It seems to me a repeating pattern that once freedom of thought, speech and expression is limited for essentially any reason, it will have unintended consequences.

Once the tools are in place, they will be used, abused and inevitably end up in the hands of someone you disagree with, regardless of whether the original implementer had good intentions.

As such I’m personally very averse to restrictions. I’ve thought about the question a fair bit – there isn’t a clear cut or obvious line to draw.

Please elaborate and motivate your answer. I’m genuinely curious about getting some fresh perspectives.

  • Doomsider@lemmy.world
    11·
    1 day ago

    Your premise that any restriction on any thought, speech, or expression can cause unintended consequences is nonsensical.

    You would have to prove this and while I may be inclined to agree with you what is the problem with unintended consequence? Why should we care considering everything we do causes unintended consequences.

    All tools as well as laws can be abused. A poster here pointed out that anti-hate speech laws are being used against pro-palestine protestors. Does this make the law itself the problem or its application. Should we eliminate the law because a few corrupt politicians are abusing it.

    There is nuance though. Like if every country was abusing anti-hate speech law and not enforcing it when its application would be beneficial for society. In this scenario you may have an argument for the law being the problem. Ultimately though if you have a bad actor it is hard to judge a tool or law unless it helps to create the bad actor.

    Do anti-hate speech laws create the atmosphere for hate to proliferate? This is how you would judge it in my opinion. If the tool or law creates the problem it purports to solve then it is likely an issue.

    I think your personal aversion is fine. I personally don’t like to be controlled and I don’t like to control people. Obviously what your personal opinions are and what it takes to run a team, a corporation, or a country are not in the same realm. You simply can’t run a country like you would run your life.