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The hardest part about being a free speech advocate is having to occasionally swallow the pill that you're not going to agree w/everything the #FirstAmendment protects.
But that inner struggle is also what makes this country's free speech principles so uniquely profound.
But that inner struggle is also what makes this country's free speech principles so uniquely profound.
Though we pride ourselves on being fiercely pro-speech, in reality, the First Amendment makes us incredibly uncomfortable.
That's why we reacted so sharply and emotionally to last night's events. They were, admittedly, uncomfortable. We weren't ready to swallow that pill.
That's why we reacted so sharply and emotionally to last night's events. They were, admittedly, uncomfortable. We weren't ready to swallow that pill.
Whether we like it or not, the First Amendment has always protected private entities. We easily accept that truth when it comes to ourselves and each other.
I don't like what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it...is second nature.
I don't like what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it...is second nature.
The hard part...the uncomfortable part...is also accepting that truth for *all* private entities.
The First Amendment applies to Twitter, Facebook, Google, Amazon, in the exact same way it applies to all of us. It always has.
But it appears we don't like that.
The First Amendment applies to Twitter, Facebook, Google, Amazon, in the exact same way it applies to all of us. It always has.
But it appears we don't like that.
It follows then that content moderation is a hard free speech pill to swallow.
I cheered the decisions to remove Trump. But I was uneasy about Parler. Overall, I'm sad that this is what it came to. There are probably better moderation alternatives we aren't thinking about.
I cheered the decisions to remove Trump. But I was uneasy about Parler. Overall, I'm sad that this is what it came to. There are probably better moderation alternatives we aren't thinking about.
I'll almost always disfavor removal/blocking decisions. My entire identity is based around fighting for online free expression.
But on the other hand, I'm a passionate advocate for the First Amendment, which includes websites choosing who and what they want on their services.
But on the other hand, I'm a passionate advocate for the First Amendment, which includes websites choosing who and what they want on their services.
So, last night was one of those uncomfortable free speech moments for me as well.
But at the end of the day, I have to remind myself that "defending to the death the right to say it" also means to defending to the death the right to moderate it.
But at the end of the day, I have to remind myself that "defending to the death the right to say it" also means to defending to the death the right to moderate it.
That discomfort is what makes the First Amendment so intensely beautiful. The fact that none of us can agree on how we feel about last night is striking.
Because it means that those fundamental principles our country was founded upon might just be working as intended.
Because it means that those fundamental principles our country was founded upon might just be working as intended.
