[LocalH]

Today, it seems we're approaching (if we're not already in) McCarthyism II. Except instead of being a top down thing, it's community-perpetrated. How many others have been silenced from major platforms that people don't know about because they're not as (in)famous as Alex Jones? I don't know, and I'd wager (a small amount) that you don't either.

The effects of that persecution are completely different. Sure, in the past you were more likely to be physically attacked for certain socially unacceptable beliefs. But nowadays, you're more likely to suffer long-term damage if you speak too controversially without taking great pains to hide your real identity, and even if you do the people who you anger with your speech may attempt to dox you anyway.

It's funny (in the sad way) that there are so many people of all types who will use certain "weasel" tactics themselves, but when their opponents use the same tactics, they scream "that's wrong, that's unfair, that's dirty". Almost like "the ends don't justify the means" has been perverted into "the ends justify the means only towards my opponents but never towards me".

I don't have evidence, no. But that's because this is a casual discussion for me.