The topic of free speech is once again front and center in the public discourse.
As many know InfoWars owner and primary host, Alex Jones, was banned this past Tuesday almost simultaneously by ITunes, Spotify, Facebook and YouTube. The reason provided was Jones had repeatedly violated the various platforms' terms of service, which he clearly had. However, despite the validity of the platforms' stated reasons it was disingenuous. The primary reason Jones was banned because a boycott was brewing over Jones' repeated insidious claims the Sandy Hook massacre was a "hoax" and "false flag".
Despite a lawsuit filed by the deceased children's families and repeated admonishments by the social media platforms to cease spewing the conspiracy theories Alex Jones continued to propagate his baseless heinous conspiracies.
Jones has led a campaign that has essentially victimized these families all over again. At one point he actually released the addresses of some of the families. Of course, this led to some of his demented flock harassing and threatening these already traumatized families. In fact, one family has had to move to seven times over the last five years or so because of the harassment. One of Jones' followers was actually sentenced to five months in prison because of her harassing and threatening behavior towards the family.
Alex Jones has been largely unrepentant regarding this behavior or his conspiracy theory. At one point he did issue a half-assed apology only to resume his defamatory rhetoric including after the aforementioned lawsuit was filed.
While this is the most grotesque of his speech it is certainly far from his only sins. He has literally built a career on vomiting inane cursory fallacious conspiracies. Pretty much every government agency and Democratic public figure has been a target. He has claimed Barack Obama is a demon. He has claimed numerous government agencies are placing chemicals in foods and toiletries to turn people and frogs gay. Yes, you read that correctly. He is obsessed with accusing people of running pedophile rings including Robert Mueller, Special Investigator of the Russian election interference investigation.
The list goes on and on and on. Jones is basically a whackjob and a hack. But, he has a fairly large following...because a huge segment of this country has apparently abandoned their senses, common sense and critical thinking. But, I digress.
Yet, with everything I listed I am taking the somewhat unpopular position he shouldn't have been removed off Facebook, YouTube, ITunes or Spotify.
While I fully acknowledge this is not a legal case of First Amendment rights infringement I do believe the spirit of the First Amendment is being violated. Look, social media platforms aren't public utilities. So, they are not legally beholden to free speech rights. However, because they are platforms whose specific purpose is to provide a forum for public discourse and opinions I believe they, as a matter of principle, should adhere to free speech guidelines.
Let me be PERFECTLY clear, I am not defending Alex Jones. He is a repugnant piece of shit. That is the kindest thing I can say.
He is a cancerous growth on society's ass. He is a vapid, shallow loathsome excuse for a human being. Anyone who spews the vile defamatory refuse that he does simply is not deserving of sympathy.
However, despite his insipidity and derangement, in my opinion he has a right to be heard. I hear the people who say, "To hell with him. He's an asscrumb." I do.
Believe me, I battled with this. My first inclination was to cheer his banishment. But, then I realized it is not right. It is not right because it sets a bad precedent. It is not right because I cannot stand up for the NFL players right to free speech, irregardless of the fact it's not a legal First Amendment issue, yet cheer this jackass being silenced. The situations are very similar.
Also, quite frankly, it just goes against my core beliefs. For example, I have always believed the Klan, Neo-Nazis and White Nationalists should be able to march and rally. It's their right. And, before some dipshit starts conflating my feelings about #Charlottesville. I never railed against those khaki wearing assholes' right to protest and assemble. My beef was with alleged Christian and "good" people either staying silent about it or being apologists for them. My anger was at the abject refusal by many to denounce that crap. It is a clear distinction.
Censorship leads us down a road to regret. It always has unintended consequences.
Those on the left who have cheered Alex Jones' banishment would be wise to keep in mind it's Alex Jones today but will certainly be one of you tomorrow or next week or next month. I already hear you saying there is no equivalent of Alex Jones on the left. I am inclined to agree, but it will not matter. Look at the NFL players. They exercised silent peaceful protests. Yet, because of some fan pressure and "you know who" sticking his nose in where it didn't belong the owners have attempted to band together to quell the players voice, if not silence it. Owners, Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys) and Stephen Ross (Miami Dolphins), have already made it abundantly clear regardless of the final NFL anthem policy any player who does not stand for the national anthem are subject to being cut.
It is a guarantee there will be Conservative advocates and watchdog groups scouring social media and left leaning platforms waiting for a left leaning commentator to say something controversial or defamatory. As soon as it happens (and it will) they will start a campaign demanding whomever it is be banned. And, lefties, you won't have recourse because private companies are not legally required to adhere to freedom of speech.
The answer to hate speech, defamatory speech and inane conspiracy theories isn't censorship. It is the same thing that is the answer to differing opinions. Discourse. Speech. The way to combat people like Alex Jones and White Supremacists is to debunk their nonsense with facts and evidence. Silence them with civil confrontation dismantling their ignorant and idiotic rhetoric. It is usually easy to do and can be done within minutes.
The way to deter defamatory speech start suing the shit out of folks who intentionally say fallacious bullshit.
Fight back not by hiding behind censorship but standing up!
Don't make imbeciles like Alex Jones martyrs or actually strengthening their pull by allowing them to play the victim.
Expose them for the fraudulent assclowns they are!
As many know InfoWars owner and primary host, Alex Jones, was banned this past Tuesday almost simultaneously by ITunes, Spotify, Facebook and YouTube. The reason provided was Jones had repeatedly violated the various platforms' terms of service, which he clearly had. However, despite the validity of the platforms' stated reasons it was disingenuous. The primary reason Jones was banned because a boycott was brewing over Jones' repeated insidious claims the Sandy Hook massacre was a "hoax" and "false flag".
Despite a lawsuit filed by the deceased children's families and repeated admonishments by the social media platforms to cease spewing the conspiracy theories Alex Jones continued to propagate his baseless heinous conspiracies.
Jones has led a campaign that has essentially victimized these families all over again. At one point he actually released the addresses of some of the families. Of course, this led to some of his demented flock harassing and threatening these already traumatized families. In fact, one family has had to move to seven times over the last five years or so because of the harassment. One of Jones' followers was actually sentenced to five months in prison because of her harassing and threatening behavior towards the family.
Alex Jones has been largely unrepentant regarding this behavior or his conspiracy theory. At one point he did issue a half-assed apology only to resume his defamatory rhetoric including after the aforementioned lawsuit was filed.
While this is the most grotesque of his speech it is certainly far from his only sins. He has literally built a career on vomiting inane cursory fallacious conspiracies. Pretty much every government agency and Democratic public figure has been a target. He has claimed Barack Obama is a demon. He has claimed numerous government agencies are placing chemicals in foods and toiletries to turn people and frogs gay. Yes, you read that correctly. He is obsessed with accusing people of running pedophile rings including Robert Mueller, Special Investigator of the Russian election interference investigation.
The list goes on and on and on. Jones is basically a whackjob and a hack. But, he has a fairly large following...because a huge segment of this country has apparently abandoned their senses, common sense and critical thinking. But, I digress.
Yet, with everything I listed I am taking the somewhat unpopular position he shouldn't have been removed off Facebook, YouTube, ITunes or Spotify.
While I fully acknowledge this is not a legal case of First Amendment rights infringement I do believe the spirit of the First Amendment is being violated. Look, social media platforms aren't public utilities. So, they are not legally beholden to free speech rights. However, because they are platforms whose specific purpose is to provide a forum for public discourse and opinions I believe they, as a matter of principle, should adhere to free speech guidelines.
Let me be PERFECTLY clear, I am not defending Alex Jones. He is a repugnant piece of shit. That is the kindest thing I can say.
He is a cancerous growth on society's ass. He is a vapid, shallow loathsome excuse for a human being. Anyone who spews the vile defamatory refuse that he does simply is not deserving of sympathy.
However, despite his insipidity and derangement, in my opinion he has a right to be heard. I hear the people who say, "To hell with him. He's an asscrumb." I do.
Believe me, I battled with this. My first inclination was to cheer his banishment. But, then I realized it is not right. It is not right because it sets a bad precedent. It is not right because I cannot stand up for the NFL players right to free speech, irregardless of the fact it's not a legal First Amendment issue, yet cheer this jackass being silenced. The situations are very similar.
Also, quite frankly, it just goes against my core beliefs. For example, I have always believed the Klan, Neo-Nazis and White Nationalists should be able to march and rally. It's their right. And, before some dipshit starts conflating my feelings about #Charlottesville. I never railed against those khaki wearing assholes' right to protest and assemble. My beef was with alleged Christian and "good" people either staying silent about it or being apologists for them. My anger was at the abject refusal by many to denounce that crap. It is a clear distinction.
Censorship leads us down a road to regret. It always has unintended consequences.
Those on the left who have cheered Alex Jones' banishment would be wise to keep in mind it's Alex Jones today but will certainly be one of you tomorrow or next week or next month. I already hear you saying there is no equivalent of Alex Jones on the left. I am inclined to agree, but it will not matter. Look at the NFL players. They exercised silent peaceful protests. Yet, because of some fan pressure and "you know who" sticking his nose in where it didn't belong the owners have attempted to band together to quell the players voice, if not silence it. Owners, Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys) and Stephen Ross (Miami Dolphins), have already made it abundantly clear regardless of the final NFL anthem policy any player who does not stand for the national anthem are subject to being cut.
It is a guarantee there will be Conservative advocates and watchdog groups scouring social media and left leaning platforms waiting for a left leaning commentator to say something controversial or defamatory. As soon as it happens (and it will) they will start a campaign demanding whomever it is be banned. And, lefties, you won't have recourse because private companies are not legally required to adhere to freedom of speech.
The answer to hate speech, defamatory speech and inane conspiracy theories isn't censorship. It is the same thing that is the answer to differing opinions. Discourse. Speech. The way to combat people like Alex Jones and White Supremacists is to debunk their nonsense with facts and evidence. Silence them with civil confrontation dismantling their ignorant and idiotic rhetoric. It is usually easy to do and can be done within minutes.
The way to deter defamatory speech start suing the shit out of folks who intentionally say fallacious bullshit.
Fight back not by hiding behind censorship but standing up!
Don't make imbeciles like Alex Jones martyrs or actually strengthening their pull by allowing them to play the victim.
Expose them for the fraudulent assclowns they are!
