Mirth wrote:
I appreciate your view points RC8, I wouldn't even classify your point on censorship right of centre since it's more representative of how the wider public feels.
I sincerely believe that the true right of centre view on this issue is justifying censorship on the basis that:
This is a private company. They make the rules.
Hence my disappointment at leftists and liberals celebrating the ban rather than demanding private corporations stay the hell out of politics.
I agree with Klaus that in an ideal world presidents and politicians shouldn't be on this thing in the first place. Twitter's algorithms and mechanics are toxic and not at all designed to be in the best interests of societies.
Even if the mechanics were sound the danger that these companies might interfere in future elections is all too real.
QS: This is silicon valley trying to control the limits of discourse and anyone who calls Silicon Valley "the left" is an absolute idiot.
I can't fathom any genuine left-winger would want to put censorship in the hands of private multi-national corporations, but this ban materialised in a context in which many influential American "progressives" were explicitly demanding it. Michelle Obama published a letter the day before saying:
“Now is the time for Silicon Valley companies to stop enabling this monstrous behavior-and go even further than they have by permanently banning this man from their platforms...”
Honestly, I could understand it if Americans passed legislation to thoroughly regulate what you can or can't do in social media platforms... that's one thing.
Calling on Silicon Valley millionaires to voluntarily get involved and take sides in American politics out of some weird sense of duty (or veiled threat of regulation) is not a good look, however.
