Taliban attacks Facebook over freedom of speech concerns

[JustSomeBloke]

Question about freedom of speech ‘should be asked of those ... who do not allow publication of foreign information and news,’ Taliban spokesman says

Ouch! It must sting to get a lesson on free speech from the Taliban! And unlike Joe Biden, he is taking and answering questions from the media.

It's also interesting to note that the Taliban's official spokesman appears to have an active Twitter account, whereas the former president of the United States has been banned from Twitter.

 

[Nithavela]

Amazing how similiar the taliban sound compared with western conservatives, isn't it?

 

[The One Reborn]

Question about freedom of speech ‘should be asked of those ... who do not allow publication of foreign information and news,’ Taliban spokesman says

Ouch! It must sting to get a lesson on free speech from the Taliban! And unlike Joe Biden, he is taking and answering questions from the media.

It's also interesting to note that the Taliban's official spokesman appears to have an active Twitter account, whereas the former president of the United States has been banned from Twitter.

A new friendship seems to be blossoming between the Taliban and western conservatives.

Hardly surprising. After all, these two groups have more in common than western conservatives and leftist.

 

[ozso]

A new friendship seems to be blossoming between the Taliban and western conservatives.

Hardly surprising. After all, these two groups have more in common than western conservatives and leftist.

You mean western liberals and leftists?

 

[The One Reborn]

You mean western liberals and leftists?

No, I really meant conservatives.

 

[JustSomeBloke]

Amazing how similiar the taliban sound compared with western conservatives, isn't it?

A new friendship seems to be blossoming between the Taliban and western conservatives.

Hardly surprising. After all, these two groups have more in common than western conservatives and leftist.

I agree, it's hardly surprising, seeing as it's usually the Left wing socialists and communists that trample all over freedom of speech.

* Soviet era Russia, and Communist China, are the most egregious examples from history.

 

[The One Reborn]

I agree, it's hardly surprising, seeing as it's usually the Left wing socialists and communists that trample all over freedom of speech.

* Soviet era Russia, and Communist China, are the most egregious examples from history.

I can buy you a plane ticket if you want to meet your newfound friends in Afghanistan.

 

[JustSomeBloke]

I can buy you a plane ticket if you want to meet your newfound friends in Afghanistan.

Why do those who love freedom have to move? It would be far better if those in the West who like censorship were to book a one way ticket to China.

 

[ozso]

No, I really meant conservatives.

Well then the second part of your comment seems to be contradicting the first part.

 

[dzheremi]

Authoritarians always do this. It's been many years since I studied the language, but I remember in my Russian classes years ago learning various (by that point historical) propaganda phrases used by the Soviets about the western/capitalist world, saying that people in those countries treated each other like wolves in how they were forced by their corrupt system to devour their fellow men, while the Soviet man was a friend to everyone and saw all equally as brothers and blahblahblah.

That was nonsense, and so is this. If you think the Taliban care about freedom of speech, ask any in the rather large diaspora of Afghan singers, artists, and other intellectuals and dissidents who are not able to freely practice their arts in their own country, because the Taliban will only accept unaccompanied songs with religious themes about how great the Taliban warriors are! (That was a real thing back in the 1990s; they even had their own record label to publish their propaganda on cassettes.)

The BBC did a whole documentary on this, showing the destruction these pigs wreaked on the beautiful musical culture of their country in the name of their narrowminded barbarism.

The Taliban suck, and if you think they have any kind of ground to stand on here, you should really, really rethink the implications of what you're arguing for. Is owning the libs or whatever really worth getting into bed (ideologically) with some of the worst assassins of human freedom and flourishing on the face of planet Earth?

 

[Nithavela]

Is owning the libs or whatever really worth getting into bed (ideologically) with some of the worst assassins of human freedom and flourishing on the face of planet Earth?

 

[ozso]

So just like Trump.

 

[Nithavela]

So just like Trump.

Just answering his question.

 

[Tanj]

I agree, it's hardly surprising, seeing as it's usually the Left wing socialists and communists that trample all over freedom of speech.

As opposed to the Taliban.

Classic.

 

[Hazelelponi]

I guess the question should be what does allowing the Taliban to speak actually hurt?

They existed prior to Facebook, so speaking won't make them go away, they have support enough sans speaking on Facebook.

They grow in power vacuums, speaking won't change that either. No power vaccum, no Taliban - stop creating them will go farther than silencing them on Facebook.

I don't see the harm, truly. We lost Afghanistan. Taliban won. Let's move on.

 

[Nithavela]

I guess the question should be what does allowing the Taliban to speak actually hurt?

They existed prior to Facebook, so speaking won't make them go away, they have support enough sans speaking on Facebook.

They grow in power vacuums, speaking won't change that either. No power vaccum, no Taliban - stop creating them will go farther than silencing them on Facebook.

I don't see the harm, truly. We lost Afghanistan. Taliban won. Let's move on.

Exactly, let's give the taliban a huge platform to recruit fanatics and heighten the moral of islamist radicals worldwide. What could go wrong?

 

[Hazelelponi]

Exactly, let's give the taliban a huge platform to recruit fanatics and heighten the moral of islamist radicals worldwide. What could go wrong?

The U S. And the western world allowed it with Dae'sh, and have been allowing it for fanatics of all stripes... why end free speech now?

The only bad would be if we had no argument to counter it with, but we do, so why not employ some of those faculties for debate in areas our voice can actually make a difference?

When it comes to Afghanistan the only people who can change it are Afghani citizens... not the U.S. military, so let Afghans either live it or change it themselves - its their choice.

Ban the Taliban from Facebook and they'll just lie and get accounts anyway... why bother?

 

[Hazelelponi]

Amazing how similiar the taliban sound compared with western conservatives, isn't it?

Actually western conservatives believe everyone should have the right to speak and healthy argument and debate ensue... the Taliban believes in Sharia.

Quite a large difference. The Taliban wanting "freedom of speech" comes from a freedom for me but not for thee mentality, one they live out daily. They aren't any different than Facebook themselves - we just don't have the "fact checkers" wielding guns yet.

That's why the Taliban said we can't critize them for not allowing free speech - because we have Facebook who censors speech all day long.

But then, Facebook doesn't live according to our principles so there's that... and I'll criticize both Facebook and Taliban. I know how to debate my views - and mine have merit.

 

[Nithavela]

The U S. And the western world allowed it with Dae'sh, and have been allowing it for fanatics of all stripes...

And it was a mistake that should not be repeated.

The only bad would be if we had no argument to counter it with, but we do, so why not employ some of those faculties for debate in areas our voice can actually make a difference?

You want to "debate" with the taliban? Are you serious?

Ban the Taliban from Facebook and they'll just lie and get accounts anyway... why bother?

If you close the front door, thieves will just kick it open, so why bother?

 

[Hazelelponi]

You want to "debate" with the taliban? Are you serious?

I'm dead serious. In debate it's not your opponent your trying to convince, it's those within hearing / reading.

Plus, I have before, not only with Taliban but with Da'esh - and I'm happy to do it again and again if necessary.

The speaking is always for benefit of those more easily confused by propaganda.

Becoming the enemy in practice does nothing to convince the feeble minded your enemy is wrong.