A Level-Headed Take on Free Speech

What's the deal?

It's disheartening to see so much of what could be interesting discussion on free speech reduced to labeling, name calling, and attacks on straw men.

Also I don't mean to tell people how and what to post, but if you want to contribute anything of value about a divisive topic like this one then please consider having the courtesy to walk readers through your position to help drive conversation. Just a paragraph or two. I completely understand the need to vent, but inflammatory vent posts should probably be labeled as such. Besides, if you want to just blurt out a hot take with zero elaboration, there are several popular websites I can point you to that are designed especially for that.

The internet and media have turned free speech into a complex and divisive issue when it shouldn't be

A core issue I usually encounter when listening to people argue for free speech is that they're afraid of the weaponization of censorship for political gain -- as anyone who's been paying attention the past few years should be. That's what we should be talking about but for some reason discussion keeps going beyond that.

The issue gets confused when you start throwing terms like "absolutist" around and going into things like the right to be offensive. Sure, people have that right (within the legal bounds), but equally important is the right for people to block out any speech they don't like. People who run platforms or communities also maintain the right to block out any speech if they feel it goes against the best interest of their community.

Why would I host a platform if I didn't have the ability to lay down my own ground rules? Why would I participate in a community if, whether due to heavy handed moderation or threat of harassment, I'll be afraid to speak my mind?

Places like the Fediverse have the right idea for a healthy balance. It's essentially impossible to fully deplatform someone, but communities retain their right to govern themselves however they like.

It can be so simple

People should be able to feel that they can freely speak their mind without holding back. Both the speaker and the audience should strive to act according to the golden rule (do unto others...) a little more. Moderation tools exist to punish bad actors. If community members think those moderation tools are being used unethically or just have a policy disagreement they can very easily move elsewhere thanks to free software.

- moddedBear / 2022-05-02

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