Cory Doctorow, not only a great sci-fi writer but an important commentator. #xp #IT #cyberpunk #Culture
Short quote only -- see link below :
"In XKCD comic 1357, “Free Speech”, Randall Munroe offers a characteristically concise and snappy summary of one of the canonical arguments about free expression: “The right to free speech means the government can’t arrest you for what you say. It doesn’t mean anyone else has to listen to your bullshit, or host you while you share it…. If you’re yelled at… or get banned from an internet community your free speech rights aren’t being violated.”
I have a lot of sympathy for this argument! After all, what’s the alternative? That the government should order other people to host your objectionable speech? Surely there’s a free speech interest in not being compelled to publish things you disagree with. “Free expression” includes the right not to speak, and the right not to listen."
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Must-read by @doctorow about politics, the internet and action/inaction
https://locusmag.com/2020/01/cory-doctorow-inaction-is-a-form-of-action/
@design_RG I agree but this misses the fact that #BigTech owns a monopoly, and they can effectively remove your internet free speech (as we saw with #AlexJones).
If things were less monopolized, I'd agree.
@realcaseyrollins
Yes, we had a bot bringing his Twitter posts to marmot.fr -- and Cory personally responded to one of our mentions of his name here, clarifying he is no longer with Boing-Boing.
But Pluralistic, as an independant publisher.
I can really relate to that as I am considering distancing myself from some situations as well.
@realcaseyrollins That would be just one of the forms of power at play.
Could mention others :
* The Masters of the Universe (as they call themselves, no kidding) at Wall St.
* Lobbies for large corporations and external State agents.
* Health care industry shrills.
& the corrupt mostly representatives at the federal seat of power.
Huge issues, and any solutions will come with friction and worse.
@design_RG But yeah Doctorow is a cool guy. I loved his series on Marcus Yallow.
Did you know he has a #Fediverse account, too? @doctorow @pluralistic