I just got an official response from mastodon.social over someone from bofa trying to get us silenced for being free speech oriented.

I got an official response from the moderators over there and told #QOTO will NOT be silenced. They did not find any justification for the report.

@arteteco @absolutus

@freemo I'm not familiar with this matter at all. Can I ask what bofa is?

@hashtaggrammar @freemo

bofa.lol is a mastodon instance.
And I quote their site "Where the bofa.lol roam. A refuge for shitposting leftist birdsite exiles. Home of the Fightin' Phone Weasels."
Loud emphasis on "shitposting"

@commandelicious @hashtaggrammar @freemo I have trouble understanding people who want to silence differing opinions because it makes them uncomfortable.

Personally, I'd rather know where people stand in relation to myself. It allows dialogue. Gotta face that cognitive dissidence someday.

@Surasanji @commandelicious @freemo I agree with you completely, and I love to debate. However, unfortunately I do think lately, here in the US anyway, there hasn't been much distinction between "opinions" (of say, a policy matter or how to fix issues) and actual values that our country was founded on. I miss the days when I could just debate gun policy, abortion, tax policy here in the US rather than feeling like instead I'd like to remind people that marginalized groups deserve to be treated like people. That's just where I draw the line, you know?

@hashtaggrammar Can't argue with any of that. The lack of healthy debate in the USA is a good part of why i left.

@Surasanji @commandelicious

@hashtaggrammar @Surasanji
Don't go into politics Commandelicious, just don't ... :D

I am very happy to have you here @freemo
This is brain drain. And you have a beautiful one at that <3

@commandelicious @Surasanji @freemo Well let's put it another way. I guess the contrarian in me is always at work, so another part of me is like...what if you're a pedophile and you want a safe space to talk about wanting to act on your impulses? Are we just going to be like... you do you, boo?

The line does need to be drawn somewhere, no?

@hashtaggrammar
That would violate our policy as physical harm to another. We certainly have a line and have banned people who crossed it.

@commandelicious @Surasanji

@freemo @commandelicious @Surasanji Some things are just unquestionable. I'm basically saying, I'll debate differing opinions all day long as long... as they aren't bigoted views. In real life I've had successful debates; a few months ago I even got a Vietnam Vet wearing a MAGA shirt to admit he'd vote for Michelle Obama. ;) I reject the notion that engaging with the other side is totally pointless, and I actually usually feel like a minority with that opinion in my real life.

@hashtaggrammar
Very well said, your views seem to line up very closely with my own. In the end we NEED this sort of dialogue if we have any hope of fixing the wounds society has right now.

The only alternative is screaming at each other across the aisle, each side getting progressively more violent and angry, until we have people killing and assaulting each other. Hell we are already there!

@commandelicious @Surasanji

@freemo @hashtaggrammar @commandelicious

There are certainly things which are absolutely wrong. I'm fully all for people to believe and act however they want- but the important caveat is if those actions/beliefs are of the damaging sort. If you are going to harm another or yourself, then it's something that is unequivocally wrong.

The sticking point comes, unfortunately, in the definition of harm. It's one of those "I know it when I see it" sort of things.

@Surasanji
I agree, for the most part. Not sure I agree that self-harm is wrong. While it is something we should try to prevent I do feel people have a right to self-harm if they wish without being deemed an immoral actor.

But for the most part I think we agree.

@hashtaggrammar @commandelicious

@freemo @hashtaggrammar @commandelicious

Yeah, that's why it's one of those 'I know it when I see it thing'.

For instance: Someone who is a smoker. They are harming themselves. They do not really need an intervention or anyone to step in to protect them.

However, what about the guy who wants to jump off a building in a suicide attempt? They, in that moment, truly believe what they're doing is the right course of action. I've been very close to that place, before.

I know it when I see it.

@Surasanji
Well i think there is a difference between what is wrong and what needs an intervention.

I dont think suicide is morally wrong. It should be prevented however because I dont think it is what is best for the person, so trying to help them is a good move even if they arent morally deficient in their choice.

@hashtaggrammar @commandelicious

@freemo @hashtaggrammar @commandelicious

I don't think suicide is morally wrong, either. I'm largely amoral, to be completely honest. What is correct for one situation is not correct for a different situation.

As I've hinted before, I'm more into philosophical integrity. I like the consistency therein. I feel consistency in application of one's philosophy/morality/ethics is very important.