Why (And Where) I've Been Wrong
June 21, 2011
My closest friend dared me to publicly admit some things I have learned since rebelling against social media.
Specifically, he challenged me to identify areas where I have been wrong.
So here goes.
1. Censorship is a form of cowardice. Ouch. I have self-censored (by quitting Twitter) and censored others (by disabling comments). So apparently I'm like the lion in Wizard of Oz, desperately in need of some courage.
2. Freedom of speech does not make my opinion sacred. In fact, all the 1st Amendment guarantees is that I have the right to express.
It doesn't guarantee that people will agree with me or that my arguments will even be cogent. Cutting myself off from open dialog has revealed my faulty thinking on this front.
3. One should not use force to advance ideas. Recently, I find myself not arguing for the validity of a position, but rather with a keen desire to make the analysis bite or sting. Usually, I have a specific person in mind as I assemble the words. Again, ouch. I'm not physically beating people up, and although the 1st Amendment allows me to be as vitriolic as possible, Aristotle would be ashamed at my current approach.
4. My desire to not be censored has become stronger than my concern tweeting will make me stupid. I recently spoke
with a friend who travelled to China where he was unable to access Facebook. That kind of government sponsored censorship chills my blood and as a result I want to actively participate in exercising the right to speak freely.
After all the above was said and done we each put forth a challenge to the other, designed to help us grow past where we currently are.
My challenge to him was relatively tame.
His took the form of a blind, triple dog dare.
I accepted.
The triple dog dare?
Bastard.