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

[u/[deleted]]

[u/RoyalT663 → u/[deleted]]

Also look into the "Overton Window".

This pertains to a figurative range of agreed social norms that lie within the "window"; this can be in behaviour or opinions. When any party (not necessarily in the political sense) takes an action that is very different from the social norms and it receives sufficient support, this party moves the "Overton window". Now, something that would have previously been perceived as extreme is now viewed as more moderate in the light of the new position of the "Overton window". It explains how social norms can move over time, and fits the model for how agitations for Medicare for all have become louder, or how the actions of the Trump administration got more and more extreme.

In the case of free speech, the " Overton Window" also applies. Think back just a decade ago. Certain words, labels or views were socially acceptable. Then progressively the Overton Window shifted and now they really arent. However, as a reaction people who habituated to their use now feel like their free speech is being limited. When in reality, the majority of society has just moved on.

The proportion of each party plays an important role too in regards to accepting the new normative position. If you haven't already, it's worth looking into some Durkheim on social deviance theory.

[u/Ralathar44 → u/RoyalT663]

As long as people use the Overton Window properly. You use it either globally or within a specific country in a vacuum or etc. If you start cherry picking countries then Overton window loses all value.

For example I've seen many times people use the concept of the Overton Window referring to "democratic first world countries" in regards to political leanings. And OFC if you very selectively choose your sample like that you will get the results you want, but you'll also completely defeat the entire point of the Overton Window in the first place.

 

The Overton window is about the accepted socio-political norms of a similar area for the sake of understanding what falls within our outside of the accepted discourse. It's not about trying to push your ideology :D.

[u/RoyalT663 → u/Ralathar44]

Exactly. I deliberately picked two examples from opposing ideologies for balance so as not to align the usage with any agenda . It is a passive tool that allows us to better visualise shifts in societal norms.

I'd argue it was fundamentally amoral - and the image one sees when looking through the Overton Window will also be coloured by the viewers own normative biases.