[Throwway32]

Free speech absolutists love talking about unfettered free speech as being a universal good, without ever providing evidence. Has there ever been a society without any limits on speech anywhere in human history? How do we prevent people with limited cognitive and critical thinking skills, including those who are young and immature, from being influenced by malicious actors?

It's telling that even in the "land of the free" members of certain groups are proscribed from expressing their vilest and most murderous ideas without heavy-handed state intervention (to the point that some have been killed by drones for doing so), while other groups openly flaunt similar ideas, and hide behind "free speech" when anyone dares to criticize them.

[spaginal]

It’s not up to you to decide the validity of speech or opinions, and who gets exposed to what. In a free society this isn’t your call to make.

The benchmark of critical thinking faculties is commonly a political test when it comes to speech, and is a convenient excuse people, and governments use.

Look at Twitter. A bunch of people on all political sides of an issue labeling eachother as evil, dangerous, idiots, etc. No one listening to eachother. Everyone judging eachother, no one is immune from it.

Now give the power to shut down speech to one of those sides and use your litmus test as the basis for qualifying appropriate speech. What do you think is the end result?

Banning speech or ideas is lazy thinking, easy to do and repeatable once accepted as a solution, and most importantly dangerous. Far more dangerous than the idea it’s trying to silence.

[Throwway32]

Far more dangerous than the idea it’s trying to silence.

I don't know about that. In the real world, there are homicidal maniacs, deranged ideologues trying to incite violence, paid propaganda outfits, state actors who masquerade as legitimate voices. If allowing them free rein is the price for "freedom", I'd rather have a little less freedom, because that sort of freedom is unsustainable and will, inevitably, destroy itself.

[giardini]

Throwway32>"...there are homicidal maniacs, deranged ideologues trying to incite violence, paid propaganda outfits, state actors who masquerade as legitimate voices..."

Of course that is correct. Regarding the first two categories (maniacs and ideologues):

but not letting them post doesn't make them go away - they are still there waiting, possibly with axes, behind the next tree!8-))

Firstly, let them post so you are reminded that they are there and what they say. Secondly, let them post so they can _speak_ and be heard - something every human seeks. The Internet allows shut-ins, invalids, some prisoners and possibly even mad men a voice. Thirdly, let them speak so they can be recorded. Then afterward we have a trail we can follow. Maybe someday we can use that information to detect serious problems before they cause societal damage.

Regarding the last two categories (paid propaganda and state actors): you will not be able to block them b/c they are part of the system and they manipulate the system. You and others will simply have to detect them.