[chrismeller]

And who defines “hate speech” and how do we know we’ll still agree with them tomorrow?

I realize that this is specifically talking about UK groups and that even in the US the 1st only applies to the government and not to any private person or entity, but it amazes me how many people complain about the massive amount of information Facebook has about them, complain about how Facebook has misused or sold that data, and then complain that Facebook hasn’t banned someone they find offensive.

Communication has become insanely centralized in recent years. Facebook can’t be trusted to have or use your information, but you’re fine with them being the free speech police?

[lawlessone]

>Communication has become insanely centralized in recent years. Facebook can’t be trusted to have or use your information, but you’re fine with them being the free speech police?

I talked with some friends at the weekend over pints. We didn't need facebook to act as a middleman.

I don't need facebook to stand on soapbox either.

This hasn't changed.

[chrismeller]

Absolutely. Unfortunately the rest of the world has and now I’m a million miles away from my friends in a country that doesn’t speak the same language and there’s this great thing called the internet that makes it feel like I’m not so far away anymore...

This is why the internet was invented and why there were free and open protocols invented to communicate using it. Unfortunately then AOL and AIM started and it was downhill after that... now we all rely on Facebook or Google or Twitter to relay our messages and that’s not great for anyone.

[iron0013]

They're not the "free speech police", they're the "speech on their own platform which they own and operate" police. Why are you pretending not to understand the difference?

[Shivetya]

Do you seriously believe they don't bend to political pressure nor operate under their own political leanings when making such decisions?

[iron0013]

Wait, what would be the problem of operating under their own political leanings? That's exactly the point--Facebook has decided that they oppose hate speech and will not host it. That's a political decision, and that's okay.

[chrismeller]

And when their ads in some hypothetical way influence an election, is that still ok? What if something something Russia something too?

They’re free to place any demands on their platform as they see fit. I have no problem with anything they’ve done.

The problem arises when you insist that Facebook do things according to your political leanings, but then suddenly your political leanings don’t line up with everyone else’s anymore and you’re the odd one out and now people are demanding that you be banned.

Yes, for 99.999999% of people that’s never going to be a problem. The crap they post on FB is so worthless I’m sure it’d be a negligible loss to the world if they were, but that’s the point - banning them isn’t the right way to get them to change their minds or to improve their posts.

[iron0013]

They’re free to place any demands on their platform as they see fit. I have no problem with anything they’ve done.

Great, I'm glad we agree!

The problem arises when you insist that Facebook do things according to your political leanings, but then suddenly your political leanings don’t line up with everyone else’s anymore and you’re the odd one out and now people are demanding that you be banned.

Yes, for 99.999999% of people that’s never going to be a problem.

Including me, because I do not advocate for harming, killing, or stripping the civil rights from others, unlike the folks who are being banned. :-)

banning them isn’t the right way to get them to change their minds or to improve their posts.

Who wants to change their minds or improve their posts? I want them the hell out of my face, permanently, and I'm happy that Facebook agrees.

[manigandham]

Why are you following people who post these things?

[chrismeller]

So freedom of speech is not a civil right?

Everyone has a right to spout whatever crap they want. Online or on a soapbox on a street corner. You also have the right to ignore them. Exercise it and be happier in your daily life.