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Twitter employee deactivates Trump account

bbc.co.uk

81–90 of 185 posts

Re: Twitter employee deactivates Trump account

#81

This article shines light on the power bestowed upon Twitter employees. They can randomly deactivate one's account, and unless you're the president, you might not have any recourse. Particularly worrisome is the general left leaning political and social affiliation of such employees. We are an era of systemic censorship of right leaning speech by popular internet platforms. I'm personally center left, but in no way d…

I'll give a very personal account. I was in the past harassed on Twitter. I received death threats and users were giving out my phone number and address to other Twitter users via DM. I filed an official complaint, and Twitter's response was this is not harassment, we won't do anything. I am pretty sure because of my political views the Twitter support representative decided they didn't like me. The hypocrisy, bias,…

It turns out that humans have memories and reputation is important.

Not to invoke Godwin, but Hitler’s opinions on mundane things will always be filtered through the lens of what he did and said otherwise. It is the same for all people.

If you don’t want to damage your reputation, either publish your unpopular opinions anonymously, keep them to yourself, or figure out why your views result in others wanting to threaten you and evolve them into something more palatable to the society in which you live.

Re: Twitter employee deactivates Trump account

#82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So now we can debate whether they (Nazis, or whoever) should be allowed to use a platform, allowing themselves to be identified and dealt with by the law. In that regard there is no global consensus. And arguments for and against can be quite compelling. We know that attempting to suppress ideas can have unintended consequences.

I am against censorship, however as an European I agree with our country's constitution that says freedom of speech is granted only as far as hate speech isn't involved. Of course who should have the power to identify hate speech and censor content and what the definition of hate speech is, that's debatable. However a platform like Twitter is also private property, another right protected by the constitution and peop…

For what it's worth, I thoroughly agree with you.

Re: Twitter employee deactivates Trump account

#83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So now we can debate whether they (Nazis, or whoever) should be allowed to use a platform, allowing themselves to be identified and dealt with by the law. In that regard there is no global consensus. And arguments for and against can be quite compelling. We know that attempting to suppress ideas can have unintended consequences.

I am against censorship, however as an European I agree with our country's constitution that says freedom of speech is granted only as far as hate speech isn't involved. Of course who should have the power to identify hate speech and censor content and what the definition of hate speech is, that's debatable. However a platform like Twitter is also private property, another right protected by the constitution and peop…

That's because your governments constitution is viciously flawed compared to Americas, in which a system was established on the idea that we have rights independent of government and the government is only there to protect those rights, and may not infringe those rights. The argument isn't let any particular $hatedgroupofthemoment speak... the argument is that you have no right to presume yourself or anyone else to have the power to silence them in the first place. This is something even Christopher Hitchens talked openly about, and part of the reason he became a citizen. America's form of constitutional democratic republic, while in some disarray at the moment, is quite a unique accomplishment in the annals of history. It's what I consider the non-jingoistic and true basis of American exceptionalism, a term too often used in bandwagon derision.

For good reading on the subject, try this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech_in_the_United_Stat...

Re: Twitter employee deactivates Trump account

#84
post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll give a very personal account. I was in the past harassed on Twitter. I received death threats and users were giving out my phone number and address to other Twitter users via DM. I filed an official complaint, and Twitter's response was this is not harassment, we won't do anything. I am pretty sure because of my political views the Twitter support representative decided they didn't like me. The hypocrisy, bias,…

It turns out that humans have memories and reputation is important. Not to invoke Godwin, but Hitler’s opinions on mundane things will always be filtered through the lens of what he did and said otherwise. It is the same for all people. If you don’t want to damage your reputation, either publish your unpopular opinions anonymously, keep them to yourself, or figure out why your views result in others wanting to threat…

So then why is the opposite not true of liberals especially in the bay? Just because they are the VAST majority they are allowed to publicly harass, give death threats, silence opinions, shame, witch hunt? It's happening from both sides, but still hypocrisy.

Re: Twitter employee deactivates Trump account

#85
post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

America's extreme leftists (AKA SJWs) aren't center-right. They want socialism, they want to silence everyone who disagrees with them, they are willing to use any tactic (including censorship and even violence) to get what they want, and yet, in a startling lack of self-awareness, they consider the center-right half of the country "Nazis". This attempted act of censorship by an ex-Twitter employee is a fairly tame ex…

All of America's extreme leftists would probably fit in a 200sqm hall, with room to spare. Why worry about a statistical anomaly? Just because they have Tumblr accounts? :) (For the downvoters, prove me wrong, how many votes did a far left party get in US elections in the past 20 years? Does the US even have a far left party? :) )

It's much more than a statistical anomaly. It's a rather large group of people, some quite famous and powerful.

Lea DeLaria: "Or pick up a baseball bat and take out every f-cking republican and independent I see"

Madonna: "I’ve thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House."

Mickey Rourke: "I’ll meet [Trump] in a hotel room any motherf-cking day of the week and give him a Louisville slugger."

Bow Wow: "@realDonaldTrump shut your punk a-- up talking s--t about my uncle @SnoopDogg before we pimp your wife and make her work for us."

Eminem: "And fuck Ann Coulter with a Klan poster. With a lamp post, door handle, shutter. A damn bolt cutter, a sandal, a can opener, a candle, rubber. Piano, a flannel, sucker, some hand soap, butter. A banjo and manhole cover"

Then there's Kathy Griffin's famous photo with a severed "Trump" head, Snoop Dog's video shooting Trump ...

And that's just Hollywood. There's no room here to discuss all the incidents of actual violence, or protesters denying people the right to hear speakers at public universities, etc, etc.

Re: Twitter employee deactivates Trump account

#86
post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, it’s to stop the flow of sewerage into the water supply. Stop pretending Trump is some sort of rational participant in a Gentleman’s debate.

Looks like you have not heard of this saying "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

Sigh, really? Have I called for his imprisonment? That senile old racist can say what he likes, just do it somewhere else.

In fact, I seem to recall him wanting to jail and muzzle his opponents so, if anything, I’m rising above and turning the other cheek....

Re: Twitter employee deactivates Trump account

#88
post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

America's extreme leftists (AKA SJWs) aren't center-right. They want socialism, they want to silence everyone who disagrees with them, they are willing to use any tactic (including censorship and even violence) to get what they want, and yet, in a startling lack of self-awareness, they consider the center-right half of the country "Nazis". This attempted act of censorship by an ex-Twitter employee is a fairly tame ex…

All of America's extreme leftists would probably fit in a 200sqm hall, with room to spare. Why worry about a statistical anomaly? Just because they have Tumblr accounts? :) (For the downvoters, prove me wrong, how many votes did a far left party get in US elections in the past 20 years? Does the US even have a far left party? :) )

All of America's neonazis would probably fit in a 200sqm hall, with room to spare. Why worry about a statistical anomaly? Just because they have Voat accounts? :)

Re: Twitter employee deactivates Trump account

#89
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reason is that the political debate is no longer right vs left in the US. Trump and his posse have proven to be compulsive liars. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/23/opinion/trump... This means there is little left to debate.

? The "appropriate" size and role of the federal government is still a very worthwhile and earnest point of debate, and that is a classic left/right issue.

Sorry but nobody is for small government. Nobody is for a balanced budget. It is a farce.

We all have two piles: a. Things we want the government to do b. Things we don't

If you're for a balanced budget, you'll oppose current tax cut plans and demand government cut spending. The problem is of course where do we cut spending? Find me a dollar of "waste" and I'll show you someone who benefits from it. Can we please stop pretending?

Re: Twitter employee deactivates Trump account

#90

Quick question: did the unnamed Twitter employee violate the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act?

I doubt it, insofar as employees of Twitter are expected to have authority and access to these tools. That isn't to say that they didn't violate the employee code of conduct.
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