Re: [libreplanet-discuss] helping newcomers start blogs - but where?

[Isaac David]

John Rooke wrote :
> I am not, of course, arguing against the rather obvious point that a
> host can take down a website if they so choose.

right, subject to the host's contractual liabilities to its
costumers. and this is why alternative platforms that will give a
voice to not-so-welcome views are so important. by the same token, one
can't argue against their decision to host them.

> Furthermore, it was correct. If the alt-right/neo-fascist
> movement ever achieve power, dissenting voices will have far more to
> worry about than having their websites closed down.

allow me to disagree. the alt-right is growing because of decisions
like this one, not in spite of them.

i must say upfront that i have no sympathy for them,
but summoning the Streisand effect is the very kind of thing
that will empower them more (remember the Paypal-Wikileaks affair, or
the AACS encryption key?). censorship makes you look insecure in your
positions and provides your opponent with a victimhood narrative. even
using the very money they received from the Daily Stormer to talk
openly about the latter would have had more lasting effects on
reducing their power.

i think we all should strive to see bad ideas exposed, so that they
can die in reason and ridicule in every person's mind, once and for
all. free speech is how we prevent disaster from brewing. moreover, if
violent authoritarians ever get to power --and they will, sooner or
later, whether from the left or from the right-- i will wish having
been born in a society with a strong tradition of freedom that won't
tolerate authoritarians for long.

--
Isaac David
GPG: 38D33EF29A7691134357648733466E12EC7BA943
Tox: 
0C730E0156E96E6193A1445D413557FF5F277BA969A4EA20AC9352889D3B390E77651E816F0C