this post was submitted on 22 Dec 2025
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[–] Skullgrid@lemmy.world 79 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (21 children)

EDIT : Thank you for your comments. Please don't send me more replies, as everything that needs to be said has been said, and is now starting to tread the thin line between anti-zionism and anti-sematism.


I still don't get how he ended up in that position.

No, like seriously. Practically.

He's a fucking left wing linguistics professor. Even if he's a giant pedo, how does he afford to get a ticket to go to epstein island? If he can't afford it, why does epstein give him a free ride? He's on the opposite side to chomsky.

did the book sales for manufacturing consent get him that fucking rich?

[–] hamid@crazypeople.online 69 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Rich and powerful people like Epstein like to collect influence and status and part of that status is collecting novelty. This is something money can't directly buy and is exclusive so they need it like the parasites they are. Part of Epstein's appeal to these ghouls was that not only would he make you rich and get you girls but he himself was "smart" end erudite and surrounded himself with the "best and brightest." This is why he consorted with people like Hawking and Chomsky; he collected their reputations in his bag and then could tell other ghouls hey look come to the island, you can meet the most famous physicist of all time and, maybe, bang some young girls.

[–] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)
[–] hamid@crazypeople.online 23 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Sorry, Stephen Hawking https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/05/prince-andrew-clinton-hawking-what-do-the-epstein-documents-say-about-key-people

To be fair to Hawking (who was a d-bag), there isn't evidence that he went to the Island but he did meet with Epstein likely because Epstein sought out smart people to consort with

[–] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 points 2 weeks ago

I do not care to delve into the personal life of all scientists, particularly physicists, who rarely opine on human nature. Hawking's contributions to astrophysics and quantum physics are unrelated to his associations with shitty humans. In that arena, however, I do prefer Leonard Susskind over Hawking, in that Hawking's fucking ego would not let him consider other positions related to certain topics. (In short, yes, he was a douche bag).

There's an excellent book by Susskind called the Black Hole Wars about how he was right and Hawking was a dick when it came to how black holes consume objects and the data therein. Hawking eventually conceded to Susskind reluctantly after a few decades.

[–] poVoq@slrpnk.net 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think they meant Minsky.

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[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 51 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

His net worth is <$2M.

At that point in his career, Chomsky was getting invited everywhere because he was branded "the top intellectual in the world".

People would see him speak and not understand a damned word he said.

[–] bobzer@lemmy.zip 12 points 2 weeks ago

People would see him speak and not understand a damned word he said.

It's not like Chomsky understood anything he was saying outside of linguistics.

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[–] Juice@midwest.social 45 points 2 weeks ago (13 children)

Epstein collected intellectuals. He bought whole science departments at MIT, and kept a brothel of soft intellectuals like Malcolm Gladwell (imo definitely participated in some extra curriculars with Epstein), Richard Dawkins, Stephen Pinker (whom JE voted off the island (heh) because he wouldn't corroborate JE's eugenicism) and many others.

Norm (I call him Norm now) Chomsky is a guy who will just like answer any emails that come to him. He's not difficult to get a response from. I think Epstein was good at handling intellectuals, and had a lot to offer researchers like Chomsky who wanted to know how to follow the money, and where the bodies were buried. Epstein's connections and insider knowledge to the CIA, Mossad, and Les Wexner are all legitimate enough reasons to spend time talking with him.

This isnt to shift blame or culpability away from Chomsky, just to say that Epstein and associates had developed a concrete basis for power and influence among intellectuals. It wasnt just taking advantage of underage young women for personal pleasure, but all rivers seem to run into that sea.

To me though it really illustrates how Chomsky was really an ivory-tower elitist. If there was ever proof that left wing ideas only matter when they lead to taking effective action in the struggle for liberation, then Chomsky's unrepentant associations with Epstein are a shining example. As if many of his "left wing" positions weren't already problematic enough, he made sure to put on full display whom is the real subject of his work, and it isnt the toiling and exploited classes. I have some ideological differences with him, but thankfully we don't need to worry about that. His actions speak to the actual nature of his ideas, so we need only gesture toward this photo as proof of how he demolished his own legacy, and how he doesnt deserve a place among those who actually struggle to educate people about the truth of our conditions.

May his work be forgotten. What a sad, pathetic man.

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[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 27 points 2 weeks ago

He isn't really on the opposite side of Chomsky. Chomsky is very much allowed as vocal "opposition" because his conclusions all lie in cynicism towards the idea that there are meaningful alternatives to the status quo. He redirects radicalism toward doomerism and away from meaningful practice.

[–] ALoafOfBread@lemmy.ml 19 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

If you look at his emails with Epstein, it's literally Epstein asking him about his academic work, Epstein toying with various little theories and asking Chomsky about them, etc. All above board so far. Him being on the plane is not great, but it doesn't necessarily mean he's a pedo. It opens up that possibility, but there is not proof of him doing anything wrong. Yet. I really hope he didn't do anything wrong, but it's obviously a possibility.

No matter what you think about Chomsky, he's an extremely important intellectual figure and is associated with the left. Him going down would be bad for all of us - so I hope he's not a bastard.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 27 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

I highly recommend you read On Chomsky by Roderic Day. Chomsky's a bastard and the left would be better without him, as he ultimately postures his "leftism" in manners that uphold the US Empire through cynically demonizing any real alternatives.

[–] Khaliso@slrpnk.net 11 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Thanks for the recommendation, will take a look at it. What I've read of Chomsky so far is often a critique of (mostly, but not exclusively) US Imperialism, so I'm curious what this person is arguing

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 25 points 2 weeks ago

His critique of US imperialism is as I said, done in a way that downplays any alternative in real life and redirects radicals towards cynicism and nihilism. His point can be summed up as "The US Empire is evil, but everyone else is worse, so we have to support it."

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[–] amelia@feddit.org 7 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

It opens up that possibility, but there is not proof of him doing anything wrong.

Spending time and discussing politics with a convicted sex trafficker as well as getting on his "Lolita express" is already wrong enough in my opinion.

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[–] ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works 17 points 2 weeks ago

It got him celebrity. That opens doors in ways money doesn't.

[–] verdi@feddit.org 16 points 2 weeks ago

Mossad leverage against non Zionist jewish activist.

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 15 points 2 weeks ago (21 children)

Chomsky is a Zionist which publicly supports the genocidal Apartheid and is anti BDS.

Most of Chomsky's criticism is correct but coincidentally applies to Chcomsky himself.

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[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 11 points 2 weeks ago

Epstein was a major bundler and influencer in the liberal establishment, specifically within the US East Coast and the EU West Coast regions. Chompsky was also in this circle of influential political and media figures. Its not crazy that they'd run into each other any more than Epstein hobnobbing with any other Ivy League professors or national media figures or British Royals.

did the book sales for manufacturing consent get him that fucking rich?

More that knowing a guy like Epstein is what gets you regularly syndicated in news columns and invited as a guest onto TV shows. You could say the same about Larry Summers or Steven Pinker.

[–] humanspiral@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 weeks ago

how does he afford to get a ticket to go to epstein island?

Epstein was a Mossad agent offering "honey pots" for kompromat and rule over the US/west. "You're a super interesting guy. I'm having a supermodel orgy in Bahamas with lots of other famous people. I can fly by and pick you up"... you're not doing anything wrong by saying yes.

[–] DupaCycki@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Very good question indeed. Sadly, it doesn't help that Chomsky keeps avoiding answering this and other related questions.

As someone so vocal about serious crimes going unpunished, I'd imagine he'd just openly say what's going on. If he's so adamant about staying silent, it only adds more doubt and further questions.

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[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 45 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Highly recommend On Chomsky by Roderic Day for anyone that idolizes this guy or thinks him a reputable voice for the left.

[–] MechKit@beehaw.org 26 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Not idolizing anyone has saved me so much grief. I have been upset many times (I once went to see Bill Cosby live), but never heartbroken.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 13 points 2 weeks ago

That's a good attitude to have. I certainly have historical and current figures I respect and look up to, though, and would be quite upset if I found out they were as bad as Chomsky. Thankfully I never had a Zizek phase.

[–] PolandIsAStateOfMind@lemmy.ml 40 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Chomsky: "The collapse of USSR was victory for the working class"

The "working class" he meant:

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[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 25 points 2 weeks ago

The two guys calling you a "Tankie" in the comments.

[–] AlexLost@lemmy.world 18 points 2 weeks ago

What's the point of having a world class child prostitution ring if you can't use it smooze with some politicians from time to time. They are all playing the same game, and we aren't in it.

[–] bigfondue@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago

My man is just manufacturing up some consent

[–] meep_launcher@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 weeks ago

Look, Noam isn't wearing his glasses, he might think he's talking to Anthony Bourdain

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