There goes another one
Substack is a paid platform, where you subscribe to the content creator.
Are they censoring the paid content, or just the free content?
https://www.history.com/topics/united-states-constitution/freedom-of-speech
history of free speech. Good to know the backround
Read later.
Free speech means not being censored by government.
Private entities have the right to censor because the conveyance method is theirs. They may choose for it to be open, or not.
Just like FR. The ownership/moderators frequently remove posts and threads for a variety of reasons. It is their right. WE are guests here.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution-conan/amendment-1/freedom-of-speech-historical-background
Madison’s version of the speech and press clauses, introduced in the House of Representatives on June 8, 1789, provided: “The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments; and the freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable.”
1 The special committee rewrote the language to some extent, adding other provisions from Madison’s draft, to make it read: “The freedom of speech and of the press, and the right of the people peaceably to assemble and consult for their common good, and to apply to the government for redress of grievances, shall not be infringed.”
2 In this form it went to the Senate, which rewrote it to read: “That Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and consult for their common good, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
3 Subsequently, the religion clauses and these clauses were combined by the Senate.
4 The final language was agreed upon in conference.
Is our free speech being limited by govt?
This makes a good point - once you censor some content you are implicitly endorsing allowed content. That means that you are on the road to destruction.
BS. Of course there are limits. But, it’s kinda like porn. In some areas porn is: “I’ll know it when I’ll see it.”
Yes, you have a human right to say anything you want. But, there are at least two classes that will legitimately get a gov’mt office down on you: direct, personal threats of violence, and the old “fire” yell.
You can still say these things. But, you will be prosecuted and no one will come to your defense. Any site hosting stuff like this will be implicated and also prosecuted. So, they should take it down.
Everything else is fair game if any site is going to claim to be in favor of free speech. If someone objects start a civil suit in court.
I help moderate comments on a few large right-leaning websites. I hide comments, and ban / shadowban some users from time to time. If they are outright promoting violence, or are consistently writing vulgarities ... those comments are not a good fit for the sites I work on.
I’m a fan of free speech. And believe that the answer to hate speech is *more* speech. But sometimes people lose the right to say whatever they want on the sites I work on.
Try saying anything conservative at Reddit.com and you will be banned.