@alex #qoto is just open minded. As a Mod, I feel I am required to let folks know that we do not support any sort of hate speech and to take aims to censor it on our own instance.
Being that said, we are an instance open for learning, and for potentially uncomfortable conversations. We like opposing opinions and treasure the human mind's ability to be open and learning. We do not like to block other instances, and prefer for our users to do any kind of blocking on their personal level.
I, personally, welcome any chance to learn. So, I am happy to discuss anything with folks at Spinster or Gab or wherever.
@Surasanji @alex What "hate speech" do you censor?
@realcaseyrollins @alex If the speech is designed to denigrate or harm another human being, is an attack on what they are as a person (IE: Gender/Gender ID, religion, ethnic background, sexual orientation, et al. Something that can't be 'helped' as it were.) or is otherwise abusive in nature may be censored.
We will not censor speech that is unpopular, however, or that makes someone uncomfortable because they disagree with it.
The mods at #qoto are almost always available to discuss something if you feel we need to be made aware of something. We also, as Mods, discuss things whenever we're not sure- discussion is an important part of the #qoto experience.
@realcaseyrollins @alex It would depend entirely on the greater context. The statements in and of themselves are not, specifically, hate speech. There is a certain amount of context required to say any particular 'catch phrase' is or isn't hate speech.
@Surasanji @alex But I'm assuming a lot of rhetoric used by the religious right such as calling non-cis individuals "sexual deviants" wouldn't fly on #qoto, as that's demeaning?
@realcaseyrollins @alex We would likely speak to someone who decided to say that.
It's one of those opinions that you're more than welcome to have, but keep it to yourself in this space.
@Surasanji @alex Fair enough.
@alex Well not everybody agrees with that. I think it's just the truth, but @Surasanji says it's "Something that can't be 'helped'".
It's a divisive issue.
@mk @realcaseyrollins @alex Those things are things that can't be helped- and they form in the mind like cement.
At the end of the day, my opinion is that if your beliefs- whatever they are- harm neither yourself nor anyone else you're probably okay.
@alex @mk @realcaseyrollins To a certain degree I'm sure there is a measure of harm being passed between both groups.
The real trick, though, will be sorting that mess out. It's hard to think straight with raw wounds.
Personally, I tend towards trying to be consistent in my world view. I prefer integrity to morality.
Good and Evil- Morality- are ultimately built on shifting sand. What is Evil to one person may not seem so Evil to another. The same can be said for good- it's all very relative.
From what I've seen- (and please keep in mind that this position is coming from someone who is trying to educate themselves, and absolutely doesn't know everything there is to know about the subject) - that Feminists and Transsexuals are both fighting for something they really do believe in.
I think I'm leaning towards dysphoria being required to consider someone Transsexual. Partially, this is because I have a major issue with "Self-ID" when it comes to my personal cross to bare: Mental Health.
As someone with actual bipolar II that I take quite a lot of medication and work very hard to control the idea that someone could just one day say 'OH I'M BIPOLAR!' as some kind of excuse for their shitty behavior or whatever sort of pisses me off specifically because of the pain the disease causes me.
I also agree with the Feminists who say that there are some biologically male persons who are trying to invade women's spaces. Gyms or changing rooms or women's sports, for instance. I can't tell you why they want to be in those spaces, but I don't think that Trans-persons with dysphoria are a particularly large subset of that group.
It comes back to the mental health part of it. Dysphoria is mental. It affects the brain- and as someone with what amounts to diabetes of the brain myself I can empathize with those people in particular. If those people genuinely want to live their lives as a gender other than the one they were born to, that's fine with me.
And then I swing back, because I- as a male who has no dysphoria- will not have to potentially share a formerly unshared space with someone who- biologically at least- does not share my gender.
So, I find myself in a place where I'm desperately trying to empathize and understand both sides of this while being almost wholly unprepared in terms of actual experience.
@alex @mk @realcaseyrollins When I say 'Gender dysphoria' I mean whichever body dysphoria is the one that makes a person of one biological sex want to be a different biological sex.
As for what is a woman?
There is only one true and honest answer: Chaka Khan
https://open.spotify.com/track/1oFiPGBafH9Woo9AMwgBSl
@alex @mk @realcaseyrollins (( In other words, I am not equipped to decide who or what a man or woman is. ))
@alex @realcaseyrollins I'm not sure that I agree entirely, but I'm very happy to read the article and make my own opinion on it. :)
@Surasanji @alex So, are any of these examples hate speech?
"White people should have a homeland."
"Gay marriage should be illegal."
"Homosexuality is sin."
"Islam is a violent religion."