Free Speech #2

Interesting comments on my post yesterday from @dbooster and @bitcoinflood. I was going to type big walls of text to both of them but I thought hell, this is a great opportunity to make a new post since Free Speech is almost integral to what we do here.

Free speech is something that was almost never contested when I was a young lad. We would talk on a one to one basis, and no-one really ever got the word out anywhere on any new and interesting ideas because we were limited to our towns and cities. If we were rich enough to have a car then we might have talked to or seen people from the neighbouring cities -- but in reality that's as far ideas ever went. There was never this ideas getting out of hand concept that we have now. Everyone had free speech

But since the invention of the internet and subsequent onboarding en-masse to cyberspace we've seen humanity pitted against a new concept. Borderless communication. And not only that, the free debate of different ideas.

It's really brought along with it some new things that humanity has never experienced before. Because if someone can think it up I'm sure there are hundreds of other people that have thought this stuff up also. That has paved the way for online communities to be a thing. Like having sex with goats that are on fire? I'm sure there's a crazy group about that somewhere if you look hard enough. It has amplified the best, and also the worst of humanity.

The rise of borderless communication has given challenge to those that rule over us though. No longer is their communication network fully secure.

When we were young the media would tell us something and we just wouldn't challenge it because there were absolutely no contrasting voices. Our TVs would say one thing and we would believe it. This is no longer the case though. People can communicate borderlessly now and can verify information and spread it quickly through their networks.

This is why we see the rise in boogeyman-words like hate speech and disinformation. These aren't because the government is this all caring entity that wants to protect us, no, these were invented to stop the spread of information that certain people would rather you not have. In a borderless world where communication and information is the most valuable, then the only way to withhold it is through enforcement.

This of course has seeped down into big business and governments, right down to the smallest of communities as a result. Now, instead of prioritising the growth and prosperity of whatever it is we are creating, we get bogged down with who said what to whom and if it offends their sensibilities. Creating enormous red tape and sometimes serious litigation -- which is why I expect big business opt for the easier route of no contest. It's less expensive, challenging, and it's the easy route.

However, taking the easy route is never the best way and we will suffer the consequences of this not now, but ten years down the line.

I say this because it was levelled at me that free speech is a fine line, whilst you want everyone to feel safe and included, you also want everyone to be able to participate on some level -- and that's quite hard to do when you have so many people of various degrees and backgrounds. You just need to look at any school and see the degrees of bullying and self harm they have to see how hard it is to manage big crowds of people.

But having free speech in a community of people can be quite different. Like the Man Cave for example. If we went by what people think of free speech as everyone running around with Swastika's and shouting Heil Hitler! You'd run away to the hills; any sensible person would. But the reality is that in the 4-5 years we've existed I think we've banned about 2 or 3 people from the community.

The reality is with a free for all there's also unwritten rules too. Most people know about consequences of their actions and it's something they frequently refer to when utilizing their speech freedom.

I've seen many people argue with me that their right of free speech is being stifled because of something that's happening as a direct result of what they have been saying openly, but in reality this is actually a consequence of their actions. I feel we are sort of slipping away from this concept as a society.

We used to understand that you don't poke the bear unless you want to get mauled.

We understood that very well because when I was young, sometimes you just have to sit there and be quiet even if you don't agree with it. It doesn't always have to be like that of course, you can work out hard and eventually be strong enough to kill the bear -- but unless you do that work, then sadly you'll have to sit that one out.

I feel we used to understand this and be content with the outcome of our actions and know that sometimes it's best just not to react at all. But I have the distinct feeling we are slowly moving away from this as the world grows safer.

Nevertheless you can say what you like in the Man Cave, I've never stopped anyone. But that is because I know that I'm fine with the idea that people will have to deal with the consequence of their actions and I wont be stepping in to solve any problems. People should be able to work out things on their own.

Of course I won't tolerate bullying. I never have and I never will. If I ever see it I'll boot you out Dragon, Centurion, or whatever.

But what I've found is that communities are only as good as their owner. People usually get a feel for a place when they get in. And usually likeminded people come in and have fun and get on well with each other here in the Cave and I hope to be growing that!