Read Between the Lines: The Fear of Offending

I was originally just going to post this on Facebook but having proofread it I realized there was a high probability that it would be censored by those deadbeats. It contained certain words that I couldn't avoid using to get my point across and I knew I had been blocked for them on Facebook in the past. I opted to post here to avoid that censorship. So unless they click on the link when I post this article to Facebook and actually read this it is unlikely this will go down the rabbit hole on Facebook.

Americans are worried about ever-increasing deletion of ideas. Rewritings of history. Those responsible for these deletions and revisions have managed to amplify it by creating a climate of self-censorship (via fear). Due to psychological contrivance of self-censorship, a post, video or blog blocked has a broader negative effect of killing speech. Policy debates aren’t occurring. Real news isn’t being circulated. Truthful history books aren’t being published. Media and corporations are employing psychological tactics on people with impunity. The principle of self-limiting is that just to be on the safe side people refrain from saying even things that aren’t banned outright for fear of ‘offending’. That’s how tyranny works you toadies…through fear.

The Chinese Communists (CCP) for decades used a method of making its policies deliberately vague. During campaigns central leadership would issue a decree that “rightists” and “counterrevolutionaries” were to be punished. The next rung of Party officials wouldn’t be told what exactly makes one a “rightist” or a “counterrevolutionary” or even what the punishment should be. Fear ensued, then silence.

In February Amazon updated its policies to ban things they deemed “hate speech” without explaining what it considers hate speech. Amazon controls > 80% of the book market. One can only guess whether a book may become “hate speech”. If publishers bow to Amazonian pressures, they may now go even further avoiding certain topics altogether proactively. Tech platforms such as Facebook and Twitter usually provided some definition of hate speech and other content rules but have admitted that they intentionally keep part of their policies undisclosed to prevent people from circumventing them. Yet we are now seeing erasure of cartoons like Dr. Seuss and Pepe Le Pew. The effect is users guess the boundaries of censorship. This leads to self-censorship. If you don’t believe me…try posting something on FB that states the coronation of Uncle Joe wasn’t legit or portrays transgenders ‘incorrectly’ (I self-censored this sentence to get past Blogger's moderation).

The tech platforms openly acknowledge content policies are a work in progress. Over the years, new rules have been added and applied retroactively. The content that was acceptable yesterday may get banned today. Rules are bent for political convenience. Facebook for example considers verbal attacks on people based on race, sex, or sexual proclivities are hate speech. But its contracted moderators were informed attacks on straight white males would be exempted. Yes, really…go do your homework.

In current ideologies denying that you are racist or have “white privilege” counts as a proof of accusation. There’s a script for white people and a script for people who aren’t white. Even other black people and other minorities have been silenced or 'disappeared' for not towing the line. There is no room for disagreement. You can’t talk about it aloud without risk. You can’t even express your doubts because dissent isn’t allowed. It’s how this ideology works. It gets into your head and it’s damaging. Frankly, this is exactly why I became more offensive and abrasive. I’m not playing the game being someone’s unwitting toady. I will not be a mindless vessel for dissemination of this idiocy.

We’re already doing it in society. How long until this is practiced universally in the church or is it already through BLM and Social Justice? Read between the lines. Before long this may be the only way to determine the truth. Reading between the lines to find the truth…as it may no longer be in black and white for fear of offending. 

Sometimes the key to true communication is the ability to hear or see what isn’t being said. Offensiveness isn't offensive...its censorship and silencing. Today, Dr. Seuss. Tomorrow, the Bible and the Constitution.