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Re:Before buying a NYT subscription, here's what it'll take ... by matthewmacleod on Thursday February 18, 2021 @05:25AM (#26178172)
The idea that someone would suggest the Spectator—more reactionary troll factory than magazine at this point—as a response to someone who feels the NYT is pushing too much of an agenda is absolutely hilarious.
Re:Before buying a NYT subscription, here's what it'll take ... by chmod600 on Thursday February 18, 2021 @03:20PM (#26184935)
To be clear, I generally accept bias. It's just the way things are.

My complaint about the NYT and many other news sources is absurd combination of a hyper-specific and rapidly-changing set of beliefs, along with brutal enforcement of those beliefs.

My challenge to you: write down your beliefs on a controverial topic (on paper). Wait 6 months and pick up the NYT. My prediction: they will be in the process of canceling someone for those same beliefs, and you will shred the piece of paper out of fear.

OK, maybe that's an exaggeration. But I wouldn't be shocked if it was too close for comfort.

Re:Before buying a NYT subscription, here's what it'll take ... by Veen on Thursday February 18, 2021 @06:35AM (#26178649)
Have you read it recently? There certainly are trollish (but not insane) rightwingers like Rod Liddle and Toby Young, and Taki must be published solely to wind up left-wingers. But the main editorial slant is basically Cameron-conservative/New Labour types like Nick Cohen, Katy Balls, Isabel Hardman, Matthew Paris etc.

It's definitely right-of-center and doesn't mind cocking a snook at left-wing holy cows, but it's not a "reactionary troll factory".

Re:Before buying a NYT subscription, here's what it'll take ... by matthewmacleod on Thursday February 18, 2021 @01:12PM (#26183338)
Yes, I've read it.

Magazines publishing centre-right views are fine. But if what you are seeking is a news publication that doesn't push a particular agenda, then The Spectator is pretty much as far away from it as you can get outside of Pravda.

You're right, of course, that it publishes some mild centre-right commentators with uncontroversial conservative views. That doesn't really compensate, in my view, for the provision of space to writers like Liddle and Young. These particular people are reactionary trolls; their writing contains little other than disinformation deliberately intended to stoke culture-war nonsense, and they're too smart to believe what they write. This stuff does little more than make society worse for everyone.

But I'd say regardless of your views on individual commentators or the overall quality of the publication – if someone wants to avoid the NYT because it is campaigning too much, then directing them to The Spectator is laughable.

Re:Before buying a NYT subscription, here's what it'll take ... by DanBC on Thursday February 18, 2021 @06:41AM (#26178691)
The Spectator routinely publishes misinfo.
Re:Before buying a NYT subscription, here's what it'll take ... by Veen on Thursday February 18, 2021 @06:47AM (#26178742)
Would you like to provide an example? Or, better, several examples to establish a pattern that couldn't also be found in, for example, The Guardian or NYT?
Re:Before buying a NYT subscription, here's what it'll take ... by DanBC on Thursday February 18, 2021 @11:19AM (#26181720)
Any of their coverage of trans issues.

I haven't said the Guardian or NYT is better.

Re:Before buying a NYT subscription, here's what it'll take ... by Veen on Thursday February 18, 2021 @12:18PM (#26182582)
You’re not a fan of Debbie Hayton then? Although I can’t imagine what her motivations would be for spreading misinformation about trans issues. Perhaps she and other Spectator writers have views trans activists disagree with, but that’s not the same as misinformation.
Re:Before buying a NYT subscription, here's what it'll take ... by DanBC on Friday February 19, 2021 @11:27AM (#26194769)
Debbie Hayton spreads misinfo. She does so because she gets validation form other transphobes.

It's not "disagreement" -- they regularly publish easily checkable objectively false information.

Re:Before buying a NYT subscription, here's what it'll take ... by feu on Thursday February 18, 2021 @06:45AM (#26178722)
That's simply false.