4 ms·

Basically they created a platform for freedom of speech. The problem is that every crack pot on the internet basically flocked to the site to say very mean thin

Basically they created a platform for freedom of speech. The problem is that every crack pot on the internet basically flocked to the site to say very mean thing about other people. I think we all agree that hate speech is not good but outright silencing people is not the correct solution. If you want to eliminate hate speech then you need to confront the people doing the hate speech and argue with them about why they're wrong. Many other social media sites also suffer from massive amounts of hate speech as well.

belltaco 8y ago
> and argue with them about why they're wrong. It's hard to argue with people that are not even wrong. For example, some hold beliefs like "Women are subhuman and only exist to serve men and were created for that purpose." How do you even argue against something like that?
philjohn 8y ago
They haven't been silenced, a business they use has decided that they no longer want to do business with them. They can go and get another registrar, and if they need another payment provider, they can always set up one themselves, or start taking bitcoin.
TheSpiceIsLife 8y ago
> and argue with them about why they're wrong. Does that actually work?
- Faark 8y ago
  It can work. It doesn't help that simple imaginary solutions that probably blame some scape goat are easy to sell compared to complicated trade-offs that marginally reduce systemic issues our society has. The US political system practically allowing only two parties doesn't help, since it makes it easy to disregard everyone not with your team instead of having to engage with a large set of different opinions. But you quite often see people post something like "thanks for saving me from being an alt-righter" in the community of for example twitch-streamer Destiny. He did engage alt right youtubers in discussions, but recently scaled that back somewhat... apparently having a right wing mob hate you is a real thread to your livelihood as well. He says he has still no idea why he got his permanent twitter ban... so yeah, I'd love someone to look into that... Anyway, we are talking about the marketplace of ideas. As with any marketplace, you need marketing to sell the good (idea). Guess what kind of ideas are worth paying for? Probably the kind that will benefit those with lots of capital. And for that reason do real lefties think capitalism will eventually always end in fascism once disillusioned people demand change and only a communist revolution can save us. I always disregarded that as stupid, but the last few years make it more and more difficult...
- yongjik 8y ago
  If that worked, we'd be seeing constant stream of ex-neo-Nazis who were frequenting Gab, turned around by argument, and stopped being neo-Nazis. Because, after all, Gab would be one of the most effective places for "de-radicalization" operation: it's filled with people ready to be logically persuaded! Well, guess what, it doesn't happen.

belltaco 8y ago

> and argue with them about why they're wrong. It's hard to argue with people that are not even wrong. For example, some hold beliefs like "Women are subhuman and only exist to serve men and were created for that purpose." How do you even argue against something like that?

philjohn 8y ago

They haven't been silenced, a business they use has decided that they no longer want to do business with them. They can go and get another registrar, and if they need another payment provider, they can always set up one themselves, or start taking bitcoin.

TheSpiceIsLife 8y ago

> and argue with them about why they're wrong. Does that actually work?

Faark 8y ago
It can work. It doesn't help that simple imaginary solutions that probably blame some scape goat are easy to sell compared to complicated trade-offs that marginally reduce systemic issues our society has. The US political system practically allowing only two parties doesn't help, since it makes it easy to disregard everyone not with your team instead of having to engage with a large set of different opinions. But you quite often see people post something like "thanks for saving me from being an alt-righter" in the community of for example twitch-streamer Destiny. He did engage alt right youtubers in discussions, but recently scaled that back somewhat... apparently having a right wing mob hate you is a real thread to your livelihood as well. He says he has still no idea why he got his permanent twitter ban... so yeah, I'd love someone to look into that... Anyway, we are talking about the marketplace of ideas. As with any marketplace, you need marketing to sell the good (idea). Guess what kind of ideas are worth paying for? Probably the kind that will benefit those with lots of capital. And for that reason do real lefties think capitalism will eventually always end in fascism once disillusioned people demand change and only a communist revolution can save us. I always disregarded that as stupid, but the last few years make it more and more difficult...
yongjik 8y ago
If that worked, we'd be seeing constant stream of ex-neo-Nazis who were frequenting Gab, turned around by argument, and stopped being neo-Nazis. Because, after all, Gab would be one of the most effective places for "de-radicalization" operation: it's filled with people ready to be logically persuaded! Well, guess what, it doesn't happen.