Thread by @odinsbane

@mashable 1/
With all the negative propaganda being thrown at Gab, I thought we’d take a look at one of the most intellectually dishonest pieces out there: “Gab, a racist-friendly alt-Twitter, has been banned by @PayPal and others,” authored by Adam Rosenberg at @Mashable.

$PYPL @getongab

@mashable @PayPal @getongab 2/
There’s a lot to unpack here, It’s mostly factually correct but Rosenberg chooses “racist-friendly” when “first amendment friendly” or “free speech friendly” or “censorship-free” would do. Instead he picks his words so his politics and misleading intentions are on display
#1a

@mashable @PayPal @getongab 3/
Next, the article correctly states “that's provided a home for people like the suspect in Pittsburgh's synagogue shooting (as well as a lineup of noteworthy racists),” but in a glaring lie of omission neglects to mention that the shooter was also active on Facebook.

$FB

@mashable @PayPal @getongab 4/
Further, he neglects to mention any of the “noteworthy racists” visible on Twitter or any other social media sites. Imagine my shock!!

$TWTR

@mashable @PayPal @getongab 5/
Interestingly, this article quotes from a @Paypal email that "PayPal has been closely monitoring Gab and was in the process of canceling the site’s account **before** the tragic events occurred," a PayPal rep wrote in an email.

@Getongab $PYPL

@mashable @PayPal @getongab 6/
That last one is a bit hard to believe but I suppose it’s tough to disprove so why not.

#Paypal continues: “When a site is allowing the perpetuation of hate, violence or discriminatory intolerance, we take immediate and decisive action."

@mashable @PayPal @getongab 7/
This is obviously a joke as what they forgot to append to the end of the statement was “unless we share the same politics.”

@mashable @PayPal @getongab 8/
If you want to have totally subjective policies in support of censorship that's one thing, but to apply those same policies as a political cudgel to your ideological opponents while claiming to be fair and balanced seems a bit much.

@mashable @PayPal @getongab 9/
What does the author think will happen when the political winds [inevitably] shift against his position?
Do you think he will be as sanguine if the same policies are enacted against his beliefs?
Not everyone believes forced tolerance and censorship virtues, but I digress…

@mashable @PayPal @getongab 10/
@Stripe and @Joyent look to be the next to cut off services. As a reminder, Gab is guilty of nothing here other than being a platform for free speech and having a mad man on its platform.

Are there mad men on other platforms? Maybe some who hate termites?
@benshapiro #gab

@mashable @PayPal @getongab @stripe @joyent @benshapiro 11/
The most telling point Rosenberg makes is “Gab doesn't draw a distinction between free speech and hateful speech.”

Which is to say, Gab understands free speech. When people are allowed to speak, even the ones with hateful opinions speak.

@mashable @PayPal @getongab @stripe @joyent @benshapiro 12/
The great benefit of an open platform is that we all get to see these ideas for disasters that they are - and respond with better ideas.

The free market of ideas works as well for ideology as it does for capital markets. It's not perfect, but better than any alternatives.

@mashable @PayPal @getongab @stripe @joyent @benshapiro 13/
Censoring people with hateful opinions removes a wonderful avenue for them to engage with opponents who might be able to replace the darkness in their minds with a bit of enlightenment.

@mashable @PayPal @getongab @stripe @joyent @benshapiro 14/
The article tries further to sarcastically conflate the meaning of “protected classes” with regard to minorities vs. “hateful bigots,” before concluding “that’s not how free speech works in America,” offering little in the way of context or evidence for his conclusion.

@mashable @PayPal @getongab @stripe @joyent @benshapiro 15/
Fortunately for America, free speech is remarkably simple: Don’t openly call for violence against other people, and you’re pretty much fine, regardless of how much the pearl-clutching censorship-loving editors at @Mashable would like to be otherwise.

@mashable @PayPal @getongab @stripe @joyent @benshapiro 16/
“Gab users are free to post whatever they want, within the site's rules, but third-party interests are under no obligation to maintain a business relationship”

Very true, and it would be interesting to know if Rosenberg thinks the bakers should be required to bake the cake.

@mashable @PayPal @getongab @stripe @joyent @benshapiro 17/
“Them's the breaks when you provide a platform for hate” which is not really saying anything as it does not logically follow that allowing free speech means your services will be cut off and you’ll be slandered and libeled across all media.

@mashable @PayPal @getongab @stripe @joyent @benshapiro 18/
Really, this article was just of a waste of time for everyone. No one but a die-hard partisan will agree with it’s premise or conclusions and it reads like a sponsored article paid for by #Twitter.

@mashable @PayPal @getongab @stripe @joyent @benshapiro 19/
It does serve a purpose as a reminder to all of us that the media is unabashed in it’s push to control the platforms and particulars of how we the people exercise our right to free speech and consume information.

Nothing new except the hand behind the pen.

/end