If We Silence Hate Speech, Will We Silence Resistance?

The Failing New York Times ^ | 8/9/2018 | Erik Nielson

[Beave Meister]

“Hate” is a dangerously elastic label. And it has long been used to demonize unpopular expression, particularly among people of color.

Apple, Facebook, YouTube, Spotify and most other major internet distributors took a bold step this week when they all but banned content from Infowars, a website run by the right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. The tech companies cited their policies against hate speech for their decision, rather than the trafficking in fake news by Infowars.

It’s tempting to applaud this move, but we should be wary. While Mr. Jones’s rhetoric is certainly repugnant, mounting pressure from the political left to censor hateful speech may have unintended consequences, especially for people of color.

That’s because “hate” is a dangerously elastic label, one that has long been used in America to demonize unpopular expression. If we become overzealous in our efforts to limit so-called hate speech, we run the risk of setting a trap for the very people we’re trying to defend.

[JimRed]

When spoken about the “protected” classes, TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH.

[MortMan]

This is, of course, the entire reason for banning “hate speech”.

[Interesting Times]

The Times regrets that not everyone defines hate speech as “disagreeing with leftists.”

[goodnesswins]

Trying to justify hiring SARAH JEONG?"

[firebrand]

This short item appeared in the NY Post today:

Gab Warning

Microsoft threatened to suspend web-hosting services it provides to Gab after getting a complaint about anti-Semitic posts on the social-media site, a new twist in the technology industry’s controversial crackdown on hate speech.

[Vlad The Inhaler]

In an earlier time you had to go to the carnival side shows to find misfits and freaks like the leading democrats of today.

Now you just have to watch the DNC convention on TV.