Post by cjm on Jul 2, 2016 15:50:00 GMT
...
Globally, the Economist reports that free speech is under attack in three ways (with some of my words):
Repression by governments has increased. Several countries have re-imposed cold-war controls or introduced new ones.
Non-state actors are enforcing censorship by assassination. Reporters who are investigating crime or corruption are often murdered, tortured or followed and threatened.
The idea has spread that people and groups have a right not to be offended. But offense is subjective, the power to police is both vast and arbitrary. For example, we now argue that men are not in a position to comment on feminism, nor whites to speak about slavery or racism, nor the ‘advantaged’ to talk about inequity and the plight of those in poverty.
...
Globally, the Economist reports that free speech is under attack in three ways (with some of my words):
Repression by governments has increased. Several countries have re-imposed cold-war controls or introduced new ones.
Non-state actors are enforcing censorship by assassination. Reporters who are investigating crime or corruption are often murdered, tortured or followed and threatened.
The idea has spread that people and groups have a right not to be offended. But offense is subjective, the power to police is both vast and arbitrary. For example, we now argue that men are not in a position to comment on feminism, nor whites to speak about slavery or racism, nor the ‘advantaged’ to talk about inequity and the plight of those in poverty.
...