Free Speech and Consequences go together Doxxing does not

Free Speech and Consequences go together Doxxing does not

Free Speech and Consequences go together Doxxing does not

Some things go together like peanut butter and pretzels. Or like cookies and milk. Or free speech and consequences. One is not prevented from thinking flat-out stupid stuff. That is, sadly, part of human nature. We do stupid things and think stupid things. And actions have consequences as seen here and here. Actions have consequences and, of course, the internet is forever. And yes, this applies to Stalinists and Nazis alike. Both are utterly repellent, pitiful excuses for human beings. And, yes, I stand by that. And if one is dumb enough to believe and express these two repellent beliefs, don’t be surprised when you have trouble finding work (or are fired), or a place to live. or friends. Because these are morally bankrupt, utterly depraved, and despicable things to believe in.

Here is a perfect example of how free speech and consequences work. This business decided to not work with a particular racist group for good reasons (and the market decides the consequences). Cloudflare discussed their reasons and why they made the decision and what makes that dangerous:

Our terms of service reserve the right for us to terminate users of our network at our sole discretion. The tipping point for us making this decision was that the team behind Daily Stormer made the claim that we were secretly supporters of their ideology.

Our team has been thorough and have had thoughtful discussions for years about what the right policy was on censoring. Like a lot of people, we’ve felt angry at these hateful people for a long time but we have followed the law and remained content neutral as a network. We could not remain neutral after these claims of secret support by Cloudflare.

Now, having made that decision, let me explain why it’s so dangerous.

The decision is a very good thing, but there are consequences here as well for everyone:

You, like me, may believe that the Daily Stormer’s site is vile. You may believe it should be restricted. You may think the authors of the site should be prosecuted. Reasonable people can and do believe all those things. But having the mechanism of content control be vigilante hackers launching DDoS attacks subverts any rational concept of justice.

Mob rule deciding who can and cannot speak or post is a problem. Now, I agree with people who are livid about the Citronella Nazis (I also reserve the right to mock them for days).  And I find the Antifa Stalinist wannabes disgusting. Ben Shapiro discusses both of these detestable groups:

I do believe that if one is either Antifa scum or tiki-torch carrying scum, there may/should be consequences for these fools. However, Doxxing is a VERY BAD IDEA, and Aletia from my Catholic friends explains why here:

For many of the rally attendees, Charlottesville may be the first time they gathered with the people they’d spoken to online, their first chance to see the movement they’d joined in the flesh. For some of them, that first encounter, and the violence that they were a part of, may have left them with a queasy feeling, and looking for a way out.

People do truly stupid things and don’t often realize what a bad idea it was until they are smack in the middle. It is possible still that these morons may realize they did a stupid thing. Hopefully, some of the marchers can turn their lives around (this is how grace works and it is the hardest grace I have ever had to extend. Really it is.).

I want this week, and the weeks that follow, to be a time when the men and women who attended have a chance to listen to that small, still voice. A time when it is as easy as possible to take a step back and decide that their first march will be their last march.

Which would be something to celebrate.

Doxxing and social vilification complicates that. It’s harder to walk away from the group you’ve attached yourself to when you know (because everyone is telling you) that you’ve blown it – that you shouldn’t have a job; that you can’t be forgiven; that everyone needs to know who you are right now, so they can shun and disemploy you for the rest of your life.

And that is not how to change people. Call them out. Ask them why.  That may jump-start their brains back up. From a boss, faculty advisor, family, friends, and neighbors. Being Antifa or Nazi/Klan would be one of the stupidest decisions they ever made. How about we give them a chance to grow, change, and become someone better. Because that is who we are.

Due Process

And from the Cloudflare group, something else to remember:

The issue of who can and cannot be online has often been associated with Freedom of Speech. We think the more important principle is Due Process. I, personally, believe in strong Freedom of Speech protections, but I also acknowledge that it is a very American idea that is not shared globally. On the other hand, the concept of Due Process is close to universal. At its most basic, Due Process means that you should be able to know the rules a system will follow if you participate in that system.

Due Process requires that decisions be public and not arbitrary. It’s why we’ve always said that our policy is to follow the guidance of the law in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Law enforcement, legislators, and courts have the political legitimacy and predictability to make decisions on what content should be restricted. Companies should not.

Companies do get to set rules and discuss consequences for breaking said rules. Because they are, at the end of the day, not the government nor should they be. Doxxers have the greatest intentions, sometimes, but really not a good road to go down. Yes, shame the hell out of known bigots and communists and do it well and often. But give them a way out.

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2 Comments
  • GWB says:

    An interesting angle, Gail. Something to ponder thoroughly.

    An important point, imo, that you hint at but don’t explicitly state:
    If *you* want to directly confront a person, and deny them employment or goods and services because you disagree with them, that’s fine. But when you whip up a mob to appear with digital torches and pitchforks and force someone else to fire them or deny them goods and services, that’s different. Now you’re stepping over the line into bullying and mob behavior.

    And honestly, if you boycott a business because they employ those you think are “bad people”, and not because of what the company itself endorses or some direct relationship to its goods or services (yes, I would boycott a child-care if they employed convicted child molesters – DIRECT relation there), then you’re not a good person. Along the lines of that stereotypical racist who won’t eat at *that* diner because they let a “black boy” wait tables instead of just washing dishes.

    • Gail Boer says:

      That is what I wrestled with. And still do. I came to a conclusion that I do not have a problem with exposing someone who owns a business as antifa or nazi supporting (because neither ideology deserves my funds) but not liking mob behavior. Owner endorsements (or CEO endorsements) are different than guy who works there is a commie or nazi. Very different since the owner/CEO/PR person or some public face of Company B does represent the business.

      I would not want to associate with an antifa or nazi for very personal reasons and can do that. If I go on the internet and whip up strangers into a virtual lynch mob to destroy the person and their family I object to, (which IS what doxxing does) I would deserve any and all charges that are sent my way. That is easy. Yelp not so much.

      In retail there is a 10:1 ratio we were taught (I think Yelp makes that a different # but anyway). When someone gets excellent customer service at Robinsons they won’t talk about it because they expect that. If a sales associate is rude however they tell 10 people about that bad experience and that is 10 possible customers gone. But having a staff member who is (insert thing you don’t like) and refusing to go there is being a bad person indeed. Although I would hesitate with a server or a cashier with a tattoo of a giant hammer and sickle or swastika.

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