3 ms·

>I think removing extremist content is a good idea overall (although this then begs the question, how do you legally define extremist content?[1]) Whatever the

>I think removing extremist content is a good idea overall (although this then begs the question, how do you legally define extremist content?[1]) Whatever the people with power say it is. The whole point of free speech is to prevent this kind of thing. This isn’t some minor flaw you’ve identified, but the entire reason why freedom of speech is necessary.

yladiz 8y ago
In cases like this I’m ok with a restriction to true freedom of speech. For example, I am ok with making saying the holocaust didn’t happen illegal, or making Nazi imagery illegal even though it is a restriction on speech. I feel like this falls under a similar umbrella. Essentially it boils down to having to trust the lawmakers, and I do by and large trust the lawmakers in the EU, moreso than in the states.
- marcoperaza 8y ago
  >I am ok with making saying the holocaust didn’t happen illegal, or making Nazi imagery illegal even though it is a restriction on speech. People don’t deserve punishment for the contents of their conscience or their beliefs, no matter how wrong their beliefs are. To take a man’s freedom for speaking his mind is one of the most abhorrent things you can do in this world. Why is it that the Nazi iconography and holocaust denial is always singled out, but no one ever bans Soviet apologia or imagery? Could it be that the powerful forces in Europe are more sympathetic to one side than the other? Both are clear cut cases of murderous regimes whose ideas belong in the history books, but already the censors you are eager to trust are abusing their power to further their political agenda.
  - drivingmenuts 8y ago
    > Soviet apologia or imagery Is that actually a bigger problem in the EU than it has been in the past? There have always been admirers of the USSR in every country, but if I recall, they've always been a tiny percentage compared to Nazi apologists, aside from Russia. I also don't recall any of them being outright racist and calling for wholesale destruction in the way that other extremists have done. I could be wrong there - I'm not a huge consumer of Nazi or Soviet propaganda.
    - marcoperaza 8y ago
      Europe is full of active self-identifying communist parties, many with seats in the various parliaments. Or how about the yearly ritual of masked French far-left activists wreaking havoc on the streets. Why is no one banning these violent extremists?

yladiz 8y ago

In cases like this I’m ok with a restriction to true freedom of speech. For example, I am ok with making saying the holocaust didn’t happen illegal, or making Nazi imagery illegal even though it is a restriction on speech. I feel like this falls under a similar umbrella. Essentially it boils down to having to trust the lawmakers, and I do by and large trust the lawmakers in the EU, moreso than in the states.

marcoperaza 8y ago
>I am ok with making saying the holocaust didn’t happen illegal, or making Nazi imagery illegal even though it is a restriction on speech. People don’t deserve punishment for the contents of their conscience or their beliefs, no matter how wrong their beliefs are. To take a man’s freedom for speaking his mind is one of the most abhorrent things you can do in this world. Why is it that the Nazi iconography and holocaust denial is always singled out, but no one ever bans Soviet apologia or imagery? Could it be that the powerful forces in Europe are more sympathetic to one side than the other? Both are clear cut cases of murderous regimes whose ideas belong in the history books, but already the censors you are eager to trust are abusing their power to further their political agenda.
- drivingmenuts 8y ago
  > Soviet apologia or imagery Is that actually a bigger problem in the EU than it has been in the past? There have always been admirers of the USSR in every country, but if I recall, they've always been a tiny percentage compared to Nazi apologists, aside from Russia. I also don't recall any of them being outright racist and calling for wholesale destruction in the way that other extremists have done. I could be wrong there - I'm not a huge consumer of Nazi or Soviet propaganda.
  - marcoperaza 8y ago
    Europe is full of active self-identifying communist parties, many with seats in the various parliaments. Or how about the yearly ritual of masked French far-left activists wreaking havoc on the streets. Why is no one banning these violent extremists?