Free speech is a meme

merry schizoid

merry schizoid

kiwifarms.net
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May 4, 2024
This isn't necessary a political thread but a thread to discuss human nature in general. Most people desire free speech only when they don't have power. Soon as these same people get some form of power be it social or otherwise they'll always, 9/10 times be against free speech.


All the people currently whining about being suppressed would do the same against the people they dislike given they gain power.
 
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For a moment i did give your question some thought and while on the surface it seems right you seem to want to conflate the idea of restricting speech with the idea of power, all people want free speech it is just that when man comes into power he may take it upon himself to restrict the power of others which in doing so keeps himself in power. This is a problem of power not a problem of free speech. He does not strictly want to go against free speech it is just that free speech could lead to him being out of power and so he must restrict it. You have made the wrong assumption that his goal is to get rid of free speech or that he is against free speech which is not the case as he cares not for the means but of the outcome.
 
You are correct in that most would gladly cancel their opposition given the chance.
However, you are incorrect in that free speech is not something we should strive towards.
 
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merry schizoid said:
All the people currently whining about being suppressed would do the same against the people they dislike given they gain power.
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Nah, I wouldn't. It's possible to adhere to principles, you just have to be honest and actually try. I suppose you could also have faith that the truth wins, maybe not in your lifetime, maybe not for long after that, but eventually, because the truth has the advantage of being correct. Things that don't work eventually fail, even if people don't really know or are in denial about why.

Mill may have his flaws but he was right. The suppressors don't have confidence they're right, they're trying to create the illusion of infallibility until they fall from power. This creates a system of dishonesty that hastens its own demise through sheer inertia. You can't keep the plates spinning forever. That's falling for your own manufactured mythology.
 
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merry schizoid said:
All the people currently whining about being suppressed would do the same against the people they dislike given they gain power.
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The reason we're in this shit is because we were tolerant to people who would never show us the smallest bit of tolerance. It's the real life demonstration of the (Dune?) quote "When I am weak, I demand freedom because that is according to your principles. When I am strong, I deny you freedom because that is according to my principles."

With the exception of a few moral panics (red scares, satanic panic) the US has been pretty good about allowing open debate and agreeing to disagree where we can't find common ground on something. If you're a zoomer and don't remember a time of open debate, I can see why you would feel otherwise.
 
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I'm not so sure about your understanding of human nature, OP. That requires a level of empathy.
 
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We support free speech, but when we come to power, we will ban all discussions of trannyism, marxism and atheism.
It's not censorship, though, just common sense. :smug:
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