Post
Topic
Board Serious discussion
Merits 3 from 2 users
Re: Where do you draw the line, Freedom of Speech/Misinformation
by
guybrushthreepwood
on 18/07/2018, 09:32:21 UTC
⭐ Merited by Foxpup (2) ,Steamtyme (1)
Free speech is a tricky thing. I believe in it, and I'm not one of those hypocrites who believe in free speech right up until someone says something they don't like and then they want that person to be silenced or imprisoned, but I guess a line has to be drawn some place, but where do you draw it? Can you slander someone? Accuse them of being a pedophile or criminal based on absolutely no evidence at all? Can you incite someone to commit violence or terrorism? Do or don't those people have a right to make those claims? Do they have a right not to be punished for factually inaccurate or dangerous claims or should people be imprisoned for spreading very damaging or hurtful claims?

I'm not saying that these peoples voices need to be muted but that there needs to be consequences to promoting misinformation.

Examples:
Crisis Actors in the US, a convenient way to dismiss people after a  mass shooting

The Anti-vaxxer

The ever so controversial "Hoax" of climate change

I'm not an anti-vaxxer but I don't think people should just blindly accept whatever their government tells them is ok either and vaccinations or any sort of medications usually come with side effects. I'm sure the people who first called out thalidomide were debunked as crazy conspiracy theorists, but that was a immunotherapy drug that went bad and with disastrous consequences. Some of the current vaccinations do have harmful elements in them (even if they're just trace amounts) and we might not ever know what sort of damage they may or may not do or may find out about them at some point (remember, we were told cigarettes didn't cause cancer), but on the flip side the benefits may outweigh any potential negatives, but again, I wouldn't just debunk or try silence anyone who is against or critical of vaccines or points out the potential harmful effects of some of them (though the people who think the gov are actively trying to poison you are probably going too far into chemtrail craziness). Again, I'm, not anti-vax, but I am overly critical of any medications and their potential side effects or possible long-term damage of their use that may or may not be known yet.

As for crisis actors, now that is a crazy conspiracy theory  Cheesy.