Twitter suspends alt-right accounts

[sun rise]

The fight to reclaim America gathers steam. The haters will lose. NEVER AGAIN.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/11/15/twitter-suspends-alt-right-accounts/93943194/

Spencer has said he wants blacks, Asians, Hispanics and Jews removed from the U.S.

 

[Quetzal]

Now comes the part where they mis-interpret the freedom of speech.

 

[Lyndon]

There never was freedom of speech on internet forums, this one as well.

 

[Mister_T]

Denying someone their freedom of speech is just going to get you slapped with a lawsuit.

 

[David1967]

There never was freedom of speech on internet forums, this one as well.

I think this forum has been very tolerant within reason. Very diverse membership here.

 

[Quetzal]

Denying someone their freedom of speech is just going to get you slapped with a lawsuit.

This isn't a freedom of speech violation. Twitter is a private company with terms that members have to abide by. They can change those terms at any time and there isn't anything anyone can do about it.

 

[Sultan Of Swing]

Yeah, because suppression always works doesn't it.

I was hoping after the Trump win people would see that suppression and demonisation of other people's ideas does more harm that good, and there would be more willingness to engage with and discuss ideas, rather than this. (Even if the people in question are not open to engagement themselves, it doesn't send a good message to the people as whole)

And Twitter, as a private company, obviously has the right to do what it wants on this matter. Whether it should, as a global social media platform, is a different question.

 

[David1967]

Now comes the part where they mis-interpret the freedom of speech.

I agree. Where do we draw the line. And what happens when what you believe in becomes censored? I certainly do not advocate hate speech from right or left and will not be a part of it in any way. But personally , I think we should let them speak. That way we know who the potential threats to society are. The internet gives us a valuable window to see just what is out there that if censored most would have no knowledge of.

 

[Quetzal]

This is a good question for @David1967 and @Sultan Of Swing, what do you think is the best way to handle this sort of thing? What should be an acceptable response?

 

[David1967]

This is a good question for @David1967 and @Sultan Of Swing, what do you think is the best way to handle this sort of thing? What should be an acceptable response?

I would say that as long as they dont resort to threats, let em have their say. Better to know the enemy.

 

[buddhist]

When are they scheduled to suspend alt-left Communist accounts?

Remember, Communism is still against U.S. Law: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-68/pdf/STATUTE-68-Pg775.pdf

 

[Lyndon]

Those alt right sites have made plenty of threats.

 

[David1967]

When are they scheduled to suspend alt-left Communist accounts?

My point exactly. Who defines what is acceptable? Letting them speak, (right or left) lets me educate myself from reading their own words instead of reading repeated heresay.

 

[buddhist]

My point exactly. Who defines what is acceptable? Letting them speak, (right or left) lets me educate myself from reading their own words instead of reading repeated heresay.

In this case, since Twitter is incorporated as a U.S. company, it is required to follow U.S. Law, including the Communist Control Act of 1954.

 

[David1967]

Those alt right sites have made plenty of threats.

I'm not denying that. I don't know firsthand as I have never visited one of their sites. I only heard the term 'alt left' last week. Do you have an example of a particular threat they have made?

 

[Sultan Of Swing]

This is a good question for @David1967 and @Sultan Of Swing, what do you think is the best way to handle this sort of thing? What should be an acceptable response?

You let people say what they want to say. Let people be open and honest with what they think.

I concur with @David1967 on direct threats being the exception.

I would add however that cyber-bullying is a real thing too and a separate issue, and Twitter & Facebook have to be careful separating people relentlessly abusing a single person (usually schoolkids, not a sensitive celebrity ), from people just spouting ideas which people don't like.

 

[Quetzal]

In this case, since Twitter is incorporated as a U.S. company, it is required to follow U.S. Law, including the Communist Control Act of 1954.

Meh, not a single administration as enacted or attempted to enforce this because they understand why it's a problem.

 

[Mister_T]

This isn't a freedom of speech violation. Twitter is a private company with terms that members have to abide by. They can change those terms at any time and there isn't anything anyone can do about it.

You have a point. Though I don't think censoring opinions people find offending is going to bring back any voters that they lost to the other side.

 

[Rival]

Hahaha an already dying company suspends millions of its membership.

Twitter's gonna take itself down lmfao it obviously doesn't take the alt-right to do that.

 

[Lyndon]

I'm not denying that. I don't know firsthand as I have never visited one of their sites. I only heard the term 'alt left' last week. Do you have an example of a particular threat they have made?

Yeah, like threatening to make America an all white country, I would take that as a threat!!