Association Of Village Idiots

Freedom of speech. Ahhhh…. The many personal definitions of it.

I was on a video sharing site this morining. One I admit I mostly go
to and watch content. I very seldom participate in a big way. I am a vlogger
or video logger as we are now called, however I mostly just watch videos on
this particular site.

According to the owners and administrators of the site they are about to start
a grand experiment in democracy. They will let the users of the site start to run it
to a certain extent. Now this does not seem to mean they are actually giving up
control of the site so much as stepping back. Maybe in the long run a good thing.

The many videos and blogs and groups are forming up as usual in this type of
situation. I actually out joined one group discussing the issue. I was invited by
a friend on the site and out of curiousity I clicked the “join” button.

They actually posted the groups goals in a list of points. One being
“freedom of expression.” Interesting how after that the next point read and I
am givning the exact copy below to clarify my commentary.

“We do not support any form of online typical violence. That explicitly includes
spamming, racist, sexist, fascist comments or any other expression of a hateful mind.

Getting past my total lack of understanding as to how spamming is “typical violence”
against anyone along with the rest of the “ist’s. Yes, I actually know some racist and
sexist people and they have never in any way advocated anything violent in any way.

I made a comment in my post at the group that what would freedom of speech mean
if someone who happened to be sexist or fascist could not express their point of view?
Sounds more like the choir preaching to the choir then. I think freedom of speech is
meant to protect the ideas of those I disagree with not just those I agree with or like.
I also notice the term “fascist” which in general usage is often hurled about at anyone
on the extreme left or right of an issue to try and silence a critic.

It’s much easier than sitting down and putting together a credible argument I think.

I guess from what I read and hear this has gone much farther in the UK than in the US.
People are being warned not to express certain politically incorrect opinions in public for fear
of getting arrested of fined.

That old terrorist / patriot Thomas Jefferson may be speaking
to us from the grave.

There may come a time soon where our freedoms are so oppressed we will need
another revolution.

Chuck Howard
(The Token Yank)