I praise Gab as a tool, public square of 1st Amendment, and as an example, something that cancel culture always uses as a defense for their actions "if you don't like the rules build your own". But we know that in practice, it is not that simple to "build your own", and the CEO of Gab has been vindictively persecuted for doing just that.
Good point on the activism quote, thanks for that. Liberal activism or social justice activism variety would be more accurate, but I thought the quote was enough for self-reflection. Sowell observed that "much of the social history of the western world over the past three decades has involved replacing what worked with what sounded good", like the push for socialism, etc.
Liberal activism example:
"Public housing projects in the first half of the 20th century were clean, safe places, where people slept outside on hot summer nights, when they were too poor to afford air conditioning. That was before admissions standards for public housing projects were lowered or abandoned, in the euphoria of liberal non-judgmental notions. And it was before the toxic message of victimhood was spread by liberals. We all know what hell holes public housing has become in our times. The same toxic message produced similar social results among lower-income people in England, despite an absence of a "legacy of slavery" there."
What is that you want to achieve here right now in this thread and therefore for society?
It would be nice to have a separate thread, as I mentioned earlier, for having a civil public discourse for exchanging ideas without getting into a mud-slinging match.
As far as what I wanted to achieve here right now, I believe I stated earlier. It was to draw Rob out to address fundamental concerns. The primary being, of making offensive public statements and posts, and holding to them which were subsequently debunked and which dishonored the lives that were lost and lives changed irreparably by those losses. Among other shocking things. And by extension pulling the domaining community into the arena. This should not be a place of such thoughtless speech. I believe in free speech. And I believe there is a right place and time for everything.
You can say practically anything you want in today's society, but the difference between a child and an adult is that an adult knows what, when, and how to say it.
I will not rehash the statements and posts I made a general reference to above. Over the course of this thread it has been a learning and eye-opening experience. But I have given up in the attempt to reach Rob. At the same time, the thread is a good reference for those unfamiliar with its origins and want some insights.
One thing, a quote if you like, that I could make is that the one thing worse than having no knowledge, is having only partial knowledge. The more we learn and study, the more we should be humble and realize how much more there is to learn, about people and about life.
We have to realize that as much as many ideas we hold dear may be right or may be wrong, the same can be applied to other people we may not agree with. And the more we stop living in a bubble and at least carefully listen to other's points of view and where they come from, the more our lives get enriched. Life is a journey.
At the same time, if we clearly see wrong actions taken (especially if others may get hurt), we hold those people to account. But without violence and personal harm. Hoping that we can reason with them and help them come to their senses.
Often times, people have their heels so deeply dug in that nothing we say can help. And we must accept that as well. We may attempt to say something that will shake them and make them listen. But we can't make that our modus operandi. Because that too will lose its effectiveness.
One book I am reading is How to Have Impossible Conversations. It is a must-read for anyone who wishes to have civil discourses with people with diametrically opposed views and perhaps arrive at a common ground. At least avoid ending up as enemies. One point it makes, is that there are times you just have to walk away from a conversation.
