21, 2019
Here’s another serving of courage and integrity. You’re welcome.
— Amy (@muscleMATTERSah) October 21, 2019
@Yascha_Mounk being ratioed. @KyleKashuv pic.twitter.com/zSf029Xv7U
— Ivan Pulanco (@IvanAtHome) October 21, 2019
I agree with this, but I'm expressing my agreement as a tweet rather than a "like" in order to boost your ratio. ?
— Prophet of Loss (@prophet_of_loss) October 21, 2019
— Golden Ratio FTW (@phikickspisbutt) October 21, 2019
Also here for the ratio…I mean to witness the courage!
— John Q. Boston (@BostonJohnny617) October 21, 2019
You get paid to do this?
— rahul503 ?️ ? (@rahul_531998) October 21, 2019
“How to cope with being owned”
— James (@jamescarey8990) October 21, 2019
Only here for the ratio tbh
— Brendan Murphy (@RealBrendan) October 21, 2019
Related:
Newsweek presents a ratio-worthy theory why tanning salons are ‘opening in LGBT neighborhoods,’ facepalms ensue https://t.co/LYbufU6nQz
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) October 5, 2019
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