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Facebook Says It Is Removing All Content Mentioning 'Stop the Steal'

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211–220 of 451 posts

Re: Facebook Says It Is Removing All Content Mentioning 'Stop the Steal'

#211
post #161

Are we really so stupid that we cannot see through this kind of thing and need to actively censor it to have civilized society continue to function? When do we just give up on democracy completely?

Many seem to have been completely taken in to it, yes. And given it seems to have lead to deadly consequences already, I don't think it's unreasonable for these companies to consider it a huge liability.

Are you aware of what other things have led to deadly consequences? Communism, socialism, green terrorism, and self driving cars come to mind.

Re: Facebook Says It Is Removing All Content Mentioning 'Stop the Steal'

#212

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The opposite of a contradiction is another contradiction. Why are people that believe in regulation of the world's largest corporations suddenly laissez-faire libertarians? If you have opposed the Citizen's United ruling for a decade, don't suddenly act like you care about a corporation's civil liberties, including freedom of association and freedom of expression. The answer is obvious: both sides want power more tha…

You’re unintentionally making a straw man. There is no contradiction. I believe social media should be regulated more tightly. Until then they have the freedom to remove the content according to their TOS. Just because I’m pointing out that they have the freedom it doesnt mean I believe they should continue to have the freedom. Government regulations are desperately needed. Even more so, government enforcement of exi…

That's a good way of putting it. I think this happens often - the progressive/leftist/etc. position involves multiple points of departure from our current society, and if you try to look at the merits of any single strand by itself, it falls apart.

For instance, many progressives are advocates of people losing their jobs for harassing coworkers. If you look at this position in isolation, it looks like they're arguing for a cold corporatism, that anyone who threatens the reputation of the corporation should be thrown onto the streets. However, many progressives are also advocates of stronger social safety nets for people who lose their jobs, whether by their own misdeeds or misfortune - from increased unemployment (or even UBI), to stronger tenants' protections, to government-provided healthcare. Firing someone for their misdeeds is much less cruel once those safety nets are in place, and the moral calculus very rapidly shifts to protecting their coworkers.

Re: Facebook Says It Is Removing All Content Mentioning 'Stop the Steal'

#213
Does this put them in the unenvious position to take down any up-to-then unproven allegations?

Does it mean any group seeking remedy against BigCorp with slogans like “Stop the Stink” to oppose a new dump can be shut down through lawyers if the group cannot prove their allegations?

Re: Facebook Says It Is Removing All Content Mentioning 'Stop the Steal'

#214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> social media's desperate attempt to appease new government to prevent strong legislation, such as being held liable for their user's content That's an interesting hypothesis, but doesn't really stand up to scrutiny. It's the current administration that's been calling for the repeal of Section 230, which is what would make platforms liable for their user's content.

Trump and the GOP would never actually have repealed 230, it was just a stalking-horse. The social media companies started shutting Trump down literally hours after it became apparent that the Senate committees that can regulate them will soon be chaired by Democrats.

Coincidentally, it was also the same day insurrectionists invaded the nation's capitol, after using social media to coordinate the violent attack.

"Stop the Steal" is one of their rallying cries.

Re: Facebook Says It Is Removing All Content Mentioning 'Stop the Steal'

#215

Should the US government make its own social network? That would cut off all kinds of issues. Only content that is literally illegal would be removed. Everyone would be guaranteed access.

1st.gov would be a neat domain name.

Re: Facebook Says It Is Removing All Content Mentioning 'Stop the Steal'

#216

im saying this because it seems like such an obvious point but i havent seen it here- why are people who want the government to be replaced by the "free market" allowed to be upset that private companies are silencing them? what is the rationale for squaring this circle

Most free marketers don't think the government should enforce all of their moral beliefs. You can be morally against an act of a private company and still believe they have the right to do it. If a company is behaving poorly, and we have a free market, there will probably be alternatives for people to take their business to.

Re: Facebook Says It Is Removing All Content Mentioning 'Stop the Steal'

#217
post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The opposite of a contradiction is another contradiction. Why are people that believe in regulation of the world's largest corporations suddenly laissez-faire libertarians? If you have opposed the Citizen's United ruling for a decade, don't suddenly act like you care about a corporation's civil liberties, including freedom of association and freedom of expression. The answer is obvious: both sides want power more tha…

Inversions are happening faster than ever. The red and blue tribes swap their positions in sync at this point.

I'm an engineer, not an ideologue, and don't make it a practice of painting myself into a corner just to be consistent. Though I think the big tech companies have too much power, I think the need to avoid having the US government overthrown by a violent coup trumps other considerations. The material they are shutting down includes plans for next weekend to attack both Washington DC and state capitals. Some innocent content could be swept up in this.

Once all this calms down, we can address the excessive power of the platforms with antitrust, so there are more of them to choose from.

Re: Facebook Says It Is Removing All Content Mentioning 'Stop the Steal'

#218
post #161

Are we really so stupid that we cannot see through this kind of thing and need to actively censor it to have civilized society continue to function? When do we just give up on democracy completely?

Have you checked the news the last few days? Plenty of people out there are stupid enough to fall for this and much worse.

Re: Facebook Says It Is Removing All Content Mentioning 'Stop the Steal'

#219
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suggest we make individuals or organizations that spread lies without evidence liable on a civil or criminal basis. The root reason for the violent riot at the Capitol last week was that many people have been lied to, and the lies are things that would incite people to fight. If you believed that America's democracy is no longer in place and has been replaced by a deep state dictatorship, you would probably fight a…

It is tough when the liar is the president and somehow the learned justices of our nation have decided the president is above the law and can only be held to account via an impeachment process.

[deleted]

Re: Facebook Says It Is Removing All Content Mentioning 'Stop the Steal'

#220

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>why are people who want the government to be replaced by the "free market" allowed to be upset that private companies are silencing them Because there's a clear government-enforced bias. Can you imagine the shitshow if they banned, let's say, black people?

> Because there's a clear government-enforced bias. Obvious lie. The current government is controlled by the group pushing the "stop the steal" propaganda. No reasonable person would believe Trump's own government is compelling Facebook to remove it. > Can you imagine the shitshow if they banned, let's say, black people? Sure... And what, pray tell, does that have to do with removing _posts_ containing calls to viole…

Curious what would be your take if they banned people based on color. Is it still okay for a private company to set any rules?
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