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Can I just clarify, are you talking about when states do this or when society does this ? The article is (from my reading) quite clearly talking about states t

Can I just clarify, are you talking about when states do this or when society does this ? The article is (from my reading) quite clearly talking about states that are closing down freedom of expression, not society as a whole. Like, I can say, “The American President is a disaster for the country, all his ideas a trash, he smells funny and should be voted out as soon as possible” and I don’t have to fear the the American Government is coming to get me. In places with reducing freedom of expression this is becoming more dangerous. This is very different to saying something politically controversial and losing my job because a company doesn’t want to go against public opinion.

colechristensen 4y ago
I'm saying intolerance in broader society is an incredible weakness that encourages and gives power to intolerance in the state. People are begging for authoritarian solutions to what they view as moral problems in society. If they can't convince people to do "what's right" they want the state to do it by force. It then becomes easy for authoritarians to take power because it's literally what the people are asking for, and then when they are in power it is easy to shape public opinion to be whatever they want. >This is very different to saying something politically controversial and losing my job because a company doesn’t want to go against public opinion. It really isn't. Corporations are taking the place of the state. If you say something controversial and can't get a job as a result and end up in a dire living situation, does it really matter if it was a few corporations or a dictator that made you unemployable?
- MrsPeaches 4y ago
  > I'm saying intolerance in broader society is an incredible weakness that encourages and gives power to intolerance in the state. What is your evidence for this statement? Could you provide an example? > Corporations are taking the place of the state. Yes. The state’s role is certainly smaller than it was in many western countries (e.g. in the UK) but I don’t know what that has to do with free speech. Yes, it does matter. If I am an asshole who stirs shit up at a company, I probably won’t find work. If I am an asshole (not breaking the law) the state can’t deny me basic services it provides to its citizens just because I am an asshole. Can I just ask though: what period would you consider the golden age of free speech? What is the peak from which we are descending?

colechristensen 4y ago

I'm saying intolerance in broader society is an incredible weakness that encourages and gives power to intolerance in the state. People are begging for authoritarian solutions to what they view as moral problems in society. If they can't convince people to do "what's right" they want the state to do it by force. It then becomes easy for authoritarians to take power because it's literally what the people are asking for, and then when they are in power it is easy to shape public opinion to be whatever they want. >This is very different to saying something politically controversial and losing my job because a company doesn’t want to go against public opinion. It really isn't. Corporations are taking the place of the state. If you say something controversial and can't get a job as a result and end up in a dire living situation, does it really matter if it was a few corporations or a dictator that made you unemployable?

MrsPeaches 4y ago
> I'm saying intolerance in broader society is an incredible weakness that encourages and gives power to intolerance in the state. What is your evidence for this statement? Could you provide an example? > Corporations are taking the place of the state. Yes. The state’s role is certainly smaller than it was in many western countries (e.g. in the UK) but I don’t know what that has to do with free speech. Yes, it does matter. If I am an asshole who stirs shit up at a company, I probably won’t find work. If I am an asshole (not breaking the law) the state can’t deny me basic services it provides to its citizens just because I am an asshole. Can I just ask though: what period would you consider the golden age of free speech? What is the peak from which we are descending?