Read on Twitter
For those having to explain to confused family members/coworkers why Twitter/Facebook/etc haven’t “violated the First Amendment,” try this tactic.
Suppose their church runs a “prayer board” where people can leave prayer requests and messages of support (this is common). 1/
Suppose their church runs a “prayer board” where people can leave prayer requests and messages of support (this is common). 1/
What if I posted a link to my OnlyFans. Would they be violating my First Amendment rights by removing it or disabling my account?
Don’t like the church example? What about posting ads for selling black market Fentanyl on an opiate addiction support forum. 2/
Don’t like the church example? What about posting ads for selling black market Fentanyl on an opiate addiction support forum. 2/
“But that’s illegal!” Oh, I hear you. So is inciting an insurrection, but let’s continue.
What about advertising abortion on a Christian message board?
Conversion therapy on an LGBTQ forum?
Good, so why is it okay to remove any of these messages? 3/
What about advertising abortion on a Christian message board?
Conversion therapy on an LGBTQ forum?
Good, so why is it okay to remove any of these messages? 3/
Obviously the answer is because the posts are inconsistent with the theme of the platform.
Good, now who sets the theme? That’s right, the site owner (uh oh, cognitive dissonance time!). So Twitter could consider the theme “not inciting insurrection violence?” as a theme? 4/
Good, now who sets the theme? That’s right, the site owner (uh oh, cognitive dissonance time!). So Twitter could consider the theme “not inciting insurrection violence?” as a theme? 4/
“But Twitter has no specific theme!” Could they not set themes by exclusion rather than inclusion?
“No, that’s stupid!” Why? We do it all the time. I don’t need to describe everyone I’d consider eating dinner with, but I can easily exclude terrorists and white nationalists. 5/
“No, that’s stupid!” Why? We do it all the time. I don’t need to describe everyone I’d consider eating dinner with, but I can easily exclude terrorists and white nationalists. 5/
“Okay, but themes that block my opinion aren’t fair!” Okay, but hear me out: the people who want to promote their OnlyFans on the prayer site don’t see a problem with it either (perhaps as long as someone prays for them). Is it fair to block their opinion? 6/
Finally we cover the fact that a site can redefine its “theme” any time it wants to. I just ask if they’ve ever had a cable package that changed channels? That’s definitely a theme change. TV station programming change? That’s a theme change. 7/
Hopefully this helps.
Presenting these arguments to a family member today didn’t result in them changing their mind (at least not yet), but did leave them doing uncomfortable mental gymnastics and admitting I was asking questions they couldn’t answer. /FIN
Presenting these arguments to a family member today didn’t result in them changing their mind (at least not yet), but did leave them doing uncomfortable mental gymnastics and admitting I was asking questions they couldn’t answer. /FIN
