The purpose of this post is not to persuade, or sway, or convince. It is not meant to start a heated discussion of who is right, who is wrong, who is virtuous, or who is evil. I'm inviting rational thought, something very much lacking in our world...something very much needed.
If you are at all following current events, you have heard the app and website Parler cannot be accessed at this time. Again, you may be cheering this development or just the opposite. I repeat--this post is meant to invoke thought, not to take sides.
If you're not familiar with Parler, think of it as Twitter for conservatives. This isn't entirely correct since many non-conservatives use (or used...) the platform. Now, no one can use it--it is a dead social medium. Those in charge of other platforms and social media decided it was okay to shut it down. It was found to be unacceptable.
You may not care that this happened. Chances are, you did not use Parler. Maybe no one you know used it.
Individuals are complex, multidimensional. We have many interests, we associate--either in person or online--with a variety of people and groups. Let's say, you are not on Parler, or even hate it, but you are part of a religion, are involved in community service or community theater. You work for a company that is based in America. Surely, this action by a few companies to shut down Parler cannot affect you.
But, if someone decides the religion of which you are a member, had discriminated or discriminates the rights of others, it might be a good idea to shut down apps, websites, and internet access of that religion. It may be considered unacceptable (I'm not saying these companies will take this action, but the important thing to remember is, they can and they are showing that they will...). This can be done because these software companies are, after all, private organizations and can do what they want. So, they may feel shutting down a religion's internet access is the right thing to do. Many would cheer this action because in their eyes all religions should be banned permanently from the internet, believing religions do more harm than good.
So, your religion no longer has access to the internet. You can still worship, after all. But, what if the company for which you work is owned by someone who is a member of this religion, or maybe a conservative. Since the religion and their political views are now deemed unacceptable, those in charge may decide to eliminate your company's presence from the internet. Because if the owner has these religious and political viewpoints, they must be part of how the company operates. These software companies are, after all, private organizations and can do what they want.
Try running a business in the twenty-first century without an internet presence. It's a death sentence. But, you can always get another job. The community theater you love so much--if it's run by unacceptable people, it may need to go. Community service organizations...same thing. You cannot allow an unacceptable person running those things either. Anything unacceptable is an open target.
The purpose of this post is to generate thought, nothing else. Think of all the things you do, that you're involved with. All it takes is someone to label you, your religion, your employer, your interests as "unacceptable" then the simple act of removing an unacceptable app and website like Parler might just end up affect you after all.
