Free Speech, Reality, and What We Have Here on Steemit

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I’m not politically binary

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Over the past few months, I’ve taken great enjoy in being able to talk about ideas and opinions that are utterly taboo in the city of New York. This city, despite its incredible resources and top-tier talent pool, has greatly suffered (imho opinion) from the lack of political diversity and any sense heterodoxy. New York, along with a few select other cities like San Francisco and Portland, is one of those examples where progressivism runs rampant and unchecked and certain actions which would be irrational in most other places are applauded and supported. I’m all for progress but I believe true progress must always emerge from debate and scrutiny, not free-roaming emotional impulse.

And so I’ve taken to Steemit to talk about my thoughts on progressive stances like micro-aggressions, identity politics, political correctness, outrage culture, cultural appropriation, civic progress, equality of outcome vs. opportunity, independence vs. groupthink, belief vs. evidence, and so much more, all of which lines and colors the discussions that are had daily in the five boroughs. These myriad and seemingly endless considerations stifle productive conversation and everything devolves into “enemy or ally” types of standing. The capacity to even voice difference (something that I realistically cannot do in real life without losing most of my left-leaning friends) is such a cherished liberty at this point in my life when Steemit is somewhat of a daily engagement. Even my wife can only digest so much of my political and social ramblings. So, I find respite and refuge on this decentralized ledger and community, one not bound to a single dominant political ideology nor one location nor one demographic nor one predetermined pathway of thought.

Ever since the 2016 election, I’ve been trying to learn all that I can about the culture or cultural conflicts that led to the current sitting president. I’ve always considered myself a liberal, having grown up in New Jersey, attending 7 years of school in the Northeast, and living in New York. But I myself was surprised by how the ’16 election affected me. More so than being shocked at the election of Donald J Trump, I was taken fully aback by the reaction of the left which in my opinion, dissolved into absolute madness. The democratic party is in shreds since Obama stepped down from office and those who consider themselves democrats have preoccupied themselves by calling for Trump’s impeachment, continuing to chant “I’m with Her,” airing their discontents on social-media for the groupthink mobs, or marching aimlessly in the streets.

I don’t say this with any pleasure. I’m a staunch supporter of certain progressive values such as access to abortions, recreational drug use, open borders, and much more. But I’m also learning that I align with many conservative values - free markets, individual freedoms, free speech, and equality of opportunity (NOT outcome) to name a few. Maybe I’m just morphing into a strange Libertarian, but what’s more likely is that since the ’16 outcome, I’ve found myself not aligning to any side and trying to decide my own political identity. However, politics, especially in places like New York, have become religious in character and to speak against the common current is to face an inquisition.

And I’m also realizing that I’m more trapped by my networks than supported by them. Virtually all of my Facebook and social-media acquaintances lean heavily to one side, simply due to where I grew up and where I went to school. I’ve met few conservatives in my life and some are likely to never reveal that they lean right in New York. The technologies of today funnel us into political bubbles that are very difficult to escape. In the past 12 years since first starting a Facebook account, I’ve yet to connect and discuss with people that are politically different. They may come from different parts of the world, speak multiple languages, and pursue diverse careers, but very few of them were willing to speak confidently on their political stances.

I believe this leads to the erosion of a free society. To be afraid is to be oppressed, and the oppression of thought is much more nefarious than “unconscious bias” or “cultural pressure.”

An Arena of Ideas, Not Identities

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One of the greatest failures and corrosive consequences of social-media is making everyone into a brand. We are encouraged to color ourselves with certain thoughts, lifestyles, fashions, and whatever else helps compose us into unique global citizens. We are discouraged from having or airing thoughts that might betray a brand or begin to undermine the sensibilities that helped build up to a 100 or 1000 or X number of followers, all of whom have likely objectified you in some way. Brands are not designed to be challenged or changed. There is no separation of identity and thought.

But when the information around identity is controlled (not freely and immediately given to those that demand it) then we are given the opportunity to separate identity and ideas. On Steemit, I do not have to cater or tailor my thoughts according to who I think is viewing them. I don’t have to fear not posting an opinion because it may not align (even for a split-moment) with 99% of my personal network of left-leaning American Northeast ideologues. I can separate my progressive somewhat young Asian-American straight identity with a simple idea that I would like to put out there to be discussed openly and without hindrance. My speech and thought here are not hindered by potential gossip-mongering and personal reputation. That is true free speech.

There are less places and scenarios where this ambition is available in the world. Despite all of Steemit’s faults and failings, we should appreciate this utmost tenet that allows us to speak freely to one another here.