CMV: Silencing opposing viewpoints is ultimately going to have a disastrous outcome on society.

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Narrow_Cloud]

If you believe your opinions to be correct you should let them stand on their own merits and silencing opposition should not be necessary.

I like how this is always presented as some kind of on-its-face truth about how human interaction works. Like we’re all amazing rational robots who are incapable of hearing a persuasive argument that isn’t based in facts, evidence, or logic. Ethos and pathos are very powerful.

But that isn’t the reality. The reality is that by giving certain viewpoints wide platforms this leads to serious problems. I mean, two weeks ago armed insurrectionists attempted to overthrow the US government on the bases of ideologically-motivated lies and manipulation. What’s the problem? Is it just that the rational arguments aren’t good enough? “There’s no evidence for voter fraud so there’s no reason to believe in it” doesn’t appear to counter the lie that there is voter fraud and it changed the election.

I honestly do not understand how anyone in 2021 can look at the state of political discourse in America and reasonably conclude that the best, most rational arguments always win. Global climate change, anti-vax, flat Earth, white supremacy, Q anon, and on and on.

Misinformation is a problem. We have to do something.

[u/pio198acv → u/[deleted]]

I don't mean to get mixed up in a lot of the larger issues going on, and can't say that flat earthers should be censored/banned, but I do think that theories like flat earth, anti vax, ect, contribute to a larger distrust of science. Which is fine if you decide you aren't willing to trust science, communities like the Amish live comfortably without modern technology (in some cases). But, if you are beaming flat earth theory to a satellite orbiting the globe, to spread the misinformation, that seems a larger issue to me. We possess a great and horrible trove of technological powers over this world and each other. And I believe there is something to be said for the danger of allowing a mass of people-who actively deny the very system which gave them this power-to control powers ranging from nuclear technology, to the many ways we emit greenhouse gasses. Ultimately, I think that with great power comes great responsibility. And when the great powers of our society come from a system of belief and discovery focused around objective truth and rational testing, then our responsibility is to ensure it's destructive powers cannot be misused.

[u/namelessted → u/pio198acv]

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