4 ms·

Repeating myself here, but oh well: please don't quote the "fire in a crowded theater" trope to support censorship until you've actually read the SCOTUS opinion

Repeating myself here, but oh well: please don't quote the "fire in a crowded theater" trope to support censorship until you've actually read the SCOTUS opinion that it came from. It's not quite as bad as "three generations of imbeciles is enough", but it's a pretty awful decision nonetheless.

toomuchtodo 7y ago
I've read the opinion, and also have a recurring donation to both the ACLU and EFF. My position may be nuanced, but I still believe it defendable.
- natechols 7y ago
  It would be more defendable if you didn't use that quote. In my experience the people most likely to throw it into the discussion are also the people most likely to be horrified by the SCOTUS opinion.
  - toomuchtodo 7y ago
    Point taken.
- tathougies 7y ago
  The ACLU advocates for the spread of misinformation (as they should). They have advocated successfully for white supremacist nutjobs to spread their hate in all sorts of places. Other cases of the ACLU advocating for misinformation: 1. Lovell v. Griffin -- ACLU advocated for Jehovah's witnesses to spread published misinformation on city streets without any governmental intervention or approval needed. 2. Terminiello v. Chicago -- ACLU advocated on behalf of preacher who used falsehoods about Jews to stir anti-semitism 3. New York Times v. Sullivan -- ACLU advocated on behalf of the New York Times claiming they should be allowed to publish falsehoods, even if they constituted libel against an individual, unless those falsehoods were published with an actual intent to libel. 4. Prune Yard Shopping Center v. Robins -- particularly important. In this case, ACLU argued that even private property owners must allow free speech, when their property is basically public. Thus, facebook, like a mall, would be forced to allow all speech without restraint. So thank you for supporting the ACLU, but your support and your belief that facebook ought to restrict speech is incredibly at odds. That's like me contributing to the Trump campaign while thinking he's a buffoon. But, whatever.
  - toomuchtodo 7y ago
    I think Trump is a buffoon but am still satisfied with some of his actions, just as I support the ACLU despite my belief some of their positions are absolute and misguided. I’ll continue to support them even when pleased with some cases they lose, if I don’t agree with their position. That’s compromise.

toomuchtodo 7y ago

I've read the opinion, and also have a recurring donation to both the ACLU and EFF. My position may be nuanced, but I still believe it defendable.

natechols 7y ago
It would be more defendable if you didn't use that quote. In my experience the people most likely to throw it into the discussion are also the people most likely to be horrified by the SCOTUS opinion.
- toomuchtodo 7y ago
  Point taken.
tathougies 7y ago
The ACLU advocates for the spread of misinformation (as they should). They have advocated successfully for white supremacist nutjobs to spread their hate in all sorts of places. Other cases of the ACLU advocating for misinformation: 1. Lovell v. Griffin -- ACLU advocated for Jehovah's witnesses to spread published misinformation on city streets without any governmental intervention or approval needed. 2. Terminiello v. Chicago -- ACLU advocated on behalf of preacher who used falsehoods about Jews to stir anti-semitism 3. New York Times v. Sullivan -- ACLU advocated on behalf of the New York Times claiming they should be allowed to publish falsehoods, even if they constituted libel against an individual, unless those falsehoods were published with an actual intent to libel. 4. Prune Yard Shopping Center v. Robins -- particularly important. In this case, ACLU argued that even private property owners must allow free speech, when their property is basically public. Thus, facebook, like a mall, would be forced to allow all speech without restraint. So thank you for supporting the ACLU, but your support and your belief that facebook ought to restrict speech is incredibly at odds. That's like me contributing to the Trump campaign while thinking he's a buffoon. But, whatever.
- toomuchtodo 7y ago
  I think Trump is a buffoon but am still satisfied with some of his actions, just as I support the ACLU despite my belief some of their positions are absolute and misguided. I’ll continue to support them even when pleased with some cases they lose, if I don’t agree with their position. That’s compromise.