Why are we acting as if the 2000s never happened? There was no large-scale censorship (what is now disguised as 'moderation') and the communities flourished independently. Turns out, people like to choose what they want to see.
These days, anything and everything that is slightly uncomfortable to groups is labeled as 'hate-speech'. If nobody can define what 'hate speech' really is and if the definition changes person to person, then you're arguing for the wrong reasons. What you're looking for is tightly-isolated communities with consent, bridging and moderation in their own spaces, not worldwide censorship.
I don't like it when others are disrespectful to me, but I always have a choice of shutting down the discussion and moving on. Online communities that spread dangerous ideas are going to form in their own space, no matter what we do so banning any opinions that do not adhere to certain political views is not only dangerous but also creates a division of 'you vs me' and that thing gets ugly quick. If we know 2 communities clash, we keep them separated, as simple as that and it already happens so no big deal. It's like having a work and family chat group, different purposes, different people, different ideas, 0 clashes.
The problem is you're looking at everything through the lens of offensive content. If you tell me that majority of the banned comments on the social media websites are illegal by constitution, you'd have a point but this isn't a reality. People are banned for the smallest of things, for disagreeing with someone else respectfully, for following certain political ideas.
> If nobody can define what 'hate speech' really is and if the definition changes person to person, then you're arguing for the wrong reasons ...
Hate-speech is like pornography. You know it when you see it. Of course one man's "pornography" can be another man's "erotica". But social media companies have the right to decide what they think is pornography vs. what is "erotica", and what they then share or not with all their customers.
Why are we not complaining that Facebook muzzles the free speech of people who want to spread pornography online?
Hate-speech is similar in concept to pornography but far more dangerous. It directly increases the risk of violence.
Should social-media companies be forbidden from blocking pornography on their site?
These days, anything and everything that is slightly uncomfortable to groups is labeled as 'hate-speech'. If nobody can define what 'hate speech' really is and if the definition changes person to person, then you're arguing for the wrong reasons. What you're looking for is tightly-isolated communities with consent, bridging and moderation in their own spaces, not worldwide censorship.
I don't like it when others are disrespectful to me, but I always have a choice of shutting down the discussion and moving on. Online communities that spread dangerous ideas are going to form in their own space, no matter what we do so banning any opinions that do not adhere to certain political views is not only dangerous but also creates a division of 'you vs me' and that thing gets ugly quick. If we know 2 communities clash, we keep them separated, as simple as that and it already happens so no big deal. It's like having a work and family chat group, different purposes, different people, different ideas, 0 clashes.
The problem is you're looking at everything through the lens of offensive content. If you tell me that majority of the banned comments on the social media websites are illegal by constitution, you'd have a point but this isn't a reality. People are banned for the smallest of things, for disagreeing with someone else respectfully, for following certain political ideas.
Here's another example: John Stossel was censored even though he posted factual statements - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qmht6Tbtzg