The new Twitter (X): Elon Musk and Freedom of Speech

[Estro Felino]

I can't say I agree with Voltaire, but I've read that the quote is actually a misquote and a misattribution and that it was Evelyn Beatrice Hall who used the words, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it," to describe Voltaire's attitude about the burning of the book "On the Mind" written by Helvétius. One must therefore ask if the quote is really meant to refer to any and all speech or merely to certain forms of it from certain forms of attack and also ask if it was an exaggeration to say he would "defend to the death" or literally so and if by defend we mean he would argue verbally until his dying breath or take up arms and slay those responsible. As far as I know Voltaire didn't go around killing people. How exactly did Voltaire go about defending the right to say things? Did Voltaire risk life and limb for "On the Mind"? Supposing Voltaire would "defend to the death" against those responsible for burning "On the Mind", would he also defend to the death someone who constantly insulted his mother? I wonder.

In the XVIII century there was no freedom of speech.
People were censored. Kinda like today...
The woke Party wants to censor people like JK Rowling, just because she expressed her own opinion.
Voltaire wouldn't agree with her, but he would defend her right to say it.

I imagine that if the words are terrible enough I might step aside and say the man who spoke thus has dug his own grave.
There was someone who would post on twitter the times and locations of Elon's movements around the world despite Elon's polite requests that he not do that. And after Elon acquired twitter that account was banned for this activity. It's an interesting question: who would defend such a twitter account? It's not an argument or an opinion. It does nothing of benefit that I can discern. It would be like if I were to spy on my neighbor, make a record of his comings and goings, and then post the information in the local newspaper every day. It's the sort of information one might classify as idle gossip best left to an exchange among friends, but it was being collected and tabulated very publically for the world to see. What say you? Would you "defend to the death" a twitter account from being banned?
What if the President posted on twitter so that people could read what he had to say, would you ban his account?

The woke Party has normalized doublestandardism.
They consider legitimate to diss Trump 24 / 7....but Rowling talking about womanhood and women who menstruate...that's hate speech.

 

[McBell]

Doublestandardism is not allowed because there is the Montesquian principle of le juge bouche de la loi, so judges cannot interpret laws.
They are forbidden to interpret laws.

What then is the judges job?

 

[Estro Felino]

What then is the judges job?

To apply existent laws without making up laws just to punish people they dislike.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Why do certain people dislike Musk?

He's a terrible, abusive person who only got to where he is because of the tax payers. He's also nit as smart, talented or as important as he thinks.

Why don't they approve of the way he manages X?

It's allbof his companies. Demanding more and more from workers, late night emails, no criticism allowed, dishonesty, public endangerment, anti-consumer practices, hugely one sided user agreements that favor the company, and he's only rode on the coattails of others and was propped up by tax dollars.

Do you agree with Voltaire's sentence?

Yes. Musk could learn a thing or two from it rather than being a hypocrite who is actually very pro-censorship in practice.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Being British, you probably don't know how a Roman Law country works.

Does that ever actually work for you or has everyone blown over your challenges?

 

[Estro Felino]

He's a terrible, abusive person who only got to where he is because of the tax payers. He's also nit as smart, talented or as important as he thinks.

I must admit I mainly like him because I find him cute and sexy.
Maybe this makes me less impartial in my judgment?
I think that he does good things.

Yes. Musk could learn a thing or two from it rather than being a hypocrite who is actually very pro-censorship in practice.

Actually many leftists complain because he allows too many speeches and opinions, even the most controversial ones, on his X platform.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Actually many leftists complain because he allows too many speeches and opinions, even the most controversial ones, on his X platform.

Well, yeah, Neo-Nazis, Klansmen, Skinheads and the like don't need easy access platforms to spread their venomous hate and vitriol that is inciting and organizing violence and acts of terrorism.

 

[Estro Felino]

Well, yeah, Neo-Nazis, Klansmen, Skinheads and the like don't need easy access platforms to spread their venomous hate and vitriol that is inciting and organizing violence and acts of terrorism.

We are not speaking of extremists.
We are speaking of simple opinions, like that of J K Rowling... which are considered hate speech.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

We are not speaking of extremists.
We are speaking of simple opinions, like that of J K Rowling... which are considered hate speech.

I'm more concerned with traitors planning and organizing an insurrection in an attempt to overthrow the US government, kidnap governors, and a "little army" intent on terrorizing a Pride event.

 

[Estro Felino]

I'm more concerned with traitors planning and organizing an insurrection in an attempt to overthrow the US government, kidnap governors, and a "little army" intent on terrorizing a Pride event.

But it turned out that those were simple protesters in front of Capitol Hill, to demonstrate peacefully.
They cannot be associated with that group that stormed the building. Two separated groups.

Peaceful demonstrations are allowed.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

But it turned out that those were simple protesters in front of Capitol Hill, to demonstrate peacefully.
They cannot be associated with that group that stormed the building. Two separated groups.

Peaceful demonstrations are allowed.

Peaceful protestors don't storm buildings, kill cops and ask where the VP is to hang him (I HATE Pence. No one deserves that that sort of abuse, treatment or end).

 

[Ponder This]

In the XVIII century there was no freedom of speech.
People were censored. Kinda like today...
The woke Party wants to censor people like JK Rowling, just because she expressed her own opinion.
Voltaire wouldn't agree with her, but he would defend her right to say it.

The woke Party has normalized doublestandardism.
They consider legitimate to diss Trump 24 / 7....but Rowling talking about womanhood and women who menstruate...that's hate speech.

I don't know if Voltaire would agree with J.K. Rowling about women, but I suspect you're right that Voltaire would defend J.K. Rowling's right to express her opinions about women.