I consider myself a fairly average conspiracy researcher. I delved into the most open conspiracies, such as 9/11, JFK, Nixon, etc, and come to much the same conclusions as many of you have.
Being new to to all of this (just finished two years on .win) and also being 19, I also see things from a different perspective. Namely, I am a free speech absolutist*. Asterisk intended.
A free speech absolutist* believes that all speech, even that he disagrees with or is offended by, be allowed to persist, unless it is of an illegal nature (rape, pedophilia, death threats, doxxing, etc). A normal free speech absolutist, without the asterisk, believes that all of that should also be allowed.
But that is anarchy. Anarchy has its purpose, but its purpose is not the internet. The Internet functions best under a set of agreed but laissez faire guidelines. One of these guidelines dictates what content on the internet is illegal. Is private information necessarily illegal to exist on the internet? No. But selling that private information is illegal, both in real life and on the internet. We all have been told the potential problems that could surface from having your private information sold online to the highest bidder.
Identity theft is dangerous and understandably illegal, that much is certain. But what of other things on the internet? Surely porn isn't illegal, is it? Well, it is illegal under US law to knowingly distribute pornographic material to minors or leave it in a place where it can be accessed by minors. And yet we have a tool to do that in the palm of our hand or on our desk. Are they illegal by that reason? No! But their use, and the websites they can access, must be regulated to ensure that our children are not corrupted by pornographic images. And porn is certainly dangerous; why else would [they] want to put it into schools?
So what about flat earth? It's not a thoroughly dangerous topic to anyone; indeed, it's the CIA's favorite tool to distract and divide conspiracy researchers. However, some could argue that its proponents are invading this sub. Ok. And? Teach them to study other things. Teach them to love God and worship God. If you pile into every single flat earth post, you give them undue attention. Rather, if you feel like giving a well-thought out rebuttal to their theory, do so, but give them another topic to look into instead that makes more sense, like Hollow Earth or Expanding Earth.
There is no need to ban Flat Earth discussion. It is meaningless and Orwellian. Censorship should have no place in a community driven to its own website by censorship. Have you forgotten so quickly where this place used to be?
It’s not censorship when the speech is meant to disrupt, and nothing else.
So many bad takes and poor understanding of the concept of free speech.
Free speech isn't for the speech you agree with.
"So many bad takes and poor understanding of the concept of free speech."
Physician, heal thy self !!
FE is not speech.
In the same way that playing loud death metal in the middle of a debate, is not speech.
Just like spam is not speech.
It sure is. The question is why dont you like it?
Why cant you disprove it?
It is done easy enough - so why the caterwauling and pearl clutching from those that seem to think it is both at the same time a fringe, kooky idiot theory - and also - dangerous enough to violate the founding principles of this place?
Makes no sense, and when things like this make no sense - it is about control. Which makes you... not the good guy.
Arguing in favor of engaging with FE? Suspect.
“Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”
M. Twain