6 ms·

The one who institutes a list of banned words and locks discussions about them.

marcod 3y ago
> fascism is a mass political movement that emphasizes extreme nationalism, militarism, and the supremacy of both the nation and the single, powerful leader over the individual citizen. And what you are saying is a stretch.
lolinder 3y ago
Got it. Godwin's Law it is, then. FWIW, in the context of the fediverse where there are reportedly instances run by actual neo-Nazis, it's both wrong and confusing to label someone a fascist for instituting a policy designed to keep those people out. You can disagree with the policy, but it's particular important to choose accurate labels here.
- dingledork69 3y ago
  Banning words does not only keep those people out. If I put up a "No whites" sign it will also keep most (all?) neo-nazis out, but that's not acceptable either. Allowing communities to decide for themselves: Great. Banning anyone who wants to use your supposedly open source & decentralized software from using certain words that you deem inappropriate in American English is not acceptable. Spanish people are not allowed to use the word for the color black, for example.
  - lolinder 3y ago
    Great! I personally agree that a filter like this imposed globally is a mistake, and their attitude in that thread is hostile. I'm just extremely tired of seeing people use the word "fascist" to describe anyone who's acting the least bit authoritarian in any context, no matter how petty the stakes. "Fascism" is correctly used to describe a set of far-right ultranationalistic and militaristic ideologies that are directly responsible for the deaths of millions of people. If you're going to use that label, I want to at least see overt racism if not actual calls for violence. This example is particularly egregious because the brand of authoritarianism we're looking at is antifa, which quite literally defines itself in opposition to fascism. The far right does not have a monopoly on authoritarianism, and using the word "fascist" to describe left-wing authoritarianism gives up rhetorical ground that you don't want to sacrifice.
    - dingledork69 3y ago
      It's possible to be fascist without being racist. Both are bad.
wiseowise 3y ago
You do understand that by misusing word you’re diluting its meaning to the point where people will just ignore it, right? Or is that your intention?
- arcanemachiner 3y ago
  George Orwell wrote an essay where he claimed that the term 'fascism' was so broadly used that the term had become all but meaningless... in 1944. So that cat is kinda out of the bag. http://alexpeak.com/twr/wif/ http://alexpeak.com/twr/wif/

> fascism is a mass political movement that emphasizes extreme nationalism, militarism, and the supremacy of both the nation and the single, powerful leader over the individual citizen. And what you are saying is a stretch.

lolinder 3y ago

Got it. Godwin's Law it is, then. FWIW, in the context of the fediverse where there are reportedly instances run by actual neo-Nazis, it's both wrong and confusing to label someone a fascist for instituting a policy designed to keep those people out. You can disagree with the policy, but it's particular important to choose accurate labels here.

dingledork69 3y ago
Banning words does not only keep those people out. If I put up a "No whites" sign it will also keep most (all?) neo-nazis out, but that's not acceptable either. Allowing communities to decide for themselves: Great. Banning anyone who wants to use your supposedly open source & decentralized software from using certain words that you deem inappropriate in American English is not acceptable. Spanish people are not allowed to use the word for the color black, for example.
- lolinder 3y ago
  Great! I personally agree that a filter like this imposed globally is a mistake, and their attitude in that thread is hostile. I'm just extremely tired of seeing people use the word "fascist" to describe anyone who's acting the least bit authoritarian in any context, no matter how petty the stakes. "Fascism" is correctly used to describe a set of far-right ultranationalistic and militaristic ideologies that are directly responsible for the deaths of millions of people. If you're going to use that label, I want to at least see overt racism if not actual calls for violence. This example is particularly egregious because the brand of authoritarianism we're looking at is antifa, which quite literally defines itself in opposition to fascism. The far right does not have a monopoly on authoritarianism, and using the word "fascist" to describe left-wing authoritarianism gives up rhetorical ground that you don't want to sacrifice.
  - dingledork69 3y ago
    It's possible to be fascist without being racist. Both are bad.

wiseowise 3y ago

You do understand that by misusing word you’re diluting its meaning to the point where people will just ignore it, right? Or is that your intention?

arcanemachiner 3y ago
George Orwell wrote an essay where he claimed that the term 'fascism' was so broadly used that the term had become all but meaningless... in 1944. So that cat is kinda out of the bag. http://alexpeak.com/twr/wif/ http://alexpeak.com/twr/wif/