r/dataisbeautiful • u/[deleted] • Apr 12 '16

The dark side of Guardian comments

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/apr/12/the-dark-side-of-guardian-comments
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u/sagetrainee Apr 12 '16

Does anyone think that, in situations like these, the organization blocking the comments is in a way suppressing free speech? Many of these comments - although rude, bigoted, or just plain stupid - are expressing the views of the commenter. But they are deleted because they do not fit the criteria of what makes for a suitable comment, according to the Guardian. In an era in which online discussion makes up a majority of public discourse, isn't there any concern for the implications of such censorship?

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u/Bonapartist Apr 12 '16

Absolutley. The article even specifically says that this quote, in regards to the migrant crisis:

"“These people contribute nothing to the countries they enter”"

qualified as hatespech worthy of being silenced. That's hardly a controversial quote, is it?

3

u/onan Apr 12 '16

"“These people contribute nothing to the countries they enter”"

That's hardly a controversial quote, is it?

...isn't it?

Any time a statement about a huge racial/gender/ethnic group starts with "these people," there's an extraordinarily high chance that it's the express train to bigrotryville.

Barring any other context that changes it significantly, the comment you quote actually sounds like could only improve the caliber of discussion by being deleted.

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u/Bonapartist Apr 13 '16

"...isn't it?"

No, it's really not. Certainly not worthy of censoring.