Thread by @jsrailton

Watching reactions to the #DominionvFox settlement.

Deja vu of so many times folks had big expectations (pushed by media coverage) about how big cases & civil litigation would somehow heroically defend democracy with a clear win.

Only to be inevitably disappointed. 1/

2/ As our democracy is assailed by relentless streams of disinformation & institutions are attacked, it's important to recognize that we are rarely going to get clean, unambiguous wins.

Especially from the legal system. Especially when parties have competing incentives.

3/ People want heroes when the stakes are big.

Media encourages it.

Easier to cheer heroics on a screen... than roll up sleeves & find your own way to pitch in.

If you take the first path, prepare yourself for the inevitable disappointment as heroes never. quite. deliver.

4/ Law seems to offer the promise of clear victory. But rarely is it so.

Cases are complex & slow. Those chosen heroes have their own complex incentives.

Like 3/4 a billion for 100 person 17.5m annual revenue company.

I wish coverage & conversation got real about this.

5/ Absolutely. So many lessons we have not collectively learned.

Because the truth is kinda disappointing.

And partly I think it's because there is a formula of coverage and takes about cases that drives traffic, viewers & attention.

https://twitter.com/qjurecic/status/1648480633839300609

6/ For court fights you care about where a company is going up against a bad adversary, remember:

Neither the company nor their lawyers can be expected to act like they have a duty to your values.

And drumming up a massive wave of popular support & interest = fantastic strategy

7/ Transparency: Some ambiguous wording of the original first tweet meant that a lot of folks misread the point I was trying to make, stopped there & went sideways.

I've deleted and reposted this whole thread with some wording tweaks.