Should an attempt to censor political opinions (i.e. not including the censoring of medically inaccurate info. that physically harms people) be taken as willful ignorance?
Example:
1) Someone says something you disagree with. Even something that is flat-out wrong by your understanding.
2) You either
a) Raise counter-arguments,
Or
b) Try to have this different position removed from your presence and the presence of others.
Or
c) You just ignore it because you don’t understand the issue or because you’re not bothered to respond.
If you take the route of a) you do so because you know you have the arguments to back up your position and are willing to take an honest stance on them that accepts counter-arguments.
If you take b) You do so because you know on some level that you don’t have the arguments to back up your position, whether that is simply in a moment of forgetfulness or in general, and you are not bothered to research a counter-argument. AND you think the argument is too dangerous to be allowed remain in circulation unopposed by your worldview.
Taking c) is an honest response in recognition of ignorance that still respects other’s freedom of expression.
In my opinion, option b) is a foolish response. It assumes that you are correct even if you can’t or won’t argue your position. It is the removal of dissenting voices and the purposeful maintenance of an echo chamber.
What I would consider willful ignorance.
Regardless of the fact that this is obviously not a practice that removes bad ideas from any world other than your own personal one,
Is this matter different from the way I have described it?
As there is inevitably more to be considered, are there any points of consideration that strongly undermine the situation as I have laid it out?
This saying comes to mind: if you dish it, be willing to take it too.
Having said that, anyone can self determines the amount of dish or shit they're willing to take.
But IF I call for censorship, I better be able to support it with reasons or else remove myself from the room. People need to be able to take their own medicine. The only good reason for censorship, in my opinion, is if you are watching a malicious group preach violence in a way that’s actually having a demonstrable impact (because there are plenty of cases where people are all bark and no bite), and you feel it is necessary to temporarily restrict them until you can come up with a better solution.
love light and peace
ps/smoh
