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> We have reached a point where it has been a mainstream position to view the idea of defending free speech as disagreeable, or even deeply offensive. I disagr

> We have reached a point where it has been a mainstream position to view the idea of defending free speech as disagreeable, or even deeply offensive. I disagree. There is a very vocal, very small minority that's ruining it for everyone else. Certainly not mainstream.

syshum 5y ago
I have to ask, which side are you taking, because I honestly do not know, and I dont think it is "small minority" on either side. There are ALOT of people that oppose free speech as a concept, hiding behind statements like "hate speech is not free speech" or "words are violence" So while think you are attempting to defend free speech, I can also see how your statement would be "free speech absolutist are ruining everything"
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tharne 5y ago
> There is a very vocal, very small minority that's ruining it for everyone else. You're both right. Unfortunately, that very small minority is culturally dominant, so it is the case that: 1) >> We have reached a point where it has been a mainstream position to view the idea of defending free speech as disagreeable, or even deeply offensive. And; 2) > There is a very vocal, very small minority that's ruining it for everyone else. In the same way a relatively small but well-organized group like the Taliban can control an entire country despite lacking enthusiastic support from the majority of the population, a small but well-organized subculture can dominate and dictate what is/is not acceptable in mainstream American culture. For a better and more nuanced explanation, see "The Minority Rule" by Nassim Taleb. https://nassimtaleb.org/2016/08/intolerant-wins-dictatorship-small-minority/ https://nassimtaleb.org/2016/08/intolerant-wins-dictatorship...
xhkkffbf 5y ago
Yes, that's my experience. Everyone in my circles is perfectly happy with the idea that everyone entitled to have opinions and express them politely. It's only a radical few that are pushing the cancel culture hard.
commandlinefan 5y ago
Well, it seems that the very vocal, very small minority are the gatekeepers to what can be widely disseminated enough to become mainstream.
snicker7 5y ago
By "very small minority", do you mean "one of the two only viable political parties in the United States"?

syshum 5y ago

I have to ask, which side are you taking, because I honestly do not know, and I dont think it is "small minority" on either side. There are ALOT of people that oppose free speech as a concept, hiding behind statements like "hate speech is not free speech" or "words are violence" So while think you are attempting to defend free speech, I can also see how your statement would be "free speech absolutist are ruining everything"

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tharne 5y ago

> There is a very vocal, very small minority that's ruining it for everyone else. You're both right. Unfortunately, that very small minority is culturally dominant, so it is the case that: 1) >> We have reached a point where it has been a mainstream position to view the idea of defending free speech as disagreeable, or even deeply offensive. And; 2) > There is a very vocal, very small minority that's ruining it for everyone else. In the same way a relatively small but well-organized group like the Taliban can control an entire country despite lacking enthusiastic support from the majority of the population, a small but well-organized subculture can dominate and dictate what is/is not acceptable in mainstream American culture. For a better and more nuanced explanation, see "The Minority Rule" by Nassim Taleb. https://nassimtaleb.org/2016/08/intolerant-wins-dictatorship-small-minority/ https://nassimtaleb.org/2016/08/intolerant-wins-dictatorship...

xhkkffbf 5y ago

Yes, that's my experience. Everyone in my circles is perfectly happy with the idea that everyone entitled to have opinions and express them politely. It's only a radical few that are pushing the cancel culture hard.

commandlinefan 5y ago

Well, it seems that the very vocal, very small minority are the gatekeepers to what can be widely disseminated enough to become mainstream.

snicker7 5y ago

By "very small minority", do you mean "one of the two only viable political parties in the United States"?