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That's kind of a straw man, I feel. At least, somewhat unfair. I didn't imply descent into fascism. I implied a descent into norms where the internet is more l

That's kind of a straw man, I feel. At least, somewhat unfair. I didn't imply descent into fascism. I implied a descent into norms where the internet is more like TV or radio were. Historically, the web has been a uniquely free medium. There is also a commercial dynamic side to this. Regulations and restrictions favour larger, stabler, more normative companies. Also, I don't think slippery slope arguments lend too well to analogies. Some slopes are slipperier than others. ..and the overthrow of the Nazi regime was not a democratic one. It was a violent one. All the methods were not part of normative politics. Banning Nazism was a part of that overthrow. What the shelling of Berlin a slippery slope? That said, i think the ban should have been lifted by later generations, a symbolic nod to freedom of speech and association. If even Nazis in France get free speech, it's a sign that those freedoms are strong.

Trombone12 9y ago
I don't think the internet has been a uniquely free medium, they all start out unregulated after all. It has been the most unregulated medium recently, this is true, but also a nearly vacuous statement since its the only really new medium for mass communication recently. And anyway posted letters are still a very free medium, with better privacy assurances than email ever had.
shonenbat 9y ago
The funny thing is, banning national socialism provides it with press, legitimacy and support. I believe the forces banning national socialism are aligned with (and perhaps: funding) the forces supporting national socialism. They're both in favor of rigid societal control structures (although their methods differ) and the repression of free speech. Both the supporters and attackers of national socialism tend to be socialists, in the "communism" sense and not in the sense of "democratic socialism". I'm not saying "Nazi", and that's not an "implicit endorsement" or a "dogwhistle". "Nazi" it is a 1920's slur invented by communists, based off "Sozi", a slur for socialists. I think it's a damaging and unproductive meme to call national socialism "Nazism", it's a barrier to discussion and understanding. If "Nazism" was both the vilest expression of hatred and cruelty by humanity ever, and a movement that was at the time supported by a large number of humans, it must contain some pretty powerful ideas. Studying it would be useful if only to find out how it came to exist and how a resurgence can be prevented, and if you do so I don't think your conclusion will be "ban Nazism and just embrace Sozism". The reverse also goes for communism, by the way.

Trombone12 9y ago

I don't think the internet has been a uniquely free medium, they all start out unregulated after all. It has been the most unregulated medium recently, this is true, but also a nearly vacuous statement since its the only really new medium for mass communication recently. And anyway posted letters are still a very free medium, with better privacy assurances than email ever had.

shonenbat 9y ago

The funny thing is, banning national socialism provides it with press, legitimacy and support. I believe the forces banning national socialism are aligned with (and perhaps: funding) the forces supporting national socialism. They're both in favor of rigid societal control structures (although their methods differ) and the repression of free speech. Both the supporters and attackers of national socialism tend to be socialists, in the "communism" sense and not in the sense of "democratic socialism". I'm not saying "Nazi", and that's not an "implicit endorsement" or a "dogwhistle". "Nazi" it is a 1920's slur invented by communists, based off "Sozi", a slur for socialists. I think it's a damaging and unproductive meme to call national socialism "Nazism", it's a barrier to discussion and understanding. If "Nazism" was both the vilest expression of hatred and cruelty by humanity ever, and a movement that was at the time supported by a large number of humans, it must contain some pretty powerful ideas. Studying it would be useful if only to find out how it came to exist and how a resurgence can be prevented, and if you do so I don't think your conclusion will be "ban Nazism and just embrace Sozism". The reverse also goes for communism, by the way.