RE: Nonviolent Censorship is how Nonviolent Societies create Nonviolent Government
While I agree with almost everything you said. There is something else that we don't usually talk about or even like mentioning.
The thing is that its not only governments.
If you look at the world, you will see that most are ruled under a sort of religious state. Even here in the United States.. We can't seem to separate church and state. In God We Trust
"God"
Our sense of identity has a tremendous impact on the way we interact with the world. Whether we do so consciously or subconsciously we act and react based on who we think we are. Our sense of identity is influenced by various belief systems in our daily lives. Such as religious, philosophical, ideological, political, or scientific beliefs. To believe in one should not discredit another. We tend to stick to the beliefs that we are taught at a young age and later in life find it hard to look at things from different perspectives. Oftentimes because different belief systems have conflicting ideologies with our own. We do have a choice on how to react when new information in presented to us. We can discuss the differences and hopefully reach a logical common ground.
If your first response is to defend your pre existing beliefs without regards for new information, then your mind is not your own. It has been influenced and shaped. That is a very scary and real thing in the world. History has shown us that we will go to war to defend those belief systems. Mythology blinds us and no culture likes to admit that its own beliefs are myths. You may consider yourself monotheistic, agnostic or atheist but chances are you are polytheistic. It is not what we preach but our everyday actions that define us. Regardless of the religion we follow or the “God” we pray to, we should all be able to have rational talks about different belief systems that have been shaping the world.
Education and information is the only way we can all move foward. If not it will only be a matter of time before conflicting ideologies become violent.
Look at the world right now.
We are inherently violent whether we like to admit it or not.
You are absolutely right. I am not advocating we plug our ears. I am merely attempting to describe the nature of the world and society around us. For example, I wouldn't prevent someone from making new arguments because I value all challenges to my belief system. It is the challenges that help me grow. Over time my views have consistently evolved which means I am always open to new information.
Those whose identity is tied up in their beliefs have a harder time accepting or tolerating different opinions. This aspect of human nature will cause most people to react in a way to censor those promoting ideas that conflict with their core beliefs of right and wrong.
For example, I suspect you would self-censor anyone threatening or inciting violence on a platform you controlled. Your opinion of that individual would be negatively impacted and you would likely stop doing business with them and encourage others to do the same.
I don't believe in censoring or economic sanctions. I believe that education and information is key. I would try to talk with that individual and try to understand their perspective as much as I can. It's amazing what we can learn from those who view the world differently than we do. Completely out casting them socially and economically it's not the answer.
That just drives a wedge in progress.
Sanctions force those economically less stable to conform in order to survive. In the US we hardly even think what sanctions mean.
The US can impose sanctions on any country in the world that doesn't align with its believes. Those sanctions affect millions of people that may already be having a hard time surviving. Often times they had nothing to do with the sanctions.
It is only through dialog and compromise that we can learn and move forward.
To do that we must first know our identities and the systems that influence them.
Yes but some people don't listen and if you run a big business you DONT have time to talk to everyone at great length until you come to common ground.
Especially when you are dealing with religious people who don't even use much critical thinking and are totally indoctrinated.
Having ideals is awesome and I agree with ideals of NO CENSORSHIP and NO ECONOMIC SANCTIONS yet ideals are just that, Ideals. They are NOT reality.
Its interesting because I live more true to my ideals than anyone I know. Yet sometimes I have to make a choice to defend my self when someone attacks me. I always try talking but if it doesn't work then some kind of force must be used.
Now it is possible after a giant group of super evolved beings gets together that there could be groups and individual people who volunteer their time to deal with people that are violent and or crazy. Yet you get all the leaches who just live off of peoples kindness.
Basically there will always be problems. This post is a great post about ideals. Ideals are important and I hope EVERYONE strives for them....Yet as Dan says, we will not ever have every agreeing on everything. This is something that has to be faced and every individual has to choose as to what they do when faced with this. Everyone has the right to choose and many people will choose differently.
SO ultimately it all comes down to the choices we make and #1 Karma is real and #2 as Dan says social perception of who we are is very powerful.
Great post and dialogue. These are very important matters to discuss!
Hi mr. echoes :p
I want to challenge you on that belief!
First, it's a bit of a strawman, because you only control you. Completely out casting them is not an option anyone ever has in a decentralized system.
It may end up like that, if enough people feel that way, but then it's hard to argue it since I'm certainly not comfortable telling you that you have to welcome someone into your life.
But I'm also not willing to tell you who you can't welcome into your life.
You, mr. echoes, could work with people who are violent and try to rehabilitate them to where they're accepted by mainstream society again. And by doing this there would likely be some kind of esteem given to you, as the person who brought these lost gifts back into the community.
You'd only do it though to whatever extent the people were actually looking for the help.
So it's sort of a paradox where being willing to completely ostracize people means you don't actually have to do it. And it means there are soft landings and avenues of recovery for people who act bad.
Compared to how it is now where people DO get locked in a cage and completely outcast, with no incentive to improve themselves and then offered back to society with marks on their record that make things tougher for them (rinse and repeat, usually).