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Personally, I hope Elon Musk buys Twitter and grinds all of the blue checks under a repressive heel, Leto II Atreides-style. When they are banned, I will refle
by at_a_remove 5y ago
Personally, I hope Elon Musk buys Twitter and grinds all of the blue checks under a repressive heel, Leto II Atreides-style. When they are banned, I will reflect their "It's only censorship with the government does it *disingenuous look*" and "free speed doesn't mean freedom from consequences" and "it's a private company!" thought-terminating cliches back at them. I want them to feel "silenced" and mocked for complaining, until the value of what they have lost aches like a broken arm. They should be reminded of the disrespect they had for a document written, after all, by "dead white guys."
I often despair and wonder if people as a group tend to only function ethically when they are true underdogs.
- CWuestefeld 5y agoWhile I tend to feel like you do, keep in mind that the hypocrisy runs both ways. While Conservatives were complaining about being gagged by the Left, they were all about free and open speech. But when Trump complains about platforms providing the soapbox for his enemies, it's his supporters that want to wield the gags. I'm sure that lots of people really do value free speech as such, whether or not it's benefiting them (I know I do, and I don't have any reason to suspect different of you). But it sure seems like at least the activists are only interested in using it as a weapon when it happens to be in their own hands, and stomping it underfoot when the circumstances differ.
- at_a_remove 5y agoHence my bit about underdogs. The ACLU seemed to fight for a lot more for free speech back when they and their side were not ascendant.
- troyvit 5y agoMan I think I subscribe to different twitter channels than you. But what you ended your post with has been proved out time and again. Maybe it is a reason to despair.
- memish 5y agoHe wouldn't do that, but it would be useful for them to understand that's what they are doing right now.
- psyc 5y agoI want those people to feel those things too, but definitely not at the expense of Musk demonstrating petty hypocrisy and breaking his word. It would be enough anguish for them if they could no longer gang up and silence people, and they knew Twitter would no longer help them do it. Being the way they are, though, I bet they would find another way.