I think it is funny AND depressing that we have all of these freedoms from governmental control of our speech, thoughts, religion, etc, but we can't really use them all because of the social control that is put on all of us by people in our life and outside of it.
It's funny to me because I look at this from a distance, and think "ha! look at those freedoms to do harm go down the drain." Then, on the other hand I am in the situation, and I am saddened by the fact that our freedoms to do good things -- great things even -- are cut short too.
Certainly, it is arguable that one could just adopt a "screw it" attitude and continue on with free expression, but the problem with that is that it leads to social ostracism and/or harassment... at the very least. Dealing with these types of things is often more of a headache than exercising a freedom seems to be worth.
I guess that is the point.
Perhaps it is good that after we have all these freedoms, they are still "in check" by healthy dose of control from the other free people around us. I'm happy that some of the more foolish things that I might think to say have been trained out of me through the fine-tuning efforts of the people around me. At the same time, frustration comes to all who realize that they can't just say whatever they want whenever they want. Especially when they want to say something different that feels like it might be worthwhile.
Another depressing thought is the acknowledgement that today we have individuals oppressing individuals instead of (or maybe in addition to?) groups oppressing individuals or other, smaller (less organized) groups. Actually, perhaps I need to take that back right away, because we also have groups of people oppressing individuals. Just about a week ago some people and some groups were calling for someone's job to be taken away. Perhaps it is a good thing that this happened, and it might even be a good thing that this can happen, but couldn't is just as easily be a bad thing?
I'm not just concerned about the bad thing which is losing your job just because of what you said, I'm talking about the inauthenticity that will naturally come along with this power that people have over others. In the past people would fake it for the monarchy or the communists or whoever... pick your own example. Shoot, this might even happen in a marital relationship where one spouse has too much power. Now it is happening again, and it is happening right where people tried so hard to keep it from having to happen, no?
No.
lol
I actually don't think that the framers of the constitution meant for us to say whatever it is that we feel whenever we feel the compulsion to say it. These guys probably recognized that one just doesn't go around saying anything and everything that he feels. What they felt and probably even recognized was social control.
Social control is a pretty tricky thing. It's hard for me to really understand completely, but I do get some of it. For one, it can get out of hand pretty easily if it becomes too powerful or simply unbalanced. Secondly, social control is pretty darn powerful. It can strip away your ego, leave you emotionally empty or even crippled, it can cause you to lose your job (as mentioned above,) it can even take your life (stoning, witch trials, lynching, etc.).
Social control is such a powerful thing that it is something that needs to be controlled too. I think that the government has a role in this, but I wonder how much governmental control over social control is a good thing for society. Keep reading, but come back to this side thought.
Anyway, I guess that this all applies to blogging somehow. Yeah, it applies because Blogs are subject to social control.
This is a good thing in a way, because it allows us to test ideas against others, and it helps us to grow more in line with social norms and standards.
However, it is bad because it might cause people to be inauthentic or to discuss things that are neutral instead of things that are important or the things that are actually on one's mind. It is also bad because it can be used to silence a blogger completely.
Lastly, it is just plain aggravating sometimes, because of the dread of what other people might say or do due to the blog; because of pointless criticism and nitpicking that some bloggers have to endure; and because of the fact that we have to go elsewhere to record things that just aren't blog-ready even though they might be blog-worthy.