I was of a similar opinion late 90s but hasn't the internet proved this view to be rather naive? Free speech is currently destroying democracies the world over and worse, it's eroding social bonds and cohesion and could in fact lead to civil war. I am not just talking about the US here, the same is true for a lot of western countries.
Not to mention that "post truth free speech" is also eroding science and objective truth as well. Everyone can have their own "truth" and no matter how crazy, you ll manage to organise groups around said "truth" who are willing to go to extreme lengths to defend it.
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The internet is indirectly responsible and has contributed to the deaths of thousands of people. From genocides to small scale suicide pushers. We've seen it all this past decade.
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I remember in the late 90s how I thought the internet would bring the world together, erase borders and divisions between people, make everyone smarter and lift us up to new heights. It makes me sad to now see how the world is going in the exact opposite direction.
Erebeon t1_iy8e74z wrote
Reply to comment by anonymousviewer112 in UK waters down internet rules plan after free speech outcry by Sorin61
I was of a similar opinion late 90s but hasn't the internet proved this view to be rather naive? Free speech is currently destroying democracies the world over and worse, it's eroding social bonds and cohesion and could in fact lead to civil war. I am not just talking about the US here, the same is true for a lot of western countries.
Not to mention that "post truth free speech" is also eroding science and objective truth as well. Everyone can have their own "truth" and no matter how crazy, you ll manage to organise groups around said "truth" who are willing to go to extreme lengths to defend it.
​
The internet is indirectly responsible and has contributed to the deaths of thousands of people. From genocides to small scale suicide pushers. We've seen it all this past decade.
​
I remember in the late 90s how I thought the internet would bring the world together, erase borders and divisions between people, make everyone smarter and lift us up to new heights. It makes me sad to now see how the world is going in the exact opposite direction.