I Might Be Wrong

I Might Be Wrong

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I Might Be Wrong
I Might Be Wrong
Elon Musk is Exactly Why I Don't Want Twitter Heavily Curating Content

Elon Musk is Exactly Why I Don't Want Twitter Heavily Curating Content

When I said "no-one should do this", I meant this guy

Jeff Maurer's avatar
Jeff Maurer
Apr 12, 2023
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I Might Be Wrong
I Might Be Wrong
Elon Musk is Exactly Why I Don't Want Twitter Heavily Curating Content
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Photo courtesy of Steve Jurvetson.

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Why have principles? Obviously, the optimal situation is: “There are strict limitations on what you can do, but I can do whatever I want.” The meek little case for principles was famously made by the tiny Greek isle of Melos, who — when threatened by more-powerful Athens — argued that the Athenians should chillax (that’s a rough translation). They believed that there should be a “no wiping people out” rule followed by everyone, and pointed out that one day, Athens might be the ones begging for survival. The Athenians responded with whatever’s Greek for “not bloody likely” and killed or enslaved the Melians. That is why — even by the standards of dead civilizations — the Melians are deader than most.

Progressives have long called for more aggressive curation of what can be said on social media. Their demands include the removal of “hate speech” — defined as any statement that wouldn’t elicit aggressive head-nods at a teach-in at Antioch College — and the deletion of false information about Covid, including false information that turns out to be true. The progressive argument got some purchase within Twitter during the Jack Dorsey era, though people like me questioned the wisdom of giving such a large amount of power to a guy who dresses like a rap-rock version of James A. Garfield.

I’m 80 percent sure that’s Garfield on the left. (photos courtesy of The White House and Ted Talks)

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