A free society punishes authorities for reckless speech and permits individuals to say whatever. A totalitarian society punishes individuals for unauthorized speech and permits the authorities to say whatever. Which society does the United States more resemble in the winter of 2022? -Daniel Flynn

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[–]AcceleratedWallops 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Does this Flynn guy really think individuals aren't permitted to say whatever? Has he seen the nonsense on Twitter?

For contrast, the thousands of protesters in Moscow have already been rounded up and jailed. After a single day.

[–]jet199 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

I'm thinking the anglosphere has become more like 1984 where the poors could say and do whatever they liked and but the middle class were monitored and repressed. And, yes, it is mostly social pressure but that's often worse than government oppression. Social contact is a basic human need. We are seeing people disowning their own families over words at the moment.

Somehow the oppressive/hypocritical social order of the Victorians has escaped UK history and taken over large parts of the world.

[–]AcceleratedWallops 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

At the moment? Such social pressure has always existed. People still get disowned for being gay, but imagine it 30 years ago!

Imagine missing church one Sunday and the entire town talking about you behind your back. How's that for social pressure? Now let's roll back a few hundred years and you'd be getting investigated by the Inquisition or accused of witchery.

Honestly, social pressure is probably lower than it's ever been, with the recent moves toward openness and acceptance. But I don't think humanity will ever stop calling people out for being assholes.

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

next time bring your brain to a fight of wits. https://saidit.net/s/quotes/comments/8ygt/a_free_society_punishes_authorities_for_reckless/ io games