3 ms·

Would it be OK to cut off access to water, electricity and heating for beliefs that some people consider bigoted? Said something wrong on the internet - no more

• sjsdaiuasgdia 4y ago
  You can always stuff your cash in your mattress if you manage to be enough of a bigot that every financial institution decides you're radioactive. Harder to do that with utilities like water and electricity. It's worth noting that most US jurisdictions have laws that limit how and when utilities, whether managed publicly or privately, can terminate service. A common example is not being able to cut off gas service in the middle of winter, even if the customer is severely behind on payments. We don't have to worry so much about the slippery slope you describe because we have already established regulatory backstops that consider utilities different from other businesses.
  • zirgs 4y ago
    Gay marriage is illegal in my country. What if conservatives get in power and decide to deplatform those who argue for marriage equality? Remember that "your side" won't be in power forever and deplatforming for political reasons creates ugly precedents.
    • sjsdaiuasgdia 4y ago
      The point of the post you replied to originally is that bigotry is often clothed in the language of politics, and generally that's done by the bigots. It's only politics because the bigots create that relationship as a mask for the bigotry. It's not deplatforming for political reasons. It's deplatforming bigots.
      • gadders 4y ago
        Who is or isn't a bigot isn't an objective test. It's easy to accuse someone you disagree with politically of being a bigot.
        • mrguyorama 4y ago
          If you cause me harm for something I am, you are a bigot. If you cause me harm because of something I do, you might not be a bigot.
          • zirgs 4y ago
            Those who are against gay marriage say that it does harm to families. Those who are against abortions say that they are against killing babies. They also argue that those things aren't political opinions. Currently I'm not afraid to say that gay marriage should be legalised, because the worst that could happen is that some homophobe could insult me with homophobic slurs. But if extra-judicial persecution of political opponents is normalised and encouraged then I sure as hell would keep my mouth shut, because I don't want to lose my job and my bank account. A business that deplatforms "bigots" today could easily start deplatforming "baby killers" and "family wreckers" tomorrow.
          • gadders 4y ago
            As long as by "harm" you mean physical harm, and not just mean words.
            • zirgs 4y ago
              Remember that "silence is violence". So even if you say nothing - that can be perceived as harmful by some people.