Re: Free speech absolutists weirdos

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.
2) Wanting to have free reign of free speech for things that are not
   not true, eg so many of the things Trump says.

The explosion of speech on privately owned internet properties in the
last twenty years has made point one more significant. These places may
feel like a town square, but they are closer to mall food court.

The explosion of Big Lie politics from various world leaders (Trump and
Putin come to mind) have made point two more significant in the last
ten years.

Elijah
------
for forever and a day the lies of religions have been free speech issues