Re: Free speech absolutists weirdos

Eli the Bearded wrote:

In misc.news.internet.discuss, D  <nospam@example.net> wrote:

I find it fascinating how, in such a short time, pro-free speech has
become an extremist position.
>
When I was young, I could say I'm in favour of free speech, and no one
would even care or react, since it was so obvious.
>
Today, if I say that I am in favour of free speech, people frown,
complain, call me ridiculous and ask, but what about the terrorists, sex
abuser, climate deniers and racists? With free speech, all those groups
will not get punished. You're an extremist!
>
And this change in about 10 years or so. Absolutely fascinating!
>
And this change has actually pushed me into becoming a free speech
extremist. Before I was moderate, and the more people frown, the more I
find myself advocating absolute free speech.

 I'd say the two significant things that have contributed to people
frowning on free speech abosolutism are:
 1) Wanting to have free reign of free speech *on a particular privately
    owned but publically used platform* (eg Facebook, Twitter, Telegram).
    In these cases the owner of the platform needs to have a say.

They misrepresent themselves as "the town square", they have market power
and they act in concert with others, which is illegal.