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[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

Anywhere you have freedom, you will have perversion of that freedom as an excuse to commit unthinkable abuse. Then freedom gets restricted or the space becomes an utter cesspool.

[–]Feldheld 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

Nonsense. In the 1990s we had the usenet which was practically unmoderated. Yes, it had the usual infestation by antisemites, leftist hate junkies, and nutty spammers but it was no problem since it also had a well functioning ignore filter. It was a little work to keep the filter up to date but it was well worth it. Only in its best years reddit came close to the quality of open debate the usenet offered.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Oh, I remember that. But that was back when everybody on the 'Net followed Netiquette, which is long dead and buried. So you see, there was not total "freedom" in that good manners were more or less required, removing the "freedom" of being a total asshole.

[–]Feldheld 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Yes, there was total freedom since this netiquette was not enforced by moderation. Worst thing that could happen to violators was being trashed by other users or being put in a lot of ignore filters.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Wait a minute... Enforcement by the group means freedom, but enforcement by a few chosen rulers is encroachment on that freedom?

If you would compare it to say, homosexuality: gays used to be almost completely cut off by society and shunned by most. By your metric would that be "freedom" or not? Now that the government stepped in and said it's OK to be gay, do they have freedom? There are some places gays get kicked out.

[–]Feldheld 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

There was no "enforcement by a group". Even the largest group hostile to you didnt have the power to delete your post or ban you from using the usenet.

If you would compare it to say, homosexuality: gays used to be almost completely cut off by society and shunned by most. By your metric would that be "freedom" or not?

Yes, that is freedom. As long as there is nobody with a special lever to enforce his will over others and everybody has equal power of choice and like / dislike there is freedom.