Friday, April 28, 2023

On Censorship and Social Media: King George Revisited


A lot of folks are mad at Facebook, Twitter, etc. for censoring posts containing views or statements that either favor one political bent or denigrates the other, or which the platform’s pet fact-checkers have deemed to be false, inciting, etc. 

Fueled on by most broadcast “news” outlets, politicians and media pundits, keyboard commandos have been shaking their virtual fists and demanding that the social media giants be held accountable, even punished for these unconscionable violations of our rights to free speech. 

Ironically however, it wasn’t all that long ago that these very same self-appointed champions of freedom and democracy, were demonizing the billionaire CEOs of these very same platforms and demanding that they take actions to control the content of their services, because their subscribers were spreading “hate speech” or “fake news”.

In other words, many of the same voices now screeching about censorship by big tech, were demanding that big tech censor their users posts just months ago!  Such is the strange and tense dichotomy thrust upon the American psyche and experience, as it struggles to embrace the shallow and emotion-driven “values” of the 21st century techno-centric-community.  Cake anyone?

Congressional hearings ensued, and the evil (i.e. rich) CEOs testified before their hostile inquisitors, ultimately capitulating in some measured way, just enough to satiate their examiners who then marched them out in front of the cameras for the purpose of convincing the blood-thirsty villagers that they had actually contained the monster.

As is true for most issues propelled by emotional and reactionary forces, the result sought is woefully shortsighted, paying little to no attention to the logical, natural, if not necessary consequences of their demands.  And such is true where demands for government intervention and control of social media (euphemized by the more comfortable word, ‘regulation’) is concerned.

History teaches us that, once invited to the party, Uncle Sam will move into the spare room, take over the kitchen, living room and (GASP) the TV remote, then start charging the homeowner rent to stay in their own house.  If this sounds like it’s describing taxes, there’s a reason for that, because it is.  Think for a moment, about the number of “fees” the government demands from you, for the privilege of owning, operating and/or occupying your own property, car, etc.  But let’s not get sidetracked by the fun and entertaining subject of taxes.  Where were we…  Oh yes, free speech.

By refusing to govern and stand up for themselves, and by failing to exercise their freedoms of choice in the marketplace of social media platforms, the people begging that the government protect their fragile ears and egos are in reality, demanding that the government take over the business of controlling what we can and can’t say, as well as where and when we can say it.  That power, once relinquished to the state, cannot be won back, except by costly and painful conflict.  After all, while our natural right to freedom of speech is granted to us all by our Creator, the codification and civil protection of that right was only won through the brutality of war.

So I ask you; are you willing to give up the right to freely speak of your thoughts and beliefs, just so that you can have the temporary satisfaction of watching the government strip that right away from those with whom you disagree, or by whom you are offended?  Be very slow and deliberate in how you answer that question because, those in power today, will not be in power tomorrow; and those in power tomorrow, may well not like what you have to say.

Likewise, the social media platforms are private companies and, as such, have the right to make the rules for those who choose to use their services.   As has been noted above, allowing or demanding that the government take control over how private citizens conduct their own businesses, is an invitation to tyranny which will flood over this country in a way not seen since our battle for independence from the tyranny of King George III.

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

-PDS, Nov 12, 2020