I hope I'm wrong. But that text reads like it was generated by an LLM. My point was that artifacts like Section 230 are NOT about free speech in any way, fashion, or form. Free speech is an individual right that is meaningless in the context of platform moderation. Using "section 230" and "free speech" in the same context is non sequitur.
Another analogy is to the public square (not the "town square"). You can be trespassed from public spaces, even though they're public. While this typically happens from "disorderly behavior", it could also happen from "free speech". Elno Musk's vision for X is simply to manipulate the zeitgeist to his benefit, no more, no less. Any pretense he's doing this for some *public* good is so obviously false, I can't believe you (or even Grok) might believe it. Of course, the libertarian principle is that if there exists a Good, the best path to it is through the diversity of visions and pursuits ... collective "action" through individuality. Bizarre paths of failure do tiny bits of damage and fall away while pursuits and visions with merit succeed or gain a (cult) following. But even here, Elno doesn't fit. He's got too much money, "controls" too much stuff. He's no longer an individual. He's an institution. And, in the same way that corporations shouldn't have free speech, Elno should have NO individual rights because he's not an individual. On 1/22/25 12:04 PM, Pieter Steenekamp wrote:
There are multiple dimensions to the issue of free speech, especially when it comes to the transition from individual expression to distribution by platforms like X: Responsibility for Content Distribution: You raise a valid question regarding who is responsible when a platform distributes content: the individual who created the content or the platform that disseminates it? The answer isn't straightforward due to legal and ethical complexities. If the speech in question violates laws, such as defamation, the responsibility might legally fall on the individual speaker. However, platforms can also be held accountable, especially under laws like Section 230 in the U.S., which currently grants them immunity from being treated as the publisher or speaker of user-generated content under certain conditions. This legal shield is often debated, particularly in contexts where platforms are seen to amplify or moderate content in ways that influence public discourse. The Megaphone Analogy: Your analogy of a street preacher with a megaphone is insightful. It highlights that while the content (the message about God) originates from the individual, the distribution (the megaphone) can amplify its reach and impact. Here, one might argue that the responsibility for any harm caused could be shared between the content creator and the tool's provider or user, depending on how the distribution is managed. This analogy underscores that free speech isn't just about what is said but also how it's broadcasted. Comparing Distribution of Rights: Your comparison to the ownership and use of handguns versus drones with missiles further illustrates the point about distribution. Just as there are restrictions on certain weapons due to their potential for harm, the distribution of speech through powerful platforms might necessitate similar considerations. The key difference here lies in the scale and potential impact of distribution. While a handgun's harm is immediate and localized, a drone's capability could affect a broader area or population, akin to how widespread distribution via social media can influence societal norms or politics. The Role of External Pressures: Another layer to consider is the influence of external forces, like government or "deep state" actors, on media companies. The example of the Hunter Biden laptop story suggests a scenario where free speech could be curtailed not by the platforms themselves but by external coercion. Elon Musk's vision for X seems to promise resistance to such pressures, aiming to uphold free speech by not succumbing to external dictates on what content should or shouldn't be shared. In essence, while the core principle of free speech focuses on the individual's right to express themselves, the reality of modern communication involves platforms that significantly alter the reach and impact of that speech. The promotion of free speech from individual to distributor involves navigating these new dimensions of responsibility, ethics, and law. The question isn't just whether free speech should be promoted but how it should be managed in an age where distribution can exponentially increase its effects, both positive and negative. On Wed, 22 Jan 2025 at 20:35, glen <geprope...@gmail.com <mailto:geprope...@gmail.com>> wrote: I'm confused by this promotion of "free speech" from the individual to a platform. When X (or this mailing list) *distributes* my text, who is ultimately responsible for that distribution? Me? Or X/redfish.com <http://redfish.com>? The distribution of some content is not what I'd call "free speech". Maybe we could make an analogy to a megaphone. Let's say some street preacher is shouting about God (content) through a megaphone (distribution). And let's say your hearing is damaged by that megaphone (distribution). Efficient cause suggests it's the preacher's fault - or maybe your fault for standing so close. Material/proximal cause suggests it's the megaphone's fault (or the manufacturer of the megaphone). But regardless of where any one person lands in answering that question, everyone should admit that the content is not the same as the distribution. A similar argument can be made about the difference between, say, a handgun and a drone carrying a hellfire missile. Should my neighbor Randy be allowed to own (and/or carry into the sandwich shop) a handgun? Sure, it's right there in the Bill of Rights. But should Randy be flying hellfire-laden drones around in Seattle airspace? No, probably not. What's different about those questions? My answer is *distribution*, distribution of the threat (flying around) and distribution of the damage (missile vs. lead slug). Why is the promotion of free speech from individual to distribut[or|ion] any different from that of other rights? On 1/21/25 10:27 PM, Pieter Steenekamp wrote: > > Regarding free speech, I acknowledge its drawbacks, but what are the alternatives? During the Biden administration, there were allegations of pressure on media to promote a certain narrative, notably around the Hunter Biden laptop story where 51 former intelligence officials wrongly suggested it might be Russian disinformation to influence the 2020 election outcome. This incident illustrates the dangers of having moderators decide what is true if those moderators are not guaranteed to be objective and neutral. > > The debate on free speech versus moderated content is complex. While there are clear pros and cons, I believe that Elon Musk's approach to free speech on the X platform (formerly Twitter) is preferable to a system where moderation is evidently biased, as it was before Musk's acquisition of the platform. However, the effectiveness of his free speech policies is still a topic of debate among users, with some arguing that the platform's moderation has become less about curating content for truthfulness and more about enabling a broader, sometimes unchecked, range of opinions. >
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