THE FIGHT

There is a fight happening on the Internet between those who favor free speech and those who favor censorship. Various, controversial speakers - the latest being Sargon of Akkad from Patreon - are being systematically unpersoned and unbanked. Livelihoods are being destroyed over words and "edgy opinions" or a defense of freedom of speech and thought.

There are examples of Twitter censoring a tweet because it broke Pakistan blasphemy laws...

...and even hard left feminists being censored for speaking their minds.

Are we going to let this happen without even a mention of what the potential Steem has in combating censorship for odd, controversial or heinous, off the cuff remarks?

Steem was developed to be a social network that not only rewarded content creators - like Patreon - but also resist censorship by utilizing the blockchain and distributed servers.

And yet, Steem Inc., the Steem users on other social platforms I can find, and the various interfaces of Steem remain silent. Where is the full throated defense of the right to express yourself on Twitter from Steem Network or @Ned? Why are we not using these controversies to our advantage to further and strengthen Steem's position in the market? Steem can't be taken down, so why are we silent?

NO SPINE, NO GROWTH

I've been pondering the slow growth of Steem. Besides some of the technological hurdles Steem has been dealing with I think not taking a position of strength and righteousness is a HUGE reason. Frankly, the userbase and Steem Inc. have failed to cement Steem as a place for freedom by defending it. Steem simply doesn't have a reputation outside of being a novel cryptocurrency and a struggling social network.

Look at what has been happening to Gab.com or Bitchute. Whether or not you agree with the mission statement or the people on those platforms, Gab is PERFECT example of why we need Steem in the world and why we need to find a common purpose with them. From one end of the Internet to the other, Gab was excised, deleted, unpersoned, erased and unbanked. All because they choose to let people express themselves as fully as possible on their network. Personally, I think the Gab is an okay platform , I have an account, but Steem is better. WAY BETTER!

Gab fought tooth and nail to revive their services, but if you believe it's going to stop now that they're implementing some blockchain tech and a new payment processor, you are mistaken. With Europe attempting to implement Article 11 and 13, more censorship is coming and they will come for Gab again.

Then they'll come for Minds.com and finally Steem. Where will people be able to turn to as the Net becomes as wet and bland and constricting as a vice wrapped in a sanitary napkin? Steem needs to grow if it's going to continue to fight to bring uncensored speech and financial rewards for good content to the world.

TAKING OUR PLACE

Steem should emerge from the shadows and forcefully defend people and services - as long as they aren't violent or predatory (read children) - who defend free speech or who are hurt by the censors at every good opportunity. By taking a stand, we not only advertise the network, but stop paying lip service to the whole "Steem is censorship resistant" line. It's meaningless unless we use that power.

As a result of Gab's public and acidic defense of their right to speak, their membership has been exploding and they get the added benefit of defending fundamental freedoms of human beings.

They also use this opportunity to point out the rabid hypocrisy and political hackery of Twitter, Facebook PayPal, Patreon and the rest.

Steem may not be perfect, or even ready, but we shouldn't let perfect be the enemy of the good. Gab's services aren't complete and yet they fight ahead, proving that it's possible to compete on principle and actually build the roads needed to defend freedom of thought on the Internet.

Steem doesn't need a payment processor or centralized servers. It doesn't need a video platform thanks to @dtube or a blogging platform thanks to Steemit.com. It doesn't need anything that can't be built on the platform and protected by the decentralization. The blockchain is immutable and can't be censored. What are we doing, sitting on our asses while mobs of hypersensitive assholes roam the digital plains of the Net destroying centralized services and people?

SO WHAT DO WE DO?

As users we can:

1. Defend free speech on Twitter, Patreon, Facebook using the hashtags #steem #befree #freespeech #freecreators (open to more suggestions).
2. Point out the hypocrisy of the other platforms on those platforms.
3. Point out that Steem doesn't need a payment processor.
4. Invite controversial creators including the ones you might disagree with.
5. Point out censorship is not only wrong but very difficult to achieve on Steem.
6. Point out that we as users run and control the network, unlike you know who.
7. Point out that it's much more democratic (witnesses)
8. Point out that users can be muted and flagged for offensive content.
9. Point out the selfishness of other platforms (they get all the monetary rewards, while we get none) and how Steem inverts that.
10. Create art that subverts and satirizes censorious people and companies.
11. Point out the money to be made.
12. Meme the hell out of this issue and make fun of people, because humor is a great way to get people to empathize with you.

As a technology:

1. Create a way for users to push posts to alternative networks like Gab, PeepEth and Minds.
2. Create a way to easily share other people's posts to the same networks.

As a company:

1. Get on the side of freedom and anti-censorship instead of just paying lip service to it.
2. Stop focusing on the technology side when interacting with the public.

In any case, those are the thoughts that have been rattling around my brain pan and today's deplatforming of Sargon - who I really enjoy listening to - made me want to write about it. One day, I know I'm going to say something that'll upset someone, and I don't want to be erased.

I don't think anyone should have to live with that fear, especially if their job, like mine, is to speak.

Philip, out.

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