Posted on 05/03/2022 12:32:51 PM PDT by hadit2here
Elon Musk is embarrassing himself on the global stage again by proudly bruiting a grade-school level of familiarity with the immensely complex concepts of free speech, censorship, rights and privileges of individuals and government authorities. The fact that this aggressively ignorant person is likely to take over one of the largest communication platforms on Earth should scare the shit out of you.
Here is what the richest man in the world said earlier today, on the platform he intends to acquire:
By ‘free speech,’ I simply mean that which matches the law. I am against censorship that goes far beyond the law. If people want less free speech, they will ask government to pass laws to that effect. Therefore, going beyond the law is contrary to the will of the people.
Elon’s got one thing going for him. He has demonstrated an apparently innate facility to pack more willful and privileged ignorance into a single sentence than almost anyone on the planet.
These statements are so fundamentally wrong — factually, ethically, practically, and in every other way, that I hardly know where to begin.
For one thing, he might want to look at the most elementary descriptions of what constitutes free speech and censorship. Censorship is when state authorities limit the speech of the people under their power. Free speech is the guarantee that no action defined as speech is illegal outside a few harmful examples, like harassment, hate speech and other special cases (under constant negotiation) that we as a society have decided constitute or exacerbate crimes.
(Excerpt) Read more at techcrunch.com ...
Someone who makes such a statement criticizing "the richest man in the world" probably just shouldn't begin. There are so many false arguments and assumptions in this liberal airhead's arguments that it's hard to know where to begin to fisk his obtuse diatribe.
“Elon Musk is embarrassing himself on the global stage again by proudly bruiting a grade-school level of familiarity with the immensely complex concepts of free speech, censorship, rights and privileges of individuals and government authorities. The fact that this aggressively ignorant person is likely to take over one of the largest communication platforms on Earth should scare the shit out of you.”
Bruiting - bruit - To disseminate, promulgate, or spread news, a rumour, etc.
One would have to assume that one who bruits (spreading a rumor) while using bruiting probably has quite a high opinion of himself. Apparently, becoming the richest man in the world, building an electric car company from scratch, establishing and building a private rocket ship/space company (again from scratch) that is outdoing the guvmint operated NASA (and providing trips for NASA astronauts to the space station when the US/NASA can’t do it anymore) and developing one of the largest artificial intelligence companies equates, at least in Devin’s liberal mind - as “aggressively ignorant”. Um, yeah, Devin. What have you done for humanity lately? Oh yeah, “Devin Coldewey is a Seattle-based writer and photographer. He first wrote for TechCrunch in 2007. He has also written for MSNBC.com, NBC News, DPReview, The Economist/GE’s Look Ahead, and others.”
Number one: Seattle based. Uh huh. We know just how liberal Seattle and its writers are and how the city is rapidly turning into San Fransicko on the Sound, feces and needles on the sidewalks included.
Number two: Considering how totally leftist MSNBC.com, NBC New and the others are, a decently knowledgeable person would definitely consider his bruiting to be at best, leftist opinion, lack of facts, and utterly ignorable and forgettable.
“Here is what the richest man in the world said earlier today, on the platform he intends to acquire...” Here, again, Devin is taking on a person who has proven, in the real world, not the airy heights of modern “yellow journalism”, that he has a far better understanding of how thing work and how to be gloriously successful in fields that scads of others have abjectly failed. How many rockets and rocket manufacturing facilities have you designed and shepherded into fruition lately, Devin? How many autonomous car companies have you designed and headed lately - or even if your whole useless life “writing”, Devin? Sitting in the stratosphere of “journalism” writing for MSNBC.com and NBC News doesn’t seem to quite give you the basis for derogating someone who has actually DONE something positive for the world, aside from becoming the richest man in the world while doing it. It is to laugh, Devin. At YOU.
“Elon’s got one thing going for him. He has demonstrated an apparently innate facility to pack more willful and privileged ignorance into a single sentence than almost anyone on the planet.”
Devin, re-read that sentence and then look in the mirror. You seem to be the epitome of “privileged ignorance”.
“These statements are so fundamentally wrong — factually, ethically, practically, and in every other way, that I hardly know where to begin.”
Devin, after reading (painfully) your whole diatribe.. uh, excuse me, “article”, all that is evident is that YOU are the one who doesn’t have the facts, is ethically challenged, and has no practical knowledge of which you spew... uh, write. For example:
“For one thing, he might want to look at the most elementary descriptions of what constitutes free speech and censorship. Censorship is when state authorities limit the speech of the people under their power. Free speech is the guarantee that no action defined as speech is illegal outside a few harmful examples, like harassment, hate speech and other special cases (under constant negotiation) that we as a society have decided constitute or exacerbate crimes.”
From dictionary.com: “noun: the act or practice of censoring. the office or power of a censor. the time during which a censor holds office. the inhibiting and distorting activity of the Freudian censor.” Seems like nowhere in the actually accepted definition of “censor” is mentioned the government. Admittedly the government can, and usually does, try to censor things but it is not included in the definition of the word... or concept.
See Devin, that’s one place where YOU are “factually” lacking. And creating a false or straw man argument to put forth your point is ethically lacking. It’s not what honest, ethical people do. Again, you might look in the mirror when you use the terms ‘factually, ethically or practically’.
Again, from dictionary.com: “noun: the right of people to express their opinions publicly without governmental interference, subject to the laws against libel, incitement to violence or rebellion, etc.” You *almost* got it right this time. But again, you just can’t let your left wing ideology creep in by equating freedom of speech with the erroneous and very subjective terms “harassment, hate speech”. Would “harassment or hate speech” be considered calling the riches man in the world an “aggressively ignorant person” and having a “grade school level of familarity with the immensely complex concepts...”? I suspect that from Elon’s viewpoint, it would. So does your “free speech” qualify for “censorship” based on your subjective definition of “harassment or hate speech”? I would agree with Elon that it doesn’t. You have the right to write your leftist screed against him as much as he has the right to call you an ignorant, leftist bigot. Ooops, that’s MY view of you, not Elon’s. Maybe you’d like the government to step right up and censor my opinion of you. See how that works?
“But this is an unbelievably complicated and nuanced concept, not a big thick line with censorship on one side of it and gratuitous lack of any restriction on the other.” Yes, Devin, for you it may be quite complicated and nuanced. For most rational people, like Elon, it’s a pretty simple concept. You have the right to write or say things that are offensive to others, and they have the similar right. Censorship is when you try to keep those other people from stating or writing their opinions or ideas. Ya know, like when Twitter removes any opinions that THEY deem undesirable. Again, you seem to want to apply your own definition of censorship or a censor that fits YOUR definition, which shows again that you are factually, ethically and practically lacking. Again, Devin, the mirror.
“Next is ‘censorship that goes far beyond the law.’ Presumably he means “censorship” such as moderation by private actors like companies, which isn’t censorship (only governments can be censors) but actually, by definition and legal precedent, an expression of free speech by those companies.”
It is getting weary to write ‘again’ so often, but Devin, your whole screed is consistently lacking of facts, ethics or practicality. Anyone can be a censor. In fact, we all are to some extent in our daily lives. Government’s aren’t the only censors. Yes, it’s quite egregious when the government censors. But your assertion that “private actors” censoring something is “an expression of free speech by those companies.” Amazingly Orwellian on your part. You might want to look up that little tome that George wrote. The only thing he got wrong was the year.
“By seeking to limit what private companies (as they are considered under the law Musk seems to care so much about) do in this context, he is proposing limits on their free speech. By suggesting that the government be the one to define and impose these limits, he is literally proposing a system of censorship.
This isn’t some weird twist of logic, it’s what the words he said actually mean. He just had no goddamn idea what he was saying.”
How amazing obtuse can you get? Most rational people, that is, ones who don’t write for MSNBC.com, understand what Musk was saying. He’s proposing freedom of speech, not censorship. In fact, the only reason companies like Twitter aren’t liable for what they censor is because of the special exemption from the laws that everyone else has to comply with. That’s known as Section 230. Look it up. You might learn something about free speech, censorship and such.
“Next up, “If people want less free speech, they will ask government to pass laws to that effect. Therefore, going beyond the law is contrary to the will of the people.” OK! There actually are lots of proposals along these lines, Elon. Right now the country is in the thick of a real and terrifying battle over actual free speech in which teachers are being told — by their govenments, which makes it censorship! — which topics they can and cannot teach in schools.”
Devin, who runs the schools? Unless they’re private, the *government* runs them. Therefore it isn’t censorship if they determine what is being taught in their own curriculum. Teachers are government agents, paid by the government to teach specifically designated subjects. Most employees of a company don’t have the right to say what their company doesn’t want them to say... while they are working for that company. Same goes for government employees, such as teachers. They are given a specific curriculum to teach. If they want to teach topics or subjects outside of that approved schema, under the terms of their contracts, they are not supposed to unless approved.
If you want to write some diatribe against what MSNBC or NBC approves, do they have the right to not publish that? Is that censorship? Yes and yes. See how that works. You’re setting up a false equation from which to argue. Again (there’s that word), Devin, it is you who are factually, ethically and practically WRONG.
“Florida and Texas and others want to limit free speech; in fact they’ve succeeded. Who asked them to do that? “The people”? Did “the people” will that math textbooks that mention black mathematicians from history be banned from use? Or that explaining why someone might have two dads is forbidden by law?”
Devin, you are amazingly obtuse and lacking in any kind of factual accuracy. You need to actually READ those laws that you’re spewing about, as again you are factually incorrect. For the sake of brevity, I’ll leave reading the text of those laws to you and others to show exactly where you are... again, wrong!
“The idea that government action is by definition the will of the people is one of the most naive things I’ve ever encountered. Is Elon aware that voting rights are being systematically dismantled and bills are being written by lobbyists? Does he know the history of gerrymandering, redlining, voter suppression and general ratfuckery that makes up the history of “asking government to pass laws”?”
Somehow, since Elon was born in South Africa, I think he probably has a really good understanding of most of those things that *liberals* like you have undertaken to grab and maintain power. In fact, with Elon’s genius mentality, I suspect he has more knowledge regarding most subjects than you can feebly grasp. Again, rocket company, electric car company, online financial company, artificial intelligence company, tunnel boring company. What have you done for humanity lately, Devin? Oh, yeah, you write some screeds for MSNBC.com and NBC News. ‘Nuff said.
“What the fuck do you know about “the will of the people,” Elon? Born rich and now rich beyond measure, this is a man who has no idea who “the people” are. He thinks they want vacuum tunnels they can load their $80,000 cars into to shorten their LA-SF commute or bicoastal lifestyle.”
Do I see some class envy there, Devin? What does this have to do with anything? All that writing that does is show how such a little - obscure - soi boi you yourself are. Again, the mirror Devin.
“He may be surprised that “the will of the people,” outside the sycophantic bubble of his replies, is that billionaires probably shouldn’t exist at all. “The people” may very will tell him, if he asked, that his unfathomable riches should be liquidated and directed to reducing things like world hunger — the thing Elon said he’d solve if someone sent him a plan, and then forgot about. Probably because he has no idea what it’s like to be hungry, either!”
Billionaires shouldn’t exist at all??? Isn’t that the epitome of leftist class envy and hate speech on your part. Sorry that you’re scribbling away in obscurity - Devin who? - for MSNBC.com and NBC News? How many of Musk’s tens of thousand employees who are being well paid so they can live comfortably and eat well, along with their families? And what of all the merchants and suppliers that Musk’s companies support and enrich? What about the fact that he paid more in taxes than any human being in history? Billionaires shouldn’t exist? Who would pay YOUR salary for writing your factless, ethicaless, and practicaless screeds if not for the uber rich who own the companies you work for? Tell them that they should be feeding the hungry masses instead of paying you a salary for what little you add to the whole of humanity. Again, mirror!
“Elon, your ideas on free speech are not what I would call evil or abhorrent, by a long shot — they’re just wrong. They’re wrong because you are ignorant of the most basic context and precedent surrounding these concepts, as well as the highly specialized situational knowledge that informs the creation and management of a modern communication platform. You simply have no goddamn idea what you’re talking about.”
The Mirror, Devin, the mirror! You last sentence describes you to a ‘T’. ‘Nuff said.
[Sorry this was so long. It was just too much fun!]
I’ll just go out on a limb and suggest Elon Musk is probably a lot smarter than Devin Coldewey.
Project much, Devin?
Hurr durr I, Devin, writing as a hack for a hack website am more scooper smarter than richest man on planet!
I make things go !
Musk was basically saying the level of speech regulation in social media should mirror that of First Amendment legal protections. They're obviously not controlled by the same legal rules, but they can still be guided by the same moral principles.
if Elon Musk “has no idea”, then why is he the richest man on earth?
Idiot snowflake leftards should just STFU and get a lobotomy
“Free speech is the guarantee that no action defined as speech is illegal outside a few harmful examples, like harassment, hate speech and other special cases (under constant negotiation) that we as a society have decided constitute or exacerbate crimes.”
“Hate speech.” Ugh. That is literally all dissent. The Left cannot be compromised with.
It is clear that the left intends to make certain speech illegal so “free speech” does not mean what it used to mean.
Dear Devin, it’s one thing to be a crazed liberal moron, it’s another to publicize it. But then I expect Musk will give you the opportunity to do so.
The author may be successful in stirring emotions with his “spirited” opinions ... but he fails to persuade with the points he makes ... more accurately, points he attempts to make.
FUDC
I don’t find much beyond “writer and photographer who lives in Seattle” for accomplishments ascribed to Mr. Devin Coldewey.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk has a list of accomplishments that rivals that of Steve Jobs.
This man should be punched repeatedly in the mouth until he begs for mercy.
Only the super woke academia elite are allowed to have opinions on free speech and censorship. Shut up little people and those who disagree! You are not as educated and wise as us, you are like little baby drooling children. Stop embarrassing yourselves
"...immensely complex concepts of free speech, censorship, rights and privileges of individuals and government authorities..."
Ahh. "immensely complex". I see.
Musk is just too stupid to understand these "immensely complex" things. This guy who is some kind of blogger or pundit has a far, far better handle on the "immensely complex" concepts of free speech, censorship, etc.
I am curious: what does this stinking, Leftist turd define as the "rights and privileges of government authorities"?
What exactly are those "rights" and "privileges" he speaks of?
The author: what a maroon.
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