The social media network issue is a massive one for society.

Personally I haven't formed a view as to what's best.

However, I can say that I've always defended free speech in the classic liberal sense....a position that is increasingly under attack, mainly from the left but also from part of the dissident right.

I'm still a defender of free speech but it's certainly true that ultimately my position probably won't win out....on either whichever flavor of left or right.

Edited by Stirlingsays (15 Nov 2020 12.24pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Trumps just tweeted Biden won the election because of cheating, but he won texas! The don is coming round to packing his bags at last!

I also am a defender of free speech. I am though also a critic of irresponsible and dangerous speech. It's when the two clash that we have problems. Right now we have such enormous problems, that some action must be taken or democracy itself is threatened.

The internet has brought us all closer in some ways but has also driven us apart in others. Regrettably, at least for a while, some control over content is essential. It's probably going to have to be ramped up in the coming years.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

It’s interesting that Trump attracts the visceral hatred that he does outside America when there are currently 50 leaders in the world classed as dictators.
Trump’s lying exercises people more than the fate of 25% of countries living under often murderous regimes.

Criticism of Trump is valid as is criticism of anyone. I'm not talking about a dislike here or having policy differences because of a leftist perspective.

However, I think most recognise the border between rational criticism and unrelenting emotive demonisation that's childishly immature......Far out Trumping Trump himself.

I use to watch the tea party do it to Obama....but with Trump the Democrats took that template and went loopy.

It's why they don't really have a leg to stand on now with Republicans and Trump voters. You can't display that level of hatred and then expect your opposition to forget.

You get back what you give out.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

It's a better point than people think. This is exactly the case: what does it actually tell us?
Well, for one, it seems pretty unlikely that the Western democracies are controlling the narrative of anything. The balance of power has completely shifted but we were too busy caring about what Trump said to notice.
There are rogue regimes everywhere - but that's hardly even a phrase anymore. We're more bothered about how many disabled people are on telly, than we are about a couple of million people getting killed. Our priorities are wrong, to say the least.

Red and Blue Army!