For example the more left wing people don't call themselves that bc they know that banning hate speech means not having total free speech. Why do people like Elon and his fans argue that they can still vouch for total free speech while banning certain forms of expression?
EDIT: I'm rate limited so can't reply. Elon Musk has called himself a "free speech absolutist" multiple times
So it seems confusing when people talk about free speech absolutism as it’s a one sided argument.
My interpretation is that there’s a free speech principle and it’s always had limits (eg, threatening someone’s life, inciting immediate violence). But it’s about drawing the line of what speech is allowed or disallowed.
Musk claims he is: https://www.npr.org/2022/10/08/1127689351/elon-musk-calls-hi...
> But the latest twist in this ongoing saga has resurfaced questions about what the popular social media site will look like under the leadership of a so-called free speech absolutist.
I think he’s being labeled as one in this article but it doesn’t seem like Musk is claiming to be an absolutist.
I've seen more than a few people claim that verbatim, so no.
- don't allow hate speech
- don't allow harassment
- reduce spread of (likely intentionally created) misinformation
The think is a lot of the complains come from people doing one of the points above _intentionally and knowing_ and then complain "but free speech". In their mind it is okay to spread hate speech and harass or push harassment of certain groups of people because they _do not see them as people_. They often also come up with stupid argument why their harassment is supposedly no harassment, with nonsense like "we should be allowed to always remind a traumatized person of their trauma because thats just free speach and purely informative we don't insult them" often taking advantage of 3rd parties potentially not understanding why its harassment far worse then some childish insults.
EDIT: Or complains from people which intentional spread misinformation for other political and often market manipulation reasons and don't like when twitter labeled their tweet as misinformation.
"Starlink has been told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources. We will not do so unless at gunpoint.
Sorry to be a free speech absolutist." [1]
It comes from:
- people not understanding their own constitution
- people in privileged positions not understanding why we can't tolerate hate speech, harassment and similar
- a ton of modern fascists complaining that their posts where removed by moderation, or their accounts have been suspended, when spreading hate speech and misinformation. Some of this people are rather influential in conservative circles and/or wealthy.