3 ms·

Facebook has a track-record of pulling racially / religiously offensive pages. They got rid of some Italian Neo-Nazi's a few years back, and some anti-semetic s

by aresant 16y ago

Facebook has a track-record of pulling racially / religiously offensive pages. They got rid of some Italian Neo-Nazi's a few years back, and some anti-semetic stuff late last year. Regardless of the stance on free speech, pictures of Mohammed are offensive to Muslims. Given their previous policy, I don't think this is any surprise or should get any analysis beyond the attention paid to prior examples . . .

madair 16y ago
Religious fundamentalism, Muslim, Christian, or other, doesn't just offend us who are not devotees of what we can reasonably consider an artifact of prehistoric human evolution, it restricts us through the tyranny of the majority, not to mention often effects violent actions against people who only use speech to ostensibly "offend". Examples of religion causing meaningful offense: Talk to your local gay marriage activist.
dcrawford 16y ago
It is very dangerous to equate "Everybody Draw Mohammed" with neo-nazi's and anti-semites. In the case of the neo-nazis, they consistently threaten to attack and kill innocent people. In the case of Islamic Fundamentalists, it is the ones who draw Mohammed who are being threatened. Facebook has every right to control the content on their site, and if this content were created out of irrational hatred, I would agree with their decision. But the context here is a group who are trying to manipulate their detractors by threat of force, and Facebook is allowing them to do it.
- zaidf 16y ago
  But the context here is a group who are trying to manipulate their detractors by threat of force, and Facebook is allowing them to do it. There are groups who will threaten violence against neo-nazis. That does not justify allowing neo-nazi stuff because there are still millions offended by it. The same holds true here, IMO. Of course, I am very biased. But that also means that I am part of the OVERWHELMING group who feels offended but isn't threatening anyone.
  - tome 16y ago
    You've got it the wrong way round. I think dcrawford's argument was that "Draw Mohammed day is non-violent thus it should be allowed to stay".

by aresant 16y ago

madair 16y ago

Religious fundamentalism, Muslim, Christian, or other, doesn't just offend us who are not devotees of what we can reasonably consider an artifact of prehistoric human evolution, it restricts us through the tyranny of the majority, not to mention often effects violent actions against people who only use speech to ostensibly "offend". Examples of religion causing meaningful offense: Talk to your local gay marriage activist.

dcrawford 16y ago

It is very dangerous to equate "Everybody Draw Mohammed" with neo-nazi's and anti-semites. In the case of the neo-nazis, they consistently threaten to attack and kill innocent people. In the case of Islamic Fundamentalists, it is the ones who draw Mohammed who are being threatened. Facebook has every right to control the content on their site, and if this content were created out of irrational hatred, I would agree with their decision. But the context here is a group who are trying to manipulate their detractors by threat of force, and Facebook is allowing them to do it.

zaidf 16y ago
But the context here is a group who are trying to manipulate their detractors by threat of force, and Facebook is allowing them to do it. There are groups who will threaten violence against neo-nazis. That does not justify allowing neo-nazi stuff because there are still millions offended by it. The same holds true here, IMO. Of course, I am very biased. But that also means that I am part of the OVERWHELMING group who feels offended but isn't threatening anyone.
- tome 16y ago
  You've got it the wrong way round. I think dcrawford's argument was that "Draw Mohammed day is non-violent thus it should be allowed to stay".