> I also totally agree that the best way to combat so-called bad ideas is to talk about them and debate them, not deplatform
I would like it to be that way. However, I've seen over the last 10 years (at least in Germany) that it just does not seem to work. Deplatforming at least limits the ability of extremists to reach more people, even though it seems to make the people already in that corner to become even more radical.
> as if you're so smart to know what's good or bad for people, and the people themselves are too stupid and will be easily manipulated and believe a bad idea.
Well we are stupid and we are easily manipulated, unfortunately. And that's why as a society could (and imo should) decide that we won't expose ourselves to certain kinds of propaganda. This is not a random process of censoring people we don't like - this has to do with legislation and courts enforcing those laws.
I would like it to be that way. However, I've seen over the last 10 years (at least in Germany) that it just does not seem to work. Deplatforming at least limits the ability of extremists to reach more people, even though it seems to make the people already in that corner to become even more radical.
> as if you're so smart to know what's good or bad for people, and the people themselves are too stupid and will be easily manipulated and believe a bad idea.
Well we are stupid and we are easily manipulated, unfortunately. And that's why as a society could (and imo should) decide that we won't expose ourselves to certain kinds of propaganda. This is not a random process of censoring people we don't like - this has to do with legislation and courts enforcing those laws.