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Why Does Twitter Refuse To Shut Down Donald Trump? (vortex.com)

Lauren Weinstein writes: The conclusion appears inescapable. Twitter apparently has voluntarily chosen to 'look the other way' while Donald Trump spews forth a trolling stream of hate and other abuses that would cause any average Twitter user to be terminated in a heartbeat. There's always room to argue the proprietary or desirability of any given social media content terms of service — or the policy precepts through which they are applied. It is also utterly clear that if such rules are not applied to everyone with the same vigor, particularly when there's an appearance of profiting by making exceptions for particular individuals, the moral authority on which those rules are presumably based is decimated, pointless, and becomes a mere fiction. Would you rather Twitter shut down no account ever, apply a sort of white-listing policy, or something in the middle?

832 comments

  1. Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP?
    You stupid leftist idiot.

    1. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by mikael · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      That's leftists for you. "Why is the other party in power when we have more supporters and membership than they do....."

      --
      Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
    2. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      That's leftists for you. "Why is the other party in power when we have more supporters and membership than they do....."

      I am on the left, and my view is simply that censorship should not be applied to political candidates. To do this raises too many questions.

      I don't agree with Trump's positions, however he can say whatever he wants unless he is yelling "fire" in a crowded theater.

      To categorize censorship as a left or right thing is political idiocy at it's worst so SHAME ON YOU!

    3. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is not censorship but a violation of their ToS. Don't like it? Use another service that allows hate speech.

    4. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Seriously? Have you seen what's happening in universities? Safe spaces, censoring debate, banning and no platforming people with wrong opinion. That is progressivism and feminism. Ideologies of the far left. All this nonsense about hate speech is merely an attempt to censor opinions and ideas. There probably are cases on the religious right too, but the left is far more guilty of this.

    5. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The free speech zones were championed by the Republicans. Then, when applied elsewhere, they are called a progressive idea. Much like Romney Care is a horribly progressive idea, based on a Republican's plan.

    6. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Why is the other party in power when we have more supporters and membership than they do....."

      It's because their premise that they have more supports is wrong.

    7. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seriously? Have you seen what's happening in universities? Safe spaces, censoring debate, banning and no platforming people with wrong opinion. That is progressivism and feminism. Ideologies of the far left. All this nonsense about hate speech is merely an attempt to censor opinions and ideas. There probably are cases on the religious right too, but the left is far more guilty of this.

      Thank you for proving my point above. See how that wouldn't have happened had I censored you? Thanks for playing!

    8. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by tchdab1 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Then how about flagging the candidate's offending tweets with a moderator note, "this post crosses the line of hate and criminal advocacy. If the tweeter were not a candidate for public office, this tweet would be blocked and this profile terminated."

    9. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Huh, wut?

      Why does Trump get a privilege (in fact a right enshrined in the constitution) that I don't just because he's a candidate?

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    10. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      More what?

    11. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by tehlinux · · Score: 3, Funny

      No, dude, it's OK to censor republicans. ;)

      --
      Most linux users don't know this, but the man pages were named after Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris fsck'ing hates noobs!
    12. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by HiThere · · Score: 2

      I'm not sure that a twitter account is enshrined in the Constitution.

      OTOH, perhaps it could be considered a "public accommodation" and thus fall under the same umbrella as lunch counters and buses.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    13. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Hognoxious · · Score: 2

      I disagree with twenty things Trump says for every one I agree with.

      Despite that or because of that, the last thing I'd want is for him to be censored in any way.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    14. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by HiThere · · Score: 5, Insightful

      While I agree that those on the left, when in power, tend to unfairly deprive their opponents of the right to be heard, the exact same thing is true of those on the right. They just "censor" based on different grounds.

      And I don't approve of either.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    15. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ChrisMaple · · Score: 1

      censorship should not be applied to political candidates.

      <sarcasm>I am a political candidate. Therefore I must be allowed to libel and use disgusting language without restriction.</sarcasm>

      --
      Contribute to civilization: ari.aynrand.org/donate
    16. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Huh, wut?

      Why does Trump get a privilege (in fact a right enshrined in the constitution) that I don't just because he's a candidate?

      Because everyone is equal but some are more equal than others.

    17. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by MightyMartian · · Score: 0

      As is so often pointed out, Twitter, as a private entity, is within its rights to censor anything it wants.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    18. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by MightyMartian · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Indeed, because the Right has been just as guilty of trying to censor as the Left. Both groups show utter contempt for liberties so long as its some group that they view as an opponent who is getting the short end of the stick.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    19. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is currently modded troll, but it's the most obvious and direct answer to the ridiculous question posed in the article.

    20. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As an INDEPENDENT I would like to cordially invite you to go fuck yourself. Its team a vs team b assholes like you that have fucked up a once great country. For the record WE outnumber both your asses.

    21. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by sumdumass · · Score: 1

      The democrats first implemented the free speech zones. As for Romney care, i do remember hearing a crap ton of people decrying it as worthless and broken.

      But censoring politicians should be a complete no no. Not because they have some right to be heard but because the people deserve a right to know who they are. Let them speak candidly and we will know.

    22. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by gfxguy · · Score: 1

      Agreed... I guess I'll go read TFA to see what these egregious offenses were, because I doubt he's being overtly racist or inciting anyone to violence, no matter how much I dislike him.

      --
      Stupid sexy Flanders.
    23. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by um...+Lucas · · Score: 1

      So, I assume you cried foul when Twitter took down ISIS accounts on Twitter as well?

    24. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So you would be ok with a world, where the right owned every media outlet, tv network, hosting company, ISP, newspaper, radio, etc... in the country and banded all Left leaning candidates from spreading their message because it violated their ToS?

    25. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The funny thing is that the leftists get excited about what the press says he said and refuse to consider what he actually says. He's smarter than you, and his comments don't actually violate the TOS.

    26. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by um...+Lucas · · Score: 1

      What about the GOP's designated "Free Speech Zones" at rally's, which effectively put people who had an opposing opinion out of earshot of everyone else?

      You really can't point fingers at one side only. Both sides have done more than their fair share of censoring. Is one OK and the other not?

    27. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by DogDude · · Score: 0, Troll

      CENSORSHIP has nothing to do with private companies, you uneducated fool. Twitter would be (and should be) enforcing their policies of no hate speech.

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    28. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Libel is not covered by freedom of speech. Disgusting language, assuming you mean bigotry, is protected.

    29. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Free speech means that you are free to say whatever you want. But it does not place any entity, private or public, under any obligation to offer you a platform. If Twitter decides to censor Trump, that's censorship, but it's not unimaginable since it's a private company. They are free to censor him because they think his views are bad, because they hate his guts, or because it's a full moon on Saturday.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    30. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by myowntrueself · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Huh, wut?

      Why does Trump get a privilege (in fact a right enshrined in the constitution) that I don't just because he's a candidate?

      The thing is, this isn't even true:

      Donald Trump spews forth a trolling stream of hate and other abuses that would cause any average Twitter user to be terminated in a heartbeat.

      The kinds of things he comes out with are nowhere NEAR hate or abuse. Its all in the imaginations of the people who fear him. To describe it as hate speech is ludicrous and dilutes the whole concept of 'hate speech'. Which can't be a bad thing, IMO.

      "We should stop Muslims coming into America until we can figure out what the hell is going on." is not hate speech.

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    31. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Wait who's saying they aren't? I think the question is if they are lowlife censorers or not.

    32. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes it does you tard. A private entity can certainly censor. It's still called censorship you idiot. It's just not a violation of the first amendment.

    33. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What about the GOP's designated "Free Speech Zones" at rally's, which effectively put people who had an opposing opinion out of earshot of everyone else?

      You have the freedom to say what ever you want. I have the freedom to not listen to you.

    34. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Because his posts don't cross the line for Twitter. On the rare occasions when they do ban people, it's for much worse stuff than anything he has ever done.

      Generally the line is when there is a sustained campaign against an individual based on gender, race, orientation etc. and multiple complaints have been filed. While Trump has got personal on many occasions, he quickly moves on to someone else and his targets rarely complain to Twitter.

      Comparing Trump to some of the trolls who have been banned is an insult to their victims. We are not talking about a few harsh, misogynist/racist words directed at them.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    35. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Intron · · Score: 3, Informative

      The articles gives no examples to back up its claim that regular users are treated differently from Trump.

      --
      Intron: the portion of DNA which expresses nothing useful.
    36. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Twitter isn't a government. Shut the fuck up about censorship you fucking idiots. You have no right to say anything you want anywhere you want. You have the right for the government not to make a fucking law curtailing that right. You have no fucking rights on a private website, so I sincerely hope you fucking kill yourself.

    37. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, I assume you cried foul when Twitter took down ISIS accounts on Twitter as well?

      If the account is held and tweets are posted from inside the United States then damn right I would be out raged by Twitter taking down ISIS accounts. If those tweets originated outside the Unites States then I have no problem with it. The US constitution doesn't apply outside of US borders.

    38. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unimaginable? I can't walk into a church and spew porn out of the speakers. Private businesses don't have to allow "freedom of speech" you fucking retarded conservative.

    39. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Carewolf · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP?
      You stupid leftist idiot.

      Twitter started it, they introduced censorship. Now they have to be consistent about it. That it becomes really nasty is the point, hopefully they will realise they don't want to be doing censorship.

    40. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by SuricouRaven · · Score: 2

      Agreed, but I'd add a point to consider: There are some companies that have such influence they might be considered on a par with governments. The decision of a communications giant can make or break not just a political candidate, but an entire social movement. Should there be a point at which a company becomes so powerful that they should be subject to the same restrictions on their actions as are placed upon government - including a requirement that they treat all speech over their services equally, without discrimination?

    41. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The ISIS accounts were calling for people to be killed.

      Which I'm sure you think is the same thing as political speech in that block of asphalt you call a brain.

    42. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by squiggleslash · · Score: 1

      Leftist? I think the Republicans are actually more terrified of Trump at the moment!

      Unless he directly harasses a named, tagged, individual (and I don't just mean saying "Fuck you @berniesanders"), I don't see any legitimate reason to ban him from Twitter, however much of a douchebag he is.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    43. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Twitter is a company. They can shut down any account(s) they want. That isn't censorship. Grow up.

    44. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Bill of Rights has no bearing on Twitter.

      I wouldn't expect and anti-education right-wing hate-monger to understand this.

    45. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They are a company. They can enforce (or not enforce) their policies as they see fit.

    46. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not only that, but it would also give Trump an incredible popularity boost. Plus, he probably wouldn't forget their little stunt if he actually got elected, which would mean hard times for Twitter.

    47. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Reposting racist comments from white supremacists.

    48. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by DaHat · · Score: 1

      Which is an interesting aspect of Trump Derangement Syndrome.

      While not a fan of the man, I can at least cite specific things he's said/done that I don't like, rather than just proclaim that we all know how horrible he is and what he does.

    49. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by DaHat · · Score: 4, Informative

      Not just republicans, but anyone right leaning as well... the de-verifying of Milo Yiannopoulos is one great example of this.

    50. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by um...+Lucas · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I don't see how you can be "pro" rights for some and "anti" rights for others.

      Of course we're dealing with extremes - Trump and ISIS.

      So, you'd be ok with the Chinese government ordering twitter to shutdown accounts of democracy protestors? After all, they're not in our country. Or heck, Venezuela doing the same?

      That's an extremely selfish position to take - that you have more rights just because you're here (which you played nearly no role in save for luck of the draw) while others shouldn't have rights because they happened to be born elsewhere.

    51. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by um...+Lucas · · Score: 1

      But should the government have to power to remove my voice from earshot, if i'm saying something in disagreement, and therefore not even afford you the opportunity to ignore me? That's effectively what they did.

    52. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Freeze Peach
      r
      e
      e
      z
      e

      P
      e
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    53. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Go back to reddit, faggot.

    54. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ooloorie · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The thing is, this isn't even true: "Donald Trump spews forth a trolling stream of hate and other abuses that would cause any average Twitter user to be terminated in a heartbeat."

      I think it is true, actually: while, in general, Twitter sets the bar for bans fairly high, if you draw the ire of feminists or social justice advocates on Twitter, Twitter will ban people at the drop of a hat.

      (In case you're wondering, no, I have never been banned on Twitter, but I also stopped using Twitter a few years ago because it seems to have been a quagmire of social justice advocacy, progressive politics, and self-promotion by third rate celebrities.)

    55. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ooloorie · · Score: 3, Insightful

      They are free to censor him because they think his views are bad, because they hate his guts, or because it's a full moon on Saturday.

      Legally? Sure. But that doesn't mean they are beyond criticism. After all, they have aspirations of being a communications platform and social network and that requires more than merely being legally above board.

    56. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by lhowaf · · Score: 1

      I'm really confused. Which term of service was violated and by which tweet(s)? This whole story seems to just be trolling for clicks (shocking!).

    57. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by PapayaSF · · Score: 1, Troll

      Ah, the old "It's not censorship because it's a private company" thing that we always hear from leftists when non-leftist speech is suppressed. This is a principle of convenience, of course. Do these same people support the 1950s Hollywood (private company) blacklists of communists and fellow-travelers? Of course not! That's entirely different, somehow....

      --
      Q: What does the "B." in Benoit B. Mandelbrot stand for? A: Benoit B. Mandelbrot
    58. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by guruevi · · Score: 1

      If you are a US resident, that right is pretty much enshrined in the constitution. You do not have to agree with the speech but you should defend the right to utter it because when you force others to shut up you will soon be forced to do so as well.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    59. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      That is progressivism and feminism. Ideologies of the far left.

      Interesting, because all of the censorship, banning of debate, etc. seems to be happening as US Universities become more and more right-wing and business-oriented. Frankly, you americans (especially the extreme right wing ones) seem to be pretty crazy about your definition of the "left" is.

    60. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ganjadude · · Score: 3, Interesting

      and the funny thing about those is when I was in college, we fought tooth and nail to REMOVE those zones from campus, a university should be a free speech zone by default, the entire campus.

      13 years later and the 1st graders when i was a senior are now fighting to enforce those same zones we fought so hard to tear down.

      --
      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    61. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by guruevi · · Score: 1

      But they don't have to and that's the point. Twitter can arbitrarily decide which political candidate they want to support and silence the rest. But then you would be bitching as well. I'd say that any company that perpetuates someone's speech should out of respect for the constitution and as a show of character allow ALL speech regardless of its merits.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    62. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The ISIS accounts were calling for people to be killed.

      Whereas Trump has never called for anyone to be killed:
      "The other thing with the terrorists is you have to take out their families, when you get these terrorists, you have to take out their families... they care about their lives, don't kid yourself. When they say they don't care about their lives, you have to take out their families."

    63. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I would MUCH rather hear all of the candidates true feelings and intentions, good or bad, offensive or not. Not the watered down made for sound bites, prime time, and afraid to say what their real agenda will really be. Don't be afraid of Trump, he is saying what he feels and will possibly really try to do. If you don't like it, don't vote for him, if you do, vote for him. At least you know what your would be getting or giving up.

      The other candidates? They are tip toeing around issues and not saying what they want because they want to please the most people and get elected. What are you really getting with them> I have no idea.

    64. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 3, Informative

      Do these same people support the 1950s Hollywood (private company) blacklists of communists and fellow-travelers?

      I may not approve of what you say, but you have the right to say it. The same goes for blacklisting. I don't approve of what movie studios did, but they did have a right to refuse to hire people based on political alignment.

    65. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by mdelcorso · · Score: 1

      Ummm... I'm even farther left than Bernie and I'd never silence a political candidate. That's completely unacceptable to do.

    66. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      he's talking about dinner you nutcase.

    67. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by cathector · · Score: 1

      word. mod you up if i could.
      i despise trump, but the article provides zero to bolster its conclusion.

    68. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What is "hate speech"? It's very subjective in nature. And many will define "hate speech" as anything that attacks their personal beliefs. Politics being what it is, there are usually two very distinct sides of every issue.

    69. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And if they want to be taken seriously as a platform for everyone, they need to stay clear of political censorship.

      Just imagine if the media had refused to report on or carry any of MLK's speeches? Imagine if his Dream speech had never been filmed or recorded for people to watch and be inspired by it years later? I'm not equating Trump's ramblings to MLK's words, but they had similar backlash in their time from the establishment. Without freedom of speech, true gems of defiance and change would not be possible. You need to allow 90% of the crap for the 10% of stuff that makes positive change to also be heard.

    70. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That sounds like hate speech to me. I certainly do not like being called "anti-education" or a "hate-monger" because I'm a conservative. It also sounds like you're the one spreading hate.

      I sure hope slashdot censors you and deletes your post.

    71. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are they free to censor him? Isn't there some law about media outlets having to "allow" equal time or something...that really the only reason the Republican candidates are ever on the major networks. Could you argue twitter is a media/communication service?

    72. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Dahamma · · Score: 2

      while, in general, Twitter sets the bar for bans fairly high, if you draw the ire of feminists or social justice advocates on Twitter, Twitter will ban people at the drop of a hat.

      Please provide any evidence this is actually true. The only examples I have ever seen where post made towards feminists resulted in a ban, those posts involved fairly blunt threats of rape, murder, or other explicit harassment.

      If you could see the types of things that are spewed daily at women on Twitter, even you might be shocked. A friend of mine routinely gets comments like "you blue haired feminist bitch, you deserve to be raped and left for dead" (etc). I guess "drawing ire" is one way to describe that... if you are sociopath...

      That said, I absolutely loathe Twitter. I signed up for an account in 2008, realized it's the very definition of narcissism and the dumbing down of conversation, and haven't used it since.

      it seems to have been a quagmire of social justice advocacy, progressive politics, and self-promotion by third rate celebrities

      And right wing politics, Neo-nazis and racists, and terrorist groups. It's a pretty equal opportunity shitshow.

    73. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Dahamma · · Score: 1

      Should there be a point at which a company becomes so powerful that they should be subject to the same restrictions on their actions as are placed upon government - including a requirement that they treat all speech over their services equally, without discrimination?

      It's already the case. TV networks are required by law to provide equal time to all candidates. Of course, that only applies to broadcast TV networks, not cable, since the FCC generally does not regulate non-broadcast communication.

      That said, Twitter does not license public airwaves, so the US government has no leverage over them. A specific law would have to be passed to allow regulation and censorship of Internet services, which is pretty unlikely... (though I'm sure some of the more back backasswards Congresspeople will try).

    74. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Dahamma · · Score: 2

      CENSORSHIP has nothing to do with private companies, you uneducated fool. Twitter would be (and should be) enforcing their policies of no hate speech.

      That's ridiculous. Nothing about the concept of censorship makes it exclusive to governments. Anyone can censor something.

      You are thinking of the First Amendment, which (except for certain very notable exceptions) bans the government from censoring freedom of speech and the press. But that certainly doesn't mean "censorship has nothing to do with private companies". It just means it's not illegal for them to censor. As it shouldn't be - it's their company and the content on their site represents them, they should be able to take down whatever they feel is in their interest.

      Anyway, I guess I agree with your sentiment, just not your statement.

    75. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Dahamma · · Score: 1

      If the account is held and tweets are posted from inside the United States then damn right I would be out raged by Twitter taking down ISIS accounts. If those tweets originated outside the Unites States then I have no problem with it. The US constitution doesn't apply outside of US borders.

      What does Twitter's freedom to take down content or ban its users, citizens or not, have to do with the US Constitution?

    76. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Dahamma · · Score: 1

      Don't even bother arguing with him. Based on his post he still doesn't get the basic idea that the First Amendment only applies to the US government.

    77. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP?
      You stupid leftist idiot.

      Twitter is a PRIVATE corporation.

      PRIVATE corporations are NOT bound by the First Amendment.

      In other words, if a loudmouth like Trump violates the Twitter TOS, he can, (and should), be shut down.

      Maybe you should think about getting an education, before you comment again.

    78. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At political rallies you mean. You most assuredly do NOT have any right whatsoever to go to your opposition's political meetings with the intent to disrupt them. When you do that you are violating their rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. When you go there to do that and are shunted into a "free speech zone" you do not get to complain that your right to free speech is being violated because you yourself went there intending to do that very thing to others.

    79. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      a university should be a free speech zone by default, the entire campus

      Then you'd have no particular objection to someone deciding to start exercising their freedom of speech during a lecture, shouting over the lecturer if need be? Or exercising their freedom of speech in the testing center during exams?

    80. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ooloorie · · Score: 4, Informative

      Please provide any evidence this is actually true. The only examples I have ever seen where post made towards feminists resulted in a ban, those posts involved fairly blunt threats of rape, murder, or other explicit harassment.

      Thunderf00t was banned from Twitter for a while. No, he did not "explicitly harrass" Anita Sarkeesian; his account was eventually reinstated when her accusations were found to have been utterly groundless and when there was a wave of criticism.

      If you could see the types of things that are spewed daily at women on Twitter, even you might be shocked.

      I'm a gay man and a gamer. I've played and posted as a man, as a gay man, as a transsexual, and as a woman. You know what I have had "spewed" at me? A very occasional "fag". That's it. The idea that women or gay men are subject to massive abuse online simply for what they/we are is bullshit.

      When people like Sarkeesian and Brianna Wu have nasty things sent to them, it is not because of their sex organs (whatever they may be), it is because they are Internet trolls trying to provoke other people into insulting them and stirring up controversy. And what makes their trolling even more offensive is that they attack one of the few safe spaces and most accepting environments for minorities and outcasts, namely gaming, and they are doing so for personal gain.

      And right wing politics, Neo-nazis and racists, and terrorist groups. It's a pretty equal opportunity shitshow.

      No, I'm sorry, that's not true. The political bias of Twitter has been studied, and it is far more "liberal" (in the US sense of "progressive") than the US population as a whole. That represents the politics of educated, privileged, upper middle class techies, both in terms of users and in terms of the censors. (And let's not forget that Nazism and racism were progressive ideologies, so they fit the pattern.)

    81. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ihtoit · · Score: 0

      why single out Muslims, though? Orthodox Jews have killed far more people in the Western hemisphere than Muslims in the whole of Human history.

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    82. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      A private entity which provides a public service is subject to rules of a public entity. Including but not limited to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, where valid.

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    83. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ihtoit · · Score: 2

      it applies to State legislature as well, by extension to any public body.

      In Talley v. California (1960), the Court struck down a Los Angeles city ordinance that made it a crime to distribute anonymous pamphlets. Justice Hugo Black wrote in the majority opinion: "There can be no doubt that such an identification requirement would tend to restrict freedom to distribute information and thereby freedom of expression... Anonymous pamphlets, leaflets, brochures and even books have played an important role in the progress of mankind."

      In McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission (1995), the Court struck down an Ohio statute that made it a crime to distribute anonymous campaign literature.

      Also see the Due Process Clause in Amendment XIV.

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    84. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      complete bollocks. When a public forum says "Comments are the property of their authors", they are attempting to deny responsibility for their publication. That doesn't work since they are providing a public platform, ergo they have a responsibility to make sure nobody gets to engage the Holmes test. Talk of sedition in time of war (and the United States has been in a continuous state of war since 1941) carries with it a very hefty penalty not only for he who says it but also for he who enables him. See Schenck v. United States and refer to the Espionage Act 1917.

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    85. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      Twitter has prior restraint in their ToS (a gentleman's agreement that they think absolves them from your comments on their PUBLIC platform). Also dotted about is the disclaimer that says comments are owned by their authors. TWITTER have a public responsibility to maintain their publicly accessible platform, up to and including carrying through their promise to censor hate speech (the level of which to be decided by the moral majority as always), to shitcan accounts found guilty by community vote (ie the number of complaints) of inciting hate/violence/sedition... and my mind just blanked. You get what I mean, though. Just because Twitter is privately owned doesn't absolve them of public responsibility by any means.

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    86. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Dahamma · · Score: 1

      I'm a gay man and a gamer. I've played and posted as a man, as a gay man, as a transsexual, and as a woman. You know what I have had "spewed" at me? A very occasional "fag". That's it. The idea that women or gay men are subject to massive abuse online simply for what they/we are is bullshit.

      Really? Yeah. The idea that your singular experience somehow applies to everyone else's is the real bullshit. And what the hell does playing a *game* as "a man" vs "a woman" have to do with Twitter harassment?

      And what makes their trolling even more offensive is that they attack one of the few safe spaces and most accepting environments for minorities and outcasts, namely gaming, and they are doing so for personal gain.

      Oh... so you are a "gamergate" hater. Makes sense now. So then, I'll leave you with this. I assume from your post you assume it's all ok just because that woman on Twitter said... well, I'm at a loss... NOTHING ANYONE COULD SAY WARRANTS THIS.

      http://femfreq.tumblr.com/post...

      If someone gets banned for tweeting "YOU STUPID CUNT IMA FUCKING RAPE YOU ALL THE WAY TO 2069" - well - I'm ok with that. And you blame the victim for "trolling" and deserving it. You're awesome!

    87. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Dahamma · · Score: 1

      Yes, obviously the US Constitution and Bill of Rights applies to all governmental bodies in the US. Your entire post was just to be pedantic and point out the obvious? Or were you unclear that US states and cities are in the US?

    88. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Dahamma · · Score: 1

      Eh, "public responsibility" means nothing...

      It doesn't absolve them of *moral* responsibility, sure. And I'm sure we all hope they live up to that, but the only way to enforce that is via consumer choice.

      But really, as a publicly traded company they have no *legal* responsibility. In fact, their only real legal responsibility in this regard is a *financial* one. Which may be sad, but true. And also why there is no way in hell they will take down Trump posts unless he somehow decides to become an independent terrorist organization.

    89. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      Congress don't make State laws, individual States do.

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    90. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      public responsibility being that same public responsibility brought to bear on image repositories (ie imgur) to ensure they don't host (eg images of child abuse) and they take immediate action against users who attempt to upload such images (like suspending their accounts and forwarding the information to the proper authorities) otherwise they'll get shut down and aggressively persecuted by the Federal Authorities (Megaupload, Piratebay...). It's not just a copyright thing, some of it is actually intended to protect not just children but society as a whole from six year old deviants who don't want to pay for the latest Miley Cyrus pap. OK, it's primarily about copyright.

      I've tried boiling this down half a dozen ways, it keeps coming back to the fact that until you touch someone else's IP, the authorities don't want to fucking know.

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    91. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Dahamma · · Score: 1

      Congress don't make State laws, individual States do.

      Wait what? Are you now arguing with yourself? Didn't you previously say "it applies to State legislature as well, by extension to any public body"?

      I wasn't arguing with that statement, I was pointing out that is was a pointless comment - assuming someone understands that the Bill of Rights applies to all levels of US government...

      This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.

      It's called the Supremacy Clause. Federal law takes precedence over State law, so yes, Congress most definitely makes laws that apply to states.

    92. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Dahamma · · Score: 1

      image repositories (ie imgur) to ensure they don't host (eg images of child abuse)

      As I said, if it's a *legal* responsibility (child porn, etc) then obviously the need to act.

      Otherwise I totally disagree with your statement "just because Twitter is privately owned doesn't absolve them of public responsibility by any means." In fact, that totally absolves them of non-illegal "public responsibility". At that point their only legal responsibility is to their shareholders, which means they should decide purely on whether it gains or loses them customers. Do I hope they make the "moral" choice regardless of that responsibility? Of course. But is the moral choice their responsibility? No, it's really not...

    93. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "We should stop Muslims coming into America until we can figure out what the hell is going on." is not hate speech.

      Not hate speech but it should be banned for the same reason lawyers should be shot.
      What he fails to mention is that he has no intention of figuring out what is going on and even if he had he would come to the wrong conclusion.

    94. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      [quote]"We should stop Muslims coming into America until we can figure out what the hell is going on." is not hate speech.[/quote]

      I think it is.
      His words imply that muslims (a very very diverse group of people) are the sole cause of the problems he wants figured out.
      He tries to paint muslims as terrorists.

    95. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Generally the line is when there is a sustained campaign against an individual based on gender, race, orientation etc.

      So it's OK on twitter to have a campaign agains jews? Or catholics? As long as it's not targeting a particular person?

    96. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If he doesn't like it he can go kill them (the leftists).

      That is the only option now in europe, canada, etc.
      Talk is banned, thus action is what must speak.

      Killing and torture since they have banned (and imprison) those who speak against them.

    97. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is about as private as the private businesses that cannot discriminate against blacks: it's actually an area open to the public.

      Fucking SJW anti-marry young girls feminist piece of shit.

    98. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How insightful this comment is... wait, maybe I forgot what words mean.

    99. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by MtViewGuy · · Score: 1

      After the major fallout over Twitter "unverifying" Milo Yiannopoulos' account, the last thing Twitter wants is shutting down Donald Trump's account, which would just about destroy Twitter in terms of public relations.

    100. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ultranova · · Score: 1

      <sarcasm>I am a political candidate. Therefore I must be allowed to libel and use disgusting language without restriction.</sarcasm>

      Absolutely. How could we know what kind of insane creep we're about to elect if you're not allowed to demonstrate?

      --

      Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

    101. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by spartacus_prime · · Score: 1

      So let him dig his own grave via Twitter. If you want the world to see how unviable a candidate he is, why censor him?

      --
      If you can read this, it means that I bothered to log in.
    102. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Feyshtey · · Score: 1

      You cant name a "communications platform" that doesnt have a slant, and in most cases who shamelessly mislead their audience in favor of the platform's political or sociological ideals.

      --
      "But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,..." - Nancy Pelosi
    103. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by argStyopa · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Sure they are.

      The real answer to the (stupid) OP question is economics. As much as liberals like to assume that they are the 'mainstream' the fact is that the country is much closer to 50/50.
      Twitter, not stupid, recognizes this.

      If they silence Trump (again, as you say, for whatever reason they want because they're private) a few things happen:
      1) they lose half their customer base; I strongly suspect that this really wouldn't matter economically because a) they make no $ and b) I'm guessing that 99.9% of Trump voters don't 'tweet' as a lifestyle-communication thing; and
      2) he gets a bully pulpit and even more press as it 'looks' like the establishment is trying to censor him; and
      3) suddenly Twitter would be seen to be taking sides. For a purported neutral third party carrier of messages, they would be taking the stance that they ARE now responsible for the messages they carry - that would impose HUGE liability on them, not to mention opening a massive can of worms in terms of potential litigation regarding their common-carrier stance.

      --
      -Styopa
    104. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by physicsphairy · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Over a broad enough time span that is true -- the right has wished to stifle communist and anti-religious speech, etc. They also, in relatively greater proportion, support blurring nudity and beeping out a handful of words broadcast on public channels.

      But realistically censorship, particularly of ideas, is now a weapon sought and wielded by the cultural left. That may largely be a practical consideration -- they have predominant influence over media and public education and so are the ones who benefit most from claiming the right to stamp out minority views. However, it remains they are the ones most likely to tell you that you can't publish an editorial in the college paper because it is insensitive, that you should be fired from your job and stripped of your recognition because of something you said, that you be disinvited from speaking because your views are not in line with those they feel comfortable with.

      The left should be conscious of this and attempt to fix it, for the general good, because some day the pendulum will swing the other way again, and to avoid pushing out their civil libertarians.

    105. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, it's pretty much the other way around. If you are a political candidate, you are a "Public Figure" and as such it becomes much more difficult to sue someone for the blatantly false statements they say about you.

      No, this is Twitter wanting to make money by not pissing off the tens of millions of people that want to see Trump's Tweets. Cash Uber Alles.

    106. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by physicsphairy · · Score: 1

      Depends on whether you are talking about "free speech" as an American legal concept or "free speech" as a philosophic good.

      Sure, the government is the biggest bully in town and it minimizes a lot of potential harm if it is required to play nice. But if all "freedom of speech" is to you is a promise to be harangued, fired, and/or murdered only by people unaffiliated with the government, then it's obvious that you don't appreciate freedom for freedom's sake.

      In my opinion requiring companies and people to go out of their way to provide equal platforms, etc., would lead to worse abuses. So I don't think that there should be any requirement placed on person or companies to transmit or support your views. But I still say a society where people use their private power and influence to purposefully squelch the views of others is intrinsically unfree. Same as how, even with slavery outlawed, as a black you were not really enjoying equal rights and protections in the post-Civil War South. Not while the society itself was determined to deny those to you.

    107. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Fragnet · · Score: 1

      They de-verified him once he went past a threshold of popularity. Yes it is disgraceful. The upside is their share price is crashing hard (not due to Milo). Get back to me when they've worked out how to censor opinion they don't like *and* turn a profit.

    108. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If Trump's comments do not abide by the Twitter end user license agreement, or any other legal End User License Agreement Twitter has set up PRIOR to Trump's using Twitter, then Twitter should be dropping these messages.

      Freedom of speech has always been an item that a person can barter away, if we lacked that ability, then contract law would be lesser in power than the Constitutional Ammendments, and that would be a bigger mess than what we have today. Imagine I paid you to advertise my product, but due to your realization of just wanting to say something different, you didn't falling back on Freedom of Speech. Likewise, imagine I gave you money contingent on not badmouthing a company for a year after separation. Contracts would have no teeth if we exchanged our ability to barter our positions on matters of the real world for nebulous at-the-moment positions which could be overridden on the grounds of Freedom of Speech.

      In short, if you want your Speech badly enough, you'll be wise enough not to sell it away.

    109. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      [quote]"We should stop Muslims coming into America until we can figure out what the hell is going on." is not hate speech.[/quote]

      I think it is.
      His words imply that muslims (a very very diverse group of people) are the sole cause of the problems he wants figured out.
      He tries to paint muslims as terrorists.

      The Grand Mufti in Saudi Arabia just issued a fatwa against the game of chess. He has yet to issue a fatwa against suicide bombing or terrorism in general. I think this speaks volumes about the official Islamic line on terrorism.

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    110. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by myowntrueself · · Score: 3, Interesting

      So let him dig his own grave via Twitter. If you want the world to see how unviable a candidate he is, why censor him?

      Because they are afraid that Trump actually represents a majority of Americans.

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    111. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It doesn't need to, anyone half familiar with shitter knows that A. 1/3 of the working staff is mired in SJW bullshit B. Twitter manipulates hashtags to prevent their "sponsored' hashtags from being overridden in the left-side bar and C. Twitter will de-verify you if you don't pay them, essentially saying you are not who you say you are unless you give them money.

      Twitter needs a RICO act slapped on them.

    112. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Free speech [...] does not place any entity, private or public, under any obligation to offer you a platform.

      Said differently: because Twitter decides to promote its values by censoring people, Twitter does not believe in free speech. Twitter may comply with the First Amendment, or even believe in the First Amendment, but they do not believe in free speech.

    113. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      Really? Yeah. The idea that your singular experience somehow applies to everyone else's is the real bullshit. And what the hell does playing a *game* as "a man" vs "a woman" have to do with Twitter harassment?

      Because the story social justice activists are pushing that merely by appearing as a woman or gay man online, people get harassed. That story is bullshit. Most gay men and women are online without getting harassed, and not just in games but also discussion forums, and the Internet has been a boon and a blessing for everybody who has been oppressed. And that's not just my experience, it's the experience of many people, friends, family, and coworkers.

      And you blame the victim for "trolling" and deserving it. You're awesome!

      Sarkeesian is no "victim", she actively and deliberately provokes comments and thrives on the insults and "threats" people hurl at her; it allows her to feel like a victim, attribute her personal problems to her victimhood, gets her speaking engagements, and pays the bills. You're right that she doesn't "deserve" these comments: instead of feeding trolls like her, people should starve her of comments.

      Of course, a good number of those tweets are likely to be fabrications by social justice activists themselves, created through sock puppet accounts. Others are simple, meaningless trolls where people just compete to say the most offensive and outrageous things they can think of. You have to be extremely gullible and naive to take such tweets at face value.

      I assume from your post you assume it's all ok just because that woman on Twitter said... well, I'm at a loss... NOTHING ANYONE COULD SAY WARRANTS THIS.

      Speech doesn't need to be "warranted" or "justified". Offensive and insulting language is part of free speech, and as such is justified.

      Oh... so you are a "gamergate" hater.

      Oh, so you are an privileged ignoramus who hates free speech and supports the exploitation of minorities for political and financial purposes. Thanks for clearing that up.

    114. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      Well, and Twitter can turn itself into Pravda or the Volkische Beobachter for all I care, it's their business to wreck. However, it is still a good thing to point out what they are and what their biases are so that people are aware of their biases.

    115. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by John+Jorsett · · Score: 2

      Huh, wut?

      Why does Trump get a privilege (in fact a right enshrined in the constitution) that I don't just because he's a candidate?

      One reason is that Twitter might fear him. He's been proven time and again to be petty, vengeful, and egomaniacal, and according to his rhetoric, not too concerned with what the law says. Not unlike the present occupant of the Oval. If he became President, why wouldn't somebody like that weaponize every 3-letter agency at his disposal and launch them at his enemies? IRS, FBI, SEC, FDA, FTC, etc. could make the lives of whoever crosses him a living hell. The IRS scandal shows that it's already happening, and a guy like Trump could refine it into a tool worthy of a Torquemada.

    116. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by JustinYork · · Score: 1

      Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? You stupid leftist idiot.

      x2

    117. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, you'd be ok with the Chinese government ordering twitter to shutdown accounts of democracy protestors? After all, they're not in our country. Or heck, Venezuela doing the same?

      Yes they have to obey the laws of the countries they opperate in.

    118. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bull. Shit.

    119. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Bartles · · Score: 1

      Which ones? Be specific now.

    120. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Try replacing 'muslim' with 'jew' or 'negro/black' (or whatever synonym they don't find offensive) and see if it is still not hate speech?

    121. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by msauve · · Score: 1

      Because your rights end where another's begin. You have a right to speak, but you do not have a right to interfere with the speech of others, nor do you have the right to force others to hear your speech. You're only out of earshot for those who chose not to be in earshot. It sounds like you're more interested in being disruptive than speaking your mind.

      --
      "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    122. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      "We should stop Muslims coming into America until we can figure out what the hell is going on." is not hate speech.

      I'm guessing you're not a Muslim.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    123. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      (And let's not forget that Nazism and racism were progressive ideologies, so they fit the pattern.)

      Hur hur Nazi is German for National Socialism, so all socialists are Nazis.

      You are a buffoon.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    124. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ..they did have a right to refuse to hire people based on political alignment.

      No, they absolutely did not.

    125. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      "We should stop Muslims coming into America until we can figure out what the hell is going on." is not hate speech.

      I'm guessing you're not a Muslim.

      "Until our elected representatives can figure out what the FUCK is going on."

      I think he's being reasonable. I'm not even American nor even in that country, nor would I ever go to that country. But I think Trump is the president the USA *DESERVES*.

      He's also very popular so thats got the SJW's fucking terrified, that their minority rule will come to an end.

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    126. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by NoImNotNineVolt · · Score: 1

      you stupid cunt ima fucking rape you all the way to 2069.

      But I sure am glad that slashdot isn't twitter. Our society has grown too soft if such incredible threats are causing people terrible grief. Hyperbole is hyperbole, and I don't see any value in pretending that it's not.

      --
      Chuuch. Preach. Tabernacle.
    127. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your version of history is incorrect. Read facts then post.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    128. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Trump is saying all the time that other people should be censored ("shut up") when they say something about him that he doesn't like. FUCK YOU and your painting of liberals as the censors. "Conservatives" are just as happy to try to censor their opposition.

    129. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      (And let's not forget that Nazism and racism were progressive ideologies, so they fit the pattern.)

      Hur hur Nazi is German for National Socialism, so all socialists are Nazis.

      No, socialists are not Nazis: socialists want public ownership of the means of production, while fascists want to keep the means of production in private hands but regulate it tightly. But there is a lot of agreement as well. The idea that fascism is "right wing" probably comes from the fact that Nazis and socialists/communists were political arch-enemies in Germany, but that really tells you little about their actual political ideologies.

      The close historical connections between American progressivism and German fascism aren't really subject to debate, they are a simple historical fact. If you can't be bothered going back to the original sources like I did, you can read about them in Kuhl's "The Nazi Connection", Goldberg's "Liberal Fascism", and Sowell's "Intellectuals and Society". Hitler and Goebbels, in fact, referred to specific progressive American sources when asked about the origins of their policies.

      You can also just take it from the horse's mouth:

      "We are socialists, we are enemies of today's capitalistic economic system for the exploitation of the economically weak, with its unfair salaries, with its unseemly evaluation of a human being according to wealth and property instead of responsibility and performance, and we are all determined to destroy this system under all conditions." Adolf Hitler (from John Toland, "Adolf Hitler", p224).

      Which American politician does that sound like? Ted Cruz? Rand Paul? Ben Carson? Seems to me that's more like Obama, Clinton, and Sanders.

      After WWII, every major ideology and party was quick to try to distance itself from the Nazis, which is why progressives invented all sorts of stories to reinterpret their history, including pretending that the new progressives have nothing to do with the old progressives, and the Catholic church pretended to have staunchly opposed the Nazis all along.

      You are a buffoon.

      That may be, but you are ignorant, and that's far worse in this context. I understand where your ignorance comes from: I used to be a progressive myself, until I started actually questioning the inconsistencies in the progressive party line and read up on history, including checking the original sources.

      A second problem you probably have is trying to fit politics into a linear left-right dichotomy. In fact, it's multidimensional, which means that your (apparent) implicit reasoning like "fascism is right wing, progressivism is left wing, therefore they are at opposite ends of the political spectrum" don't work.

    130. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Feyshtey · · Score: 1

      I'm not saying we arent all well within our rights to point out the hypocrisy and bias. I'm just saying that it's the norm, not the exception. Every one of these media outlets posts what promotes their agenda, and in the light they choose to present it. Some might actually report things that are not in their political interests, but they bury it on the proverbial page E15, or they present the counter-argument only to cloud the issue.

      To me its far more valuable to the American people to recognize that all these people feeding them "facts" or bought by one group or another, and that we can't trust anything any of em say.

      --
      "But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,..." - Nancy Pelosi
    131. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by DrDeaf · · Score: 1

      The reference to Milo brought a smile... Anyone interested in Milo, Twitter and censorship should read Milo in his own write: http://www.breitbart.com/tech/...

      --
      Reports of my deaf have been greatly exaggerated.
    132. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      Every one of these media outlets posts what promotes their agenda, and in the light they choose to present it.

      "Media outlets" have a small number of gatekeepers and content creators; that necessarily and unavoidably biases their publications even if they try to be unbiased and spend no money on censorship.

      But Twitter isn't a "media outlet". "Media outlet" implies that a company "lets out" (distributes) "media" that it itself created internally. But the media on Twitter are created by users, not by Twitter. It need not have any more bias than a telephone. Unlike "media outlets", Twitter censorship is an active and deliberate policy and requires spending extra money and effort to implement.

    133. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Nazi's were not considered "progressive" or left wing. They were and are considered a radical right wing populist party. They did espouse some populist economic ideas but there core beliefs were extreme nationalism and anti-communism. They saw themselves as enemies of the 'Left' or the 'Reds.' This was a major component of their propaganda.

    134. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Feyshtey · · Score: 1

      Agreed. And ironically that means that Twitter has far LESS responsibility to ensure that every voice is heard. They make no pretense that they are a business that allows people to say things. It makes no promises that people have a right to say a particular thing. And no business should ever be put in a position to be told what their customers can or cannot say in their establishment or on their platform.

      I have a business, and I've had whackjobs start preaching to and berating my customers about politics and other things. These people were within their rights to hold whatever beliefs they like. They are legally protected from ramifications by government for saying whatever it is they like. But I was well within my rights to tell them to can it, or get the fuck off of my property. And I did. As the business owner if I feel that the speech is vile, innappropriate, or even just uncomfortable, I dont have to allow it. And any of my customers that dont like that can go find another business. Likewise, if you feel strongly about Twitter's "censorship", you can find another free service to talk about that on, or start one of your own.

      And make no mistake, I think Trump is a trainwreck, But I think the same of Hillary. I'd rather they be allowed to keep saying stupid shit far and wide in hopes that more people wake up and realize they are in fact trainwrecks. But like you arent required to allow a person to say a thing thru your business, you also can't be expected to make people recognize it as stupid shit spewing forth.

      --
      "But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,..." - Nancy Pelosi
    135. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      And no business should ever be put in a position to be told what their customers can or cannot say in their establishment or on their platform.

      Bullshit. Customers can and do tell business how to operate, and they can put quite a bit of muscle behind it by voting with theid dollars. If you are incapable of dealing with that, don't run a business.

      I dont have to allow it. And any of my customers that dont like that can go find another business.

      They can do other things too, like encourage other customers not to do business with you, picket you, criticize you in the media and online reviews, and point out your hypocrisy. Which is, incidentally, what I'm doing with Twitter, after I stopped using them.

      As I was saying:

      They are free to censor him

      Legally? Sure. But that doesn't mean they are beyond criticism. After all, they have aspirations of being a communications platform and social network and that requires more than merely being legally above board.

      Is that so hard to grasp?

    136. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      I haven't seen what's happening in general on universities, and I suspect you may not have either. How much of what you say is based on your experience, how much based on reports from people you trust with a little statistical analysis to see how significant, and how much from the mainstream media?

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    137. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Define censorship. There is speech I will not allow in my home. This has nothing to do with ideology or wacko ideas, but rather whether the conversation is reasonably civil and at least productive in helping people see other viewpoints. There are all sorts of viewpoints that have been discussed in my house that I don't agree with. There is speech the authorities will not stand for, such as speaking with the aid of a sound truck at 2AM in residential neighborhoods.

      I haven't paid any attention to Trump's rhetoric, other than to confirm that I don't want to. Therefore, I don't know what he's saying on Twitter, and whether it's offensive enough to be worth banning. If he goes beyond Twitter's normal criteria for how offensive someone can be, it doesn't matter what his politics are, he should be banned. If he doesn't violate Twitter's standards for offensive speech, then he shouldn't.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    138. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Disgusting language has not been entirely protected in public, historically. Since Trump does not own Twitter, he does need to make his tweets conform to whatever standards Twitter has.

      I'm making a distinction here between the expression of opinions or practices some may find disgusting, and the use of disgusting language.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    139. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by wyHunter · · Score: 1

      Donald trump doesn't burn people at the stake, engage in terrorist activity, advocate overthrow of western civilization, or destroy antiquities in middle eastern cities. If you don't like what he says..don't listen.

    140. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by wyHunter · · Score: 1

      No. The Republican ESTABLISHMENT, which is the same establishment as the Democrats (notice how both parties do almost the same thing?) are terrified of trump.

    141. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by wyHunter · · Score: 1

      Don't worry, the left is now calling it Romneycare because it's becoming obvious it is a total failure and they don't want their side to be held responsible. I lived in the "North Korea of North America," Massachusetts, during its implementation and could have told anyone what a disaster it would be. And as for Romney -- anyone who moves from Massachusetts to California must be pretty left wing!

    142. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by wyHunter · · Score: 1

      Indeed, it's always a hoot when the left hurls the term 'Nazi' at the right...since the Nazis were leftys.

    143. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      "We are socialists, we are enemies of today's capitalistic economic system for the exploitation of the economically weak, with its unfair salaries, with its unseemly evaluation of a human being according to wealth and property instead of responsibility and performance, and we are all determined to destroy this system under all conditions." Adolf Hitler (from John Toland, "Adolf Hitler", p224).

      Which American politician does that sound like? Ted Cruz? Rand Paul? Ben Carson? Seems to me that's more like Obama, Clinton, and Sanders.

      I suppose it depends on which you believe better: the words and platforms that the Nazis used while building support to assume power, or the actions of the Third Reich once Hitler was supreme leader. I'll note that the Nazis persecuted the communists with a profound zeal exceed only by the fires they reserved for the jews and homosexuals, none of those groups having much in common with what we'd think of as "conservatism."

    144. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      I suppose it depends on which you believe better: the words and platforms that the Nazis used while building support to assume power, or the actions of the Third Reich once Hitler was supreme leader.

      The Nazis delivered largely what they promised and what Germans wanted: they created massive government stimulus programs, instituted government by experts, ended profiteering, put government in charge of evaluating "responsibility and performance" of workers, put the government in charge of health care, education, and retirement, even founded VW in order to create cheap cars for the masses. Nazi Germany wasn't a bait-and-switch, it is what happens when you follow progressive ideology to its bitter end.

      I'll note that the Nazis persecuted the communists with a profound zeal

      As I was saying: The idea that fascism is "right wing" probably comes from the fact that Nazis and socialists/communists were political arch-enemies in Germany, but that really tells you little about their actual political ideologies.. In fact, it makes rational sense for related political ideologies to persecute each other much more harshly than politically distant ideologies.

      exceed only by the fires they reserved for the jews and homosexuals, none of those groups having much in common with what we'd think of as "conservatism."

      Well, that's because your perspective is a bit limited. Jews and homosexuals have been widely persecuted by socialist and communist regimes; such regimes viewed both as aspects of decadent and bourgeois society (something I sadly experienced first hand). Christians persecuted Jews and homosexuals because supposedly God disapproves. A century ago, progressives tried to keep Jews, blacks, American Indians, and homosexuals out of the labor force, out of society, and out of the gene pool, believing that science had proven these groups to be genetically inferior and therefore incapable of making it on their own; these days, progressives do the same thing because they believe that science has shown that all these groups have "inherited" (in some vaguely defined non-genetic sense) psychological, economic, and social "damage" and "burdens" and are therefore incapable of making it on their own. Everybody, left and right, likes to play political football with Jews, homosexuals, and minorities.

    145. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Joey+Vegetables · · Score: 1

      Sooner or later, whatever replaces this pus-oozing carcass of a "culture" will come to understand that peaceful coexistence on one hand, and the advocacy of things like organized theft, enslavement, or murder on the other, are mutually exclusive. Only one will prevail. Those who do advocate such things ought never be given a platform by any decent or civilized individual, ought never to be paid attention by any decent or civilized individual, and must never be allowed anywhere near the reigns of power. Not even a voting booth. No one is ever entitled to vote away the rights of another.

    146. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Talderas · · Score: 1

      I think the Republican party would rather have Trump over Cruz.

      --
      "Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
    147. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      No, dude, it's OK to censor republicans. ;)

      The same as you can choose to censor democrats. Some people seem to confuse free speech with, "you must hear what I have to say".
      That's is not how Free Speech works.

    148. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      After all, they have aspirations of being a communications platform and social network and that requires more than merely being legally above board.

      Does it? I thought Twitter was simply a platform for D grade wannabe celebrities to try and get attention?

    149. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1
      I don't approve of what movie studios did, but they did have a right to refuse to hire people based on political alignment.

      Um I think you're confusing free speech with discrimination...

    150. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      Twitter started it, they introduced censorship. Now they have to be consistent about it. That it becomes really nasty is the point, hopefully they will realise they don't want to be doing censorship.

      Of course they do. Free Speech sounds nice when you use examples of resisting tyranny, but free Speech doesn't work so well when it involves exploiting weaker individuals. eg Intimidation, hate speech, sexual assault.

      As as much as "Censorship" is used as some sort of invincibility shield in Internet forums , the civilised world isn't so simple.

    151. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Let me underline it for you:

      After all, they have aspirations of being a communications platform and social network and that requires more than merely being legally above board.

    152. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Feyshtey · · Score: 1

      Bullshit. Customers can and do tell business how to operate, and they can put quite a bit of muscle behind it by voting with theid dollars. If you are incapable of dealing with that, don't run a business.

      That's what I said; If they don't like the fact that I wont allow them to say it at my business, they can go find one that will. If enough of my customers flee, my business will fail. That does not actually equate to customers telling me me how to operate as much as it has to do with me not allowing myself to be bullied by jackasses who try to force me to live my life (and with that, run my business) exactly how they see fit.

      I grasp your position. I just find it to be arrogant and counter-productive. You feel that you have a right to railroad other people into thinking exactly like you do, or you'll exact your vengeance upon them to make them suffer. There's nothing noble about that. There's nothing to praise in that behavior. You're just a petulant child throwing a temper tantrum because someone had the gall to disagree with you.

      Why is it that it's perfectly find to guilt/force/bully a business into allowing any speech, and give no consideration at all to the other consumers of that service that don't want to fucking hear it? When I said I was within my rights, and I told a person disrupting my business and making my customers uncomfortable to shut the fuck up or leave, you jump to the defense of the idiot disrupting things and not to the customers that shouldn't have to deal with it. You assume that I would lose more business by ejecting the jackass who proved unwilling or unable to be civil than if I allowed the jackass to continue with the impolite, inconsiderate, disrespectful, arrogant and destructive behavior.

      No business should ever be demanded to remain wholly neutral on all topics. They have a right, and a responsibility, to hold to their values. I dont have to agree with them and I dont have to put a penny in their pockets if I dislike their position. But I am not nearly so self-involved and insecure that I feel they must change their position to match mine or be damned for it.

      They can do other things too, like encourage other customers not to do business with you, picket you, criticize you in the media and online reviews, and point out your hypocrisy. Which is, incidentally, what I'm doing with Twitter, after I stopped using them.

      Do you get that you are quite actively and directly attempting to silence their position? Is it lost on you that you are demanding that they never censor a person with whom they disagree, while attempting to do precisely that to them?

      --
      "But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,..." - Nancy Pelosi
    153. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You feel that you have a right to railroad other people into thinking exactly like you do, or you'll exact your vengeance upon them to make them suffer.

      "Vengeance" has nothing to do with it. I'm letting other people know how your business operates, truthfully and politely, nothing more.

      Why is it that it's perfectly find to guilt/force/bully a business into allowing any speech,

      I objected to your statement that "And no business should ever be put in a position to be told what their customers can or cannot say in their establishment or on their platform." I objected to that. I.e., I believe that some businesses ought to allow certain forms of speech, not that all businesses should allow all forms of speech.

      and give no consideration at all to the other consumers of that service that don't want to fucking hear it?

      No, I do not give consideration to that.

      Do you get that you are quite actively and directly attempting to silence their position? Is it lost on you that you are demanding that they never censor a person with whom they disagree, while attempting to do precisely that to them?

      Twitter doesn't "have a position" and I am not trying to "silence them". Twitter's mission statement is "Our mission: To give everyone the power to create and share ideas and information instantly, without barriers." When they don't live up to that mission statement, I criticize them.

      As for you, I wouldn't do business with you, and I'd give your business a bad recommendation, because based on your responses, it is clear that you are incapable of running a business professionally or listening to your customers.

    154. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP?
      You stupid leftist idiot.

      Why do you assume they are leftist? Both extremes censor and from my reading of the situation at the moment the GOP has much more reason to try and stop Trump than the Democrats.

      Just a hint for posting online, avoid personal insults and using uppercase characters.

    155. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Feyshtey · · Score: 1

      I objected to your statement that "And no business should ever be put in a position to be told what their customers can or cannot say in their establishment or on their platform." I objected to that. I.e., I believe that some businesses ought to allow certain forms of speech, not that all businesses should allow all forms of speech.

      What the type of business is, is irrelevant. Either a private citizen who owns a business has a right to define what will be allowed in their establishment or on their platform, or they don't. Period. End of story. I'm saying that no one, not you or the government or an angry mob with pitchforks should be tolerated if they are bullying and intimidating a company into compliance with their particular mores. And anyone that would participate in that bullying in the name of protecting against censorship is shockingly ignorant of their own hypocrisy.

      Look, this is not at all unlike other scenarios, all which I agree with.
      1) A business owner who chooses to proclaim his business a gun free zone, and declines enterance to anyone carrying a firearm, regardless of the method carried, or the laws applicable in the area of the business. It's his business, and his right to deny entry to someone who's packing. I am personally less likely to go to that business, but hey, that's my call based on the rules of his establishment, and I am not about to picket him out of some petty spite.
      2) A steakhouse owner confronted with a group of people chanting "meat is murder!!", and tells them to leave. Not only is he within his rights to do so, but any other reaction would be self-destructive. A restaurant full of meat eaters isn't going to enjoy this little serenade, and they aren't going to stick around for the show. Nor are they likely to come back knowing that the establishment won't react in their interests to such an invasion and disruption of an evening they paid good money to enjoy. Shall he cease selling any meat product, and become a vegan restaurant? And lose all the clientele that would have come to have a steak? No, and any suggestion otherwise is stupidity.
      3) An owner of a nightclub proclaiming that the building is smoke-free and having a disruptive patron throwing a shit fit about it.
      4) An owner of a pagan bead and jewelry store declining to create catholic rosaries and confronted with an irate nun yelling at everyone there they are all going to hell.
      5) A baker declining to bake a cake for a gay wedding, and having people parked inside their store berating their customers.
      6) A person at a western horse stable telling all the people who board horses there about how awful they are for forcing the horses into submission.
      7) A community swimming pool dealing with a person in the middle of a kids' swim meet yelling about how everyone there is killing the planet by wasting water.

      Sadly, these are all REAL. These owners would be within their rights to call the police if the people refused to leave, and the police would be obligated to remove the person, who at this point is trespassing because they remain without the consent of the owner. Your argument is that not only should these (mostly whacko) people be allowed their rants, but that the businesses should be picketed if they don't allow it.

      Or should it only be applied the way you describe in certain cases. WHO DECIDES? Back to the earlier statement, either the business owner has a right to choose what they allow or disallow, or they don't.

      It takes a hell of a lot more balls to let a person make a choice you disagree with than it does to point and yell "GET EM!". It takes a lot more self confidence to have a rational conversation and part in the end to agree to disagree rather than feel a need to change everything to match your opinion.

      Twitter doesn't "have a position" and I am not trying to "silence them".

      Funny thing is, you're right !!!! They didnt censor anyone! The premise of the articl

      --
      "But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,..." - Nancy Pelosi
    156. Re:Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      BUT THE PLATFORM IS MONOPOLIC, then it has to be forced. Natural monopoly, you have to use Common Sense!

  2. Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    Did a libtard SJW submit this story? They really hate free speech.

    1. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're free to say anything as long as you comply with the terms of the service.

    2. Re:Seriously? by Seizurebleak · · Score: 0

      free speech

      Those words, I don't think they mean what you think they do...

    3. Re:Seriously? by Hognoxious · · Score: 3, Informative

      I'm not saying yes, I'm not saying no. Check her posting history and have a bloody good laugh.

      Ummm, I mean check her posting history and make your own mind up. Yes, that.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    4. Re:Seriously? by MightyMartian · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      I don't know, but I see a lot of rightard ACs are crying wolf, even though if Twitter decided to not let trump post any more, that's perfectly within their rights

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    5. Re:Seriously? by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      Did a libtard SJW submit this story? They really hate free speech.

      Free speech becomes hate speech. Speaking your mind becomes frowned on.

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    6. Re:Seriously? by ClickOnThis · · Score: 1

      Free speech is irrelevant to the case of Trump vs. Twitter.

      The First Amendment of the US constitution protects you and me from the government. It does not protect you and me from each other.

      But Twitter is not the government. If Twitter wants to kick Trump off its service because they don't like what he says, they're entitled to do so. And the government can't stop Twitter from doing so, because First Amendment. And the government can't stop Trump from starting his own Twitter, again because First Amendment.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    7. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, private companies are free to ignore people's civil rights, the same way a private business is perfectly free to deny service to blacks and gays, or a landlord is free to say "Mexicans need not apply" in his rental ads.

    8. Re:Seriously? by ClickOnThis · · Score: 1

      Yes, private companies are free to ignore people's civil rights, the same way a private business is perfectly free to deny service to blacks and gays, or a landlord is free to say "Mexicans need not apply" in his rental ads.

      You're being sarcastic, but I get you. No, businesses are not free to ignore people's civil rights under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. That Act has survived numerous constitutional challenges in the Supreme Court and elsewhere.

      If Twitter violates someone's civil rights by expelling them (e.g., by discriminating in some way that is illegal as defined in the Act) then yes, they're on the hook. But they're in no way obliged to provide a platform to anyone for the expression of their views.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    9. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As opposed to you leftards crying wolf even though if twitter started shutting down SJW accounts, that'd be "perfectly within their rights" you'd be screaming to high hell about censorship by the corporate overlords and demanding diversity officers on the board of directors...

    10. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lauren Weinstein's bigoted bias clearly shown in what he likes to post to his Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein. Godwin's Law

    11. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The poster is calling out Twitter for being inconsistent. Keep your conservative brain damage out of this, you country ruining religious zealot.

    12. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Ummm, I mean check her posting history and make your own mind up.

      Her? Do you even know who the fuck you are talking about?

      Slashdot's response to this story is such an epic fail. You guys are so fucking dumb. If I were the new owner I'd be thinking I totally wasted my money on a site no smarter or better informed than a facebook wall.

      The aggressive ignorance displayed in this story's comments and worse, consistently up-voted, is just disheartening. Slashdot isn't dead, but it has been subsumed by the eternal september.

    13. Re:Seriously? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      No, they really hate unequal treatment.

      Twitter is a private platform that is not obligated by law to not censor, and so can censor, and does censor. They do, in fact, have a lengthy document that describes what exactly they censor. And they do apply that document to other users rather meticulously - but for some reason, not to Trump. They're not legally obligated to treat everyone the same, either, but it's rather hypocritical of them to post rules regarding prohibited content, enforce them and defend them, and then not apply them in one particular instance.

    14. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They could potentially get in trouble with the FEC for not allowing equal access to all candidates.

    15. Re:Seriously? by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      Then look at "her" profile picture because some things are not as they seem.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    16. Re:Seriously? by luis_a_espinal · · Score: 1

      Did a libtard SJW submit this story? They really hate free speech.

      Free speech becomes hate speech. Speaking your mind becomes frowned on.

      And this is bad because...? Welcome to life dude. Yes, speaking your mind becomes frowned on. Does that stops you from speaking your mind as a matter of principle? You need to really live in a state of repression to understand how precious it is to speak your mind, even if everyone else frowns on you.

    17. Re:Seriously? by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      Did a libtard SJW submit this story? They really hate free speech.

      Free speech becomes hate speech. Speaking your mind becomes frowned on.

      And this is bad because...? Welcome to life dude. Yes, speaking your mind becomes frowned on. Does that stops you from speaking your mind as a matter of principle? You need to really live in a state of repression to understand how precious it is to speak your mind, even if everyone else frowns on you.

      Yes, in the USA thats what 'free speech zones' are for!

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    18. Re: Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Perhaps you want to read what the FEC is so you don't sound like an idiot. Hint ... there is more than one law covering the conduct of private businesses providing public forums.

    19. Re:Seriously? by ClickOnThis · · Score: 1

      The equal-time rule was created by the FCC, not the FEC, and it applies to broadcast media. It's debatable whether Twitter falls into that category. All of its content is created by its users, not Twitter itself.

      Listen, I wouldn't be happy if Twitter banned anyone for political reasons. But IMHO, Twitter would be within its rights if it did so. And Twitter is hardly a monopoly.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    20. Re:Seriously? by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      Her? Do you even know who the fuck you are talking about?

      No, and I don't care. Because it's not relevant.

      It doesn't matter if the life form has nuts, doesn't have nuts, used to have nuts or is saving up to get some nuts.

      What matters is that the one in question is nuts.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  3. Does this question really need asked? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Twitter could be destroyed, or at least heavily damaged, by the republican party if it took a side. Also, like it or not, Trump is the leading republican candidate.

    1. Re:Does this question really need asked? by penguinoid · · Score: 1

      But Twitter could get themselves in the news bigtime for shutting him down, even briefly, due to their war on hate speech. They do say that no press is bad press...

      --
      Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
    2. Re:Does this question really need asked? by spire3661 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Twitter is ephemera and inertia. It could be replaced tomorrow on a whim. They know this.

      --
      Good-bye
    3. Re:Does this question really need asked? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Trump is a blowhard with no grasp of the limits of Presidential power.

      He also couldn't get 20% of the vote in a general election.

      He is bluster and noise and nothing else.

    4. Re:Does this question really need asked? by jopsen · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure twitter would die... but I'm sure the attention of such an event would benefit Trump.

  4. Coincidence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    (((Weinstein)))

    Twitter users can block.

    Twitter should only shut down accounts which violate laws.

    Feelings are subjective.

    1. Re:Coincidence by DaHat · · Score: 3, Informative

      This also from the great thinker whose personal blog also got linked to for "Why I'm a Defender of YouTube"

    2. Re:Coincidence by tsotha · · Score: 1

      This is the idiot who described Trump as a fascist the other day.

      Must be an election coming up. Timothy is going full retard.

    3. Re:Coincidence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is the idiot who described Trump as a fascist the other day.

      Must be an election coming up. Timothy is going full retard.

      It's funny because the guy asking to silence a twitter account would be the fascist.

    4. Re:Coincidence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Twitter should only shut down accounts which violate laws.

      Or violate their terms of service. They are a private business and have every right to control what's on their site.

  5. Can't say I speak for Jack Dorsey... by Pollux · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...But if I was him, I'd give Trump all the rope he needs to hang himself with.

    1. Re:Can't say I speak for Jack Dorsey... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...But if I was him, I'd give Trump all the rope he needs to hang himself with.

      Don't you think we should convince Trump to pay for his own rope?

    2. Re:Can't say I speak for Jack Dorsey... by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 2

      ...But if I was him, I'd give Trump all the rope he needs to hang himself with.

      Yeah, this sounds like a win-win to me to me - freedom of speech is given deference, and the populace gets more information regarding Trump.

      I visit Twitter every day, but I can't say that I've ever seen a Trump tweet anywhere except for in a news story (outside of Twitter). He's currently not paying to promote these stupid spewings of his, so the only people who even notice are his Twitter followers (who made a specific choice to add him to their feeds) - which includes the news media.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    3. Re:Can't say I speak for Jack Dorsey... by Austerity+Empowers · · Score: 2

      We did, he chopped it up and glued it to his head.

  6. Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by brxndxn · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Free speech is free speech. Everyone else is free to ignore it. If a radical idea catches on, so fucking what. Twitter should not be shutting down Donald Trump and Lauren Weinstein should quit whining about it like free speech is some sort of threat.

    --
    --- We need more Ron Paul!
    1. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Free speech has nothing to do with Twitter. This guy can still say his bigoted opinions anywhere he wants, even if every media would turn him down.

    2. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Free speech is free speech. Everyone else is free to ignore it. If a radical idea catches on, so fucking what. Twitter should not be shutting down Donald Trump and Lauren Weinstein should quit whining about it like free speech is some sort of threat.

      If Trump was just some Joe Sixpack they probably would have shut him down by now but the freedom of your speech tends to be proportional to your wealth. People have for example been banned from entry to the UK for saying less inflammatory things than Trump and yet the UK government decided there were not sufficient grounds to bar Trump entry to the UK. Why should Twitter operate any differently?

    3. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by friedman101 · · Score: 1, Informative

      Do you really not understand why the right to free speech isn't the same as the right to a twitter account? I don't personally think twitter should shut down his account but they wouldn't be violating his constitutional rights if they did so.

    4. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Free speech is free speech. Everyone else is free to ignore it. If a radical idea catches on, so fucking what. Twitter should not be shutting down Donald Trump and Lauren Weinstein should quit whining about it like free speech is some sort of threat.

      The difference between some twat on the internet using freedom of speech to make public his opinion that Moslems are the Jews of the 21st century is that Donald Trump actually stands a chance to gain the power that will allow him to implement his ideas of issuing hunting licenses for the families of terrorists to punish them of the actions of their relatives.

    5. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      This is the correct answer.

      Until 2 days ago I had no idea he had a twitter account. It makes sense. But I am free to ignore it. I am sure Hillary has one too. I have not read 1 line from either of them.

      Neither one represents what I want so I do not follow them.

      This sort of censorship DOES tick me off though. It is little more than a poorly veiled attempt to bolster their favorite candidate and silence their opponent.

      Also lets just say for 1 second twitter did this. Holy fucking shit you would basically be giving Trump the presidency. Do you think for one second he would not be bleeting on and on about it day and night how his opponents are shutting him down and 'proving him right'? You would be giving him a wonderful 2d and 3d victory. I would think Trump would be secretly thinking 'oh hell yeah do that'.

    6. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      Does Twitter often shut down accounts? After a Google search, the only thing I can find is shutting down spam accounts, and a bunch of accounts connected to ISIS.
      My guess is Twitter wouldn't shut down your account unless you actively tweet harassment to another user, or something similar.

      I don't want to read though Trump's twitter feed, but I would guess his tweets are hyperbolic at worst, and the author doesn't link to any tweets that deserve account deletion.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    7. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by DewDude · · Score: 4, Informative

      Perhaps you forget the actual idea behind free speech.

      The idea that you can say whatever you want, and that no one can stop you; is not the idea behind free speech. Free Speech merely means the government cannot imprison or bring up criminal charges for speech they do not like.

      Twitter is not a government organization, it is allowed to place whatever terms and conditions they want on the service. They own it; the users do not. It is perfectly acceptable from a constitutional standpoint for Twitter to say "we do not like your hate-speech and are removing you from the service", it would be legal for any company to say "I do not like what you wrote on Twitter/Facebook/Other Social Media; they disagree with our ethics and you are being terminated."

      Another example is if you were shouting hate-speech in a public place. As long as you on public property, that is fine. However, the minute you step on to privately owned property; the owners are able to enforce any restrictions they want. Want to scream bigoted statements in front of my house? Make sure you're doing it on the sidewalk or street; if you're in my yard; I'll have you removed.

      I find it ironic that people that scream the most about constitutional freedoms; are doing so in the most twisted way possible. If Trump is violating the usual TOS of Twitter; than he needs to be removed. He can't be charged with a crime for doing so; but Twitter would not be violating the constitution.

    8. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Twitter shuts down and "unverifies" (allowing others to pose as you) accounts all the time. They just do it to outspoken politicos on the far right so it generally goes unnoticed by the majority of twitter's users.

    9. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      So you'd be ok with me coming to your front porch and distributing fascist and communist pamphlets? It's free speech, ain't it?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    10. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Linkreincarnate · · Score: 2, Insightful

      So do you think comcast should be allowed to create a TOS that kicks anyone who uses their service and criticizes it off of their internet? How about apple revoking the licenses of anyone critical of their child labor practises? You dont have a RIGHT to their services after all. I for one don't want to give away my free speech to CEO's and corporations. You are very short sighted if you think arguments used to silence opinions you don't like won't eventually be used against you. Free speech is a concept that is a good idea. The first amendment is a right based on the good idea of Free Speech. The first amendment is not the end of the concept of free speech. We would not have feminist, the civil rights movement, or black lives matter if it were not for freedom of speech. How about you stop sawing at the branch you are sitting on?

    11. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      Twitter shuts down and "unverifies" (allowing others to pose as you) accounts all the time.

      [citation needed]

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    12. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by johanw · · Score: 2

      Actually that's not a bad idea. Their families might persuade them a little harder not to join some terrorist groep. Whe should extend that to drone operators too: they shoot a hellfire missle at some wedding, we rape their wives and kill their children. Perhaps next time they take a better look before pressing that fire button.

    13. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by cdsparrow · · Score: 2

      Perhaps you forget the actual idea behind free speech. The idea that you can say whatever you want, and that no one can stop you; is not the idea behind free speech. Free Speech merely means the government cannot imprison or bring up criminal charges for speech they do not like. Twitter is not a government organization, it is allowed to place whatever terms and conditions they want on the service. They own it; the users do not. It is perfectly acceptable from a constitutional standpoint for Twitter to say "we do not like your hate-speech and are removing you from the service", it would be legal for any company to say "I do not like what you wrote on Twitter/Facebook/Other Social Media; they disagree with our ethics and you are being terminated." Another example is if you were shouting hate-speech in a public place. As long as you on public property, that is fine. However, the minute you step on to privately owned property; the owners are able to enforce any restrictions they want. Want to scream bigoted statements in front of my house? Make sure you're doing it on the sidewalk or street; if you're in my yard; I'll have you removed. I find it ironic that people that scream the most about constitutional freedoms; are doing so in the most twisted way possible. If Trump is violating the usual TOS of Twitter; than he needs to be removed. He can't be charged with a crime for doing so; but Twitter would not be violating the constitution.

      I agree with all you said above, but why then can't a bakery refuse to make a cake for a gay wedding?

    14. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apparently being bigoted means enforcing current immigration laws and being more cautious about importing people from hostile countries.

    15. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by spire3661 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The problem is these platforms are becoming DE FACTO speech platforms to the point that either they need to start developing common carrier rulesets, or we need to develop other comms platforms that people can easily join and communicate on. I am not comfortable ceding THIS much speech to a EULA alone. These platforms are used ALOT, its time we start thinking about enforcing The First a little harder when you are reaching so many minds. Information is becoming far too malleable, which is one of the key take-aways of Orwell's 1984. I dont invoke Orwell often, but im seeing speech shaping occurring daily now.


      I uploaded a short clip of the green mile to FB the other day to make a point to a friend , and as soon as it finished uploading, FB said it was blocked on copyright grounds, automatically. I was trying to show the scene in Green Mile where Percy is gloating over a dead prisoner, and Brutal viciously scolds him saying 'leave him alone, hes paid what he owed. Hes square with the house again'. Its a 20 seconds clip out of a 3 hour movie... that kind of heavy handedness is ridiculously over the top and stifled a conversation i was having with a friend.. Is that clip really a threat to anyone's revenue? Its time for new conversation about how far these platforms can stifle speech or if we need to legally limit their scope.

      --
      Good-bye
    16. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by krakass · · Score: 0

      I did a quick google, http://www.businessinsider.com... was the first to pop up.

    17. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Because in the states where these legal incidents happened, it violated those state's anti-discrimination laws, much like if they'd refused service solely because the person requesting service was black, or a woman.

    18. Re: Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      No, but that's only because I think isps should be common carriers.

    19. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by 0xdeadbeef · · Score: 1

      The idea that you can say whatever you want, and that no one can stop you; is not the idea behind free speech.

      Actually, no, that's pretty much it.

      The "no one can stop you part" is particularly relevant to government only because they're the only ones who can shut you up with violence and it sometimes be acceptable.

      And before you go all libertarian about it being Twitter's platform, remember whatever argument you make applies to network neutrality as a whole.

      Free speech is the same as freedom of conscience. The ideas in your head are yours, no one can force you to have different ideas, and you can share your ideas with whomever you please. That is what free speech means.

    20. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by ArylAkamov · · Score: 0

      Some people are more equal than others.

    21. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      I agree with all you said above, but why then can't a bakery refuse to make a cake for a gay wedding?

      Because there are laws against discrimination in commerce. By getting a business license and operating that business to do so, you are obliged to follow those laws.

    22. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by spire3661 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      A minor correction . Free Speech is the idea that you can say things. Its a spectrum like anything else going from completely permissive on one end to restricted for reasons on the other. Its a completely separate idea from the FIRST AMENDMENT, which is a limitation on the U.S. government. Generally The First Amendment of the U.S. is very permissive of speech, with exceptions for things like obvious inciting of harm (and other unspecified ' i know it when i see it' clauses).

      I only mention this because people get these ideas confused and then the conversation stops being about Free Speech, and it starts being only about The First. It limits the conversation to LEGAL arguments, citing court decisions etc and drowns out any moral speech. Its boring to only look at life through the lens of the law.

      --
      Good-bye
    23. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      simple, because when the baker got a business license they agreed to a non-discrimination clause with the local licensing authority... they can refuse to make a cake for a gay wedding, they just have to give up the business license first.

    24. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

      As long as you don't choose to follow him or one of his minions, you will have a happy Trump-free Twitter experience without any effort being required on your part.

      The people complaining about this don't understand how Twitter works.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    25. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by stdarg · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Nope, you got it backwards. The concept of free speech has nothing to do with the government. The 1st amendment right to free speech is a constraint put on the government to uphold the principle in limited circumstances, it does not define or limit the principle itself.

      One's support for free speech is generally a matter of degree. If your support ends at the 1st amendment, and you think that private "consequences" for free speech are fine and dandy, then you don't support it very much.

    26. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by HiThere · · Score: 2

      Look up "public accommodations", and try to decide whether it applies as much to twitter as to a lunch counter.

      I don't like "hate speech", but I'm quite wary of all attempts to forcibly curtail it. They can so easily be turned around against other targets.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    27. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by rwa2 · · Score: 1

      Yep. I'd be way more worried about the other way around, where someone in the future tries to remove their history from Twitter. Fortunately, that shit is going straight to the Library of Congress.

      Besides, social media is like a honeypot for haters. Go look at any politician's feed... any POTUS or candidate or even game developer or corporation's Facebook page... Almost every comment is someone whining about them. In the old days of websites you'd try to moderate your blog comment stream, but nowadays they've more or less given up trying to filter out negative commenters... anyone who matters to them doesn't spend time reading the comment stream. And the haters feel like they have an "outlet" to post their negativity on someone's page where they can have a nice circle jerk with all of the other haters in plain view. I bet it comes in handy having a straightforward list of your haters collected right from your own social media stream available to you anytime into the future. Sounds very useful, especially for power-crazy political types.

    28. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Hognoxious · · Score: 0

      The problem is these platforms are becoming DE FACTO speech platforms to the point that either they need to start developing common carrier rulesets, or we need to develop other comms platforms that people can easily join and communicate on. I am not comfortable ceding THIS much speech to a EULA alone.

      But they aren't teh gubbamint. It's OK when corporations do it, because freedom and enterprise and markets and all that.

      And if you disagree you're a commie.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    29. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by ChrisMaple · · Score: 0

      If a radical idea catches on, so fucking what.

      When stupid ideas catch on, the result is death. Think it's OK to stick your penis up any receptive asshole and the result is AIDS. Think it's OK to not have border security and the result is tuberculosis. Think it's OK not to bathe and the result is the spread of a whole bunch of diseases.
      Ideas have consequences.

      --
      Contribute to civilization: ari.aynrand.org/donate
    30. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by bytesex · · Score: 1

      The point is not whether Trump gets to say whatever he wants - the point is that Twitter is hypocritical. Surely everyone is free to use or not use their services, and surely Twitter is free to can the one user for the same reason they're keeping the other. But individuals (and companies) *can* be told that they are hypocritical. It is not a nice character trait to display.

      --
      Religion is what happens when nature strikes and groupthink goes wrong.
    31. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by ChrisMaple · · Score: 1

      There is no valid reason for rape. Never has been. Never will be.

      --
      Contribute to civilization: ari.aynrand.org/donate
    32. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

      Part of the problem is that Lauren is a fucking idiot.

      He believes "ad blocking" is unethical.

      For the record, I don't run any ad blockers. Basically, I consider them unethical (the full explanation is longer, but that's the thumbnail)

      *facepalm*

    33. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by ChrisMaple · · Score: 1

      why then can't a bakery refuse to make a cake for a gay wedding?

      Mindwarped and malicious judges.

      --
      Contribute to civilization: ari.aynrand.org/donate
    34. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by MightyMartian · · Score: 0

      And if that's all Trump had proposed that would be one thing. But let's remember what he wants to do to AMERICAN CITIZENS who are Muslims.

      I hope he gets elected, because by the time he was done, the Republican Party would be a fucking shambles, and it could finally rid itself of people like Trump and Cruz.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    35. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by MightyMartian · · Score: 4, Informative

      ISPs are common carriers, and are governed by a whole other set of rules precisely because they are essentially backbones.

      Twitter is an endpoint.

      Two different things.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    36. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Koby77 · · Score: 2

      Trump also has a habit of getting even with those who have wronged him. If Twitter were to suspend his account, and Trump wins the presidency, they would probably be in a world of hurt. It's would be the opposite of what large corporations normally do: send lobbyists and donors to both sides such that they're on friendly terms of whomever wins. They would likely be shooting themselves in the foot with that type of response, especially since Trump would likely gain publicity from it.

    37. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're confusing Free Speech with the First Amendment. GP never mentioned the Constitution, merely the concept of Free Speech.

    38. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Perhaps you forget the actual idea behind free speech.

      The US Constitution did not provide the "actual idea" behind free speech. Free speech as a concept has been around since the 5th century BC.

    39. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by GoChickenFat · · Score: 1

      I agree with all you said above, but why then can't a bakery refuse to make a cake for a gay wedding?

      My thoughts exactly. It seems the haters here are out in full force.

    40. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Cl1mh4224rd · · Score: 1

      Perhaps you forget the actual idea behind free speech.

        The idea that you can say whatever you want, and that no one can stop you; is not the idea behind free speech. Free Speech merely means the government cannot imprison or bring up criminal charges for speech they do not like.

      Some people use "free speech" in essentially the same way as "free market": let the masses decide how worthy your ideas are. If you can convince a large number of people that forcing an entire group of people out of your country is the right way to go, kudos to you!

      Truly free speech has, in my opinion, the very same problems as a truly free market. Both require a highly informed populace. Unfortunately, that's unlikely to happen. Both ideologies are open to abuse by people who are skillful at convincing large numbers of people of the merit of their ideas, regardless of the actual merit of those ideas. And it's unlikely that the masses will be aware anything's gone wrong until damage has already been done.

      It's not actually very different from the regulation that people advocating for truly free speech/market rail against. Both paths result in a small number of people "in control".

      Tough call...

      --
      People will pass up steak once a week, for crap every day.
    41. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because I can't put out "Blacks only" water fountains in my stores.

    42. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by phantomfive · · Score: 0

      Your link doesn't even go to someone whose account was deleted or deactivated. It tells the story of a bunch of idiots harassing each other.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    43. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      What kind of simpering moron would mod this down?

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    44. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Twitter doesn't have the luxury of giving you freedom of speech. It is a private business with a vested interest in curating its community. If blocking someone who constantly spews vitriol earns a little extra money or (more likely) prevents the loss of money by lost ad sponsors, then it's in Twitter's best interest to do so.

      Once you put it on Twitter, Facebook, et. al.'s servers, it ceases to become *your* speech - it is the property of whichever platform you decided to host it on. This is one of the hidden costs of letting someone host your content that no one thinks about.

      If you want freedom of speech, host your own website.

    45. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      An ISP can decide to not provide any internet service to twitter without violating any common carrier laws.

    46. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by blind+biker · · Score: 1

      The concept of free speech is far bigger than the constitution of the USA. People outside of the USA cherish it just as much as you, and many are still dying exercising or protecting free speech. Twitter may have legal rights to engage in selective censorship, but that does not make it right.

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    47. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by diamondmagic · · Score: 3, Insightful

      This is a classic appeal to authority. What if I said this:

      Because there are laws against breaking DRM. By getting a business license and operating that business to do so, you are obliged to follow those laws.

      .... I'd be modded down into oblivion. And rightfully so. Statute isn't correct just because it's in the statute.

      Statute especially isn't right when it conflicts with other laws (i.e. the Constitution). If we actually applied rule of law in these situations, we would find these laws are null and void. You can't tell a person they can't hack their OWN PROPERTY, and likewise you can't force a person to produce, with their own property and time, a product that they don't want to make. And actually, the cake issue is even worse: How do you know that it was discrimination, unless we start prosecuting thought crimes? What, you're going to use their speech on the matter to press charges? Well that's illegal too!

    48. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by swb · · Score: 1

      Every time the concept of censorship comes up, someone like you decides to conflate the principal of free speech with the legal limitations of the constitutional right to free speech. Really all you're doing is standing up for censorship, since you seem eager to act as an apologist for restricting speech.

      Your use of property rights as a defense for limiting freedom of speech is technically correct, but in a world of increasingly many public spaces that are technically privately owned you should be wary of supporting the censorship of speech in privately owned public spaces. The owners of these places have political agendas and won't be afraid to use this ownership to restrict speech in places that nearly everyone would agree are public spaces.

    49. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by DogDude · · Score: 1

      Why do you think that you should have any right on Facebook, at all? You don't have any rights on my private networks.

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    50. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, you're saying if I come to your house at midnight and start yelling profanities in your front lawn, you won't call the cops or stop me, because that would be censorship.

    51. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by ClickOnThis · · Score: 1

      Wrong. Twitter is not the government. It has no obligation to protect or provide anyone's free speech. It can expel anyone it wants from its service.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    52. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1, Interesting

      And if that's all Trump had proposed that would be one thing. But let's remember what he wants to do to AMERICAN CITIZENS who are Muslims.

      What has he proposed for Muslim American citizens? I've seen plenty of his statements about immigration of Muslims, and travel from non-citizen Muslims, but nothing about US citizens. What is his actual statement - his words - on such a topic?

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    53. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Xiaran · · Score: 1

      Do you mean an appeal to authority fallacy? If you do then it is not.... that fallacy is about appealing to an authority that is not really an authority.
      If a business is breaking the law as part of their business model(and this includes DRM,.... as much as I may disagree with those laws) then it is the same situation as a bakery not making a cake for a gay couple. And they should both be punished. How is it a thought crime when the bakery(and I am talking about the one in question that was in the news) said that they are not making a cake for a gay couple specifically because they are gay?

    54. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      Perhaps for a physical connection, but it can't refuse to transmit Twitter's packets. It is not the same thing.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    55. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The entire point of the article, which you obviously have not read, is not that free speech is a threat - it is that twitter is utterly inconsistent in their application of speech restrictions.

      Having read the blog, I don't get the sense that he's arguing against Twitter censorship. He seems perfectly fine with it. He seems to seriously be arguing that it should also be applied to Trump, but not that the censorship itself is wrong. Go back and re-read his conclusion. Here's what it would say if you were right:

      And the fact that Twitter doesn't censor Trump shows how embarrassed they are of their own overly heavy-handed censorship policies in the first place, and why those policies should be abolished altogether. The average Twitter poster should be afforded the same rights that Twitter has given Trump--the right to speak freely even if some are offended by that speech.

      But that doesn't seem to be what he's saying at all.

    56. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      May I presume that you would be making the exact same argument if Rupert Murdoch bought Twitter tomorrow and banned all pro-gay rights postings and blocked #blacklivesmatter?

      Because, if not, you're a hypocrite.

    57. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by ScentCone · · Score: 0
      So start you own service over which you have no control, and which you explicitly run as a venue where intellectual property rights are ignored. It can be the kind of place where it doesn't matter that the wise people running it don't realize that "ALOT" is not a word, but where it doesn't matter, because there are no terms of service that have to be read anyway.

      Its time for new conversation about how far these platforms can stifle speech or if we need to legally limit their scope.

      Who should be allowed to have that "conversation?" People who don't understand the conceptual difference between "its" and "it's" ... or just anyone who wants someone else to foot the bill for a hugely expensive service but have no influence over how it's used? Let me guess - you like the favorite leftist solution of letting someone else risk hundreds of millions of dollars to build something that becomes hugely popular, and then using government power to take it over when you don't like another person's judgement about how the thing they built and own is used.

      Classic progressive whiny approach to things ... don't propose that hugely rich lefty public figures risk some of their cash to help build a competing system that uses Nanny State style powers to help you stay in your precious snowflake safe place. No, just suggest taking over what someone else has built and forcing them to make it comfortable for you, the person who didn't build it, doesn't have to use it, and isn't persuasive enough to talk investors into backing something more to your liking. What a bunch of craven, but entirely predictable, lefty nonsense. You are everything that's gone wrong with this country.

      --
      Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
    58. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The famous quote is:

      Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on,

      It doesn't say anything about separating non-citizen Muslims from citizen Muslims.

      It was only later when people bristled that he "clarified" himself. I put "clarified" in quotes because it's actually a backpedal. The initial quote was clear and unambiguous. It said "complete" and "total", which doesn't mean "partial" and "conditional". The best way to interpret that from Trump is that it didn't even cross his mind that Muslim citizens were a thing that would be affected by this, which is itself not a good thing, but not as bad as if he did consider them and said "well, fuck them anyway".

      If a person is a Muslim and goes overseas and come back, they can come back. They are a citizen, that is different,

      That says the citizen Muslims can come back. That's better, but it is itself interesting, because it still misses part of the point -- what about Muslims who are legally in the country, but are not citizens of the US? For instance, green-card holders -- which you have to be for a minimum of 5 years before you can even start applying for US citizenship (3 years if married & living with a citizen), and then it rarely takes less than a year for that to finish and frequently at least 2 years. So figure on 7 years from legally arriving in the US, and following all legitimate protocols and trying their best to be citizens, being unable to visit their families without risking an indefinite inability to come home ("temporary ban" doesn't define "temporary").

    59. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Some people think corporations don't have free speech. Can an entity without free speech use its TOS to restrict free speech?

      Is Twitter a common carrier? Does it receive protection for failing to censor illegal content?

    60. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Free speech is not unconditional. You don't get to come into my house and then start yelling at me. If I call the cops to haul you off of my private property, you can't get mad at me for suppressing your free speech. You can speak that free speech elsewhere, but not here.

      It gets funny when you have something like twitter, and you can twist all sorts of extreme arguments out of it. Surely you don't have to read everybody yelling whatever bullshit at every account you can possibly make? If they overwhelm the people you want to talk to, they've successfully abrogated your free speech. Okay, so you get block buttons, which is a sort of very minor anti-free-speech measure because it's not generally done in bulk. Until people start sharing blocklists, anyway. Which they might do for spammer accounts or malware-advertising accounts, dumping things that are unanimously considered bullshit?

      Is adblock okay? etc.. In principle, is it morally permissible to create a forum platform that contains one strictly-enforced rule like "no fart jokes"? I think so. What if that forum platform grows to be twitter-level? Does it have to get rid of the rule? What if the only reason it became popular is that everybody was sick of the fart jokes?

      It's ultimately complicated. My opinion tends to depend on whether you have to subscribe or specifically go to somebody's page, and shies away from it when it comes to private messages and @replies and that sort of thing where it's directed. If you're looking at Trump's twitter, well, you asked for it, and Trump's rules can apply on Trump's page. If Trump comes out of nowhere talking to you specifically, then you really didn't. But then what if Trump didn't use your twitter handle, but told a million followers to all do an @reply to you, crowdsourcing abuse in a way you can't keep up with using your block button, destroying your ability to respond to legitimate @replies and thus damaging your own free speech? Well, maybe that's bad. What if Trump didn't explicitly tell them to do it, but he took actions which any reasonable person would realise would lead to the crowdsourced abuse? Now we're starting to lean into subjective territory again.

      People don't get to generally just add their two cents into newspapers or books (even letters to the editor are curated), you get to write your own newspaper or book. The same can obviously be said for Internet platforms.

      For this particular case, I don't think twitter should take action against Trump. I hope voters take action against Trump's twitter tirades.

      And before you go all libertarian about it being Twitter's platform, remember whatever argument you make applies to network neutrality as a whole.

      I think you're assuming I have a certain position on network neutrality, but I'm honestly not sure what position you think I have. Let me just say that I don't think that full-on net neutrality is optimal. There actually is a legitimate point to QoS that can benefit everybody. Net neutrality is an attempt to put up rules that avoid a slippery slope to really bad QoS that is worse for (virtually) everybody. I do agree that net neutrality is better than the worst case that's possible without net neutrality, but I think we can do better than that.

      Free speech is the same as freedom of conscience. The ideas in your head are yours, no one can force you to have different ideas, and you can share your ideas with whomever you please. That is what free speech means.

      Well this is nonsense and also irrelevant. Furthermore, you do not have the right to share your ideas with whomever you please, you have the right to share your ideas with whomever is willing to listen.

    61. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      Apparently being bigoted means enforcing current immigration laws and being more cautious about importing people from hostile countries.

      No, thats hate speech. Apparently

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    62. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Perhaps you forget the actual idea behind free speech.

      The idea that you can say whatever you want, and that no one can stop you; is not the idea behind free speech. Free Speech merely means the government cannot imprison or bring up criminal charges for speech they do not like.

      That is incorrect. The idea of freedom of speech is to protect people from being unjustly persecuted for having positions which would normally lead to their persecution without specific protections. Private interests conspiring to shut down undesirable ideas, say by actively campaigning to silence those who present them through intimidation and persecution is just as much of an atrocity as a government institution doing the same. This is an acceptable usage of the term.

      I for one do not wish to live in a world where Twitter hysteria can get prominent cancer researchers fired, particularly not over a fabricated moral panic.

      it would be legal for any company to say "I do not like what you wrote on Twitter/Facebook/Other Social Media; they disagree with our ethics and you are being terminated.

      True, but GP didn't say it's not their right to. It's entirely sensible to hold the opinion that someone shouldn't do something legal or even that something currently legal should be outlawed.

      Another example is if you were shouting hate-speech in a public place. As long as you on public property, that is fine. However, the minute you step on to privately owned property; the owners are able to enforce any restrictions they want. Want to scream bigoted statements in front of my house? Make sure you're doing it on the sidewalk or street; if you're in my yard; I'll have you removed.

      The problem with that analogy is that the private-public dichotomy is unreasonably restrictive in describing the circumstances. There are spaces which are entirely public (streets) and spaces which are entirely private (homes) but Twitter is a privately-held open public platform which isn't strictly analogous to either scenario. I don't think it's unreasonable to hold such venues to different expectations in comparison to your own private home, given their quasi-public nature.

      If Trump is violating the usual TOS of Twitter; than he needs to be removed.

      Has Twitter taken any obligations to strictly adhere to their own ToS? Considering how much you trump (forgive the pun) the rights of private institutions then surely you should be happy to afford Twitter the liberty of policing their platform according to their own agenda. Note that I'm not defending or condemning Twitter on the matter, that is a topic for another discussion.

      He can't be charged with a crime for doing so; but Twitter would not be violating the constitution.

      But they are still open to the consequences of their actions.

    63. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by diamondmagic · · Score: 1

      But the law is not an authority on what is right and wrong.

      We're talking about what people should do, not matter-of-factly what sort of consequences the local law-enforcement organization is going to (wrongfully) take against them.

    64. Re: Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Free speech is a legal concept; not a business one. But, please, continue being an idiot.

    65. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by diamondmagic · · Score: 1

      How is it a thought crime when the bakery(and I am talking about the one in question that was in the news) said that they are not making a cake for a gay couple specifically because they are gay?

      You can't punish someone for what they say: speech -- including rationales -- is not actionable by the government because of the First Amendment.

      So that leaves you with just the fact that someone didn't want to produce something. But that's not a crime either!

      You'd have to come up with a list of "invalid" reasons to turn away business -- and then try and examine everyone that might be thinking of these reasons. How in the world do you propose to do this?

    66. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Really?

      Twitter is NOT bound by the first amendment.

      I am not shocked that Trump fans don't know this.

    67. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by ClickOnThis · · Score: 1

      How is it a thought crime when the bakery(and I am talking about the one in question that was in the news) said that they are not making a cake for a gay couple specifically because they are gay?

      It isn't a thought crime. It's a violation of the gay couple's civil rights.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    68. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by TapeCutter · · Score: 1

      Freedom of speech does not give you the right to spray paint your rant on a private wall, whether the wall is made of bricks or pixels is irrelevant. It does however give you the right to argue against free speech.

      It's interesting to google the bookmaker odds for elections, particularly in the US were elections seem to drag on forever. If I were a betting man I would have put money on Sanders a few months ago. The odds they are offering for Trump winning the general election are not realistic given his poll numbers. He does have a good chance of winning the nomination.

      Trump is about the republican party imploding and/or dividing. The same thing has happened to the conservative side in Australia, there'a a divide in conservatives between the tea party types and the moderates over things such as climate change. Currently the conservatives are in power in Oz, the moderates within them have the upper hand in Oz with the leader of the TP faction having been sacked as PM by his own party. In the US Trump is the charismatic king of the tea party, the moderates are nowhere to be seen (in public). Cruz and Carson are alternative TP kings, and if you're not in the top three you're not in the race.

      --
      And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
    69. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      So the best you can do is a paraphrase by a talking head about what he stated. What was his original statement? That's what matters - not what some talking head thought it should be...

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    70. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You have it backwards. The 1st Amendment was indeed merely a constraint on the Federal government. But don't forget that this left the states free to limit speech however they wanted.

      One of the reasons for the 1st Amendment was to _preserve_ the states' power to intentionally limit speech and to promote religion. If the Federal government also had this power, the Federal government might have been more protective of certain speech than a particular State might have been. Don't forget that states like Massachusetts had official state religions, in some cases well into the 19th century. Nobody wanted the Federal government to have the power to water down censorship, which it might have done to avoid religious conflict over national policy. (Alternatively, it might choose the most restrictive censorship to appease the most religious states, which more lenient states wouldn't like.)

      Whatever the Founders' diverse views on individual rights, after the abject failure of the Articles of Confederation, the reason d'etre of the new Constitution was to form a more viable Federal government in order to promote security and economic development. The most important considerations were that it had direct power over 1) taxation, 2) the military, and 3) international trade. Everything else was horse trading in order to get those three things. (Which is why the 2nd Amendment almost certainly was not about a personal right to guns. Having given the Federal government ultimate authority over national defense, the States' wanted some guarantee that they could still maintain an effective militia of their own. But I'm not a Originialist like some conservatives, and I'm cool with a personal right to own guns ;)

      The Bill of Rights was _literally_ an after thought. Plenty of states had free speech laws in their constitutions, but they were never strictly enforced. Judicial review wasn't even an established doctrine until well into the 19th century. In many states the legislature could do whatever it wanted, whether or not expressly permitted by the constitution, because the elected legislature was considered the de facto final arbiter of its constitutional powers. And speech was heavily regulated by states well into the 20th century. How else do you think communists, unionists, and other so-called agitators could be thrown into jail merely for passing out leaflets. Yes, just leaflets. And state and federal courts upheld the practice for over a hundred years.

    71. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Free speech is also a civil right, a pretty fucking important one.

    72. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So if Rupert Murdoch bought Twitter, you would be cool with him banning #blacklivesmatter and its supporters?

    73. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The biggest one last month was actually a leftwing reporter asking a bunch of dumb questions, trying to put words into Trump's mouth. Trump didn't say "Lock up all muslims", the reporter threw that into a spate of drivel that the reporter himself was saying.

    74. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If Twitter shut down all pro-gay accounts, you would be the one screaming about people's rights.

    75. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If all pro-gay accounts were violated the TOS, sure why not?

      Of course there is a difference between a single hateful moron and a huge group of unrelated people.

      Moron.

    76. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      True statement: "The First Amendment merely means the government cannot imprison or bring up criminal charges for speech they do not like."

      False statement: "Free Speech merely means the government cannot imprison or bring up criminal charges for speech they do not like."

    77. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The guy said what the talk was about, and discussed it in lengh. The best you can do is to say he didn't do exactly what you asked? You can duckduckgo for the exact quote you know?

    78. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yeah...

      if something morally reprehensible catches on...so what?

      wait..

    79. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by sumdumass · · Score: 1

      So you are free to do whatever you want except when you have to deal with the government due to a law they passed? I sure hope they don't pass as law saying you have to be religious to get a business license.

    80. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Public accommodations" cannot ban people from accessing them based on gender, ethnicity, etc. They can still deny service if they don't like your style ("no shoes no shirt") or behavior. They can still kick you out if you start insulting other customers or groups of customers (Mexicans, Muslims) like Trump did.

      Now on top of that, your analogy to a lunch counter is totally flawed because they don't hand out other people's messages with the sandwiches. If a lunch counter would let customers write the messages for other people's fortune cookies, of course they would be allowed to "censor" them.

    81. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nope, you got it backwards. The concept of free speech has nothing to do with the government. The 1st amendment right to free speech is a constraint put on the government to uphold the principle in limited circumstances, it does not define or limit the principle itself.

      One's support for free speech is generally a matter of degree. If your support ends at the 1st amendment, and you think that private "consequences" for free speech are fine and dandy, then you don't support it very much.

      Agreed, at least in principal. A lot of the outlets for speech are controlled by private entities. Yes, even on the internet. It makes it more difficult for reasonable voices to be heard by the majority, which is what our system of government depends upon. Perhaps freedom of speech is reasonable, but having a particular groups speech amplified till little else is heard is not?

      The right to keep and bear arms to support a possible militia, is one that is certainly not infringed to any significant extent, yet the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures is all the time, since that data is in the cloud or technically someone else's property. As for as seizures go, you have items taken without a trial if they allege they are related to certain crimes.

    82. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anubis+IV · · Score: 1

      Without disagreeing, I'd like to point out that if anyone can compel me to print their words on my platform, I no longer have the right to choose with whom I associate. So, yes, it's a matter of degree, but there's a very good reason why most reasonable people choose to only extend it so far as the government reaches. Anything more, and you begin trampling on other rights. As the saying goes, your rights only extend to the point that they step on someone else's.

      I think it's unfair to characterize a typical degree of support for the right to free speech as "not supporting it very much". I'd say that we're supporting it to the maximum extent possible within the constraints imposed by the other basic human rights.

    83. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You called it "leftist" but the rightwing do it far more readily and nothing about what you claim is leftist. You, like many merkins on the right assume that anything you DON'T agree with must be leftist, whether it is or not, because you don't agree with it and identify as rightwing, therefore it can't be rightist. It's the same shit with "nazi communist socialist". You haven't a frigging clue except you fought against two of them and don't like the third for being associable (whether rightly so or not) with those two, therefore since USA is right and god given exceptional, means they must be all the bad, and everything bad is what they do.

      This is not the case.

    84. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      the Law is the FIRST authority on what is right and wrong. COURTS decide whether a given Law is in line with the Constitution and if it isn't, it is struck out. If you have a problem with a Law and think it isn't Constitutional, sue the State. Don't simply ignore the Law as it stands, because you will get bent over and fucked up the arse with the very Law you're railing against.

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    85. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      if they did that, you'd have two choices: accept the clause and get religion, or sue the Government for passing a Law that violated the First Amendment.

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    86. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      as long as you don't climb over my gate or shoot my dogs to get to my front porch to do it, go nuts.

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    87. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      Twitter is a private entity managing a public platform. It has public responsibility as if it WERE the Government, ergo it is subject to the limitations imposed in the Constitution. IF they want to censor, the first thing they should do is lock down the platform so it isn't publicly visible.

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    88. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I assume after this incident you left Facebook?

      No? Then don't whine.

    89. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by MrL0G1C · · Score: 1

      Except he didn't say 'hostile countries' he said 'Muslims' he wants to ban one third of the worlds population based upon the religion they practice, that is very much hate speech because yes, it is utterly bigoted.

      --
      Waterfox - a Firefox fork with legacy extension support, security updates and better privacy by default.
    90. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      The cake they must make. A gay positive statement with icing, no. That part would be impermissible control over publishing and speech.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    91. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by sumdumass · · Score: 1

      How could you sue for violating the first amendment? The case was just made that your first amendment rights don't count because you had to get a business license to do business and the government can put restrictions on your first amendment rights when they make you do something by law.

    92. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by ihtoit · · Score: 1
      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    93. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by stdarg · · Score: 1

      Without disagreeing, I'd like to point out that if anyone can compel me to print their words on my platform, I no longer have the right to choose with whom I associate.

      I see what you're saying and that's a great point, and perhaps I didn't make this clear, but I wasn't talking about the government enforcing a greater protection of free speech than it currently does. I'm only talking about whether a given individual can say they support free speech, and to what extent.

      I would note that your freedom of association is already limited by the government if your platform is public. For instance, anti-discrimination laws are a pretty blatant violation of that right. I'm not 100% sure but I anti-discrimination might also cover speech, like if your platform says that people can't publish anything that is in the interest of black people (at the discretion of some officer of the company), is that legal? You might let black people publish stuff, and white people publish stuff, and make it a uniform ban (so black and white people both can't talk about things in the interest of black people), but is that legal? What if it turned out that the ban was affecting black people 90% of the time, so it was disproportionate based on race? I don't know.

      Certainly even if it were legal, if your platform had a policy like that, nobody would agree that you're a strong supporter of free speech.

      I think it's unfair to characterize a typical degree of support for the right to free speech as "not supporting it very much".

      Perhaps I'm more optimistic of you, but I think most people support free speech outside of government interference. For instance, if you see a comment that you disagree with here on slashdot, do you mod it troll? Probably not. What do you think of people who do mod comments as troll if they just disagree with them? If you have a negative opinion of them, then you're demonstrating that you don't like their abuse of the moderation system to suppress speech. If you've ever shared those feelings, or commented "why was this modded troll?" then you've participated in exerting social pressure to protect free speech.

      Again, if you go around modding comments troll just because you disagree with them, I don't think you can call yourself a strong supporter of free speech.

    94. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Without disagreeing, I'd like to point out that if anyone can compel me to print their words on my platform, I no longer have the right to choose with whom I associate.

      And at that point, you can no longer be accused of choosing to associate with them, but having had the responsibility abjured from you.

      So, yes, it's a matter of degree, but there's a very good reason why most reasonable people choose to only extend it so far as the government reaches. Anything more, and you begin trampling on other rights. As the saying goes, your rights only extend to the point that they step on someone else's.

      I think it's unfair to characterize a typical degree of support for the right to free speech as "not supporting it very much". I'd say that we're supporting it to the maximum extent possible within the constraints imposed by the other basic human rights.

      The thing is, Twitter is like a printer, a very big printer. Do they have a right to choose who can pay to use their press?

      That's a tougher question than it might seem at first glance.

    95. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by sumdumass · · Score: 1

      But this involves religious freedom not the first amendment on speech.

      Can you really not see the problem here?

    96. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      Except he didn't say 'hostile countries' he said 'Muslims' he wants to ban one third of the worlds population based upon the religion they practice, that is very much hate speech because yes, it is utterly bigoted.

      I don't think you understand what 'hate' means.

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    97. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is also why minimum wage laws are wrong. It's my body. I can do what I want with it, including using it to work for less than minimum wage.

    98. Re: Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think we could make an exception for you though.

    99. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      Because he never said what you - or the other post - claimed. It's a lie. Which is why you cannot source it.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    100. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The idea that you can say whatever you want, and that no one can stop you; is not the idea behind free speech.

      Actually, no, that's pretty much it.

      The "no one can stop you part" is particularly relevant to government only because they're the only ones who can shut you up with violence and it sometimes be acceptable.

      And before you go all libertarian about it being Twitter's platform, remember whatever argument you make applies to network neutrality as a whole.

      Free speech is the same as freedom of conscience. The ideas in your head are yours, no one can force you to have different ideas, and you can share your ideas with whomever you please. That is what free speech means.

      Sadly, you're talking about what you want it to mean, and not about what the constitution makes it actually mean. If you don't like it, push for a new constitution (fat chance though)

    101. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by diamondmagic · · Score: 1

      NO. The law is just the system of rules that the government uses to decide when to use force. It is not a definition of nor replacement for ethics. You know how we see "correlation is not causation"? Well: "The law should be ethical" != "The law is necessarily ethical"

      Second, all branches of government are responsible for upholding the Constitution - you have to swear an oath to this effect before taking office. The Court is simply one of the final stops in being able to decide this (effectively)

      If you want to point out you'll have a bad day standing up to them, that's not in dispute; but all you're doing is blaming the victim for what the government is doing wrong. I'm talking about what the government should be doing here, not anybody else. (It's not a moral idea to turn down otherwise profitable business either, even if you disagree with everything else about the customer. But at least in this situation, I'll admit that's your right.) What I'm talking about is what is right and wrong on a normative, ethical level; and forcing people to produce a product, or taking punitive, forceful action because of the reason (either perceived by the state or invoked by the business under their free speech) is wrong.

    102. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is no valid reason for rape. Never has been. Never will be.

      And yet armies have been raping and killing (or killing and raping) since forever.

      And they still do.

      And they'll keep doing it.

    103. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why not? It's not hate speech. Making the hand movements to make human-legible words does not equate to endorsement or condonement of said words or idea.

      People need to get over themselves.

    104. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by HiThere · · Score: 1

      The particular "lunch counter" I was thinking of was a rather famous one in the South that was the subject of a Supreme Court decision about public accommodations. It has been extended by judicial analogy in many different cases. I can't tell whether it should apply here or not. Possibly the TOS would suffice to say that it doesn't, but I'm no lawyer.

      The traditional rule was "The freedom of the press belongs to the man who owns one.", in which case they would definitely have the right to revoke an account arbitrarily, but I'm not certain it still applies. (Again, I'm no lawyer.)

      Now as to whether it SHOULD apply, I'd say, no. As to whether the Constitution would justify it applying, I'd say no. But I've no opinion on how the current law is interpreted.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    105. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      You ARE aware that you're liable for anything you allow to happen on your property, yes? Like, say, me and my Mafia buddies holding our annual meeting.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    106. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, no, that's pretty much it.

      The "no one can stop you part" is particularly relevant to government only because they're the only ones who can shut you up with violence and it sometimes be acceptable.

      And before you go all libertarian about it being Twitter's platform...

      Oh noes! You called someone a libertarian and that immediately makes their points invalid! God, I am so sick of all the ad hominem attacks that are rampant in label tossing.

      Thing is, you're incorrect. Freedom of speech guarantees that the government cannot prevent you from speaking your mind. It isn't "particularly relevant", it is only relevant. Common carriers are granted special rights by the government, and must adhere to these policies as a result; so they fall under that scope as well.

      ... remember whatever argument you make applies to network neutrality as a whole.

      You're right. It does.

      If no one on the net wants to hear your opinion, they are all free to censor you. However, if you were to post on a government forum they would not be free to censor you (there is a curious short supply of those however). Twitter, Facebook, Google, et. al. could all decide they don't want you using their services anymore, and they would be within their rights to do so. However, that would certainly have implications for their respective businesses, and so it isn't likely that this would ever happen; but the point is that it could happen, and that is freedom. They have the freedom to censor, and everyone else has the freedom to boycott them as a result.

      You are free to do what you want, however that doesn't stop your choices from having consequences. All choices have consequences.

      It's a bit ironic that you consider such a stance to be libertarian since limiting government scope falls more under the tenets of the republican party.

    107. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      yes, you keep moving the goalposts.

      I'm going to stop now, you're not playing fair and I believe my point is made.

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    108. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree with all you said above, but why then can't a bakery refuse to make a cake for a gay wedding?

      They can. There may be anti-discrimination laws in place, but they can always make the cake such a failure that the bakery never get gay customers again. Similiar for anyone who provides any service or customized product.

      Another way of refusing is "too much business at that point in time".

    109. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by MrL0G1C · · Score: 1

      What's so difficult to understand, he doesn't want Muslims in the country regardless of whether or not they are terrorists, how is that not hateful?

      What if he said no black people in the country, would you be OK with that too?

      --
      Waterfox - a Firefox fork with legacy extension support, security updates and better privacy by default.
    110. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by tigersha · · Score: 1

      I was at a gay wedding this weekend and the cake was good!

      --
      The dangers of excessive individualism are nothing compared to the oppressiveness of excessive collectivism
    111. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by tigersha · · Score: 1

      Just as much as distributing Jehova Witness tracts and bibles are, yes. Just as annoying though.

      --
      The dangers of excessive individualism are nothing compared to the oppressiveness of excessive collectivism
    112. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      moron.

      reporter: you would institute a registry for muslims?
      trump: yes I would

      he may not have said the words himself, but the question has been put to him several times, and he agreed with it.

    113. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by dywolf · · Score: 1

      I see.

      so because he agreed to it whens omeone else said the words, that makes it ok then?
      idiot.

      --
      The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
    114. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      What's so difficult to understand, he doesn't want Muslims in the country regardless of whether or not they are terrorists, how is that not hateful?

      What if he said no black people in the country, would you be OK with that too?

      re Muslims, still not hateful. Just very cautious. Remember, he said "Until our elected representatives can figure out what the FUCK is going on."

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    115. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by martas · · Score: 1

      What you are alluding to as trampling on others' rights would be if you were legally obligated to print speech you don't want to print. You're still thinking of it in terms of prohibitions under penalty of law. But there is a whole big world out there that has nothing to do with the law. You can start here.

    116. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is no valid reason for rape. Never has been. Never will be.

      You mean: except for genetic propagation. Only humans are hung up on requiring consent, and even that isn't universal within the species. There are probably other "valid reasons", however, I only need one to disprove a "never" statement. Claiming "something will never..." is almost always incorrect, as are claims of "always" and "only"...Oh damn it.

    117. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anubis+IV · · Score: 1

      Yes and no.

      No, I was not thinking merely in terms of prohibitions under law (though I can see why you might think I was, since that's basically all I talked about). Rather, I was narrowly addressing a particular point while avoiding the tangent of "oughtness" or making a moral judgment. Even so, thanks for the refresher on the subject, since it's been a few years since I've reviewed that specific material! And it is something with which I wish more people would familiarize themselves, since you're quite correct that people need to think beyond merely what the law allows/compels. I would assert that the law exists in the service of a higher moral purpose, rather than being an end unto itself, so it's good to review material of this sort occasionally so that a healthy perspective isn't lost.

      As for the "yes", yes, you are correct, I was addressing the issue of what happens to our rights if we are being compelled to do something (though, as a quick aside, I was speaking of being compelled in a more general sense, such as if someone has a gun to your head). My comment was intended to point out a simple fact: an obligation, be it externally or internally imposed, to print the words of others will naturally come at the cost of other basic human rights. I never intended to suggest that meant printing the words of others was a bad thing, since I do agree that the right should extend beyond what the government permits. Even so, because of those costs, I also believe that the extent to which the right is extended should be left to the individual to decide. Otherwise, as we agree, it would result in the trampling of rights.

      Sorry for the confusion, and I hope my overall thought process is a bit clearer now.

    118. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by MrL0G1C · · Score: 1

      It's pretty well known what is going on, Trump is the ignorant one.

      --
      Waterfox - a Firefox fork with legacy extension support, security updates and better privacy by default.
    119. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      It's pretty well known what is going on, Trump is the ignorant one.

      Just because you don't like what someone says, doesn't make it 'hate speech'.

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    120. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by diamondmagic · · Score: 1

      You don't have a 'right' to force other people to produce things for you!

      We ended that a long time ago by passing the Fourteenth Amendment, a pretty darn important civil right if there ever was one.

    121. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      the Law is the FIRST authority on what is right and wrong

      Absolutely, positively incorrect. The law is the FIRST authority on what is legal. Any lawyer... hell, anyone who pays attention to the world around them, can see that law and morality often similar, but also often wildly diverge.

    122. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      The case was just made that your first amendment rights don't count because you had to get a business license to do business and the government can put restrictions on your first amendment rights when they make you do something by law

      If getting a business licence is a legal requirement, and the license requires you to give up your first amendment rights are a requirement for getting that license, then the jurisdiction would be violating the Constitution. However, around the original Civil Rights era, the country sort of decided that some rights were lesser than others -- and that protecting a class that suffered from mass discrimination took precedence.

    123. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by ClickOnThis · · Score: 1

      You don't have a 'right' to force other people to produce things for you!

      Really. Well then, let's try a thought experiment. We'll take Xiaran's statement and replace "gay" with "black."

      How is it a thought crime when the bakery(and I am talking about the one in question that was in the news) said that they are not making a cake for a black couple specifically because they are black?

      A baker who refuses to serve someone based on race - or sexual orientation - is breaking the law.

      We ended that a long time ago by passing the Fourteenth Amendment, a pretty darn important civil right if there ever was one.

      Try again. The Fourteenth Amendment was used in a SCOTUS argument against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The plaintiff lost.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    124. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by diamondmagic · · Score: 1

      Really. Well then, let's try a thought experiment. We'll take Xiaran's statement and replace "gay" with "black."

      Wait, are you seriously proposing what I think you are? Slavery is wrong. Period.

      There was a whole period of the country's history where not only was slavery legal, but businesses were required to segregate based on race. You couldn't serve certain people if you wanted to!

      Let's not do that again, please.

      A baker who refuses to serve someone based on race - or sexual orientation - is breaking the law.

      The law is wrong, and that law is unenforceable. Either a transaction happens or it doesn't, and if you have a reliable way to discern between 'legal' and 'illegal' cases of "no transaction" then I'd love to hear it.

    125. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by ClickOnThis · · Score: 1

      Wait, are you seriously proposing what I think you are? Slavery is wrong. Period.

      I saw what you did there.

      Yes, slavery is wrong. So is discrimination. But slavery != discrimination.

      The law is wrong, and that law is unenforceable. Either a transaction happens or it doesn't, and if you have a reliable way to discern between 'legal' and 'illegal' cases of "no transaction" then I'd love to hear it.

      Okay...

      Send someone to the business who is black/gay/whatever to make a transaction. If they are refused, note the reason. Then send in someone white to request the same transaction. If the white customer is served, then you have evidence of discrimination.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    126. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by diamondmagic · · Score: 1

      Yes, slavery is wrong. So is discrimination. But slavery != discrimination.

      You are proposing forcing someone to work involuntarily, under the threat of force. That is wrong, and we call that slavery.

      Send someone to the business who is black/gay/whatever to make a transaction. If they are refused, note the reason. Then send in someone white to request the same transaction. If the white customer is served, then you have evidence of discrimination.

      People can list any reason they want, or none at all. Then what? (And I can't wait to see how you plan to test which sexual orientation people are.)

      What you're proposing is bringing back Jim Crow for businesses, but instead of prosecuting people who serve a particular race, you want to prosecute people who committed a thoughtcrime. That is wrong on so many levels.

    127. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by ClickOnThis · · Score: 1

      You are an idiot. Over and out.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    128. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by diamondmagic · · Score: 1

      Luckily for you, the feeling isn't mutual.

      What I do find idiotic is the notion that it's ever alright to call the police on someone because you can't come to a mutually beneficial agreement. That's about the most childish behavior I can imagine.

      At least you have no logical arguments to try to excuse this behavior with.

    129. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by sumdumass · · Score: 1

      No.. the goal posts weren't moved. You just need to hit the parent button a few times to see the exact context.

      I'll save you the hassle and briefly explain it. The claim or question originally was "I agree with all you said above, but why then can't a bakery refuse to make a cake for a gay wedding?". This was in response to someone lamenting that Twitter is a private company and not subject to the first amendment or anything. More precisely " Free Speech merely means the government cannot imprison or bring up criminal charges for speech they do not like. Twitter is not a government organization, it is allowed to place whatever terms and conditions they want on the service"

      The response to that was "simple, because when the baker got a business license". That is where I chimed in with the spew about freedom as long as you do not need to follow a law and deal with the government. This is where you chimed in.

      Follow now?

    130. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      Yes! The murder of innocents! That's certainly a good way of getting the moral high ground.

    131. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      Free speech is free speech. Everyone else is free to ignore it.

      Even children?

    132. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can't protect your children from the horrors of the world. You can only try to prepare them.

    133. Re:Twitter shouldn't be shutting anyone down.. by martas · · Score: 1

      My comment was intended to point out a simple fact: an obligation, be it externally or internally imposed, to print the words of others will naturally come at the cost of other basic human rights. I never intended to suggest that meant printing the words of others was a bad thing, since I do agree that the right should extend beyond what the government permits. Even so, because of those costs, I also believe that the extent to which the right is extended should be left to the individual to decide. Otherwise, as we agree, it would result in the trampling of rights.

      No, actually, we don't agree on that. At least not based on that argument alone. Analogy: I think it's morally wrong to refer to your girlfriend as a dumb bitch in public and private. There should not be any government regulation against it (short of high-threshold abuse), but there should most certainly be a social and internalized cost to it. Do you feel guilty if you flick your booger on the floor? Do you think that feeling of guilt tramples on your rights? Would you look down on someone who farts in the elevator? How about someone who refuses to teach their children any sex ed? Is it OK to be repulsed when someone has bad breath or dorito dust on their shirt? The old adage about your right to swing your fist ending where my nose begins is much too crude to capture the nuances of morality, ethics, and social norms outside of the law.

      Remember, the law, basically, means one thing -- a rule which can and will be violently enforced. You won't be locked in a cage at gunpoint for farting in an elevator. Nor will you be locked in a cage at gunpoint for censoring speech on your massive online discussion platform. That's the only thing you and I definitely agree on.

      TL;DR: this

  7. An experiment by 3vi1 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I propose a test: Create an alternate account and re-post the same things Donald Trump posts. Maybe change the names/groups mentioned in order to protect the innocent.

    Then, if Twitter shuts you down, you would have a pretty open and shut case as to preferential and selective treatment.

    1. Re:An experiment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Great idea - i'd follow the spook reply account, good suggestion

    2. Re:An experiment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So make an alternate account that generates tweets based on a markov chain of trump's tweets?

    3. Re: An experiment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can confirm that there is in fact selective treatment. It has been nicely demonstrated by a Gamergate user that simply tweeted (exactly the same text) that anti-side has tweeted recently. This resulted in an instant ban (because of alledged harassment).

      Twitter would like to ban many people on the conservative side (btw I am not conservative, but just watch this bullshit happening). They are constantly bothered with temp bans and forced removal of tweets that are harmless and obviously not been read at all by Twitter's support, because they have a lot prejudice.

      Twitter is heavily manipulated during the US campains. You don't see it, but I see many tags disappearing from the top list and even from completion.

      I am calling this censorship and it's even the worst kind of censorship, because it's manipulative and politically motivated. It's not any better than what radical people do.

    4. Re:An experiment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And then what are you gonna do? Write sternly worded letter to your Congressman? It's been bleeding obvious for a while now that Twitter already gives preferential treatment to one type of ideologically group of users over another. Kicking Trump off the system will only further knock down Twitter stock price as advertisers and stockholders will see that Twitter can be pushed around by a vocal minority of users. Kicking Trump off would signal Twitter's death knell.

    5. Re:An experiment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Eh, Trump's going to be your next president. You might as well get to know him.

    6. Re:An experiment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Markov_trump already exists, as do others

    7. Re:An experiment by eth1 · · Score: 1

      Then, if Twitter shuts you down, you would have a pretty open and shut case as to preferential and selective treatment.

      Which isn't actually such a bad thing in this particular case (although substitute "different" for "preferential"). If some random Joe is spewing hate, Twitter can probably rightly say that it's unproductive and unwanted. On the other hand, if someone running for high public office is spewing the same thing, perhaps it's better that everyone is informed of their opinions.

    8. Re:An experiment by GoChickenFat · · Score: 1

      I propose a test: Create an alternate account and re-post the same things Donald Trump posts. Maybe change the names/groups mentioned in order to protect the innocent.

      Then, if Twitter shuts you down, you would have a pretty open and shut case as to preferential and selective treatment.

      ...and what exactly would that prove? That Twitter is a company that is free to apply its policies as it sees fit? If you don't like Twitters business practices you're free to go elsewhere...

    9. Re:An experiment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Trump is a public figure, and more importantly is running for an office of trust. Like photographs, publishing the speech has the function of public benefit which might be more important than the ToS violation.

    10. Re:An experiment by jopsen · · Score: 1

      Common... blocking Trump would just give him more momentum... Rather than hindring him I'm pretty sure it would have the exact opposite effect...

    11. Re: An experiment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Twitter and Facebook etc outsource their support functions to places like India and Indonesia.

      Try and guess what religion the $5/day support peasant probably is ?

      THAT"S why the posts/tweets critical of the pedophile prophet and his followers are quickly deleted.

    12. Re:An experiment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      20,000+ Twitterers have used the #killallmen hashtag, and none have been shut down. If calling for genocide doesn't get you banned, I doubt that anything Trump has said will do so.

    13. Re:An experiment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Doesn't matter. Twitter is a private company, and they have no obligation to treat both accounts equally.

    14. Re:An experiment by dywolf · · Score: 1

      been done

      --
      The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
  8. Because he's a legitimate presidential candidate. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Deal with it. Just because you aren't voting for a person in a election doesn't mean every opinion of theirs must be silenced at all costs. Give them enough rope to hang themselves if you think someone is such a monster...

  9. Sigh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Just because you don't agree (or are insulted) with the man or his policies doesn't mean he should be censored. When he begins calling for the gruesome death of all people who don't agree with him (e.g. ISIL), then we will have something to talk about. The only reason this article has ANYTHING to do with Slashdot is cuz Twitter. Can we get back to technology stuffy, please?

    1. Re:Sigh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's even more pathetic about this story on /. is Lauren Weinstein's very own Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein. Scroll his twitter and you will see plenty of photoshops placing Trump as a Nazi. I find Lauren's twitter actually hateful and Trump's not at all.

    2. Re:Sigh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wait. Lauren's a dude???

    3. Re:Sigh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lauren hates Trump. S/he should be silenced!

  10. It's called Free Speech by jdwolfe · · Score: 1, Informative

    Here in the United States we have something called the First Amendment which protects "Free Speech. That includes criticizing opportunistic Muslim migrants that are also potential terrorists.

    1. Re:It's called Free Speech by Gojira+Shipi-Taro · · Score: 1

      And it applies only to the government, and not to private entities such as Twitter.

      That said, let the asshole talk.

      --
      "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I'm fucked."; ~ Donald J. Trump
    2. Re:It's called Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      no, you are wrong. In the United States Congress shall not pass a law abridging freedom of speech. That does not mean Twitter can't kick obnoxious dicks off their platform. It means that Trump can't be arrested for being an obnoxious dick. Should Trump be arrested under a new law banning the freedom of his speech then I will stand with you at the barricades, but until he is arrested he can exercise his freedom to be a dick and others can exercise their freedom not to be a platform for his bullshit. That said, Twitter isn't going to ban him, not gonna happen.

    3. Re:It's called Free Speech by Opportunist · · Score: 0

      Same question to you that I asked a few lines above: You'd be ok with me standing on your porch and handing out pamphlets for radical parties?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    4. Re:It's called Free Speech by Linkreincarnate · · Score: 2

      The first amendment protects free speech, it is not itself free speech. Free speech is an idea we think is so valuable that we wrote a law to protect it.

    5. Re:It's called Free Speech by Falconhell · · Score: 1

      Of course, that's what free speech is.

    6. Re:It's called Free Speech by ClickOnThis · · Score: 1

      Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

      The First Amendment protects free speech from the government's legislative hand. It does not protect it from the actions of other individuals or groups.

      In short, Twitter is not the government, so it is not obliged to protect or provide anyone's free speech.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    7. Re:It's called Free Speech by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      Mine? No - I have a "no solicitors" sticker on my porch, and that means you'd be trespassing. But on the sidewalk in front of my house? Feel free! Of course, I assume you'd have no problem with me doing the same in front of your house?

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    8. Re:It's called Free Speech by jareth-0205 · · Score: 1

      Here in the United States we have something called the First Amendment which protects "Free Speech. That includes criticizing opportunistic Muslim migrants that are also potential terrorists.

      Or you know, making shit up that panders to dumb fearful bigots. America! Land of religious freedom!

    9. Re:It's called Free Speech by Dahamma · · Score: 1

      It's not a law, it's an Amendment. And as he said, it's only protected from government interference, not from corporations or private citizens.

    10. Re:It's called Free Speech by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      Amendment XIV extends Amendment I to State legislatures and by extension (plenty of case law behind this next bit, pay attention) privately owned public platforms such as LETTERS PAGES IN NEWSPAPERS. If this wasn't true, libel laws COULDN'T exist because there would be no need for them - Prior Restraint would have taken care of it.

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    11. Re:It's called Free Speech by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Then stand on the sidewalk and not Facebook's property.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  11. I'd Rather by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hate Trump. I hate that so many Americans give Trump the time of day, let alone be willing to vote for that lunatic.

    Regarding Twitter; I'd rather SJW types whining about their feelings and others insensitivities died in a fire.

    Seriously. If you can't unfollow a Twitter user that offends you then you need to FOAD!

  12. Freedom of speech as long as it's the right one by vivaoporto · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The very asking of the headline question reeks of "freedom of speech as long as it's the right one".

    People should be able to discern speech the agree with vs. speech they don't on their own after considering every opinion made.

    Speech "carriers" have all the right to censor the speech in their media as they see fit (not being the government and all) but the very moment the prevent someone to speak their mind on their platform (no matter how radical they may sound) they forfeit their right to call themselves "a bastion of free speech" and become the same as every other news media: a place to broadcast the views of their owners and target audience, no more, no less.

    In conclusion, every company have the right to pick and choose what they want to enable to be said on their property but as soon as they choose to censor they become yet another biased source just like every other else.

    1. Re:Freedom of speech as long as it's the right one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > The very asking of the headline question reeks of "freedom of speech as long as it's the right one".

      And yet the article says the opposite.

      But RTFA is for loooosers!!!

    2. Re:Freedom of speech as long as it's the right one by ArylAkamov · · Score: 4, Funny

      Your rights end where their feelings begin.

    3. Re:Freedom of speech as long as it's the right one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Heil Hillary.

    4. Re:Freedom of speech as long as it's the right one by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      This should be modded "+5 insightful". Bravo sir, bravo! Excellent summary of the SJW position.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    5. Re:Freedom of speech as long as it's the right one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How dare you use the word "end"! It triggers me. I'm off to my safe space to look at photos of kittens. In the meantime, I hope you get stripped of all your future posting rights for making me feel "unsafe".

    6. Re:Freedom of speech as long as it's the right one by dywolf · · Score: 1

      because equality and social justice are bad things....if you're a conservative.

      --
      The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
    7. Re:Freedom of speech as long as it's the right one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      because equality and social justice are bad things....if you're a conservative.

      Indeed, SJWs are one of the most conservative groups in the developed world. They freak out not just over perceived plight of real women, but even fictional women in video games.

      The "S" in SJW usually stands for social, but "Sharia" would be more accurate description of what SJWs actually do.

  13. Does the question really need asked? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    1) Fist he is the leading republican candidate. You pretty much have to give him a pass. It is sort of like saying the winner of the election doesn't qualify for a security clearance. It won't fly.

    2) Twitter could be deeply hurt by the attempt to remove him. That could go either way in the end though, since it would draw focus to twitter.

    3) I think twitter does have a right to remove accounts that encourage hate speech, particularly if the speech may incite someone to inappropriate actions. That is the line that trump is arguably crossing, but again, you have 1.

  14. Shut down Trump? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I just looked at his twitter postings. They're hardly hateful at all, though sometimes mocking.

    Who posted this article, another SJW?

    1. Re:Shut down Trump? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      SJW - You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

    2. Re:Shut down Trump? by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      I just looked at his twitter postings. They're hardly hateful at all, though sometimes mocking.

      Who posted this article, another SJW?

      Obviously 'hate speech' is being used politically.

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
  15. Twitter censorship by brennz · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There are already numerous allegations of Twitter censoring and unverifying the political right or pro-gamergate folks such as Milo Yiannopoulos. Trump is actually a big attention grabber and he is capturing lots of media attention, so censoring him would hurt Twitter more.

    A better question may be why they haven't come down harder on terrorist activities on Twitter

    1. Re:Twitter censorship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Those are horrible examples.

    2. Re:Twitter censorship by blind+biker · · Score: 1

      A better question may be why they haven't come down harder on terrorist activities on Twitter

      This is why. The Saudis have a Sunni supremacist agenda and they will use any leverage they have to promote it.

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    3. Re:Twitter censorship by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Twitter acts when it gets complaints and sees a pattern of harassment. Just being a dick and saying nasty stuff isn't enough. Yiannopoulos and the others were sanctioned because they were trolling. Trump never goes beyond merely insulting people.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    4. Re: Twitter censorship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Twitter is under no obligation to allow or block any post. But please continue distracting from the topic with the threat of the boogie man of the month called "terrorism".

  16. Subscribe to Editors by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Instead of shutting down accounts, twitter should enable people to subscirbe to blocklist maintainers - "twitter editors." Just like AdBlock has a bunch of block lists you can subscribe to, Twitter should let people subscribe to whitelists and blacklists.

    New accounts default to a blacklist equal to what twitter already disables. Let there be a kid-friendly white-lists so your kid will only see tweets from vetted kid-friendly twitter feeds. For super religious people, you can sign up to a blasphemy blacklist, etc. But if you want the full asshole experience you can unsubscribe from all lists and get the raw untreated sewage.

    People could even make money charging for access to their white/black list services.

    1. Re:Subscribe to Editors by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      Instead of shutting down accounts, twitter should enable people to subscirbe to blocklist maintainers - "twitter editors." Just like AdBlock has a bunch of block lists you can subscribe to, Twitter should let people subscribe to whitelists and blacklists.

      New accounts default to a blacklist equal to what twitter already disables. Let there be a kid-friendly white-lists so your kid will only see tweets from vetted kid-friendly twitter feeds. For super religious people, you can sign up to a blasphemy blacklist, etc. But if you want the full asshole experience you can unsubscribe from all lists and get the raw untreated sewage.

      People could even make money charging for access to their white/black list services.

      yeah a 'protect me from the nasty words!' list!

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
  17. It would seem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Some people only believe in Free Speech, Freedom of Speech, or the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, if it agrees with their views or beliefs.

  18. Why don't they shut down crimes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    People my disagree with Trump but he is not like the pedophiles out saying "everyone should be able to love who they want". twitter should shutdown that group first.

  19. Amazing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I had no idea that so many fuckwitted supporters of Trump were present on Slashdot. The sort of people who can't distinguish between Twitter's ToS and the law of the land, and thus don't understand why talking about the First Amendment is completely off-topic. I really wonder how some Americans manage to wipe their own arses, their cognitive capacity seems so poor.

    1. Re:Amazing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mod parent up.

    2. Re: Amazing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not a supporter of Trump at all, but you misunderstand.

      Americans love personal freedom above pretty much everything else. Even if that means shitty people get to say shitty things.

      We learned this by watching other societies where personal freedom is restricted. The problems arise when perfectly good and healthy speech is deemed unspeakable, such as criticism of state torture, dictators, or burning all Jews in an oven.

      That you think it's okay to censor others simply because you disagree makes you far worse than Trump. It makes you a fascist, and an evil piece of shit. Get fucked.

    3. Re:Amazing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The principle of free speech is not dependent on the 1st amendment. Free speech is a universally recognized human right and is the single most important defining characteristic of any society that lays claim to being free and open. So while private publishing companies like Twitter have the recognized right to control what messages appear on their platform, it should an anathema to all free thinking people to see others whom they disagree with on ideological terms be stripped of the opportunity to be heard in the same venue.

    4. Re: Amazing by ChrisMaple · · Score: 1

      If it were true that "Americans love personal freedom above pretty much everything else" we wouldn't have an income tax, "social security", medicare, the DEA, the FDA, the BATF, paper money, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Education, the Department of Energy, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Labor, the Department of Transportation, and "swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance". Too many Americans have chosen an easy life and unthinking forgiveness over freedom.

      --
      Contribute to civilization: ari.aynrand.org/donate
    5. Re:Amazing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Funny - i had no idea that so many fuckwis like yourself don't understand the concept of free speech and why forceably shutting down dissenting ideas is tantamount to thought control by one particular ideology.

      Or course the fact that you use the term "arses" explains quite a bit about you're piss poor understanding of free speech.

      Or as used to be said before these dark times - "I disagree with what you say, but I'll defend your right to say it."

    6. Re:Amazing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe some people can disagree with Trump and yet not want him silenced? It's called maturity.

    7. Re: Amazing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Try a period on for size, you stupid motherfucker. I'm not reading that shit.

  20. A libtard SJW submits his own opinions as news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    News for libtard SJWs? Stuff that hurts their feelings.

    1. Re:A libtard SJW submits his own opinions as news by DewDude · · Score: 1, Troll

      Just remember the person who submitted the story had the decency to put his name on it. You, on the other hand; are about like every other conservative...the name "Anonymous Coward" fits you perfectly. Your narrow-minded opinions mean squat if you don't have the decency to own up to them.

    2. Re:A libtard SJW submits his own opinions as news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Reading your post, I wonder whose feelings are more hurt.

    3. Re:A libtard SJW submits his own opinions as news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We need to be anonymous because self righteous pieces of shit like yourself are militant enough to witchhunt anyone out of a job whenever you get the chance.

    4. Re:A libtard SJW submits his own opinions as news by ArylAkamov · · Score: 1

      That's a lot of sweeping generalizations Mr. DewDude, if that is your real name.

    5. Re:A libtard SJW submits his own opinions as news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In reality you should all kill yourselves as the worthless pieces of shit you are.

    6. Re:A libtard SJW submits his own opinions as news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Conservative opinions these days get campaigns to make you lose your job if you make yourself known.

    7. Re:A libtard SJW submits his own opinions as news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    8. Re:A libtard SJW submits his own opinions as news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Better than a filthy lying contard who would do the world a favor to set himself on fire.

  21. Does hist block button not work? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They just can't quit you can they? Donald...er, sorry, I meant "PRESIDENT TRUMP!"

  22. Close Twitter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And nothing of value would be lost.

  23. shutup by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    how about i shut you down with my fist!

  24. Why should they ban him?? by TheAngryCat · · Score: 1

    They allow ISIS which is worse in my opinion. The bottom line; If you don't like what someone is saying ignore them. We are grown-ups. (some of us anyway)

  25. Said all this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In other words, we thought that Twitter was far more ethical than Donald Trump.

    Apparently, that assumption is in error.

    --Lauren--
    I have consulted to Google

    Without a hint of irony?

  26. I skimmed the list of things he said. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I didn't see anything in there inciting violence or otherwise illegal. I can't see any solid grounds for shutting him down. Obviously, a political rival is just whining.

    1. Re:I skimmed the list of things he said. by ArylAkamov · · Score: 1

      All they have are a bunch of statements taken out of context. The more they scream "RACIST! BIGOT! YOU HATE ALL PEOPLE OF X ORIGIN", the more it becomes a joke.

      Kinda like sensationalists calling everyone they don't like Hitler.

    2. Re:I skimmed the list of things he said. by MightyMartian · · Score: 0

      I love how Trump supporters always claim he's been taken out of context, even though the chief reason they love him is because he wants to throw out all the Muslims.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    3. Re:I skimmed the list of things he said. by ArylAkamov · · Score: 2

      he wants to throw out all the Muslims.

      Not even a Trump supporter, but [CITATION NEEDED].

      He said he wants to put a temporary ban on middle-eastern immigrants, not "Throw out all the Muslims".

      This is something that our current administration already did back in 2011 for 6 months:

      http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/...

      As a result of the Kentucky case, the State Department stopped processing Iraq refugees for six months in 2011, federal officials told ABC News

    4. Re:I skimmed the list of things he said. by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      I love how Trump supporters always claim he's been taken out of context, even though the chief reason they love him is because he wants to throw out all the Muslims.

      Proof? Where did he state that? Or are you just proving the original poster - you scream and issue charges (that you know are false - libel) in an effort to defeat a person you do not agree with? Methinks it's solidly the latter, as there is zero proof for your claim.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
  27. Because of the Golden Rule by penguinoid · · Score: 4, Funny

    He who has the gold, makes the rules. And boy, does Trump have the gold.

    --
    Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
    1. Re:Because of the Golden Rule by mysidia · · Score: 1

      Perhaps he should use some of that $$$ to partner with Facebook and Twitter for exclusivity, and then close all his opponents' accounts.......

  28. How can advocates of Open Source be anti-speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What a bunch of hypocrites you guys are. Don't you understand that freedom of speech is for the benefit of all? It's not just, "freedom of speech that I happen to agree with."

  29. Re:Because he's a legitimate presidential candidat by penguinoid · · Score: 2

    Being a presidential candidate doesn't grant you the right to violate terms of service. Of course, it does mean people are more likely to let it slide. But it does make a mockery of their "no hate speech" nonsense.

    --
    Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
  30. Because they might not be geniuses... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... but they aren't morons, either. Do you really think is a good idea to censor a guy that could be the next POTUS?

  31. The short version...why should they silence Trump? by MrKrillls · · Score: 2

    Short version: Why should they?

    Long version: I find him reprehensible, and find his positions stupid and indefensible, because I'm, I guess, a liberal or leftie or maybe even progressive. According to a number of posts here, I, as a liberal, am supposed to want Trump to be silenced. I do not. Political candidates, no matter how much I don't like them, get, and should get, a podium. Freedom of the news and freedom of speech are more sacred than my desire not to be offended or annoyed.

    Amplifying that, I suspect that the desire to not have to be exposed to the likes of DT is more dangerous than DT itself. I am very worried by people on whatever side of whatever issue, who wish to simply silence their opposition. Both sides of an issue frequently have a view the other side should listen to carefully, and not dismiss casually.

    --
    Don't step on the baby.
  32. What is Trump saying on twitter that is so bad? by SuperKendall · · Score: 5, Informative

    The headline presumes a lot of things.

    Read the actually Twitter account and it's relatively bland, in pages of tweets I couldn't see anything that would cause an account from anyone to be suspended.

    Its amazing how furious trump makes people, and sad how they themselves must lie to try and shut down someone they disagree with.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  33. Political Speech by Ixokai · · Score: 1

    Twitter, being a private entity, can make whatever policies they want and kick anyone off for almost any reason. All these responses about BLAH CENSORSHIP and BLAH FIRST AMENDMENT and BLAH FREE SPEECH are nonsense. Twitter can set whatever content standards it wants.

    That said, you have to be really careful when political speech is involved. Even if Trump really is violating their policies (I don't know he is, I just don't follow him because he's an idiot saying idiotic things), kicking him off might constitute an illegal campaign contribution to everyone else.

    Political speech is a live wire they likely don't want to touch.

    1. Re:Political Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Since Twitter is a corporate entity and therefore shouldn't have free speech (according to various political factions), they therefore can't use the excuse it's a private service. They can't use their free speech to limit others (since they don't have free speech).

  34. Re:Because he's a legitimate presidential candidat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Being a candidate gives you the right to email above-top-secret information in the clear and not immediately go to prison... why wouldn't it allow you to post "supposedly" bad stuff on twitter?

  35. What does this have to do with Slashdot? by marcle · · Score: 4, Informative

    If the new owners are listening, this is exactly the sort of story that doesn't belong on Slashdot. The technical angle (Twitter?) is minimal, the political content is strong, and most of the commenters have big ugly political axes to grind.

    Hopefully this is an aberration. If you just want to post clickbait and stir up outrage, this isn't the site for me.

    If, on the other hand, you wanted to talk about the algorithm Twitter uses, or the resources and methods required to enforce Twitter policies, you might have a nerdish angle.

    But to ask readers whether or not they approve of Trump on Twitter is trolling, and makes me wonder about your "new" direction.

    1. Re: What does this have to do with Slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yep

    2. Re:What does this have to do with Slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... the political content is strong ...

      So Slashdot should avoid political issues: That would include encryption, mass-surveillance, warrant-less spying, copyright legislation, gun legislation, police shootings, war on terror, war on drugs. These issues are directly driven by political policies for the benefit of the law and order, so there's no need for nerds to discuss them, right?

      ... commenters have big ugly political axes to grind ...

      That shows the quality of the readers has declined, or possibly they've become more partisan. Either way, it's something that happens as a society grows, even one existing on a social media site like Slashdot.

      ... algorithm Twitter uses, or the resources and methods required to enforce Twitter policies ...

      You can talk about these things. The summary explicitly asks us to "argue the proprietary or desirability of any given social media content". Now you can provide the content you want on Slashdot. Or we discuss the content already on a social media site that a majority of people will access: What is the Twitter policy on calling Muslims, terrorists, or immigrants, violent felons?

      ... approve of Trump on Twitter is trolling ...

      Yes, it is. But why can't we examine the content of other social media sites, including the non-nerd sites? If we don't examine half-wits spewing religious slurs, we won't examine the political issues that affect our lives, our freedoms and our tools for building a community. That applies to our meat-space world and the world of Slashdot.

    3. Re:What does this have to do with Slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We need stories like these to help fight the rape culture on this site and promote intersectional progressivism in geekdom through the medium of constant shame based hazing. It's a Patreon worthy cause.

    4. Re:What does this have to do with Slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      THIS, except the fact that /. is already dead with smart people moving to https://lobste.rs

    5. Re:What does this have to do with Slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If the new owners are listening, this is exactly the sort of story that doesn't belong on Slashdot. The technical angle (Twitter?) is minimal, the political content is strong, and most of the commenters have big ugly political axes to grind.

      Hopefully this is an aberration. If you just want to post clickbait and stir up outrage, this isn't the site for me.

      If, on the other hand, you wanted to talk about the algorithm Twitter uses, or the resources and methods required to enforce Twitter policies, you might have a nerdish angle.

      But to ask readers whether or not they approve of Trump on Twitter is trolling, and makes me wonder about your "new" direction.

      How true

    6. Re: What does this have to do with Slashdot? by Ahnahmoley · · Score: 1

      Whiplash/Whipslash.... I for one welcome our new News for Nerds overlords + agree with the above. Sure, it's got Trump's name in it so clickbait... but why is this here[slashdot.org]?

    7. Re:What does this have to do with Slashdot? by Stinky+Cheese+Man · · Score: 2

      If you look at the comment counts, posts like this get a lot more response than any tech post. In fact, it seems that the more a post is purely about technology, the fewer responses it has. Although the purists come out with their predictable "what-is-this-doing-on-slashdot" comments every time a political topic comes up, there is obviously a lot of interest. Someone had a good suggestion... just create a "politics" tag, and those who aren't interested can filter it out. Win-win.

    8. Re:What does this have to do with Slashdot? by Dahamma · · Score: 2

      New owners? It has absolutely nothing to do with the new owners. Timothy posted this.

      And aberration? Again, Timothy posted this. As he posts stupid, irrelevant shit all the time.

      If anything, you should be hoping the new owners clean house a bit and can find some real editors...

    9. Re:What does this have to do with Slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      there is obviously a lot of interest

      Just as there is a lot of stirred up interest with most instances of effective trolling...there is in this case as well. That's kind of the point.

  36. Stop. by ArylAkamov · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Can we stop calling opposing political opinions "trolling" and "hate speech"?

    The word has lost all meaning at this point.

    Unless people actually think Trump is doing what he is doing for the lulz and purely to bother people.

    1. Re:Stop. by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Sort of like referring to people as "heroes" just because they died due to the actions of a bad person. If they weren't doing something arguably heroic at the time, their deaths are certainly tragic... but not heroic.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    2. Re:Stop. by ArylAkamov · · Score: 1

      That is a great example as well.

    3. Re:Stop. by tepples · · Score: 1

      Can we stop calling opposing political opinions "trolling" and "hate speech"?

      Then what's a better term for speech intended to intimidate a particular class of people?

    4. Re:Stop. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unless people actually think Trump is doing what he is doing for the lulz and purely to bother people.

      Well, I think that he does enjoy winding up the establishment media and Republican elites to a certain degree. That's what's so enjoyable to watch about his campaign. Every four years the US goes through this charade of democracy where candidates are expected to act like esteemed Statesmen, but everyone knows when the cameras and mics are off and no reporters are to be found, candidates remove their masks and are as vulgar and politically incorrect as Trump ever could be. Trump has just gone ahead and dispensed with the candidate-as-Statesman pretense and plays to his strength of personality as a plain talking, brutish, vulgar, sharp-witted deal maker and apparently a lot of Americans in both parties like him for it.

    5. Re:Stop. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He doesn't say thing to cause offence. He is just saying what many people agree with and want to hear, this happens to offend liberals.

    6. Re:Stop. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who has Trump intimidated besides Jeb Bush?

    7. Re:Stop. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You don't believe everything I believe? What are you? A racist?

    8. Re:Stop. by KiloByte · · Score: 1

      then what's a better term for speech intended to intimidate a particular class of people?

      So you agree that those SJW hatemongers should be banned?

      On the other hand, banning both sides does sound tempting...

      --
      The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
    9. Re:Stop. by jareth-0205 · · Score: 1

      Unless people actually think Trump is doing what he is doing for the lulz and purely to bother people.

      Err... *actually*...

    10. Re:Stop. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      An ideology. If you think there are any ideologies that don't do this think again.

    11. Re:Stop. by ScentCone · · Score: 1

      Then what's a better term for speech intended to intimidate a particular class of people?

      Doesn't that depend on why you're doing it? Let's say a class of people is ranting in the streets about wanting to imposer Sharia law in Lansing, Michigan. Is taking to social media to call for them to be shouted down intimidation, or a completely appropriate pushing-back against a group of people who themselves are trying to be intimidating? Is there ANYTHING wrong about counter-intimidating a group like ISIS and anyone and everyone who sympathizes with and supports them? In the wake of a 130 people being slaughtered in Paris by a "particular class of people," do you really think that saying we don't want more of the same (people coming in under false pretenses) is intimidation? He (Trump) called for a temporary suspension of refugee movement from that part of the world while we get the administration to show how they know that each of those people aren't another pair like the couple in San Bernadino.

      You know what's a good example of trolling? Pretending that none of those factors are part of the conversation while condemning the people who talk about it.

      --
      Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
    12. Re:Stop. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can we stop calling opposing political opinions "trolling" and "hate speech"?

      Then what's a better term for speech intended to intimidate a particular class of people?

      Nazi propaganda?

      Just trying to help :)

    13. Re: Stop. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He admits as much when he says "I'm not politically correct," which he so often says when he actually means "I should be allowed to be as hate filled and bigoted a d-bag as I want and everyone should worship me for it."

    14. Re:Stop. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Politics?

    15. Re:Stop. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Political Correctness", you fascist douche.

  37. Re:Because he's a legitimate presidential candidat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    How?
    What hate speech is he posting?
    Saying Yeb is low energy is hate speech now?

  38. Try Introspection, Lauren by Elias+Israel · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Calling Trump a fascist and demanding he not be permitted to speak is such delightful irony that I pray the writer did it on purpose. Or, they are missing the point of liberal, modern civilization so badly that they should go back to school. And, no, I don't approve of Donald Trump. He can go hump an a-bomb for all I care.

    1. Re:Try Introspection, Lauren by Elias+Israel · · Score: 2

      I should add that the "Lauren Weinstein" blogger is an established mega-troll who writes articles like this on purpose and with depressing frequency. The saddest thing is that this may be parody of mindsets that have long ago passed the threshold of parody themselves.

    2. Re: Try Introspection, Lauren by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please be nice to a-bombs.

    3. Re:Try Introspection, Lauren by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      thats what i suspected. this person cannot let her words gain traction naturally, but must somehow spam them, creating the illusion of power. sort of like trump creating the illusion that he is qualified to be president, by stating it repeatedly with no evidence provided.

  39. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    You think I want censorship? I'm a classic liberalist, so no I don't. I'm simply pointing out that most people who do want censorship are on the far left.

  40. If the market can be pried open... by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    Let them do what they want. Now, I'm not sure what made Twitter so popular to begin with. but there is no reason simple word of mouth can't help to find alternatives when user restrictions start popping up. It is the restricted monopolistic market which makes corporate censorship an issue. The real problem comes from the way internet access is so tightly controlled and makes competition so difficult. We have to demand a dumb pipe so that we can connect directly to each other. The entire system is way too fragile and brittle. It seems that way by design, so the authorities can shut it down with the drop of a single anchor. Ma Bell still rules...

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  41. Slashdot = utter garbage now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Articles" like this prove how far gone this website is.

    Oh, and I WILL be voting for Trump, if for no other reason that it upsets
    the faggots who run Slashdot now.

    1. Re:Slashdot = utter garbage now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So sick of this kind of whining here, If it's so bad why not fuck off somewhere other half wit right wing bigots go.

    2. Re:Slashdot = utter garbage now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So sick of this kind of whining here, If it's so bad why not fuck off somewhere other half wit right wing bigots go.

      Because I enjoy bothering pussies like you.

      Now get on your knees and like it, bitch.

    3. Re:Slashdot = utter garbage now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then it isn't complete garbage, unlike your earlier claim. Please stop posting complete cock just so you can get your whiney-ass rightwingSJW (because SJWing isn't only for the left, the right LOVE it too, they just call social justice something else, but the same "reasoning" is done as to why they're "right").

    4. Re: Slashdot = utter garbage now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Totally agree. I'm voting for Trump for no other reason than him winning would be fucking hilarious. My liberal friends would have an epic meltdown that I need to see.

  42. BizX by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

    BizX: first order of business is to kick garbage stories from Lauren to the curb. He is doing nothing but hurt this site. This is not Slashdot.

  43. Easy question by mseeger · · Score: 1

    "Why do you think Twitter hasn't enforced their own Terms of Service rules when it comes to Donald Trump?"

    Well: Trump equals attention, attention equals visitors, visitors equal ad impressions, ad impressions equal money.

    In case someone didn't notice:

    Attention (not regard or esteem) has become a de facto currency in the last years.

    How do you think people like Limbaugh, Beck or Trump can make a living? From honest work? Please don't make me laugh. They use their hate and bully-ness to create attention which they monetize.

    You find the mechanisms at work in Gamergate or Puppygate or whatever the attention whores come up with :-(.ï

  44. Shaky Start Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Under new ownership slashdot is off to a shaky start.

    Yesterday, there was a post about windmills that included an irrelevant reference to Trump and now a link to a blog about Trump's twitter feed. WTF.

  45. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hey SHITler head, Still upset that your side lost WW2?

  46. Nope by markdavis · · Score: 1

    >" Would you rather Twitter shut down no account ever, apply a sort of white-listing policy, or something in the middle?"

    Have never used Twitter, and probably never will, so I don't really care. But, free speech and all- nobody is forcing you to listen to anyone you don't want to.

  47. The definition of "offensive" is subjective by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What is offensive to a conservative is not offensive to a liberal, and vice versa. I'm sure you can come up with a plethora of examples.

  48. Hitler, 2016 by LifesABeach · · Score: 1

    Be careful for what you wish for.

    1. Re:Hitler, 2016 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      oy vey! opinions I don't like are literally hitler!

  49. comment from Poland by Jacek+Poplawski · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I live in Poland. I use Slashdot for a long time.
    I remember first Obama campaign and pathetic political propaganda on Digg. Not just bad, it was really pathetic.
    Looks like you will never learn, now there is a huge anti-Trump propaganda on Slashdot.
    Twitter should shut down his account? What about facebook? Google?
    Why this community is so brainwashed?

    1. Re:comment from Poland by pieisgood · · Score: 2

      The community is squarely against this kind of censorship of thought. The editors on the other hand have a different agenda.

      --
      Eat sleep die
    2. Re:comment from Poland by fnj · · Score: 1

      Why this community is so brainwashed?

      I don't think it is; no more than the general population. A certain proportion is brainwashed, on more than one side, and their foaming at the mouth baffles and troubles normal, thinking people.

    3. Re:comment from Poland by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because the vast, and I do mean VAST majority of my fellow Americans (which I am using inaccurately to mean "citizens of the United States of America") do not think for themselves, ever. They do not even WANT to think for themselves. Were you to visit this great nation, you would find yourself surrounded by people who are fundamentally stupid, ignorant, or more often both. Part of the issue is the overwhelming culture of ignorance that this country still embraces. Sure, we have produced a large number of great talents, and great thinkers, but the ratio is supremely skewed against that. At an estimate, we have something like 60% complete and utter morons, 30% reasonably intelligent and/or educated persons (not that these always coincide), 8% exceptionally well-rounded people (i.e. people as educated and intelligent as the majority of the populations of more-elightened countries such as Sweden, Denmark, etc.), and 2% or less who anyone could call truly exceptional. It's all about mindlessly absorbing mindless content and mindlessly accumulating more worthless junk. That's just the honest bottom-line. We can't learn, because the majority of us are simply too stupid and too uninformed to so do. But they are proud! Proud to be mindless, drooling, idiotic slaves to the one-percenters. Proud to be 'Mericans! (Personally, I hope Trump actually wins. It would be an unmitigated calamity. An utter disaster. A cluster-f*ck of epic proportion. (I envision the majority of foreign leaders being unwilling to work-with, or even meet Trump. That would be hilarious!) Maybe then, just maybe, we will start to wake-up and realize what's going on.)

    4. Re:comment from Poland by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why aren't you in Sweden doing the dirty work for the nazi party beating up brown people, just yesterday three polack nazis were arrested, zero swedes.

    5. Re:comment from Poland by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 1

      Your screed would be more interesting if you invested some word-count in proving that you're not one of those whom at whom you loose such venom.

    6. Re:comment from Poland by Kohath · · Score: 1

      Why this community is so brainwashed?

      Because thinking is harder than reacting and following the crowd. Also because if you don't repeat the party line, the left accuses you of "trolling" and being a racist tries to censor you.

      Poland has a long history of dealing with leftist totalitarian movements. That's what you see here.

    7. Re:comment from Poland by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Poland doesn't have the right to talk to ANYONE about fascism given the crap government you just elected bucko.

    8. Re:comment from Poland by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You live in poland and you dare speak about brainwashing?
      You must love PIS and their new policies. I bet next month they will introduce forced prayer in the news bulletins. (Modlimy si dzisiaj o dalsze sukcesy naszego presidenta.)
      If you want to see a brainwashed community, just go outside my friend. :)
      There really is a lot in common between kaczynski's posse and trump.
      Both control media and both try to appeal to the lowest common denominator by lighting the fire of unbased fear and hate (= control).
      Poland is working itself into a big crisis, and so will the US if trump is chosen for president.

    9. Re:comment from Poland by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      now there is a huge anti-Trump propaganda on Slashdot.
      Twitter should shut down his account?

      Lauren's point is that Twitter has been shutting down too many accounts for too silly reasons, and if we could not see that before then the visceral reaction to shutting down Trump's account should school us.

      Unfortunately it's backfiring because there doesn't seem to be a visceral reaction to shutting down a presidential candidate's account during an election on a site that's tried to take credit for "the Arab Spring." so, you're right. This community is brainwashed, excessively credulous, bickering, apologist. But ftr Lauren was trolling, not asking for fairness-through-pessimization.

    10. Re:comment from Poland by wyHunter · · Score: 1

      Mostly because the American technical community is extremely left-leaning, while participating in the most libertarian industry the nation has seen in a century. If they had to live under the ideals they espoused they would change their minds rather quickly.

  50. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Fuck building a wall. Just put high powered lasers that will incinerate anything that crosses the line. As for illegals already in the country, we should send SWAT teams to raid to their homes.

    Also, we should require valid legal resident documentation in order to rent a home.

  51. Re:FTFY, ya dumbshit editors! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    propriety [noun]: conformity to conventionally accepted standards of behaviour or morals

    If you're going to try and correct someone it helps to be correct yourself.

  52. Because the headline is bullshit by mysidia · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Twitter gets to decide how they like to enforce their policies, and shutting down honest discussion and posting of truth on a political or social issue by someone, candidate or not, would be shameful, and drive people away from Twitter.

    Nobody has shown proof of a Twitter ToS violation by Trump on Twitter.

    The guy's team posted some Tweets which became controversial; However, all the tweats claimed to be "Racist" appear to not be racist, unless you have a colored interpretation driven by a politically biased agenda against Trump.

    Anti-trump bloggers describing Trump's postings as ToS violations are "Seeing what they want to see".

    1. Re:Because the headline is bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is just the SJWs of the world making a grab against free speech.

      Unfortunately, even if they get it they couldn't agree how to abuse such a tool and eventually they will begin fighting amongst themselves.

      Hopefully, with the acquisition this kind of SJW crap will go away. It's not really news and it's not for nerds.

    2. Re:Because the headline is bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The guy's team posted some Tweets which became controversial; However, all the tweats claimed to be "Racist" appear to not be racist, unless you have a colored interpretation driven by a politically biased agenda against Trump.

      The proper term is African-opinon.

    3. Re:Because the headline is bullshit by jeffb+(2.718) · · Score: 1

      The guy's team posted some Tweets which became controversial; However, all the tweats claimed to be "Racist" appear to not be racist, unless you have a colored interpretation driven by a politically biased agenda against Trump.

      We see what you did there.

  53. Why censor anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Really? We should censor Trump? I've seen a lot worse on Twitter then what Trump has posted. Sometimes I think the lefties don't like it people have opinions and views besides theirs. Throw it out there and see what sticks. I think censorship happens naturally if most do not agree then it voluntarily goes away. This countries getting full of self proclaimed absolutely correct individuals. Isn't Twitter all about freedom to speak your mind?

  54. Insane levels of Political correctness detected. by goombah99 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How dit this idiocy reach the front page of slashdot. Is this the new management at work?

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
  55. Re:Because he's a legitimate presidential candidat by stdarg · · Score: 1

    They have a "no hate speech" clause? They must not enforce at all, or have a very biased idea of what hate speech is.

  56. Censorship of thoughts vs harassment by voss · · Score: 1

    If Trump were harassing another twitter user or advocating harassing them then yes his account would get banned.

    Merely expressing offensive thoughts directed at noone in particular does not get you banned.

    No im not s trump fan...at all

  57. Re:The wall will be built by allcoolnameswheretak · · Score: 1

    If the US votes Trump, the US deserves Trump. Everything works out either way.

  58. Re:The wall will be built by MightyMartian · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Because a guy who is going out of his way to show his complete contempt for everything from the Bill of Rights to basic human decency will just make things so keen.

    What do you suppose would happen if someone like Trump were elected President? Do you think the Supreme Court and Congress would just take a holiday and let him play out his Fascist dictator fantasies? His time in the White House would be horrible for everyone involved. Congress would spend most of its time dispensing with his vetoes, defunding any department he tried to turn to whatever idiotic or evil plan (if you can call what he does "planning") he had in mind. The Oval Office would resemble Nixon on steroids, as it would be the first time in over forty years that a POTUS had almost no friends on the Hill. About the only place there would be activity would be the Federal Courts and SCOTUS as Congress and everyone else that Trump screws takes his Administration to court, likely ending in impeachment for any of a dozen flagrant, even proud high crimes and misdemeanors.

    --
    The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  59. Censorship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Clearly OP has no problem censoring people he doesn't agree with. Stick your fingers in your ears and say lalalala I can't hear you.

  60. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hey kike, wanna take the showers?

  61. Because... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...Twitter wants to commit suicide only so quickly.

  62. He's been trying for months now by rsilvergun · · Score: 5, Insightful

    to do just that. Every time he says something nutso his poll numbers go up. Thing is, white working class America knows something is wrong, but they don't know what to do about it. They don't believe in the income inequality fairy, but they do know that they're losing ground. Their kids aren't going to college, or if they are they leave a public university with $60k in debt. They haven't seen a raise in years that wasn't immediately eaten up by price increases.

    What they want and need is the Nordic Model. But they haven't got a chance. Most of these guys spend 2 hours a day commuting to their shitty jobs listening to Rush. They spent their childhood being told that if you work hard and play by the rules and don't get ahead it's your fault. Heck, when the millennials started complaining about the 60 hour work weeks with no benefits or job security or even food security they scoffed at them. They don't want help. They were told they could make it on their own. The keep getting told this by billionaires and their media outlets. I've tried reasoning with them but it's no go. They've got an answer for every point I make spoon fed to them by those same billionaires.

    But they still know something's wrong. Trumps the only man they got.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re:He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Because it's not the billionaires I feel threatened by, it's people like Hillary who only see their political position and nothing more. She's the one that shuts out people like Lessig from participating in government. Between her, or any other politician, and Trump, Trump is the lesser evil. He's a bumbling buffoon versus someone who deals regularly in shady government practices.

    2. Re:He's been trying for months now by jez9999 · · Score: 1, Insightful

      What they want and need is the Nordic Model.

      Is that the one where you import millions of Muslims and destroy your society?

    3. Re:He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's the one where you turn your country into an oil exporter. Everything's awesome when you're selling what's under your land for 40% of your GDP.

    4. Re:He's been trying for months now by fnj · · Score: 1

      What they want and need is the Nordic Model.

      Is that the one where you import millions of Muslims and destroy your society?

      Yeah, pretty much the model of all the western democracies. The suicide model. They are all going down the toilet, every one of them, led by the US, Britain, France, and Germany.

    5. Re:He's been trying for months now by DerekLyons · · Score: 1

      What they want and need is the Nordic Model.

      Which only exists because the Nordic countries have small populations and significant revenue from North Sea Oil.
       

      They've got an answer for every point I make spoon fed to them by those same billionaires.

      Frankly, you're not much better, between repeating what you've been spoonfed and your "holier than thou and smarter than them" attitude. No [censored] wonder they won't listen to you.

    6. Re:He's been trying for months now by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      The reality is that, during the Obama Administration, income inequality has skyrocketed. That follows 8 years of income inequality falling, during the Bush years. Yes, the actual data is different than the oft-quoted meme - and the average working class person experiences that. Things aren't rosy as Obama claims. Income inequality didn't skyrocket during the Bush Administration. The media reported otherwise - and Joe Average knows otherwise. So they immediately discount anything said by the media, and will flock to someone who runs as the antithesis of the establishment and media favorite - Trump.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    7. Re:He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't see you providing any solutions, just telling other people that they're wrong.

      Unless you can bring something constructive to the table you are worthless.

    8. Re:He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, the Nordic model does not advocate importing millions of Muslims that destroys society. It is perfectly possible to implement for example single-payer healthcare or tuition-free colleges without importing millions of Muslims.

    9. Re:He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm right-wing, so I'll try to give you something to think about.

      There are various factions to the "right-wing" (just as there are to the "left"). Trump's supporters are both right- and (to a degree) left-wing populists. They are perfectly okay with government intervention in the economy within reason.

      They are not okay with some social experiments such as bilingualism and mass immigration.

      The leaderships of both the Republican and Democratic parties both want amnesty despite the negative effects it causes and that most people opposite it (80% Repubs oppose, 66% independents oppose, 50% Dems oppose). What on God's green earth do they think they're doing giving in to the amnesty lobby? It's clear corporations want cheap labor while the politicians want votes. (Anyone around here opposing H1B visas but supporting illegal immigration are kidding themselves.)

      So the thinking goes: tighten up the labor market. Eliminate or reduce visa workers. Reduce illegal immigration. (Personally, I don't think building a wall does that. Arresting and fining their employers should take care of the problem.)

      In return, we give the left-wing populists stuff they want. Higher minimum wage (reducing the pool of employees should help in this regard). More worker protections. Regulating ISPs and healthcare providers. Limit corporate ownership of land/housing/whatever (one company owning a resource has usually been a disaster).

      The truth is, a left-wing Democrat could easily do the same thing as Trump. Just say he'll restrict immigration and end visa workers and a flood of people would support him.

      The structures of both parties makes it quite difficult for a populist/reformist politician to rise up the ranks. They need too much outside funding to run a campaign. It took a pair of outsiders to rattle everything up.

    10. Re:He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Er. The Nordic model from the 80-90ties...

    11. Re:He's been trying for months now by jez9999 · · Score: 2, Informative

      I do single out Islam as uniquely bad. No, you can't just replace "Muslims" with "Catholics". Catholics have a core text that can at least be invoked to "love your fellow man", "turn the other cheek", and "render to Caesar that which is Caesar's". Nor is it meant to be the perfect word of God so it can be heavily cherrypicked.

      That doesn't apply to Islam.

    12. Re:He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Racist much?

    13. Re:He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As opposed to the progressive model where all power is given to the governments and we be made wards of the state while nations are turned into giant, lifelong daycare centers? Because that's what the Bernmeister loons want - Most of those guys spend 18 hours a day on the internet whining that they don't have shitty jobs and demanding the government give them one while watching Jon Stewart and MSNBC and clapping themselves on the back for how gosh darn smart they are. They spent their childhood being told that they were special snowflakes and if they all just join hands and save the planet then they'll be rewarded with true happiness.

      They keep getting told this by the same political leaders like Bernie and Hillary and spoon fed that they're smarter and more loving and kind if they only hate the right people (like Lauren here)

      But they know something's wrong. Bernie's the only man they got but the sure would like a Venezuelan model.

    14. Re:He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What they want and need is the Nordic Model.

      Is that the one where you import millions of Muslims and destroy your society?

      The Nordic Model
      1. Import billions of Muslims
      2. Hard working grateful people create economic miracle
      3. Profit
      The American model
      1. Import billions of Mexicans
      2. ?
      3. Billionaires run the country
      The Nordic Socialist Model
      1. Progressive taxation
      2. Distribute wealth
      3. Everyone is better off

    15. Re:He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There are 11 million illegal immigrants in the US. The alternative to amnesty is what, exactly? Massive detention camps? A "Final Solution"? Restricting immigration/visa workers is one issue, dealing with the current immigrants is a separate one. Please at least address the issue behind amnesty before decrying it.

      I'm sure that most people oppose amnesty because they have no idea how many illegals are here or how expensive and invasive it would be to try to do something about it. If you're going to say we should kick people out you should be aware of the cost and increased police powers that would be required.

    16. Re: He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Norwegian here. Only Norway is an oil producer. The other nordic countries do not have oil. They seem to do fine without it.

    17. Re:He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Nor is it meant to be the perfect word of God so it can be heavily cherrypicked."

      And therein lies the flaw in your logic. Yes, the New Testament is objectively less susceptible to being abused to promote violence. But the Old Testament is just as violent as Muhammed's teachings. And many Christians lean heavily on Old Testament theology to guide their social and political preferences.

      Is the Koran more violent? Yes. Does it then follow that Islam is an inherently more violent religion, in terms of violence against non-believers? Hardly.

      The text doesn't even matter. The Spanish and other European missionaries directly slaughtered tens of thousands (indirectly hundreds of thousands, maybe millions) in bringing Jesus to the world. Theoretically, at least, it was better to kill somebody who refused to convert because you increased their chances of redemption. In the context of Catholic/Orthodox theology, somebody who lived 50 years actively rejecting Christ is theoretically less likely to be saved by grace than a 15 or 20 year old, who is less morally culpable because of their immaturity. Better to slaughter them and let God sort them out, before they dig themselves deeper into moral debt.

      Many people would argue that Buddhism is inherently less violent than both Islam and Christianity. And yet Buddhist civilizations have waged war plenty of times. There have literally been armies of Buddhist monks who have slaughtered people.

      It's in the nature of religious belief that faith can be easily manipulated. The text doesn't matter. It's the socio-political context. The text may correlate, directly or indirectly, but it's not even remotely causative. Never underestimate the power or the dynamism of culture.

      [1] To others: don't bother trying to argue this point. It's more violent because Mohammed was a conqueror, and his conquests and concomitant socio-political context are intrinsically bound into the text. It's worth pointing out that in Sunni Islamic theology, the Koran is something equivalent to the Holy Spirit--the text of the Koran is coeternal with God, not "inspired" and filtered through fallible humans. In almost all Christian traditions, even Evangelical, the biblical text is to some extent tainted by being filtered through fallible, sinful humans. That and similar concepts are nowhere to be found in orthodox Islam, at least not since the 12th century. Trying to excuse the violence using Western, Christian interpretative devices is culturally naive at best, and perhaps a little racist. Those Hellenistic devices were _expressly_ rejected by Islam--both its scholars and lay people--a long time ago.

      There's violent imagery in Jesus' sayings, but that's equivocating.

    18. Re:He's been trying for months now by PapayaSF · · Score: 1

      The problems with adopting the "Nordic model":

      1. It's based on a fuzzy and overly-rosy view of what Scandinavia is like.

      2. It assumes the USA is a small, homogeneous country filled with Nordics.

      --
      Q: What does the "B." in Benoit B. Mandelbrot stand for? A: Benoit B. Mandelbrot
    19. Re:He's been trying for months now by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      What they want and need is the Nordic Model.

      You may like the government-imposed social conformity, the lack of choice, and the lily-white nature of the Nordic Countries, but when it comes down to cold, hard finances, the Nordic Countries aren't doing all that well for their citizens: http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex... Take it from someone who immigrated from there: you don't want the Nordic Model, and much of what you believe about the Nordic Model is about as mythical as Shangri-La.

      Most of these guys spend 2 hours a day commuting to their shitty jobs listening to Rush. They spent their childhood being told that if you work hard and play by the rules and don't get ahead it's your fault.

      And guys like you spend 2 hours a day commuting to your white collar jobs, working for bosses and corporations you secretly hate, listening to NPR and reading HuffPo, and lacking the skills to make it on your own. And then you project your own ignorance and insecurity onto people who you deem inferior. It's no wonder that socialism originated with, and has been most ardently pursued, not by workers, but by educated, underperforming scions of middle class families.

      I've tried reasoning with them but it's no go.

      Yeah, I have tried reasoning with ignorant people like you as well, but it's no go.

    20. Re:He's been trying for months now by ganjadude · · Score: 1

      we could start locking up people who employee illegals, they would go home REAL quick without any work

      --
      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    21. Re:He's been trying for months now by ooloorie · · Score: 1, Troll

      Catholics have a core text that can at least be invoked to "love your fellow man", "turn the other cheek", and "render to Caesar that which is Caesar's".

      Catholicism has an even more ruthless and bloody history than Islam. And the Calvinists were pretty much like the Taliban.

      That's no accident either: all of these religions pray to the same God, and that God is a mass murderer and psychopath, as documented in the OT. Like many mass murderers and psychopaths, God has his occasionally charming side, but that doesn't excuse His crimes.

    22. Re:He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's violent imagery in Jesus' sayings, but that's equivocating.

      There's really not, which is why the most repulsive of the Christians ignore it all and fixate on the old testament.

      Many people would argue that Buddhism is inherently less violent than both Islam and Christianity. And yet Buddhist civilizations have waged war plenty of times. There have literally been armies of Buddhist monks who have slaughtered people.

      The Buddha specifically told people that worshipping him was stupid because he wasn't a god but an example... and yet most Buddhists worship him and pray to him.

      The take away message is that people are shitty and don't need a reason to be violent (but they'll take any old excuse that they can find and Islam does provide more of them than most religions).

    23. Re:He's been trying for months now by thinkwaitfast · · Score: 1

      I vote for the Venezuela model.

    24. Re:He's been trying for months now by thinkwaitfast · · Score: 1

      They tried that in Arizona, but was declared unconstitutional (to no fanfare unlike the other AZ law).

    25. Re:He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But God says he's infinitely merciful! As he beats burns you to death in fires or drowns you in floods or kills all of your first borns (because even though we're all God's children, apparently the Egyptian children aren't really God's children). Yea, for all the talk of God being some sort of benevolent, merciful father figure or whatever, the "psychopath" part really sticks. And the "mass murderer"? The story of Job sells the point home: we're his play toys and we have no right to complain if God is a dick to us for no reason because "reasons".

      That Jesus would then come down and die for our sins, that he/his father defined as sins...is priceless. Right up there with writing a book that says everyone is going to suffer horrible pain and then being burnt alive with the book as our savior. Not to say crucifixion wasn't horrible (presume Jesus ever was a real person and generally ignoring that Jesus' long history of figurative speech and the Jewish tendency to see God as a father figure leaves"my father in heaven" really not sounding at all how Christians take it).

      *sigh* Regardless, as others have posted, it rarely is religion per se that's the cause. It might give plenty of potentially fertile ground, but it's the people who come up with shit to really create the horribly nasty weeds. Same with all sorts of all-encompassing ideologies: capitalism, communism, atheism, etc. The root of it all is people who would gladly butcher others and claim it for a greater good under some guise of magical thinking. *sigh again*

    26. Re:He's been trying for months now by Oligonicella · · Score: 1

      How do the two religions stack up for say the last century, not the last millennia?

      Some people evolve, some don't.

    27. Re:He's been trying for months now by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Catholics have a core text that can at least be invoked to "love your fellow man", "turn the other cheek", and "render to Caesar that which is Caesar's". Nor is it meant to be the perfect word of God so it can be heavily cherrypicked.
      That doesn't apply to Islam.

      Actually, the Catholics have spent most of their history telling their subjects not to try to understand the bible; if you have a question about it, you're supposed to ask your priest, who will explain to you exactly how you're supposed to think and feel about it.

      Also, proponents of Islam can point to positive statements in the Quran all day, and opponents of Catholicism can point to negative ones in the Bible just as readily. The fact that you can find good and bad in most religions just proves how worthless they really are. You can prove any point you like with their contradictory texts.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    28. Re: He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, but you are for suggesting "Islam" is a race, you ignorant motherfucker.

    29. Re:He's been trying for months now by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      Not very well; both the Catholic and the protestant churches were deeply involved in the Nazi regime. Also, Christianity had a 600 year head start. Furthermore, what pacified Christianity was the growing wealth and power of the West.

    30. Re: He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Which is why America is the most rich and productive country in the world, right faggot?

      Keep taking our charity dollars though.

    31. Re:He's been trying for months now by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      to do just that. Every time he says something nutso his poll numbers go up. Thing is, white working class America knows something is wrong, but they don't know what to do about it. They don't believe in the income inequality fairy, but they do know that they're losing ground. Their kids aren't going to college, or if they are they leave a public university with $60k in debt. They haven't seen a raise in years that wasn't immediately eaten up by price increases.

      What they want and need is the Nordic Model. But they haven't got a chance. Most of these guys spend 2 hours a day commuting to their shitty jobs listening to Rush. They spent their childhood being told that if you work hard and play by the rules and don't get ahead it's your fault. Heck, when the millennials started complaining about the 60 hour work weeks with no benefits or job security or even food security they scoffed at them. They don't want help. They were told they could make it on their own. The keep getting told this by billionaires and their media outlets. I've tried reasoning with them but it's no go. They've got an answer for every point I make spoon fed to them by those same billionaires.

      That's because they believe in something that's really distorted.

      The core believe is that the big evil in the world is freeloaders. They believe if they stop supporting freeloaders, they'll go away. And by freeloaders, I mean everyone who relies on the state in some fashion - welfare, food stamps, healthcare, etc. etc. etc. The belief that you're working hard, while these people aren't, and these people are simply taking your hard earned tax dollars away.

      It seems entirely reasonable, however, the real truth to the story is, the only people who actually benefit are the rich. The masses who believe in this are actually the ones who get screwed the worse by it.

      First off, kicking freeloaders off the teat doesn't magically make them productive .It just makes them poorer.

      Second, those people are still going to be around. Except instead of participating in the economy in some fashion, they're not.

      Third, these "freeloaders" still need basics. Food, water, shelter, access to medical services.

      Fourth, if they're freeloaders, as you say, they're not magically going to get a job. Or if they have a job, they're not magically going to get better jobs to satisfy those needs.

      Conclusion - well, we all pay for it. These people will basically end up living on the streets, stealing and committing crimes for those needs, get tossed in jail, and visit the ER for health care. They're not going away, and their needs are going to be met, somehow.

      So now everyone, instead of paying for a social security net, healthcare, etc., pay for it in increased judicial costs (policing, courts, jails, etc), health care costs (ER is the most expensive healthcare around, and it has to be offered to everyone), civil order (homeless people, dirty streets, trash all over, etc). And oh yeah, all those stores that got robbed need to raise prices to compensate for the losses after a certain point, so everyone pays in the form of increased prices.

      Of course, the rich, who advocate for it don't bother with any of this, because it really affects the hoi polloi - they don't shop at those dingy stores with all the homeless, they can hire their own doctors and other things. So the whole "stop the freeloading" theme is good for them because they don't pay for the stuff that keeps society civil. They have their own policing force, too, so no matter if you cut the police budget. And who cares if the 7-11 had to raise prices 10% because of the increase in crime because they don't have to shop there.

      It looks all good on paper - get rid of people who are lazy and set them free. The problem is, the lazy aren't likely to change and we'll still have to pay for it, one way or another.

      The issue is the people aren't likely to think holistic - they take things in simpl

    32. Re:He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "What they want and need is the Nordic Model."

      Yes, let's fund massive public expenditures with oil money! Oh, oil prices collapsed? Well, I guess we'll all just kill ourselves!

      Excellent plan.

    33. Re: He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      *sigh* only 1 Nordic country has oil revenue (Norway) . The rest don't, but have broadly similar leanings in terms of social policy, and have universal free or low cost health care , education, etc

    34. Re:He's been trying for months now by speederaser · · Score: 1

      The reality is that, during the Obama Administration, income inequality has skyrocketed. That follows 8 years of income inequality falling, during the Bush years.

      The link you posted is for the entire world. It's not reasonable to blame Obama for the entire world's economy. You should have posted this link for the U.S, which actually shows that you're not wrong, but not for any reason that makes Bush look good.

      For the first 6 years inequality under Bush skyrocketed. In 2007 - 2009 the economy took the biggest dump since the Great Depression, and many rich people lost their shirts and their income. The Great Recession more than erased all the "gains" in inequality Bush made in the previous 6 years.

      So the only reason Bush shows a slight loss of inequality is that his policies nearly caused a new Depression. That's not something to brag about.

    35. Re:He's been trying for months now by acrimonious+howard · · Score: 1

      Trump is the lesser evil. He's a bumbling buffoon versus someone who deals regularly in shady government practices.

      I disagree with both statements. Trump is a proven master of media, government manipulation (subsidies, bankruptcies), and proving to be a master politician. He routinely tells flat out lies and never has to retract them. He could murder someone and his supporters would continue their support.
      Meanwhile, which politician out there doesn't deal with shady government practices?

      I do have to applaud the idea of supporting the lesser of the evils though. That's rational. I'd just value honesty more. The only thing Trump has going for him, imho, is he's been successful at making money. However, honest investors can actually be even more successful: https://www.washingtonpost.com...

      I'd like to see links about how Hillary shut out Lessig. The idea doesn't surprise me (a Lessig supporter) at all, and I'd think that most politicians would do the same to their opponents if they could, but I'm open to hearing more about it.

    36. Re:He's been trying for months now by riverat1 · · Score: 1

      we could start locking up people who employee illegals, they would go home REAL quick without any work

      This I agree with. For too long with a few exceptions the federal government has looked the other way while people hired undocumented aliens. Get active levying severe penalties for hiring them and see how long the problem lasts.

    37. Re:He's been trying for months now by dywolf · · Score: 1

      I do single out Islam as uniquely bad.

      And that's why you're a bigot.

      No, you can't just replace "Muslims" with "Catholics".

      Sure you can. Or any other group.

      Catholics have a core text that can at least be invoked to "love your fellow man", "turn the other cheek", and "render to Caesar that which is Caesar's".

      So do Muslims.

      Nor is it meant to be the perfect word of God

      You haven't talked to very many Catholics or Christians have you?

      so it can be heavily cherrypicked.

      Which is precisely what happens, and is precisely what you're doing when you say:

      That doesn't apply to Islam.

      Yes it does.
      the Koran is extremely similar to the Bible, having many verses of violence and oppression, and many extoling the virtues of mercy and love.
      Like any religious text you can mine it for any quote or lesson you want.

      You've simply let your ignorance and bigotry have get in the way of your ability to see that.

      --
      The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
    38. Re:He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      reality still misses you.

    39. Re:He's been trying for months now by Racerdude · · Score: 1

      I'll give you the European standpoint on this: Yes, there is a lesser of two evils here. It's the one who doesn't start a third world war. Hillary will play her political games and get things done the way american politicians have always done. Trump, however, is likely to start a third world war with buffoonery about "carpet bombing" countries and racist remarks about groups of millions of people.

    40. Re:He's been trying for months now by martas · · Score: 1

      The reality is that, during the Obama Administration, income inequality has skyrocketed [oxfam.org]. That follows 8 years of income inequality falling, during the Bush years.

      That's global, not US.

    41. Re: He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's worse than that. In Sweden we have many social programmes that they don't have in Norway. School lunch is free in Sweden, and you have to bring it or pay for it in Norway, to name one.

    42. Re:He's been trying for months now by wyHunter · · Score: 1

      Yes, but the American left seems just to be filled with elitist hypocrites. I'm not talking about some genuine individuals who are left-leaning, but even a lot of them seem to be elitists to the marrow of their bones. But the establishment of the Democrats is, if anything, even MORE elitist than those of the Republican establishment. I suppose if you're morally and intellectually bankrupt you've got to create artificial divides between people?

    43. Re:He's been trying for months now by wyHunter · · Score: 1

      Well, you're getting your wish!

    44. Re:He's been trying for months now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Catholics may not consider the Christian Holy Bible to be the perfect word of God. They also place quite a bit of weight on other sources, such as traditions and other decisions made by the pope. In fact, at least historically, such things have even been known to be treated with higher authority than the bible.

      However, many other Christians do consider that core text to be "the perfect word of God".

  63. Re:The wall will be built by Noah+Haders · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Congress would spend most of its time dispensing with his vetoes, defunding any department he tried to turn to whatever idiotic or evil plan (if you can call what he does "planning") he had in mind.

    why woudl you think this? repubs own both halves of congress, and while I don't think they'll go in for his most radical stuff, they're not going to outwardly challenge or overrule him.

  64. Why... by ooloorie · · Score: 1

    Why Does Twitter Refuse To Shut Down [Donald Trump] itself?

    FTFY

    Twitter's heavy handed censorship has already made them little more than a political echo chamber with a few trolls and self-promoting celebrities thrown in. They are in a death spiral.

  65. Wrong place to post this Lauren by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    People here actually care about free speech. I would hope Twitter do too. I will not like or support a company that doesn't. (yes they have the legal right as a private company to censor whatever they wait - but then I have the legal right to tell them to fuck off)

  66. Politics, Not Tech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    This is the kind of story that belongs elsewhere. Hey, new owners, let's keep /. tech focused.

  67. It brings in users by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trump says dumb shit, people respond to it, somewhere along the line it brings in more users.

    Twitter doesn't have to do shit, it's a private entity.

  68. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The only president who was successfully impeached in recent times was Bill Clinton, and even then they didn't decide to send him to jail. Heck they can't even decide to prosecute Hillary Clinton for her crimes. No, I don't think they will do any impeaching of President Trump, he will dominate the hill and get them to submit to the will of the people who have elected him into office. He is the first candidate in a long time that has support across all parties, unlimited free media coverage courtesy of the news media, and that is why he is destined to win.

  69. This is what passes for news? by wyattstorch516 · · Score: 1

    A blog post from a left wing troll?

    1. Re:This is what passes for news? by gfxguy · · Score: 1

      A blog post from a left wing troll?

      Without a single, actual example of why Trump's account should be banned.

      --
      Stupid sexy Flanders.
  70. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hey SHITlerhead, wanna get back to your bunker and play adolf and eva's lead and cyanide marriage?

  71. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You mean convict. Presidents removed from office via impeachment are not sent to jail.

  72. What is this doing on /. ?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Slashdot hits another low point. The author should be banned from this site for life. News for nerds is joke. This site was about ones and zeroes. The only Zero I see in a story of this nature is the "Author" and anybody that has similar thoughts. Political bullshit belongs somewhere, just not here. "FUCK ME".

  73. Why doesn't twitter shut down George Lopez by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    He spout just as much vitriolic as Donald Trump if not a lot more. However he is brown skinned and therefore not subject to the laws and mores of traditional USAian cracker society. These are the breaks All are equal, unless you are a disadvantaged minority. In that case you are more equal. Crackers do not have the right to enforce their hegemony over non crackers. However Latinos are perfectly within their rights to only hire other Latinos because we all know that crackers and Niggers are just not hardy enough to do things such as laying brick. They are also perfectly within their rights to call cracker lazy, and impotent on twitter and social media because we all know it is OK to crack on crackers. Hell. I guess he is right. If it were not for the fact that Crackers and Niggers are in fact lazy stupid fucks, all the crakers and niggers would rise up and kick the brown skinned invaders out of the country.

    I know for a fact that Mexicans would never allow Crackers to invade their country and do the things that Latinos are doing in the USA.

    The strong shall supplant the weak. Crackers and Niggers are weak. Survival of the fittest.

    All is as it should be. The amazing thing is that Liberals are supporting the foreign invaders. Guess what. A proud Mexican is the furthest thing from an East Coast effete liberal as you will ever get. They do not respect you and they sure as hell do not like you.

  74. Is this bait. Yes it is. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Twitter censors free speech to the point that you could call their mods fascists. Trump isn't even a racist but 'white shamming' has become political industry for the Left in America. It's sad to see liberals spamming the hate propaganda to the point that they actually regard free speech as criminal. It's a strange world when Republicans promote freedom and equality but get treated like actual terrorists on Slashdot. I guess it time to find another tech forum dedicated to technology rather than propagating SJW hate rants. I don't even care anymore. Republicans and Democrats are both lying cancer.

  75. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm just gonna say that what Trump says is very borderline. The kind of stuff the reporting functions are for is for the targeted hate/abuse. Like he's not directly harassing Rosie O'Donnel or Megyn Kelly over twitter, just indirectly. It doesn't make it right either, but he's not screaming for the rape or murder of them.

  76. I'm detecting high concentrations of naivete... by mujadaddy · · Score: 2
    FTFA:

    Twitter is certainly obligated to apply the rules that they do have in an evenhanded manner.

    "Obligated?" Is this the very first case of self-interested hypocrisy you've ever encountered?

    In grown-up land, individuals (and corporate individuals, naturally) don't have to enforce their rules. Governments can be sued to act, but individuals don't have such an affirmative obligation; suits are filed the other way; that is, if Trump felt he was being censored unfairly, he might have a course of action, but YOU do not have such a remedy when YOU want a term-of-service applied to someone else.

    --
    Populus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur...
    "Force shits upon Reason's back." - Poor Richard's Almanac
  77. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Why so much hate toward Hitler, Shlomo? Hitler did nothing wrong. God bless his soul - he was one Great Man to stand up against the evil and speak the truth. A true martyr.

  78. Perhaps because he hasn't violated the TOS? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    While not claiming to be a compendium of Trumpisms every hysterical condemnation of Trump that I'm aware of has proceeded from slicing and dicing what he said, extracting (or manufacturing) the subset of the comment that can be squeezed into the narrative, then spinning it like crazy. It must be driving those opposed to Trump a little crazy that the technique is no longer working. Oh, for the Good 'Ol Days of Dan Quayle!

  79. Examples? by Stonent1 · · Score: 2

    Can you give an example of this "hate speech"? There is a difference between "hate speech" and "I don't like what I just heard" or "he just made (me / group xyz) take a hard look at themselves"

  80. I see. by gfxguy · · Score: 2

    She writes a vague blog post that doesn't give a single actual example of a tweet that someone should be banned for, and it makes a slashdot headline... should we thank the new owners? How about this: most of that kind of content is subjective, which means twitter can do whatever it wants. For the record, I like neither twitter nor Trump, but this kind of whining, no matter which side it comes from, is very unbecoming.

    --
    Stupid sexy Flanders.
    1. Re:I see. by Dahamma · · Score: 1

      She writes a vague blog post

      He. Lauren is a man.

      Besides that, though, I agree that most of the post is bullshit. First: slashdot, come on? Posting an article that is pure opinion and the only supporting links *are* from the submitter's blog? Give me a break.

      Second: here's a gem from the blog: "You retweet someone else's tweet, you own that content just as if it was your tweet originally."

      Oh, REALLY? That's awesome, I didn't know it was so easy to take over someone else's copyright! I think about a million comedians on Twitter are going to disagree with this absurd and totally incorrect statement...

      And I loathe both Twitter and Trump. Twitter is a cesspool of narcissistic a-holes, and Trump is therefore their poster child. But of his racist and despicable posts, I haven't seen anything he has said that qualifies as harassment or actual "hate speech". Just good old fashioned bigotry...

    2. Re:I see. by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      She writes a vague blog post

      Look at his profile pic, it's in the article.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
  81. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    When you mentioned building a wall and frying with lazers anyone who crosses it, I initially thought it was a good idea.... Then I realized you weren't talking about the wall being around Washington DC....

  82. Re:The wall will be built by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 0

    RIGHT! Like the Teagaggers will tolerate his All for me once he's in office.

  83. Re:The wall will be built by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

    Wrong. A SUCCESSFUL impeachment requires 2/3 of the Senate to vote for conviction. They didn't even get a simple majority.

  84. Re: The wall will be built by Type44Q · · Score: 1

    Dollars to donuts the same shithead is conducting both sides of this...

  85. Re:The wall will be built by um...+Lucas · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The "establishment" (who make up the majority of both Houses) Republicans are not exactly in his corner. I doubt they'll play along with anything that they think would be detrimental to their party, and especially their own jobs when mid-term elections come around.

  86. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Examples?

  87. Ignoring Trump's trolling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't think they are ignoring it at all, they are Allowing in hope that people will see (and read) what is posted there. And Hopefully realize how foolish he really is.

  88. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why so much love toward SHITler? You proud that your fellow filth declared War on the US on December 11, 1941 and surrendered, unconditionally on May 7, 1945?

    Here's a newsreel to help you relive your day of unconditional surrender.

    Beaten Nazis Sign Historic Surrender
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcaM_nVaShk

  89. Re:The wall will be built by uncqual · · Score: 4, Informative

    No, he was impeached by the House. He was then acquitted rather than convicted by the Senate.

    The impeachment was completely successful, else the Senate would never have weighed in.

    --
    Why is there an "insightful" mod and why isn't it "-1"? If I wanted insight, I wouldn't be reading /.
  90. Re:The short version...why should they silence Tru by ChrisMaple · · Score: 1

    FWIW Trump supporters tend to be people of moderate to low education who see severe problems, and who see a successful person boldly claiming he can fix those problems. They don't see the arrogant, dishonest, inconsistent narcissist who's perfectly happy to violate your rights.

    Careful thinkers both left and right oppose Trump.

    --
    Contribute to civilization: ari.aynrand.org/donate
  91. Re:The wall will be built by MightyMartian · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Trump draws the dots and lets his supporters connect them.

    --
    The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  92. Same reason slashdot won't shut this thread down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why is this political polemic bull shit even here? So you don't like Trump. BFD.

  93. The real question should be by reboot246 · · Score: 2

    Why does Lauren Weinstein want to shut down what is clearly political speech? You may find it hateful, vulgar, inspiring, whatever, but it is coming from someone running for office.

    Personally, I wish that Twitter didn't exist at all.

    1. Re:The real question should be by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Take a look at Lauren Weinstein's very own political speech on his own Twitter complet with Trump/Hitler/Nazi photoshops: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein... Yet Slashdot accepts this story and expects to listen to this fucking quack.

    2. Re:The real question should be by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why does ((((Lauren Weinstein))) want to SHUT IT DOWN?

      Simple, because the Goyim know.

  94. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And what do you think SCROTUM would do?!?!!

  95. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hm. The "Hitlers remains" in Moscow are from a young woman as the recent russian federation DNA study shows.
    So what about that "syanide marriage". The russians did not found the real Adolfs body. They probably lived long lives after the war.

  96. "Just *Don't* Do It" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Donald Trump tweets bad things? Huh. I had no idea. I've never seen a Trump tweet.

    This reminds me of some school children I overheard discussing cyber bullying. The concept is baffling to me. I asked them if their enemies were actually able to post mean things on victims' Facebook walls. Or if they were hacking their victims' blogs with graffiti or something. The students were confused by my questions. Of course the bullies couldn't do such things. But they posted mean comments on their own walls or their own blogs.

    I pointed out that the students could just not visit those sites. Again they were confused. How could they not visit sites that were being mean to them?

    I'm familiar with real bullying. And I understand that it is possible to bully on the web. But much ado is made of what I would call "gossip." That's very minor on any scale of bullying. Better ignored than addressed.

    So I ask, can one be forced to read Donald's tweets? I've never read one. If you don't like a particular movie, don't watch it. If you don't like a particular food, don't eat it. If you don't like to listen to Donald, don't listen.

  97. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Oval Office would resemble Nixon on steroids, as it would be the first time in over forty years that a POTUS had almost no friends on the Hill. About the only place there would be activity would be the Federal Courts and SCOTUS as Congress and everyone else that Trump screws takes his Administration to court, likely ending in impeachment for any of a dozen flagrant, even proud high crimes and misdemeanors.

    From Scott Adam's website, "As I taught you in prior posts, identity always beats analogy, analogy beats reason, and reason only beats dumb arguments about definitions. Trump hit all four dimensions with his Canadian gambit."

    From what I've followed of Scott's posts, he seems to think trump is sort of doing what it takes to win, and is not in fact that crazy. At one point he even suggests that a team of Trump, Bernie, and Clinton might work. I think Bernie could get along with Clinton, and visa versa. It is unclear to me if Trump could. I've been involved in a project with a team mate that reminds me a little of Trump, though not to Trump's extent obviously. Things needed to be done his way, and if you did not do things his way then your were not a team player, your hurting your career, incompetent, etc. In that particular case, the teams got shuffled, with him the only one still familiar with that project. Thankfully, I eventually got a clear enough statement of work such that I could minimize interactions with him.

    I wonder how long an administration between Trump, Bernie, and Clinton would last? Would Trump try to fire both of them the moment they disagreed with him?

    The more important question though is whether or not Scott is correct? Is as a society reason truly next to last in how we make decisions?
       

  98. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What do you suppose would happen if someone like Trump were elected President?

    You're pretty optimistic.

    Suppose Trump's elected. The House is going to be Republican no matter what -- and any surge of right-wing support sufficient to elect Trump is likely to swing down-ticket races rightward too, so you could very well see the Senate go Republican too.

    Let's walk through a more realistic scenario:

    Do you think the Supreme Court

    Who appoints new justices to the Supreme Court? Oh, right, El Presidente. The sitting Justices are aged 61, 79, 79, 67, 82 (!), 77, 65, 61, and 55. Wanna add four years to those numbers and bet there are no vacancies?

    Congress would spend most of its time dispensing with his vetoes, defunding any department he tried to turn to whatever idiotic or evil plan (if you can call what he does "planning") he had in mind

    Why is this? As a Congressman, my job is to get re-elected. If my party's Presidential candidate wants to build the New Berlin Wall or an English Language Reeducation Camp (or a DeMuslification Faith-Based Organization), it'd be counterproductive to do anything else for a Republican Congressman to do anything other than support it enthusiastically. Otherwise I get primaried out and replaced in the midterms with someone who will support it.

    The Oval Office would resemble Nixon on steroids, as it would be the first time in over forty years that a POTUS had almost no friends on the Hill

    And the third Administration of the past Three in which a POTUS has complete unfettered access via the intelligence community to the dossiers of all his political opponents. The difference is that neither Bush II nor Obama appear to have seriously abused this power. (Thanks, Mr. Snowden! If they had, the journalists in posession of your data dump would have found it and blown the whistle by now!)

    About the only place there would be activity would be the Federal Courts and SCOTUS as Congress and everyone else that Trump screws takes his Administration to court, likely ending in impeachment for any of a dozen flagrant, even proud high crimes and misdemeanors.

    You mean, "the Federal Courts, where the Attorneys were replaced by party loyalists as is customary for every administration, a Supreme Court in which at least one, and possibly three or four, Justices have been replaced by Trump nominees and confirmed by a narrow-majority Republican Senate, and a Congress full of people who would never impeach a President from their own party under any circumstances, on pain of being primaried out of office before the midterms."

    Do I think Trump's electable? No. Do I think he should be banninated from Twitter? Hell, no.

    Are the Legislative and Judicial branches capable of stopping a rogue Executive? Absolutely capable of doing so, every day since some time after the close of the Civil War until the present and straight on through January 21st, 2017.

    Do I think, that the specific case of a Trump-appointed Judiciary and a Republican Legislature will be willing to stop him in, say, September 2018? September 2020? Regrettably, I do not. And that's the $10 trillion dollar gamble.

  99. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Because a guy who is going out of his way to show his complete contempt for everything from the Bill of Rights to basic human decency will just make things so keen.

    Then why did you vote Obama in again?

  100. Re:Insane levels of Political correctness detected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    How dit this idiocy reach the front page of slashdot. Is this the new management at work?

    Not just that, but "Lauren Weinstein writes" about an article of ..... badum-tsss: Lauren Weinstein!

    Shameless self-plugging by a communist individual. Who the F. cares? Why the F is this even on /.? News for nerds? No, I'm a nerd and I don't give an F.

  101. Not nutso by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Every time he says something nutso his poll numbers go up.

    No, generally he says things that defy PC groupthink and then people like you wonder why he is popular...

    It's honestly not that hard to figure out.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Not nutso by hambone142 · · Score: 1

      If our only choice for the upcoming president are a choice between two clowns, we may as well choose a good clown.

      The rest of the world is laughing at our political system.

    2. Re:Not nutso by DigMarx · · Score: 1

      I can't speak for "the rest of the world" but as an American expat living in New Zealand, I can say that 100% of the people I have spoken with about the American political system are stunned that more Americans don't seem to realize what a cartoonish, dangerous joke it has become. No one is laughing, per se; there's mostly a great deal of concern mixed with a bit of contempt. This is just my experience as the "go-to" American in my circle of friends/colleagues/etc.

    3. Re:Not nutso by Bathroom+Humor · · Score: 1

      The logic still isn't there. A number of folks are talking about how Trump is the lesser evil compared to Hillbot. I don't know, maybe he is in some ways. But in other ways, It's clearly obvious that he is a disaster waiting to happen. At least with another Clinton, we'd get business as usual. Business as usual is shit, of course. But it's pretty predictable and routine. She is a snake with an obvious agenda. The only upsides to a Trump presidency is that he would be way more entertaining to watch, and the shitty U.S. political system DESERVES him for how much it screws people over with a broken two party system.

      Trump tries to be a reaction to radical overly sensitive idealistic garbage and corrupt politicians. I can understand the allure of someone who is an asshole to people with that mindset, I really can. But Trump is a drastic OVER correction to the problem. He swings too far in the other direction. He spews hate, or more likely, words that inspire hate and imply hateful conclusions. And he embodies the driving force behind political corruption, but from the other side of the fence. He adds a greater divide to the population, and profits from it in ways he cares about; Notoriety and influence. And he doesn't care if he helps or hurts anyone else in the process. It's always about looking out for #1. Everyone who disagrees with him is worthless.

      He obviously plans on using this to get more money, but right now it's feeding his ego and his image at the expense of everyone it touches. He's using simple manipulation and tribalism to exploit the anger, fear and 'values' of his fanbase. It's sickeningly effective, and proves that he is really good at being a terrible politician, which is ironic considering he runs on a campaign of not being a politician at all. He most certainly knows how to use their toolbox,

      The only way I'm able to see this is as Trump doing more harm than good. Like a spark in a fireworks factory; really fun to watch but definitely something to enjoy from where it can't hurt you. Running up to embrace the colorful explosion to spite people in the neighborhood who complain about noise too often will not actually fix anything.
      Maybe I'm just naive, but I would rather try my best to fix the issues that surround me without hurting myself and causing undue harm to others. I would rather attack the disease, and not the symptoms. And find out what's actually causing the most problems and going after them the hardest, rather than concentrate on superficial problems or whether or not someone "earned" something without me knowing how deep cause and effect really go. Trump isn't trying to do any of those things, but does have people believe he has their best interests in mind because he reinforces their biases so effortlessly.

  102. Twitter should shut down criminal speech by PotatoHead · · Score: 1

    And that's the usual, threats, etc...

    As for the speech we don't like? It's up to them. The First Amendment applies to the government. Twitter can do whatever it wants.

    Personally, I like the haters using Twitter. It's making it very clear, very quickly, just who is who. Trump is making an International ass of himself. Glorious!

    Also, the First Amendment does not contain a shield. The answer to free speech we don't like is more free speech. So, that means we don't or should not ask Twitter to shut Trump down, unless it's criminal. And that also means we simply use Twitter to tell everyone just how big of an asshole Trump actually is!

    Passes Popcorn Bowl to the right. Crunch, crunch....

  103. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yep. Der SHITlers lived long lives after the war in their UFO that they store in the hanger they built inside the hollow earth.

  104. Careful what you wish for by Livius · · Score: 1

    Don't be sure that if Donald Trump speech were sanitized, that there wouldn't be even more people supporting him. Filtering Trump won't magically make him any more enlightened.

  105. Re:The wall will be built by Intron · · Score: 1

    Congress would spend most of its time dispensing with his vetoes, defunding any department he tried to turn to whatever idiotic or evil plan (if you can call what he does "planning") he had in mind.

    why woudl you think this? repubs own both halves of congress, and while I don't think they'll go in for his most radical stuff, they're not going to outwardly challenge or overrule him.

    Maybe because Trump is not a Republican? He just plays one on TV.

    --
    Intron: the portion of DNA which expresses nothing useful.
  106. How about Twitter just shuts down period? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sounds good to me.

  107. Be like Bill by codeButcher · · Score: 1

    Be smart.
    Don't be a Twit.
    That is all.

    --
    Free, as in your money being freed from the confines of your account.
  108. Lame by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How come you aren't ranting that Hillary's lying account isn't shut down, libtard?

  109. They know something's wrong, but .... by King_TJ · · Score: 1

    I think there are sensible solutions that preserve the basic concepts of a Democratic Republic. The *problem* is, most people running for office right now are too extreme to the "left" or "right", while others dropped out early because they just weren't cut out to do public speaking and debate.

    I'm not at all convinced the "Nordic model" is the answer for the United States.

    While he's not ideal, Rand Paul has been consistently talking common sense and at least by the judgement of many bloggers -- winning the debates. Problem is, he doesn't raise his voice or say anything "crazy" that creates a media frenzy of attention around him. Essentially, he doesn't make entertaining enough "political reality TV" for the networks like Trump does, so they just try to tune him out. IMO, he'd do far more for people, if elected, than Trump ever will.

    And who are all these people who supposedly scoffed at millennials for complaining of 60 hour work weeks and no benefits? If anything, I'd say that much of this claimed "difference of opinion about jobs" between generations is manufactured B.S. Whenever you get the Gen X, the Gen Y and the millennial crowd together in an argument online about jobs/careers, you find a pretty even distribution of people who think alike across the entire age spectrum. The only thing I've ever been able to identify as different with millennials is that because they're young and typically single, their priorities naturally revolve around the things that matter to young, single people. No rocket science there .... (So, for example, they aren't faced with the time pressures of older people raising families. That means they might claim to prefer to "blend work and free time" together as a ball of multitasking. Doesn't mean Americans are doomed because "we've all been suckered into taking our work home with us and can't separate the two anymore", or any of that nonsense.)

    What's wrong is pretty simple. We don't have enough businesses in America able to hire people at "middle class" wages, vs. the number of people who WANT that type of employment. If you look at the list of the top 10 employers in America today, you see that by a HUGE margin, #1 is WalMart. Nobody I know expects to make a good "middle class career" out of a WalMart job. And who is #2 after WalMart? Oh, it's Yum Foods, Inc. -- owners of chains like Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Same problem. We need to encourage small business growth, especially for people in rural America where the only employment nearby is the local gas station or WalMart, or maybe a local hardware store. (And it's absolutely possible. Remember Gateway computers? They started in rural Iowa, hence the Holstein cow patterned shipping boxes for all of their PCs.)

  110. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    > Do you think the Supreme Court and Congress would just take a holiday and let him play out his Fascist dictator fantasies?

    You're just frightened because they've let Obama do just that - but that's ok because you support and take part in his socialist fantasies.

  111. Simple answer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    First of all we are not in socialist Europe, and if you would not had been sleeping in school, you would know that there is a 1st Amendment in a document called the US Constitution which IS the law of this Nation ....and thank God for that!!!!

    1. Re:Simple answer by epyT-R · · Score: 1

      The first amendment does not require private entities to allow free speech. Of course, that doesn't mean they aren't doing the public a disservice when they don't. Twitter has effectively censored certain views in the past under the guise of 'anti bullying.'

  112. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think it's really, REALLY, FUCKING REALLY time to gas them, this time for real.

    If your words had the power to incite people to carry out your views, your exercise of the right to free speech would lead to the infringement of the right of people to not be murdered.

    Thank you for providing such a clear example of why just crying 'Free Speech!!' isn't the end of the discussion.

  113. Twitter can't do that... by Karmashock · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ... and remain a viable place for people to voice their ideas.

    If Twitter becomes a progressive hug box then that's all it will be... and its value as a company will be very low.

    This is a mistake a lot of social media outlets are making recently. They think "oh we want to get rid of all the things that look icky to some people"... the problem is that "the internet sees censorship as damage and routes around it." which means if twitter censors people... they will appear to large portions of the user base as "damaged"... and they will be bypassed.

    Twitter cannot ban something like trump because he's clearly very popular with a large number of people.

    What is more, Twitter is letting ISIS say what they want... how crazy do you have to be to think Trump should be censored but ISIS shouldn't?

    Nutty people.

    --
    I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
    1. Re:Twitter can't do that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They can if they want, and they might actually gain value to some for doing it. Twitter is a private entity, they are not obligated to carry any messages that they don't like. If Hillary Clinton (or her campaign) said something that offended a lot of people and Twitter decided to shut down her account in response, you can bet that a lot of people on slashdot would applaud that decision.

      The funniest thing of all this? There are a huge number of conservatives who don't realize they are being trolled by Trump. He wins regardless of the outcome of the presidential race as he's in it for the publicity as much as anything.

    2. Re:Twitter can't do that... by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      "The Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it." - John Gilmore

      You'll be bypassed. Press the red button and see if it doesn't shock you this time, primate.

      Beyond that, you're not blocking literal neo nazis, literal jihadists that are talking about genociding people, and other such things.

      So if your priorities are donald fucking trump and not that... then you have no honest interest in actually restricting hate speech or whatever your vague mission statement is... you're rather after gaining some sort of political advantage.

      And was is worse... you don't seem to grasp that Trump will martyr himself on the issue and use the censorship as a campaign prop thus causing him to actually profit more from this hamfisted stupidity than it will hurt him.

      Just leave him be... saying 'well we can legally do something stupid" doesn't mean the thing isn't idiotic. You can legally stick your dick in a blender too. Doesn't mean it is a good idea.

      --
      I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
    3. Re:Twitter can't do that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      funny, the comment you just replied to didn't actually say it would be a good idea for twitter to refuse to give trump a voice on their service, just that they could. you might want to try going back and re-reading that comment before you go accusing someone of saying something they clearly did not say.

    4. Re:Twitter can't do that... by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      I love how every person advocating censorship always retreats to the legal definition as if that includes all forms of censorship and not merely those prohibited by the government for the government under law.

      I never said they couldn't stick their dick in a blender. I just said there would be fucking consequences.

      --
      I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
    5. Re:Twitter can't do that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You said Twitter can't do that...and remain a viable place for people to voice their ideas.

      Apparently you're not willing to consider the possibility that such may, in the right circumstances, be more viable for them.

    6. Re:Twitter can't do that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      who said they were advocating for censorship? acknowledging that someone can do something is not at all the same as endorsing them doing that thing. seriously kid, go back and read the comment. inserting bias into your interpretation just makes you look like a fool.

    7. Re:Twitter can't do that... by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      While twitter might prefer to blend their penis in a garbage disposal... it my hypothesis that they would not enjoy that situation.

      Apparently others disagree as to the pleasurableness or desirableness of that situation. I must leave this to personal preference.

      I suggest you look up the pain olympics if you're really interested in seeing where your idea will take you.

      --
      I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
    8. Re:Twitter can't do that... by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      saying someone can't speak is not censorship?
      http://www.merriam-webster.com...

      You morons are so inclined to redefine words when they judge your various beliefs to be bad that it renders you collectively incoherent and frequently situationally illiterate.

      --
      I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
    9. Re:Twitter can't do that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      it is more likely they are pointing out that not a single one of the ac comments in this thread so far have been advocating in favor of it. you keep claiming the contrary, but the fact is nobody has said that they should do it, only that they could do it. as chris rock says "you can drive a car with your feet, but that doesn't make it a good idea". you really should try reading those comments again as it is very plain that none of them ever said that twitter should do this. there are no words being redefined here. un-knot your underpants, turn down your anger by 7 or 8, and you'll see that what you have been told repeatedly in this thread is true.

    10. Re:Twitter can't do that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Saying someone can say that someone else cannot speak, is not in fact, censorship, nor is it advocating for censorship, anymore than a factual statement that you can indeed stick your tongue in a light socket is not inducing you to suicide.

      Though you should do it. It would probably help you think a lot better.

    11. Re:Twitter can't do that... by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      So... you've confused yourself? No one was talking about YOU saying someone can or cannot speak as being censorship.

      however if twitter censors someone then they censored them.

      Obviously.

      I mean... this is obvious and you're not seeing it...

      --
      I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
    12. Re:Twitter can't do that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You yourself said

      I love how every person advocating censorship always retreats to the legal definition as if that includes all forms of censorship and not merely those prohibited by the government for the government under law.

      In where you were clearly trying to say that someone here was "advocating censorship". Otherwise why would that even be relevant to the discussion?

      You then doubled-down on your assertion that someone was "advocating censorship" when later you said

      You morons are so inclined to redefine words

      Even though there was no example of anyone actually doing that in this discussion.

      So, no. The one here who is

      confused

      Is apparently you.

    13. Re: Twitter can't do that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And from the perspective of Twitter, the greater unpleasantness may be their current situation, as dealing with particular parties can be quite onerous with little reward.

      So for their sake, they may want out.

      At a certain level, we might compel otherwise, but that doesn't mean we can't recognize their interest.

    14. Re: Twitter can't do that... by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      the greater unpleasantness is their business.

      If they become a progressive hugbox... they're over.

      So by all means... suck on that shotgun barrel and see what where that takes you... I suspect it will be all over the ceiling in gobby dripping bits.

      --
      I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
    15. Re: Twitter can't do that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is certainly what you believe.

      Becoming something else may not be in their interest either, and doing nothing is still a choice with consequences.

    16. Re: Twitter can't do that... by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      I think I'll let the liquefy setting on the blender speak for itself... then we'll see what they can sell their stock for... :)

      --
      I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
    17. Re: Twitter can't do that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey look - Twitter has suspended 125,000 ISIS related accounts - why aren't you forecasting total collapse of their empire over this brash attack on freedom of speech?

  114. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Trump and Clinton are best buds IRL. He's just running interference for her, ensuring that the GOP has no credible alternative until it's too late. The fix is in.

  115. Even toxic words fall under freedom of speech by golodh · · Score: 2
    Censorship is anything but "unimaginable". Most of it comes under "editorship" (sometimes a legal requirement as in editing abusive comments on a website, sometimes editorial bias ("we can't publish this rubbish, we have standards"), straightforward commercial considerations ("our readership won't like to see this published"); see e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/..., sometimes through simple fact-checking). Only when it's suggested that freedom of speech removed where it used to exist do we notice it and call it "censorship".

    Twitter wisely doesn't interfere with (political) speech that is basically bombastic, certainly crude, definitely dumb, mostly misleading, fully fearmongering, and which might reasonably be termed racist. And it shouldn't. This speech is not illegal and it's far too lucrative for Twitter to have it. The whole country is talking about it and many of them are using Twitter to respond. Great! Free publicity! Increase in user volume! Societal relevance!

    I (and many others) consider what mr. Trump says poisonous rubbish, but we support his right to speak freely. There is quite enough censorship going on already.

    Freedom of speech often isn't nice, fuddy-duddy, or conducive to "cosmic harmony". And neither is it meant to be. It is however the cornerstone of the battle of words that's known as public debate. Freedom of speech is meaningless when there is harmony. Its protection is most needed when your opponents are screaming with rage, foaming at the mouth, and are brandishing sticks, knives, and guns in response to spoken and written words.

    Of course freedom of speech can be abused, and Words aren't harmless. Communism came to power because of Words. National-socialism was voted into power ... because of Words. Words that squarely tapped into an undercurrent of rage and inflamed people.

    However, we have certain rules about where to draw the line. Not mob-rule. Rules like the rule against Libel for instance. Incitement to riot. Calling for violence against US citizens. And, hehehe, that most serious of crimes: copyright infringement. Of course that leaves sneaky people a tremendous amount of freedom and plenty of opportunity to do damage.

    Like trumpeting that they are _not_ calling someone a Bimbo ... because that would not be "politically correct" (ok, no other sources of reticence seem to apply, like common decency for example, but this one is a show-stopper apparently). By ranting that someone had blood coming out of her "wherever" ... when when one is inconveniently confronted with one's own words (As in a childisch "nyer nyer ... never said anything that tripped a legal rule but sure got the message across didn't I ?"). By ranting about seeing certain ethnic groups partying and revelling in the destruction of the Twin Towers (something which amazingly no-one else saw). Like advocating deliberate indiscriminate bombing of large numbers of civilians to show (Soviet style) toughness (and arguably giving the targets sufficient reason to retaliate with terrorist attacks here in return). Like proposing 40% tariffs on imports (probably wrecking the US economy, that of most of the world, triggering large-scale instabilities, and perhaps even a big war). And serving ISIS with the very thing it so desperately wants: a chance to trigger a global conflict between Muslims and non-Muslims. No worries. All covered by Freedom of Speech.

    Even so, whether any lines are crossed should be determined in a court of law. Not by mob-rule. Of course no system is perfect, but we have traditionally opted for a very heavy burden of proof in any legal proceedings against freedom of speech. And rightly so I feel.

    1. Re:Even toxic words fall under freedom of speech by Fragnet · · Score: 1

      They do in the USA. You don't know how lucky you are. In the UK it's increasingly called "hate speech", a term originally intended to shut down insane Mullahs in UK Saudi funded pest houses (Mosques), but of course it's increasingly used to shut down just about anyone who isn't on-message.

  116. Of course, there are no examples by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is rehash of a whiny lauren weinstein blog, who says Trump is breaking Twitter's terms of service, but never actually... y'know gives us an example.

    I guess we're just supposed to say "Oh yes, Trump is horrible, why doesn't anyone stop him".

    But nobody gives any example.

    I'm not even a supporter of the guy, but he seems about par for the out candidates. The Democrats have an old lady under investigation by the FBI as their leading contender who makes Nixon look like a boyscout.

    They have a 2nd candidate who honeymooned in Soviet Russia because he admired it.

    The Republicans have a Candian guy who think's he's a US citizen, and a befuddled Brain Surgeon who's in 2nd place.

    Trump fits in with this group perfectly.

    1. Re:Of course, there are no examples by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Great post !

      I mean that sincerely.

      What you wrote is funny but also tells the truth. This is the sort of thing that keeps me coming back to
      Slashdot. The readers create far more entertaining content than the editors ever will.

      By the way, I'm voting for Trump, just to see the empire decay that much faster. I tried voting for the "good guys"
      and that did not work well, so now I am going to vote for Trump the asshole. Sometimes you have to go with the dark side
      in order to get the sun to shine again.

    2. Re:Of course, there are no examples by epyT-R · · Score: 1

      The readers create far more entertaining content than the editors ever will.

      as well as the authors of the stories posted.

  117. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Are you really that stupid? Trump is a buffoon and his shit is a clear TOS violation which is in no way censorship.

  118. shut the fuck up shills by johncandale · · Score: 1

    Donald trump isn't even that bad, and the media puts him way out of context and frame. There is nothing wrong with securing the boarder, there is nothing wrong with screening "refugees" for desirability.

    1. Re:shut the fuck up shills by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He's the only front runner offering something new. The rest are the same tired old leftist and neo-con retreads.

    2. Re:shut the fuck up shills by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      DT is a laughing stock in some parts of the world. I thought that Ronald Regan was a bit of a joke but DT is beyond the pale.
      If by some chance he gets elected the US will lose what little power it has internationally.
      The Presidents and Prime Ministers will just refuse to believe a word he says.
      This man would become the face of the USA to the world. Would you even buy a used car from him?
      Politics is all about trust. No Politician sitting on the other side of the table from him would believe a word he says.

  119. Re:The short version...why should they silence Tru by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm far from uneducated. In fact, I even used to be a liberal. But the SJW's and their anti-free-speech-fascism/white-male-hatred/perpetual-victimhood bullshit drove me out of the movement. And I'll be voting for Trump.

    I despise Trump's fiscal policies, but his giveaways to his rich buddies scare me a lot less than the possibility of living in an America where white heterosexual males are treated as second-class citizens and free speech is brutally suppressed. Hilary and Bernie are old-school liberals like me, but they've become so beholden to the SJW's that I deeply fear how far they may go to appease those nutballs if they come into power.

    SJW's will destroy the Democratic Party the same way they've destroyed every other movement they've infiltrated. There will be plenty of other defectors like me if they're allowed to continue.

  120. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trump would be lucky to get 20% of the general election vote.

  121. What about people by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What about people who don't know the difference between the words "proprietary" and "propriety"?

    Look, if you want to sneak into our country, fine, but please, please, please at least try to learn English. Your idiocy is painful.

  122. One Mans Hate is another's Love of Country by Tulsa_Time · · Score: 1

    Careful what censorship you wish for.

    --
    5 out of 6 people enjoy Russian Roulette & 6 out of 7 Dwarfs are not Happy
    1. Re:One Mans Hate is another's Love of Country by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And Another Man's Love is yet another's Hate of Country

  123. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hitler will live forever inside our hearts

  124. Re:The wall will be built by MightyMartian · · Score: 1, Insightful

    The thing is that Trump isn't really a Republican. He's an artifact of the open door Republicans have. In any other election he'd be the latest Ross Perot, an independent candidate. But because the GOP has spent the last eight years enthralled to a pack of wingnuts, the biggest wingnut of them all now has a chance to win the nomination.

    --
    The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  125. Fucking disgusting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How ./ went from a somewhat decent source of tech news to some manner of political platform. Mainly for leftist musloid apologoists. It's the way of the world, I just fail to see why as long as you are a human. You sicken me. Keep up the disgusting work you shills.

  126. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How's Obama working out for you?

    I have no fucking clue who I'm voting for. All I know is every single president we've had in my lifetime has only made my life more difficult, and I have never voted for someone who's gone on to win.

  127. Ugg.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This article actual made me die a little inside. Can I sue someone?

  128. Twitter should not remove accounts that provide en by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I would prefer twitter to only remove those accounts that they see fit, because it's their site and they can do whatever the hell they like with it. They should start stating that in their terms of service too.

  129. Re:The wall will be built by khallow · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Do you think the Supreme Court and Congress would just take a holiday and let him play out his Fascist dictator fantasies?

    I think we've Godwined this far enough. I think the US Supreme Court would do the same thing they did for Obama when he played out his Fascist dictator fantasies.

    The Oval Office would resemble Nixon on steroids, as it would be the first time in over forty years that a POTUS had almost no friends on the Hill. About the only place there would be activity would be the Federal Courts and SCOTUS as Congress and everyone else that Trump screws takes his Administration to court, likely ending in impeachment for any of a dozen flagrant, even proud high crimes and misdemeanors.

    This is a huge thing that is missed. If Trump gets elected, it'll probably be the best opportunity this century to curb the power of the US Presidency.

  130. Re:The wall will be built by Noah+Haders · · Score: 1

    I thought about my comment, and I think there's a better way to phoase it. the repubs in congress will gleefully take the opportunity to apss all sorts of crazy laws. obamacare? gone. planned parenthood? gone.you name it, it's gone. trump will definitely sign these.

  131. Re:The wall will be built by ravenshrike · · Score: 1

    The Tea Party doesn't like him now. The best way to gauge his popularity is by quizzing people on how authoritarian they are. Amusingly enough, I imagine a similar metric is being reflected in the Dem primaries.

  132. Re:Twitter should not remove accounts that provide by epyT-R · · Score: 1

    Sure, but they should also have to deal with the consequences of that. They shouldn't be able to sue their critics.

  133. The irony! It burns! by tsotha · · Score: 2

    So, the same person who called Trump a fascist last week is trying to get a mob together to censor him? Yeah.

  134. Re: Freedom of speech as long as it's the right on by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No has any obligation to be unbiased for you. But, by all means, continue sounding like some lazy brat.

  135. TRUMP SMASH!! by better_resurrection · · Score: 1
    --
    church of the better resurrection... https://betterresurrectionchurch.wordpress.com/
  136. Since Trump's twitter violated Twitter rules... by Jack+Zombie · · Score: 1

    ...then it should be treated the same as in any other case.

    --
    "You should never doubt what nobody is sure about." -- Willy Wonka
  137. If by any chance Trump wins... by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

    Facebook can look forward to being the first Silicon Valley company to have to start paying taxes.

  138. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Replace "Trump" with "Obama" and this is what we currently have.

  139. Re:The wall will be built by ksheff · · Score: 1

    exactly. That's what I've thought from the start of his campaign.

    --
    the good ground has been paved over by suicidal maniacs
  140. Because. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nowhere in the Constitution is their outlined a Right to Be Unoffended, you piss-drinking drizzle-twat.

  141. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sadly, I think that the same people who elected him will say that the system is broken and fight for him...

    Who knows what will happen because of this.

  142. heh by jtrainor · · Score: 1

    Can't stump the Trump!

  143. LAUREN WEINSTEIN'S TWITTER FULL OF HATE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well this gonna get posted into the bottom of the comments (so a mod up would be really appreciated) since I only thought of checking it now but lets look at Lauren Weinstein's twitter:

    https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein

    Just scroll thru his Twitter and look at all those hateful photoshops of Trump with hitler and Nazi's. Who's twitter is more hateful? It's pathetic that Slashdot editors actually accept his story. The submitter is biased to the point of bigotry. The story is utterly irrelevant to technology. I don't see it anywhere linked above so a mod up would be much appreciated. Why do I want to listen to anyones opinion if they are so narrow minded, biased, and immature that they have to fill their Twitter with Trump photoshopped into various Nazi era photos. Yet this quack is asking why Trumps twitter is not shut down yet? Seriously Slashdot? Pathetic

  144. Re:The wall will be built by lucm · · Score: 1

    Eurabia

    *giggles*

    --
    lucm, indeed.
  145. Re:The wall will be built by ganjadude · · Score: 2

    As a Congressman, my job is to get re-elected.

    and this is exactly the WRONG reason to be a congressman. I think if that is ones attitude (not that i disagree with you on how things actually are) they should be disqualified from office

    --
    have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
  146. maybe because it's not by slashmydots · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I hate Donal Trump but I also have a brain. Saying "some Mexicans crossing the border illegally are felons and rapists" is not racist, it's true and an actual political problem. What Democrats (and idiots) HEAR is "all Mexicans are rapists and felons." It's not like he's tweeting "white power" or something blatantly racist.

    1. Re:maybe because it's not by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is the direct quote, please note that the "some" he describes are the ones that are not drug dealers and rapist.

      “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending the best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems. They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime. They’re rapists and some, I assume, are good people, but I speak to border guards and they’re telling us what we’re getting.”

      Living in Texas I can truthfully say that the quote the some part he speaks of is completely backwards.

    2. Re:maybe because it's not by Joey+Vegetables · · Score: 1

      I can't stand Trump either, and you can think what you wish regarding my brain or lack thereof, but I can assure you that many of my socially conservative friends - and I am socially conservative myself (but politically libertarian) - firmly and unwaveringly believe that most if not all Mexicans, most if not all Muslims, most if not all Black people, are eeeevil and seek nothing less than the destruction of "White civilization." Propaganda can create its own reality, and hatred, like any other evil, can and frequently does metastatize. Twitter, being a private company, has the right to give Mr. Trump a platform, or not to, but I would strongly suggest that they should not, and I would also insist that if they knowingly choose to do so, then they are partly responsible, at least morally and ethically and perhaps legally also (18 USC 242-243), for what results. Freedom implies responsibility. I strongly believe in it, but I recognize that even in theory, the one is not possible without the other.

  147. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP by ganjadude · · Score: 1

    prove it.

    you people keep saying so, but not one of you has proven why

    --
    have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
  148. They're users by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 1

    Trump using twitter has probably brought in *a lot* of people that weren't on twitter before.

  149. A friend's account was shut down by a scammer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A friend's twitter account was shut down with no possibility of appeal or even anyone contacting her first, because she regularly tweeted people who interacted with a guy who was convicted of fraud and scammed a charity out of tens of thousands of dollars, to warn them that he was a scammer and fraudster.

    http://www.bicycling.com/culture/advocacy/missing-kimmage-defense-fund

    Aaron Brown fled the country to escape the charges / court-ordered restitution, now goes by the name of "Timmer" and has reinvented himself as a wine expert.

  150. Shutdown Lauren Weinstien. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why do the flaming arse liberals always want to silence opposition? Everything is "Hate" if it is of another opinion other than theirs.

    Go back whoren, Lauren.

  151. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    > Because a guy who is going out of his way to show his complete contempt for everything from the Bill of Rights

    Really now? Because it's the current administration that's doing all the fancy wiretaps to abuse the 4th Amendment, they don't even believe that the 2nd Amendment exists (the Supreme Court is not an authority if they disagree with you), and who wants the 1st Amendment to ensure that every public forum is shamed into censoring any speech that disagrees with them.

    Frankly, I don't even like Trump, but a government that's not able to do much of anything and therefore not able to screw around with our lives ... that's not so bad, though I'm sure I'd want a mute button for Trump.

    At least it's better than letting a pick-up artist like Bill live in the White House again, though I guess that's really no change given what they let the Secret Service do...

  152. Not even close to "hate & abuses" by SensitiveMale · · Score: 1

    I'm no Trump supporter, but you're a political idiot if you think what Trump has posted would shut down any other twitter user immediately.

    Search for Sarah Palin and look for the insults that have been on there for years.
    Same with Cheney.
    Same with George W Bush.
    Same with any conservative minority.
    Same with any conservative woman.

    Stop bitching that twitter hasn't shut down the political speech of someone you don't like. Because you know why? They may come after you next.

  153. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Please vote for Hillary.

  154. Weird by whipslash · · Score: 1

    This is a bizarre submission. Trump, while dominating the press and being divisive, probably doesn't even crack the top 20% of the "hate" spewed on Twitter. If Twitter isn't going to block known terrorist sympathizers they probably won't block Trump.

    1. Re:Weird by Z00L00K · · Score: 1

      And it would make more news if Trump was blocked. It's one of the paths that shouldn't be explored since it may rally more people with sympathy for Trump than to let him have his way and make stupid noises.

      --
      If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
  155. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yeah vote for the person that flip flops on everything and consistently lies.

  156. solution by therion · · Score: 1

    rm -rf /.

    1. Re:solution by Z00L00K · · Score: 1

      Well, takes too much time - do a "dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/sdX" instead. Enough to do it on the first few hundred blocks or so.

      --
      If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
  157. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't know how to respond to such stupidity. Actually, I do; prove it

  158. Trump's only saying what's on everyone's mind. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trump's only saying what's on everyone's mind.

  159. Why the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is this on slashdot?

    And why the hell do I keep visiting this site???

  160. Re:The wall will be built by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

    "Isn't really a Republican" is not really a meaningful things. The party has changed a lot from 20 years ago, and then it was very different from what it was 20 years before, and before. The new change is happening right before our eyes. It's the Republican voters who are supporting Trump and are going to give him the nomination in a landslide. So, effectively, the Republican party, as it exists today, is the party of Trump. That everyone around it, and many in it, assumed that it's something else, has been a delusion for quite a while now.

  161. That depends... by Roger+W+Moore · · Score: 1

    Free speech means that you are free to say whatever you want. But it does not place any entity, private or public, under any obligation to offer you a platform.

    That depends where you are. In Europe if you offer a public service to people then generally you are not allowed to refuse service for a variety of reasons one of which is usually the political views you hold. Unfortunately though most European countries ban certain times of speech outright.

    What we need is a hybrid system: the American rules on what we are allowed to say and the European rules to protect our ability to say where others can hear it if they choose to.

  162. I disagree by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    the problem I see is that Clinton moved the Dems farther to the right so he could land the presidency. The Republicans were forced to move further right to retain their identity (why vote for a Republican if the Dems are the same?). This is why we see folks like tea partiers getting elected to house seats and it's why we might see Trump as a candidate.

    You're right about the problems with not enough middle class jobs, but you'll need a solution to that problem. It's good 'ole tarrifs and protection for local workers. Gateway moved away because Mexicans let their workers be abused and we didn't. We have to punish that behavior mercilessly. We'll never win that race to the bottom.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re:I disagree by wyHunter · · Score: 1

      And yet both parties are extremely left wing, as well.

  163. Re:The short version...why should they silence Tru by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

    Because they have terms of service that explicitly prohibit the kinds of things that he has been posting, and they have censored other users for posting such things.

    I don't care how they do it - I would actually prefer no filtering at all, actually - but the rules should be the same for everyone.

  164. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apparently they believe that rising tuition must mean universities are being taken over by "big business" and thus must be "right-wing". Completely ignoring the actual atmosphere, dialog and teachings coming from those institutions. Just too lazy to look in to the actual reasons for rising costs.

  165. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP by khallow · · Score: 1

    and his shit is a clear TOS violation

    Needs to be true first. Have you ever tried to reason before? Provide evidence such as quotes to show that Trump is doing something wrong first. Then complain.

  166. Re:FTFY, ya dumbshit editors! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What the fuck are you, high? The summary is clearly fucking wrong and GP is clearly fucking right. Go learn English you retarded liberal cunt.

  167. Welcome to Slashdot, BIZX! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    fuck you. Fuck you. fUck you. fuCk you. fucK you. fuck You. fuck yOu. fuck yoU. FUck you. FuCk you. FucK you. And so on and so forth for all 128 variations.

  168. But it would make Trump so happy... by jopsen · · Score: 1

    If twitter were to disable his account, it would clearly have the opposite effect.
    It would be giving legitimacy to some of his crazy.

  169. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is Donald Trump really contesting? I could have sworn he was in to provide comic relief for the electoral campaigns.

  170. Weinstein is full of shit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Donald Trump spews forth a trolling stream of hate and other abuses

    Says the guy who posted this. And this. And this. And this.

  171. Re:The wall will be built by pixelpusher220 · · Score: 1

    guy who is going out of his way to show his complete contempt for everything from the Bill of Rights to basic human decency

    You are assuming me means and/or believes any of it. He's a carnival barker/car salesman/reality tv show host. I think it's still entirely within the realm of possibilities that at some point he basically just says 'April Fool' after the GOP is fully and completely screwed.

    Jon Stewart said it best before he left TDS... "This one's got it's own money!" Trump simply does not care about a damned thing. The rabid GOP base loves it because it's anti 'Establishment' which is everything until the anti is the establishment...as some tea-party people are finding out that now they are the 'establishment' because they aren't rabid enough anymore.

    Trump is riding an ego wave. Would he ride that into office? certainly possible, but doubtful. People like him don't like it when they can't control the game and he can't control the actual game of politics...primary silly season sure, but not actually having to be accountable for your actions and words.

    --
    People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people :-D
  172. Silly post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There are twitter feeds of jihadists who claim for the death of the infidel and kuffir all day long. Why doesn't twitter shut down accounts that insight terrorism first?

    I guess Slashdot has a strict political agenda. Let Trump do his thing. Let the other candidates do their thing. Let Americans decide our leader without media bias.

  173. Re:Insane levels of Political correctness detected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    must be. who is the new owner?

  174. Civics 101 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's called free speech....

  175. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    WAIT. STOP. Did you just accuse Trump of being against the Bill of Rights, on a thread about denying Trump his freedom of speech?

    King Obama has done more harm to the Bill of Rights than any other president.

    Everything he does is a violation of the BoR. Forcing people to buy expensive insurance at 1000% the global average? Unilaterally voiding the 2nd amendment?

    Please.

    You poor sorry partisan idiot.

    ps: I am not a Republican so don't go all ad hominem on me.

  176. Saccharine political correctness by Max_W · · Score: 1

    Saccharine political correctness and narcissistic righteousness turned nowadays into "stream of hate and other abuses".

  177. The button by darktwains · · Score: 1

    Does anyone really trust this guy to have his thumb on the nuclear option. Let alone his twitter account.

  178. Re: The short version...why should they silence Tr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm not a Trump supporter, but every Trump supporter I know is college educated, intelligent, and rational.

    You're projecting what you wish they would be, but you're just making shit up.

  179. Re: The wall will be built by ShieldW0lf · · Score: 1

    What do you get if you cut a Nazi's balls off?

    An Occupy protester.

    That's why they blitzed all the way to the Atlantic. They were welcomed as liberators. But, eventually the evil foreign capitalists used their influence to mobilize the entire world and re-enslave the European continent.

    Though to be fair, Stalin wasn't a capitalist, just an ally.

    Then they saw to it that anyone who questioned their propaganda and told the real story was arrested. Questioning or disputing the "official" story remains a crime to this day.

    Hell, it's a part of this culture. Oh, you discussed the Nazis, GODWIN! Conversation over!

    Comparing Trump to Hitler is ridiculous. If Trump placed his businesses under the democratic control of his workers, that would be more like Hitler.

    --
    -1 Uncomfortable Truth
  180. So ban babbing of KP links? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Because THAT would be censorship. Ban NDAs, Trade Secrets, Copyright laws, trademarks and so on because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP. Give up classification on government documents because that is censorship. Stop blowing the shit out of foreigners stirring up hate against the USA because it's censorship. Release the mullahs and imams you have imprisoned for their preaching to gain converts to radical Islam.

    Hell, stop trying to stop ISIS from recruiting via twitter. That's exactly the same damn thing.

  181. Except it leads to real harm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trump supporters, fired up by the hate filled and bigoted bollocks trump gets away with go out and actually beat the living daylights out of mexicans, blacks and anyone against trump chanting "USA! USA! USA!" all the while. No frigging different to brownshirts in 1920-30s Hitler Germany.

    Unlike you cosseted pissfarts, Europe knows where this leads. You're too frigging wrapped up in your "exceptionalism" that you don't care to learn from others.

    1. Re:Except it leads to real harm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >Unlike you cosseted pissfarts, Europe knows where this leads. You're too frigging wrapped up in your "exceptionalism" that you don't care to learn from others.

      Leads to: The USA and Royssia fucking you all 6 ways to sunday?
      Want to do it again? USA and Royssia are fine with dividing europe.
      You've shown you're all fags anyhow.

  182. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    and this is exactly the WRONG reason to be a congressman. I think if that is ones attitude (not that i disagree with you on how things actually are) they should be disqualified from office

    Longwinded AC returns -- we agree. I was speaking from the point of view of a real-world Congressman, not the ones in the history books. (To be honest, I'm not real sure about most of the ones in the history books either. But I'm in my 50s and believe that not only has the problem of congressmen running first for re-election, second for party, thirdly for perks, and at a distant fourth-through-99th for country, has gotten markedly worse in my lifetime, but that it's unlikely to self-correct in the rest of my lifetime.)

  183. Lauren Weinstein writes: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    it won't be a Jew
    it won't be a cunt

    period.

  184. The rightwing LOVE to censor. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Atheist posters? BAN THEM!

    Asking questions in an interview that are inconvenient? BAN THEM!

    The rightwing LOVE to censor.

  185. THIS DUM,B A#SS QUESTION by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    YOU GUY ARE BUNCH OF FOOLS! LIBERALS! TWITTER SHUT DOWN TRUMP, wt.f you guys thinks , feel the bern lol heart burn, college drops out that want free SH((T!

  186. Shut down? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    > Would you rather Twitter shut down

    YES, PLEASE.

  187. Without the OT, you don't have a NT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No OT? No original sin to be "forgiven". No god either. Satan? Yes. Angels? Yes. But no god. No ten commandments, of any kind, and the NT words of JC himself (if he ever existed) did anything other than tell you to give to the poor everything you have and walk the righteous path (something you don't do).

    Without the OT you don't HAVE a NT, since there's nothing to die for and nobody created the world.

  188. Re:Because he's a legitimate presidential candidat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Because Hanlon's razor?

  189. he? by superwiz · · Score: 1

    Because he is the leading contender for a Presidential nomination from a major party? That would be my guess.

    --
    Any guest worker system is indistinguishable from indentured servitude.
  190. You misunderstand the basis for the rules by JoelKatz · · Score: 1

    The moral authority for the rules is that Twitter owns the services it provides and has the right to decide what those services will and won't include.

  191. Why doesn't Twitter shut down snowden? by allo · · Score: 1

    Because they do not need to disrespect freedom of speech, just because somebody is calling somebody else out

  192. Twitter wants traffic. by jcr · · Score: 1

    Trump, and people arguing with trump, brings traffic to their site. This isn't rocket science.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  193. It's internet not intersectionality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When did this site turn into socialjusticedot.org ffs

  194. Free Speach by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Lauren Weinstein believes in free speach only for her. Must be a democrat/socialist/communist.
    That is why America needs Donald J. Trump to Make America Great Again and protect all the amendments. It's a Lauren Weinstein and her type of thinking that is a danger to America and American security.

  195. Typical Slashdot article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This politics and click-bait laiden article is excellent for a technology-focussed Slashdot-audience. It even contains the word 'Twitter'.

    I want my friggin' tech-community site back, you bastards!

  196. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You really think Obama is a socialist? You are really going to be in shock or just have a heart attack, if Sanders wins and you learn what a real socialist is instead of Fox's definition of the week.

  197. Yeah, I too want full freedom of speech. by aliquis · · Score: 1

    I tweet a lot of nastiness on Twitter from Sweden and my account haven't been affected at all, and I want it that way.

    Fuck legitimization and censorship, they are all anti-democratic and against me and my opinion and views.

    If you don't agree then express that don't cut me off.

    I don't know what the Terms of Service is for twitter but it seem very tolerant and that's why I used that instead of communist Facebook let alone any Swedish main-stream media (some trash was applauding how a bunch of Swedish news papers or whatever had removed the comment section altogether since supposedly now it get rid of a lot of racism. Guess what? The racism are still there, we still don't want the invaders and our traitor government, the correct way of dealing with that will is to not let them in not cut us off. Cutting away the capability to express and raise the opinion of course have some effect (see North Korea) but it also leave little room except illegal one to act so don't come complain about anti-democratic methods and fear and terrorism and what not if you don't allow people to have a voice and participate.)

    As for ISIS they can likely just spread their opinion anyway, meet it with an argument and a different stance instead, offer a better alternative rather than just trying to censor it.

  198. Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trump gonna knock you out! Momma say knock you out!

  199. Trump by tleehitch · · Score: 1

    Trump gonna knock you out! Momma say knock you out!

  200. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    OK, somebody either failed or promptly forgot everything about civics right after high school. The 1st Amendment is about the government not having the right to censor your speech, with a few narrowly defined exceptions. Twitter is not part of any branch of the government so, as long as they don't censor on the basis of a legally protected class (race, sex, religion, etc.), they can discriminate however they like. That being said, I agree with the irony.

    Obama has trampled on some constitutional rights, especially the 4th Amendment against search and seizure, he has nothing compared to some events in our history such as the Japanese internment, the Civil War (states had a constitutional right to succeed), slavery of Africans and just about everything we did to the Native Americans. You may not like Obama but, compared to some past administrations, he's been fairly tame.

  201. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I had to reread the word again myself. My brain first registered it as 'your labia' and I knew that wasn't right.

  202. Let the Ugliness of 'Murika Come Out of The Closet by luis_a_espinal · · Score: 1

    Why Does Twitter Refuse To Shut Down Donald Trump?

    I hate Trump, but I would never accept as appropriate for the Internet and the Media (and twitter is a de-facto part of the Media) to shut him down. Who the fuck could possibly ask for that?

    Freedom of speech works both ways, and to uphold it demands from us to listen to that which is objectionable (and to deal with it with counter-arguments, not censorship.)

    I understand that, in principle, Freedom of Speech does not forbid private media to censor free thought, unlike public media and government. But it is disenginuous to demand Twitter to censor Trump? Why? Because he is a misogynistic man-child who spouts vile racial shit to arouse those on the edge of nationalistic fervor?

    Fuck that. Fuck your sensitivities. You don't censor that shit. You confront it heads on in the rhetoric arena. Let's face it, between 1/4 and 1/3 of the population believe the shit he says (and loves him because of the shit he says). Trumps speaks to them.

    Do you think censorship is going to make that go away? No. In fact, it will make him a martyr to those idiots who go happy-bug-eye for him. You gotta let that shit come in the open. Let that stupidity be in the open for the world to see. Then attack it with counter-arguments, and with behavior as counter-examples.

    To pussy up behind a wall of censorship that prevents to see the ugly realities of 'Murika, how the hell does that help?

  203. Women by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Society meaning "women". Protect women and their interests.

    When men's nations existed, prior to the takeover of women's cuntries, men could have the young girls.

    >In the United States, as late as the 1880s most States set the minimum age at 10-12, (in Delaware it was 7 in 1895).[8] Inspired by the "Maiden Tribute" female reformers in the US initiated their own campaign[9] which petitioned legislators to raise the legal minimum age to at least 16, with the ultimate goal to raise the age to 18. The campaign was successful, with almost all states raising the minimum age to 16-18 years by 1920.

    Also: see: Deuteronomy chapter 22 verses 28-29, hebrew allows men to rape girl children and keep them: thus man + girl is obviously fine. Feminists are commanded to be killed as anyone enticing others to follow another ruler/judge/god is to be killed as-per Deuteronomy. It is wonderful when this happens from time to time: celebrate)

  204. Really again? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seriously.... this whining whore bitch again?

    This SJW whore needs to go slit her wrists.

  205. Re:The wall will be built by Svartalf · · Score: 1

    I honestly wish people would realize this fact. Bill Clinton WAS Impeached- he was just not convicted of the accusations in the Articles of Impeachment.

    --
    I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a Citizen of the State of Texas
  206. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Good.

  207. Re:The wall will be built by Svartalf · · Score: 1

    People keep fallaciously saying this... If it makes you feel better, by all means keep repeating it to yourself. You don't

    1) Understand HOW a President gets elected (Seriously- if you mention "popular vote" in this context, you DO NOT KNOW.)
    2) Understand that it's not what YOU wish, but what a lot of other people think that you clearly know nothing about.

    While I didn't agree with the man's take on things, I thought Romney was going to take it because of anti-Dem fervor back then. Clearly I was wrong. Pontificating like you have here, you're likely to be that too. Just don't act shocked, pissed, etc. when it doesn't work out that way. I won't agree with you then and I won't have any sympathy either.

    --
    I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a Citizen of the State of Texas
  208. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hillary Clinton has commited crimes now? Bullshit mountain again?

  209. Trump has twittered no hate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The left is having another patented spasm of lies.

  210. Really? by Sqreater · · Score: 1

    Or maybe Twitter is just getting a lesson on the meaning of the First Amendment.

    --
    E Proelio Veritas.
  211. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    USSR? Nazi Germany?

  212. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Because a guy who is going out of his way to show his complete contempt for everything from the Bill of Rights to basic human decency will just make things so keen.

    Examples, please? Oh, that's right, this is /. where you can make any old sort of unfounded accusations and be modded up as "insightful".

    Seriously. You made a statement about a complete contempt for the Bill of Rights. Examples, please.

    If not, shut the fuck up. And Mods...if he doesn't pony up, you just moderated this as "insightful" on a batch of feels- he said something you felt to be the truth. It's neither accurate or insightful to make statements like this. It's defamation. Learn the difference. (Yes, I don't expect him to provide examples...because for at least the part I'm challenging...there ARE NONE.)

  213. Re:Insane levels of Political correctness detected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Welcome to SJWdot.

  214. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    at the risk of restating the obvious, that's all of them

  215. xenophobia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Typically the rule of the internet is find the top provider and then look for their best competitor. Because when everyone is outclassed and giving up the only competitor still sticking around is the one doing all the right things right.

    Censorship cesspool:
    Youtube, Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit

    People take time to write up content and when you start yanking it down like an imbecile that is when a company is on the quick route to doom. This route involves catering towards outside forces whom don't give a damn about your own bottomline. The internet is foreign and weird to all, any splotch of xenophobia is a sure sign of weakness.

  216. Re:The wall will be built by dcw3 · · Score: 1

    RIGHT! Like the Teagaggers will tolerate his All for me once he's in office.

    Here we are, discussing "Donald Trump spews forth a trolling stream of hate", and on the other side we have this.

    Maybe both sides could cease with this childishness. We'd all be better for it.

    --
    Just another day in Paradise
  217. Censorship is obsolete by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    1- All of us in the free world know that when a government turns to censorship, very bad human rights abuses are already going on or are not far behind.
    2- Censorship is irrelevant because on the internet, by design censorship is viewed as "Damage" and is just routed around. There are tons of examples.

    How anyone feels about Trumps second failed presidential bid is irrelevant. Whether someone is Democrat or Republican is irrelevant.

    This is just garden variety clickbait.

    I hope Slashdot's new owners realize this is not news for nerds and this does not matter.

    On that thought:

    How about some input on this election cycle from Nate Silver? That would be interesting.. I wonder if he has any sage like wisdom about how bad Hillary is going to destroy Trump and Ted Cruz broken down by all the gerrymandered districts.. I bet he already knows how the election is going to play out to 0.1% precision.. but no lets talk about the rich idiot who cannot afford a realistic looking toupe making a fool of himself with vacuous nonsense speech.. Really Slashdot, surely you can do better! TURN UP THE BRIGHTNESS!

  218. I...uh...wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    First amendment for starters. You're dislike for his firebrand and hate is irrelevant.

  219. Bizzarre by Zorak30 · · Score: 1

    I find it bizarre how openly people talk about limiting free speech. The defining part of our government. The part of our government that attracts the world to want to move here. The US has become children. Now i'll wait for you to all tell me the EULA makes it so a company can curtail your first amendment rights. I love the digital age.

  220. What has he said that was THAT bad? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As much of a clown as he is I don't recall him saying anything so horribly insensitive that he should lose his account. People have said much worse and not lost their accounts. Unless you're involved in something illegal or say something outrageously vile I don't see why anyone's account should be terminated. You can always just not follow them.

  221. Re:The short version...why should they silence Tru by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Short version: Why should they?

    Stats version: @realDonaldTrump globally ranked #385 with 5,936,228 followers?

    Almost 1/14th as popular as Katy Perry? That's a lot.

  222. how is this news for nerds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    isnt this an obscure blog post, by a nobody? if this is a worthy topic of discussion here, shouldnt someone OTHER THAN US be talking about it?

  223. William F. Buckley, right even when dead by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views." - William F. Buckley

  224. Re:The wall will be built by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

    Zero Democrats voted for the Impeachment, or for conviction. This made it exactly what it seemed, a witch hunt. Total failure

  225. Slashdot advocating for censorship by mattwarden · · Score: 1

    Quite bizarre. I think there is a valid Twitter hypocrisy point here, but TFS didn't focus on that angle. Instead it's all about needing to shut down Trump to be fair. Seems pretty hypocritical of the slashdot community too, or at least submitter

  226. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "The party has changed a lot from 20 years ago, and then it was very different from what it was 20 years before, and before. "

    I read in a local op-Ed piece some time ago that (to paraphrase), " we need fewer Republicans and more Conservatives."

  227. Why isn't Planned Parenthood blocked? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Call me crazy, but something about advocating for terminating human pregnancies seems pretty disgusting.

  228. Re:Insane levels of Political correctness detected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yeah like this is anything different then what we got with the old owners. STFU. I say we give the new owner at least a week before we start blaming them for the sad current state of affairs. Fuck even Obama got a honeymoon period when he was elected.

  229. Re: The wall will be built by frdmfghtr · · Score: 1

    I generally think the same thing, but only because of the means to the end. It should be an effect of their time in office, not the goal.

    I want my elected officials to work towards re-election, but only by faithfully representing the electorate and working in their best interests and the interests of the public. If you represent the electorate well, they will reward you with re-election.

    I do NOT want my elected officials to work towards re-election using deceptive and illegal tactics, lying to the electorate, or other nefarious means. Don't FOOL me into re-electing you.

    --
    Government's idea of a balanced budget: take money from the right pocket to balance...oh who am I kidding?
  230. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    processing official emails over a private server ?

    surely lower level people would face jail for this.

  231. Re:The wall will be built by Bartles · · Score: 1

    Would that have gotten you kicked off Twitter?

  232. Re:The wall will be built by Bartles · · Score: 1

    That is great. A shitty law, repealed. Good. Planned parenthood wouldn't be gone, it just wouldn't be federally subsidized any more. Also good.

  233. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    yeah commie. demoralize the opposition. old commie tactic.

  234. moral by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    moral is always fiction. Particularly in the hands of stupid people. Who just happen to be the ones to maintain 'moral principles'....

  235. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    if trump gets elected, there is a chance usg gets a handle on the frauds running finance.

    if not, back to the future:1929.

    that's why all the lefty tools of finance have rabies by now and all cry "fascism".

  236. Re:The wall will be built by Bartles · · Score: 1

    Actually, there were four article of impeachment. Five Democrats voted for three of them. Virgil Goode, Ralph Hall, Paul McHale, Charles Stenholm, and Gene Taylor all voted to impeach him for two counts of Perjury, and Obstruction of Justice. So shut your lying, ignorant, self-taught pie hole.

  237. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    yeah, if trump were just the average corrupt politician he would excrement on his fellow countrymen.

    patriotism is irrational according to "progressives" , we know.

  238. Re: The wall will be built by Bartles · · Score: 1

    True, but a bunch of rabid Democrats calling for private industry to shut down the speech of political opponents, is certainly not in the spirit of free speech. It is also a perfect example of totalitarianism by the left, which of course is par for the course, as that's what left wing politics always devolves into.

  239. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP by Bartles · · Score: 1

    Oh yeah. Because those are just prime examples of the right wing's rise to power.

  240. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    not only that. they yearn for killing any opposition to leftism.

    please see russia and france for examples.

  241. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    He has no respect for 1st amendment:

    "Somebody will say, 'Oh freedom of speech, freedom of speech.' These are foolish people. We have a lot of foolish people."

    http://money.cnn.com/2015/12/08/technology/donald-trump-internet/

  242. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    He has no respect for the 5th amendment:

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/08/19/donald-trumps-abuse-of-eminent-domain/

  243. NO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The other candidates will do what their bribers want them to do.

    Which can be ANYBODY with money, including the Saudis or Kim Il Sung.

  244. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP by HiThere · · Score: 1

    US House UnAmerican Activities Committee.
    Joseph McCarthy
    Any fundamentalist rally
    etc.

    When people have power they tend to stifle criticism, even when it is clearly to their own advantage. Often this is called "kill the messenger".

    --

    I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
  245. Mohammedism Is NOT a Race by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Rather it is a Disease Of Mind, like Communism.

    Everybody can get rid of it in FREE countries.

    In Mohammedist countries, they get beheaded for this. Comprendre ?

  246. LIAR by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "...hate...criminal..."

    If that were the case, you could haul Mr Trump in front of a court of law. That is not Twitter's business either.

    Also "hating" Mohammedism is also known as "loving freedom". Because the Mohammedists want to kill whoever they cannot convert to their nasty little ideology. And with Saudi money, THEY DO THIS. All over the world, including NY and Boston.

  247. Citation Required by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Orthodox Jews have killed...

    Also, I cannot read in their holy book that other religions should be eradicated by war, rape, slash and burn. I can read this in the Mohammedic's holy book.

    If you and five nuts started Mohammedism today, the FBI would shut you down on "Terror" grounds quite quickly.

  248. Re:The wall will be built by Noah+Haders · · Score: 1

    They would probably make planned parenthood illegal, revoke the copyrights, and arrest the executives.

  249. Why EXACTLY ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Objective of Mohammedism is to violently convert (and kill if necessary) ANYBODY ELSE.

    They command that you should "not be friend with a non-Mohammedic".

    They slaughter Christians, Shiites, Alevites RIGHT NOW.

    They are anti-American, anti-freedom, anti-Hindu, anti-German, anti-French. anti-Buddhist. A bunch of dangerous assholes.

    Very much like Communists, they are dangerous BRUTES.

    Ban them from America, yes, because they have violent aims and practices.

    The fact that Wahabists have bought the Prince of Wales, Clinton and the Bushes does not invalidate this.

  250. Read the Quran by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Then come back.

    Mohammedism is as evil as Communism.

  251. Communists And Mohammedists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...both have a history of bloody destruction of people who did not bow to them.

    France, Russia, ISIS - see history books.

    These are brutes who are the enemy of European Civilization (that includes the U.S.) . They love killing, because they have brain-shitted themselves strong enough.

    "If only everybody followed the rules of Mohammed, there would be no misery. Now let's kill whoever does not subscribe to our marvellous cult".

    Also, Commies are often tools for finance criminals and other 1%ers.

  252. INFORMATION OPERATION by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This article serves to discredit Trump "as somewhat fascist" with all those sheeps who are too lazy to check facts or who are scared of having an opinion of their own. The censorship angle is actually irrelevant.

    It's about badmouthing Trump, because he threatens lots of vested interests, including politicos who became billionaires from bribes. Ah, they call it differently and it cannot be punished...

    If you want to see how nicely this tactic works, look at Germany. This nation has become a nation of completely helpless sheep, who are eaten by a tiny minority of wolves - all working for foreign interests.

  253. LIAR by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trump openly states that he wants to defend the U.S. economy and the nation against influx of adherents with dangerous ideologies.

    Trump is the STABILIZER of the U.S. while the Banksters and their lefty allies (not surprising as soon as you learn where Marxism was concocted) are hell-bent on destruction of America as we know it.

    You are spouting Black Propaganda with "...just to see the empire decay that much faster...."

    If you want decay, vote Bush or Clinton. They are openly corrupt.

  254. Oh Really ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Prince Vladimir of Russia has already expressed admiration for Trump. Vladimir is know for defending Christians with his air force and for kicking thieves out of country.

    The Chinese and the Indians do not like anti-patriots either. And the NATO heads of state will fall over each other to visit President Trump because they are spineless sycophants of the Imperium.

  255. He's an Idiot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And it shows by his "condolences for Marvin Minsky".

    Minsky was a Science Whore who made wild claims (regarding Machines More Intellgent Than Humans) in order to get funds and in order to scare the layman.

  256. Even More Bizzare by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    America and Britain support Saudi-Arabia with billions of dollars of top-notch weapons sales each year.

    The Saudis will then finance Mohammedic Terror world-wide, including in Britain and America. Their ideology calls for wiping out ALL OTHER IDEAS. Saudi is clearly a brutish tyranny. They fund the killing of scores of Christians in Syria, but Prince Charles (the future head of the Church of England) DANCES THE SWORD DANCE FOR THE SAUDIS.

    Now one candidate speaks out (Trump) and the mainstream will smear him.

    Just displays how utterly corrupt and morally rotten the western world has become. Our morals can be bought for a load of Dollars. We are probably screwed..........

    1. Re:Even More Bizzare by Zorak30 · · Score: 1

      Everyone's worst enemy is themselves. I guess the same is true about countries. Hopefully smart people will take over again at some point.

  257. NOT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trump is going to win and the Deep State is going to make sure. They are fed up with the corrupt folks who love to destroy society.

    Remember this.

  258. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What do you get if you cut a Nazi's balls off?

    You.

  259. Trump Twitteraccount by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Freedom of Speech....remember? We are in America you idiot. Or I would shut YOU down!

  260. Re:The short version...why should they silence Tru by MrKrillls · · Score: 1

    I think you attribute more power to the SJWs and their ilk than their woolly notions (I was going to say "ideas", but I don't think it rises to that level.) have earned. Granted their influence has been to greatly empower lazy cowardly "thinking", and their effects have been unequivocally negative, but I think it is easily possible to see them as more influential than they are.

    --
    Don't step on the baby.
  261. Remember when ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    News for Nerds. Stuff that Matters.

  262. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As many as five? Wow, that's cross-party support.

  263. Trumpty Dumpty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trumpty Dumpy sat on a wall
    Trumpty Dumpy had a great fall
    All the Repubs and all the great Dems
    Couldn't put Trumpty together again

  264. Just because you disagree doesn't mean you silence by exabrial · · Score: 1

    Just because you disagree doesn't mean you silence someone jackass. That's immature. If your argument is valid and true, then make your point, and don't whine about the other person getting airtime.

  265. Why by Soccerguy1832 · · Score: 1

    Who is letting this politically biased crap on the front page of Slashdot, no wonder people are leaving this website.

  266. Left-wing no-platforming by tigersha · · Score: 1
    --
    The dangers of excessive individualism are nothing compared to the oppressiveness of excessive collectivism
  267. Free Speech by Tighe_L · · Score: 1

    I don't think anyone should be shutdown. FREE SPEECH. Obviously, the standard clauses of you can't yell "Fire!" in a movie theater, make death threats, etc.

  268. Re:Because he's a legitimate presidential candidat by dywolf · · Score: 1

    "Give them enough rope to hang themselves if you think someone is such a monster..."

    yeah, that worked out great for Germany in 1932

    --
    The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
  269. On the fence by Yanglish · · Score: 1

    People should themselves decide whether to vote for the character. He can write anything on the fence.

    --
    Success is the sum of small efforts - repeated day in and day out.
  270. Re: The wall will be built by tehcyder · · Score: 1

    Today seems to be "give mod points to fascists" day.

    --
    To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  271. The Onion by StarWreck · · Score: 1

    I thought I was on Slashdot... but apparently I'm on the ONION. Or Slashdot editors have just given up all pretense about being impartial news reporters.

    --
    ... and in the DRM, bind them.
  272. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    SHITler lives in your fascist heart like a parasite.

  273. As a political candidate... by KenHansen · · Score: 1

    ...I suspect he gets special treatment, not that Twitter supports/agrees/condones his position, but if Twitter were to block a viable presidential candidate it would incur the wrath of his millions of supporters and potentially open itself up a legal challenge.

  274. Re:The wall will be built by david_thornley · · Score: 1

    Excuse me, must have missed the memo. What fascist dictator fantasies does Obama have? How many of them involve women in leather?

    --
    "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  275. Re: Because that would be unimaginable CENSORSHIP by david_thornley · · Score: 1

    And I don't believe you.

    It may be that the right wing is getting most of the censorship it wants, and so the requests of the left are more visible. Alternately, the right-wing war on science is not portrayed as censorship in the media you follow. I have rarely seen a wacko ideologue who wasn't for censorship, and the reasonable leftists tend to be reasonable.

    --
    "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  276. Typical by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Typical democrape.
    Like it, then make it a right, even if it takes rights away from others.
    Don't like it, then ban it, even if it takes rights away from others.

  277. Re:Insane levels of Political correctness detected by david_thornley · · Score: 1

    Look, they said they weren't going to be changing things all that fast. This means that they have to keep some idiocy reach the front page for at least a short while.

    --
    "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  278. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If Trump gets elected, it'll probably be the best opportunity this century to curb the power of the US Presidency.

    Nah, the best opportunity would come around 2040. That's the estimate I give for when China takes over as the #1 superpower. The impetus behind giving the US Presidency so much power is that Americans are afraid of no longer being #1 superpower. That doesn't change regardless of who gets into office.

    How to maintain #1 status? Well you could work hard and create new businesses and technologies that are ahead of the pack. Or you give power to government and empire build. Guess what most people will choose, regardless of who gets into office.

    So to curb the US Presidency, you need crush people's hopes of empire building. And that is best achieved by losing to another empire.

  279. Slashdot? by truck_soccer · · Score: 1

    Um. This shouldn't be here. This should be on huffpost.

  280. Re: The wall will be built by Bartles · · Score: 1

    It's far more than zero, and far more than voted for BO's stimulus, or the PPACA.

  281. Re:The wall will be built by khallow · · Score: 1

    Nah, the best opportunity would come around 2040. That's the estimate I give for when China takes over as the #1 superpower. The impetus behind giving the US Presidency so much power is that Americans are afraid of no longer being #1 superpower. That doesn't change regardless of who gets into office.

    I see that as the worst time to curb the power of the US Presidency. Because enough US voters would be afraid of no longer being the #1 superpower. I think it could easily get to the point where advocacy for democracy reforms is seen as aiding China.

  282. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I see that as the worst time to curb the power of the US Presidency. Because enough US voters would be afraid of no longer being the #1 superpower.

    I addressed that in the rest of my post. I did acknowledge that when afraid, people will vote for more state power, as that's the easy way instead of working hard as individuals to rebuild your economy.

    I'm saying the best time is after they increased their power, the US needs to be firmly slapped down and lose, as spectacularly as possible. Then the people will realize their folly of putting their faith in the state.

    We've past Godwin a few posts up already, so let's go back to the Nazis: they weren't curbed by reform from within. They needed a stern ass kicking.

    On the flip side, WW2 was so costly for the British that even as victors they started to let go of their colonies (well, that and it's kind of hard to go back to oppressing people after you've told your people that you were fighting to end oppression)

  283. Re:The wall will be built by khallow · · Score: 1

    I'm saying the best time is after they increased their power, the US needs to be firmly slapped down and lose, as spectacularly as possible. Then the people will realize their folly of putting their faith in the state.

    Sorry, doing so after a major loss is not the best time, especially if as a result the US gets something imposed by China.

    We've past Godwin a few posts up already, so let's go back to the Nazis: they weren't curbed by reform from within. They needed a stern ass kicking.

    We got a nice government, West Germany. But we also had a nasty government, East Germany. The problem with your assertion here is the assumption that defeat will result in a more democratic government. My view is that it will result in a government more compatible with the victor, as West Germany was with First World democracies and East Germany was with Second World Communist societies.

    If China happens to favor a democratic government at the time, then fine, it works out. But they aren't that society now.

  284. Re:The wall will be built by Joey+Vegetables · · Score: 1

    Since we're in Godwin territory already, let me add that while you may be correct - I certainly hope so - history suggests otherwise. The Germans might well have hoped the same thing in the late 1920s. With one important exception. Hitler did not have access to nuclear weapons.

  285. Re:The wall will be built by khallow · · Score: 1

    Another important exception is that Trump hasn't done anything worthy of comparison to Hitler. For example, "Art of the Deal" is no "Mein Kampf". When Trump isn't running for president, he's managing a huge real estate empire. When Hitler wasn't running for Chancellor of the Wiemar Republic, he was starting fights in bars. Without the politics, Trump still is a contributing member of society and has a stake in that society continuing to function. Hitler was, as many other utopian types, willing to burn everything down because he was a heavily marginalized part of society.

    I'm not claiming that Trump will be good for the US, but please get a grip.

  286. Re:The wall will be built by Joey+Vegetables · · Score: 1

    Even if we grant your point, it's kind of orthogonal to mine, which is that putting a miscreant in power, so as to build support for a reduction of the power of the office that the miscreant holds, is a dangerous plan.

  287. Re:The wall will be built by khallow · · Score: 1

    Even if we grant your point, it's kind of orthogonal to mine, which is that putting a miscreant in power, so as to build support for a reduction of the power of the office that the miscreant holds, is a dangerous plan.

    Now, you're missing the biggest difference of all. Hitler was chosen so as to destroy the Wiemar Republic. Many of the democratic institutions and checks on power had been destroyed or undermined ever since the Treaty of Versailles (such as the German military immediately finding ways to circumvent the military constraints of the treaty). For example, Hitler wasn't involved in the dissolution of the Free State of Prussia (aside from his SA being involved in street fighting with the Communists that was used as a pretext for the maneuver).

    The current US environment isn't even remotely close. Hence, my opinion on what would happen if Trump were to become president.

  288. Re:The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sorry, doing so after a major loss is not the best time, especially if as a result the US gets something imposed by China.

    The original statement was about when the best opportunity is to curb US government power. Opportunity doesn't have to mean it will actually happen. Trump has the opportunity to become the next president. Doesn't mean he will.

    Note that even if China imposes something on the US, technically the US government's power would get curbed. Before, the US government doesn't have to answer to China. Afterwards, they would have to.

    The problem with your assertion here is the assumption that defeat will result in a more democratic government.

    I made no such assumption. Again, I'm only talking about when the best opportunity is. An opportunity can be missed. It can be wasted. The risk can backfire. But it is still an opportunity.

    We got a nice government, West Germany. But we also had a nasty government, East Germany

    And if had we not defeat Nazi Germany, we wouldn't even have had the opportunity to create the nice government of West Germany at all.

  289. Re:The wall will be built by khallow · · Score: 1

    The original statement was about when the best opportunity is to curb US government power. Opportunity doesn't have to mean it will actually happen. Trump has the opportunity to become the next president. Doesn't mean he will.

    You might have noticed way back when that I used the word "IF".

    Note that even if China imposes something on the US, technically the US government's power would get curbed. Before, the US government doesn't have to answer to China. Afterwards, they would have to.

    "Technically" is not good enough unless China's government also gets curbed in power. You're not thinking this through at all.

  290. It's not "censorship," and it's Twitter's choice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    First, in spite of what Wikipedia claims, "censorship" is strictly something done by an officlal, not (as Wikipedia claims) by media, individuals, etc. Media may be complicit in that they may cooperate, but censorship is done by officials. Wikipedia's censorship article even links to Merriam-Webster for its definition, which says it's a practice of censoring. According to Merriam-Webster, those doing the censoring are officials. Suppression of information may be something that various media outlets perform, but for them to take it upon themselves to do so is not censorship.

    Second, last time I checked, Twitter was a corporation, not a government. It doesn't have "officials" working there. Military-industrial-corporate-government theories aside, that makes them accountable to themselves and to their shareholders. If they choose to publish something on their platform, great. If they choose to suppress it, that's their choice. If they choose to unevenly enforce their self-made rules, that's their choice, too.

    You may not like that they behave this way, and choose to do something in response. Maybe you stop using Twitter. Maybe you buy stock and use your position as a shareholder to try to influence change. Maybe you complain about their uneven enforcement of rules. It's still not censorship and, while uneven enforcement of rules may be despicable and unfair, it's perfectly legal.

    I disagree with what appears to be Twitter's unfair and imbalanced application of their own rules, but I fully support their ability to act that way.

  291. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You know what's not good? Your mom's vagina. That is the stankiest, nastiest, hole an AC could have crawled out of.

  292. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hey asshole, 1963 called and wanted their bogeyman back.

  293. Re: The wall will be built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    With a few exceptions, how is this fundamentally different from the obstructionism of the past 8 years?

  294. Re:The wall will be built by lsatenstein · · Score: 1

    Congress would spend most of its time dispensing with his vetoes, defunding any department he tried to turn to whatever idiotic or evil plan (if you can call what he does "planning") he had in mind.

    why woudl you think this? repubs own both halves of congress, and while I don't think they'll go in for his most radical stuff, they're not going to outwardly challenge or overrule him.

    I used to think that Donald was an adult gutter child, but actually, as I began to watch the comic show, I began to notice a strategy aimed at putting his opponents off balance. In a way, he is also fighting the superpacs, which in every other democratic country, would be deemed illegal. And the feeding of money to candidates via very high paying speaking engagements. I just love bribery.

    He is pointing out that being nice is not being able to make/take a decision and run with it. Instead of having deliberate immediate decisions, to wolly-gag, to fluster and to take action in a years time, to delay the enviable decision down the road is what the opponents are doing. And he uses his attacks very effectively to put his opponents off guard.

    You do realize that the USA, in the event of a war, is no longer self sufficient or able to survive. Your manufacturing of electronic components, and finished products like cellphones, radar detectors, etc, is all being manufactured off-shore. Just let the supply line be blocked, and the USA will fall down on it's own greedy decisions.

    Yes, bring back manufacturing. If it's too expensive to do because of the desire for 30% gross profits, then too bad. Bring profits down to reasonable levels. Bring the director salaries in line with responsibilities. Want a million dollar income? Own enough dividend type shares to give you the excess over $400,000 of salary. You don't deserve more money than that, if you only manage a team of seven to ten people.
    And if the domestic items, manufactured by robots are too expensive, raise the minimum wage.

    When the minimum wage is so low that even with two incomes, a family can't afford medical insurance, or higher education, then the greedy wealthy are the cause of the "Dumbing down of America". It took a decision by Reagan to orchestrate USA poverty. Rich get Richer and poor get poorer.

    Donald is a proactive thinker, not a reactive one.

    And by the way, I think that the team of Trump and Sanders would be fantastic for USA. Is there a reason to not have a Pres/Vice Pres Republican/Democrat or Democrat/ Republican in the white house? What happened to "Government of the people, for the people and by the people"?

    --
    Leslie Satenstein Montreal Quebec Canada
  295. Re:The wall will be built by Noah+Haders · · Score: 1

    I used to think that Donald was an adult gutter child, but actually, as I began to watch the comic show, I began to notice a strategy aimed at putting his opponents off balance.

    So basically you're saying that Trump is a Zui Quan (Drunken Fist) master.

  296. Re: The wall will be built by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

    No, there were NOT five Democratic Senators who voted for conviction. Nice trick, conflating ACCUSATION with conviction when the subject is conviction.

  297. Re: The wall will be built by Bartles · · Score: 1

    You said zero Democrats voted for the impeachment, did you not?

  298. Seriously STFU, from a Democrat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I love Slashdot. But this is a seriously ignorant rant about Donald Trump. Here's the thing. I'm not voting for him. But I'll march into hell to protect his right to free speech. This is America. When something offends me, I turn off the radio, shut off the TV or turn the page. I'm not a captive.

  299. Re:The wall will be built by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

    What power? Choosing whether to drink tea or coffee?

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  300. Re:The wall will be built by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

    Without the politics, Trump still is a contributing member of society and has a stake in that society continuing to function.

    Sitting on your ass and collecting rent doesn't look particularly productive to me.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  301. Re: The wall will be built by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

    I did. My bad. ZERO voted for conviction, and 5 republicans voted against, leaving 45-55 for acquittal. Failed Impeachment
    If you don't remove him, you failed.