Alex Jones shutdown on YouTube, Facebook, and Apple

Post Reply New Topic

The "private corporation" argument just doesn't hold up. Social media platforms have for years operated under the guise that they're "neutral" and are not responsible for the content of its users. Now they are making arbitrary decisions to block some users, while leaving others with equally or more offensive or ridiculous views in tact. Obviously, the mid-term elections are the primary motivating factor behind the decision to boot Jones. If you're on the Left, and you're OK with this, let me ask you this: Will you keep your mouth shut when they go after someone's voice with whom you do agree? Or will you accept the "free market" argument?


To be honest, it isn't likely that very many staunch supporters of this decision will find themselves in that position, since most of them appear to be in lock-step with the radical Left's agenda, and would probably never entertain views that questioned the corporate script.


As a Left-leaning individual, I never thought I'd see the day when I'd have equal contempt for the Dems as I have for the Pubs. But the DNC and Hillary's corruption in the last election cycle opened my eyes completely. If we don't all start standing up and speaking out against injustices regardless of your political beliefs, then this country is truly f****d. The Left/Right paradigm will continue, I'm afraid.

I don't think leftists have to worry about that and I don't think they even give it a thought. I doubt you'd see any sort of reverse to a normal equilibrium of checks and balances or objectivity and open discourse in this lifetime. It's certainly been a crazy non-stop global roller coaster ride since the 2016 election.

If anything else, one of the most amazing things in my opinion that the 2016 election revealed is the extent, the pervasiveness and the level of coordination of the global "machine" impacting and manipulating virtually every aspect of human life. "They" tipped their hand in a way that's NEVER been so obvious before. I would go as far as to say it's a first in human history.

The obviousness of areas of society such as: academia, global corporations, government and the media lock-step and non-stop together in their unified opposition to his presidency is confirmation of a framework that such areas of society previously would and did give the appearance that they were not in union with each other. They've turned on the lights in the room for all to see them with their masks off, joined hands in a circle. It's amazing living at this time of history and seeing such a thing out in the open like that.

I'll agree to disagree right up front with anyone who may counter with responses such as:

"Paranoid much?" - Not at all.
"Can you prove what you say?" -It's obviousness speaks for itself.
"Purely a random coincidence." - Stick with that.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. That's why these "areas of society" you mention have banded together." - Ok.
"You must reallllly like conspiracies." - Not at all. Conspiracy theories bore me.
"Take off your MAGA hat, Trumpkin!" - Don't own such a hat and would never own one. I'm also not a Trump worshiper by any stretch nor am I a republican.

Yeah, it's been a "crazy" ride, all right. And it's only going to get crazier. The irony here is that the actions by these major corporations will only strengthen the resolve of the resistance against the Left. They've effectively turned Alex Jones into a martyr. In a free society, the best counter to free speech you don't agree with is more free speech. Trying to shut it down is counterproductive. This is just the beginning.

Trumpsters are freaking hilarious.

"Most people are against Trump not because of his bigoted views and ways - but because the media tells them to be!"

I severely pity those who think like that - "So many people disagree with me, thus I need a conspiracy theory of everyone but me and the few being mind controlled!" - as Buzz Lightyear would say, I only have one reply to those who would think like that: "you are a sad, strange, little man."

XKCD on "Free Speech"
WARNING: Contains Profanity.



Link

Pardon my French, but just what the f**k does what you just typed have to do with the topic at hand?

One of the posters, not you, clearly comes off as a conspiracy crazed right-wing Trumpster.

Saying the media is biased is one thing, both left-wing and right-wing news outlets are.

Implying that the media is brainwashing people into being in lockstep against Trump is tin hat wearing, hilarious insanity.

I don't think of myself as any of those things you've accused me of pal. Sorry, my hand slipped out from the straight jacket just for a moment. And no worries, I've got a thick skin.

We all get it.

"I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".

As Patrick Henry said. Except he never really said that. The phrase war originated in 1900 by a lady biographer of Voltaire in her summation of Voltaire's philosophy (even Voltaire himself never penned that phrase, but I digress).

But folks also have the right to control their private property. Alex Plank has the right to set rules on "Free speech" on this site (and thank gawd that he does that).

Alex Jones was a nice little political sideshow freak on U Tube. Actually I am kinda sorry to see him go. But should I actually be upset and go out and demand that they keep on U Tube?

I am not convinced that I should be in any high dudgeon about it. Partially because U Tube is a private company, and is not the government, so the First Amendment doesn't apply.

Its not like when the ACLU sued the government of the town Skokie Illinois and successfully got the town to allow the Nazis to do their march in that town, in that Eighties landmark First Amendment case.

You could argue that we should apply the spirit of the law even if the letter of the law doesn't apply. U Tube is a bigger more sprawling and brawling space than something like Wrongplanet (that needs a little family friendliness).So we should pressure them to keep every flaky programmer just to keep the "market of ideas" competitive. Maybe. But even if you could convince me what could we do about it? Precisely because the letter of the law doesn't apply we cant use legal remedies. U Tube didn't violate the law to boot him off their platform so we cant get the ACLU to sue U Tube. All that you can do is to use public pressure. Boycotts, angry letters, etc..

Free speech is the right to say what you want without the government stopping you. If someone makes a website they can control it in any way they like. You don't have a right to upload videos to youtube if youtube doesn't want you to.

Kudos for laughing it off.

And my apology for getting you wrong then.

Just some of it sounded like what I'm used to from Trump conspiracy nuts - they're to the point where they even legit believe hate crimes against minorities aren't happening and the only reason minorities say there is - is because the media tells us so, not from our own personal experiences or anything. It's a really twisted and bizarre echo chamber of "everyone but me is brainwashed by the media" denial.

I've never disputed that fact. This conversation has officially devolved into what can only be described as a circular conversation. Rather pointless, I guess.

Ah yes. The debate about how far civil rights should extent in to private enterprise, if at all.

After the case of the baker who refused to make a cake for a gay wedding, I began to consider what if I were a baker and someone wanted me to bake a nazi themed cake. I would be hesitant to do so on account of the fact that if they knew I was an Ashkenazi jew, I would worry they would claim that I did something to the cake to harm them. Secondly, it's not really appropriate for me to make such a cake. So I decided my bakery, if I had one, would not do entirely custom cakes. Customers would be permitted to choose from a book of pre designed cakes with the ability to choose cake flavor, filling, color and piping styles. The messages on the cake would also be limited. What they do with the cake though would not be of my concern.

You can refuse to bake a cake for a nazi as that's a political idealogy, not a religion. What is illegal is refusing to bake it for someone based on who they are (based on race, religion, or sexual orientation)

Private companies, they can do what they want

Alex Jones website has the following rules

YES!