https://lemmy.world/c/christians
This community does not affirm practiced LGBTQ+ lifestyles
Rule 8 of this community is in clear breach of the first goal from the lemmy/mastodon.world code of conduct
Frankly? When the thing they think is bigotry, no it is not ok. This isn’t a casual difference of opinion, it’s discrimination - thinking that an immutable part of someone’s identity is a fundamental sin.
We do not need to adhere to free speech absolutism, and we do not need to equally entertain all ideas and opinions. We are human beings, not abstract concepts that adhere to ideological purity - we can make exceptions.
What about the phrase “sunlight is the best disinfectant”?. You can allow people to air their opinions (regardless of whether you believe they’re bigoted or not) and it’ll hurt their cause. Alex Jones is nothing but a meme now because of having a platform.
Doesn’t banning these people prove their ideas and conspiracies right and force them deeper underground?
If they aren’t promoting literal violence, leave them be. Just because they upset some people isn’t a reason to ban them.
The Westboro Baptist Church is a prime example of airing their foul opinions causing almost a complete exodus and switch on behalf of the church members. If you think you’re right, try to convince them.
If you want to talk to them, go somewhere they congregate and talk to them. It’s not like such places are rare on the internet. Not everywhere needs to be a platform for hate.
You do realise that every single social platform favours your way of thinking? You are pretending like you aren’t fully in charge.
All you need to do is shout “my feelings!” and you get results. Like toddlers shouting for cookies.
When the “opinions” being aired discriminate against other people or could lead to an avoidable death from dangerous misinformation, it should not be allowed.
Deplatforming works. Yes, banned people will leave and try to congregate somewhere else - but it is better that they are removed, so that the impressionable and the vulnerable are not hurt by their bigotry or misinformation. Besides, how many people have you honestly seen have a core belief successfully challenged and changed on the internet?
I was one of those people, I’ve been changed. I know a lot of other people too. Maybe try to look outside of an echo chamber sometime.
So disagree then. Even though I think your suggestions are as dangerous as the bigotry, it’s a part of the diversity of thought I’d like to see in an online forum. There are 2.6 billion christians in the world and 1.7 billion muslims. And according to you they should all be deplatformed. That’s more than half the worlds population instantly dismissed by you as bigots because they believe in the book of fairy tales they were taught to believe in. I disagree pretty strongly with their views, but they have a right to exist on the internet. Unless they’re actively organising a pogrom or a crusade, you’re not helping anyone by deplatforming them. And even then, they’ll just find another place to organise it - personally I’d like to keep it visible. Both as an early warning system, and as a chance to have the sunlight do the disinfecting.
I don’t think all of those people hate LGBT.
And, honestly, to think that deplatforming bigotry is just as dangerous as bigotry is absurd to the point where I don’t think any reasonable discussion could be had here anymore.
Running around deplatforming people who think Bad Things but haven’t hurt anyone is seriously anti-enlightenment, and I think it’s equally absurd you can’t see the danger in it. But I am still glad that we have a place that we can have this conversation.
