Comments on: Let There be Blood: Why we shouldn’t ban Real Social Dynamics at the border.

By: Kate Davis

Kate Davis — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 07:43:13 +0000

In reply to Daniel Strypey Bruce. Boom! That's what I'm talking about!

By: Daniel Strypey Bruce

Daniel Strypey Bruce — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 16:38:15 +0000

I’ve stood up for freedom of speech before on the blog, and I’m glad to see I’m not the only one. As Chomsky put it, if you don’t support free speech by people you disagree with, then you don’t really support free speech. I disagree with the corporatist shills who turn up here to shit in our soup and spout key messages, and I’m all for moderating their comments if they get abusive, but never censoring them merely for having a contrary opinion. We must remember that the ability to dissent is *essential* to any kind of democracy.

By: Kate Davis

Kate Davis — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 08:16:11 +0000

In reply to Frank Macskasy.

Was the State the voice of the people in the Tuhoe raids?

As more & more of our freedoms are eroded I worry about banning. As an activist & a unionist I’m aware that one persons freedom fighter is another persons terrorist. At sone point couldnt my speech become perceived as harmful?
I’m not convinced that cultivating a culture of censorship will serve us well in the future.

By: Frank Macskasy

Frank Macskasy — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 06:07:41 +0000

In reply to jazz musician. Or, conversely, the state is the the voice of the people deeming that certain things are not appropriate for wide dissemination because of the harm it causes, or the environment created that enable harm to be perpetrated on others?

By: jazz musician

jazz musician — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 05:58:16 +0000

somewhat similar situation to odd future, who were banned after a moral panic in ’14 cf http://readingthemaps.blogspot.co.nz/2014/02/after-odd-future-shall-we-ban-rolling.html

calling on the state to ban things is a sign of intellectual abdication

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 02:01:02 +0000

In reply to Kate Davis. Understood.

By: jemal

jemal — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 06:56:18 +0000

Though it is nice to hit them where it hurts in the pocket,no tour no money

By: Kate Davis

Kate Davis — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 05:11:17 +0000

In reply to Steve. This blog is a collective of 40 individuals with disparate views from across the spectrum of the 'left.' We aren't speaking with one voice. There is no party line.

By: Jollo

Jollo — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 05:09:14 +0000

Great post.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 00:48:01 +0000

Agree with all your points. Best I think to let them in & let them express their ignorance. Makes it easier to identify those here who hold their views & hold them to account publicly. Freedom of thought & expression go hand-in-hand.

Must point out though that your sentiment contradicts previous campaigns on this blog to ban people. For example, there was a campaign to ban an Israeli tennis player…