A conversation; Should Catholics be part of Elon Musk’s Twitter?

[pearl]

It felt like we won back a lot of sanity and some space for warmth and humor with the removal of Donald Trump from the site, and now it’s very possible that he and a number of other pretty ill-intentioned voices will be returning and doing a lot of scary and awful things. It looks like a return to a very sad state of affairs.

I’m not sure I totally buy into people’s fears that under its new ownership, Twitter is going to turn into some sort of hellscape where unpopular views are censored. Even besides this Twitter development, I think people of a certain persuasion tend to demonize Musk without knowing precisely why. I’m not a huge fan of the guy; he attracts a following that tends to idolize “science” as the answer to all the world’s unanswerable questions; he could spend his money on way more meaningful causes. But I don’t know if he is the incarnation of evil and greed we’re led to think.
Roundtable: Should Catholics be part of Elon Musk’s Twitter? | America Magazine

 

[exchemist]

It felt like we won back a lot of sanity and some space for warmth and humor with the removal of Donald Trump from the site, and now it’s very possible that he and a number of other pretty ill-intentioned voices will be returning and doing a lot of scary and awful things. It looks like a return to a very sad state of affairs.

I’m not sure I totally buy into people’s fears that under its new ownership, Twitter is going to turn into some sort of hellscape where unpopular views are censored. Even besides this Twitter development, I think people of a certain persuasion tend to demonize Musk without knowing precisely why. I’m not a huge fan of the guy; he attracts a following that tends to idolize “science” as the answer to all the world’s unanswerable questions; he could spend his money on way more meaningful causes. But I don’t know if he is the incarnation of evil and greed we’re led to think.
Roundtable: Should Catholics be part of Elon Musk’s Twitter? | America Magazine

I don't see what is special about Catholics here, or any sort of religious person, for that matter. It's just like reading a newspaper, surely, except that you can also write short articles yourself?

I must say though that I do not buy the "public square" metaphor. I think it is like any newspaper and as such the proprietor has some responsibility for the content he disseminates so widely - and should be legally liable accordingly.

 

[74x12]

It felt like we won back a lot of sanity and some space for warmth and humor with the removal of Donald Trump from the site, and now it’s very possible that he and a number of other pretty ill-intentioned voices will be returning and doing a lot of scary and awful things. It looks like a return to a very sad state of affairs.

You do want censorship of what you consider to be "scary" voices.

Twitter is going to turn into some sort of hellscape where unpopular views are censored.

But you don't want censorship for your views.

 

[exchemist]

You do want censorship of what you consider to be "scary" voices.

But you don't want censorship for your views.

Don't be a turd. What she said was that she did NOT think Twitter would necessarily become some sort of hellscape.

 

[74x12]

Don't be a turd. What she said was that she did NOT think Twitter would become some sort of hellscape.

But it already is that hellscape for so many. Don't be a turd yourself.

 

[exchemist]

But it already is that hellscape for so many. Don't be a turd yourself.

Address yourself to what @pearl said.

 

[Estro Felino]

@pearl

What do you think of this tweet?

I guess he means that he will not silence anybody.

Of course Catholics are on the side of freedom.

Jesus was silenced.

 

[sun rise]

To me free speech does not include nazis and others posting hate, criminals posting bad links to steal and gaslighters posting lies for authoritarian aims.

 

[RestlessSoul]

Catholicism is neither the cause of my distrust of Elon Musk, nor of my absence from Twitter. For the record, so to speak.

 

[Yazata]

The problem that I see is that "scary and awful" are very much in the eye of the beholder. If we were really interested in eliminating "hate" and promoting "warmth", we would have to eliminate all speech that anyone else might possibly find offensive. And since people have an infinite capacity to feel offended, that's going to be impossible.

The way that Twitter was doing it, a group of disproportionately gay hard-left San Francisco hipsters was trying to steer the national (and world) conversation, by giving voices they agreed with carte-blanche to say anything they pleased, while enforcing a hair-trigger ban hammer against anyone they disagreed with.

I’m not sure I totally buy into people’s fears that under its new ownership, Twitter is going to turn into some sort of hellscape where unpopular views are censored.

I have full confidence that Twitter will continue attempting to exclude child porn, doxxing, threats of violence, attempts to organize criminal acts and similar things. But these measures will hopefully be applied more equally across the political spectrum.

I applaud what Elon Musk is trying to do with Twitter.

 

[Fallen Prophet]

It felt like we won back a lot of sanity and some space for warmth and humor with the removal of Donald Trump from the site, and now it’s very possible that he and a number of other pretty ill-intentioned voices will be returning and doing a lot of scary and awful things.

Removing Trump was an evil thing. It was anti-God and anti-freedom.

It looks like a return to a very sad state of affairs.

The "sad state of affairs" was Twitter subjectively choosing which opinions and worldviews were allowed to be shared on their platform.

I’m not sure I totally buy into people’s fears that under its new ownership, Twitter is going to turn into some sort of hellscape where unpopular views are censored.

That is what it has been for years.

Even besides this Twitter development, I think people of a certain persuasion tend to demonize Musk without knowing precisely why. I’m not a huge fan of the guy; he attracts a following that tends to idolize “science” as the answer to all the world’s unanswerable questions; he could spend his money on way more meaningful causes.

I can't think of anything Musk has done or said that should lead to him being "demonized".

And I believe he has the right to spend his money in any way he deems fit.

No one has the right to tell him how to spend his money.

But I don’t know if he is the incarnation of evil and greed we’re led to think.

He sure ain't.

Roundtable: Should Catholics be part of Elon Musk’s Twitter? | America Magazine

Why should who owns Twitter be a determining factor at all and why is religion even a component?

 

[1213]

It felt like we won back a lot of sanity and some space for warmth and humor with the removal of Donald Trump from the site, and now it’s very possible that he and a number of other pretty ill-intentioned voices will be returning and doing a lot of scary and awful things. It looks like a return to a very sad state of affairs.
...

Interesting, I think the voices that are against freedom are ill-intentioned. I think Twitter would be better, if all opinions would be allowed to be seen. I think that is a great way to develop better ideas. And I think the best way to get rid of bad ideas is to explain why they are bad, instead of hiding them in darkness where they can grow even worse.

 

[paradox]

Jesus was silenced.

really, how could that be?
Jesus continued his preaching even after he was put on the cross.

 

[Sheldon]

You do want censorship of what you consider to be "scary" voices.

But you don't want censorship for your views.

You want people to be allowed to peddle dangerous misinformation and pernicious lies on a public platform, against the wishes of the owners?

I can't say I'm a fan of Twitter, but if people don't like it of course they are not obliged to use it. Whoever the owner is will have the right to enforce terms of use, since it is and will be privately owned, but they may also be held legally culpable for what others post on their platform, as in my opinion they should.

 

[pearl]

Why should who owns Twitter be a determining factor at all and why is religion even a component?

Because we live and move in the public marketplace why should it not be of interest in what changes may bring.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

You do want censorship of what you consider to be "scary" voices.

But you don't want censorship for your views.

It is not censorship, because Twitter is private. Are you a communist?

 

[pearl]

Interesting, I think the voices that are against freedom are ill-intentioned. I think Twitter would be better, if all opinions would be allowed to be seen. I think that is a great way to develop better ideas. And I think the best way to get rid of bad ideas is to explain why they are bad, instead of hiding them in darkness where they can grow even worse.

One problem I see with those who follow Twitter, regardless of who owns it is the lack of doing one's own research as to the motivation of statements made.

 

[Estro Felino]

You want people to be allowed to peddle dangerous misinformation and pernicious lies on a public platform, against the wishes of the owners?

I can't say I'm a fan of Twitter, but if people don't like it of course they are not obliged to use it. Whoever the owner is will have the right to enforce terms of use, since it is and will be privately owned, but they may also be held legally culpable for what others post on their platform, as in my opinion they should.

Who decides what is information and what is misinformation?

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Who decides what is information and what is misinformation?

Well, for Twitter the owners.

 

[Sheldon]

Who decides what is information and what is misinformation?

The facts, as was the case of course when Twitter revoked President Trump's account, for continual breaking the terms of use, by deliberately peddling misinformation. Beyond that Twitter like any privately owned platform, have the final say on who posts what on their site.