Really?
No, it really isn’t. It isn’t that simple. It isn’t that simple.
If it really were that simple, then we should want more and more and more racist and anti-Semitic and misogynist commentary. There should never be enough, because we should always want more of it so that we can be free to say “wow, what a dick” in response.
If it really were that simple, there would be no problem with actual racists or anti-Semites or misogynists stirring up hatred of and violence against disfavored groups of people – and yet we know that racists and misogynists do stir up hatred of and violence against disfavored groups of people.
If it really were that simple, words would have no power at all to motivate people to do things.
If it really were that simple, the magic phrase “wow, what a dick” would neutralize all hate-speech, such that no violence or bullying would ever flow from it.
It really is not that simple.
Actually, I think it is pretty simple, in one way. Dave Rubin and those who agree with him are able to read what Milo says. They can go to Breitbart. Or Facebook. Or Milo’s personal site (assuming he has one; if not, he can certainly start one).
Twitter has decided it doesn’t want to host his nonsense any more, and that is entirely Twitter’s prerogative. Strange how many people who usually declare themselves believers in property rights and the free market seem to have an issue with that.
But of course, people like Dave Rubin aren’t really worried about their continued access to Milo’s pearls of wisdom. They want to make sure that you read Milo’s words, whether you want to or not. It’s much like those Christian theocrats who claim that they just want their kids “to be allowed to pray in public schools.” In fact, the law allows kids to pray on their own all they like, it’s just school-imposed or teacher-led prayer that is disallowed — and that’s what really irks them, because their beef is really about making other people’s kids pray.
Exactly. Well said.