Some time ago I wrote the following text on censorship called, Is it censored? and rather than write it all again, I thought I would put it here before continuing on a little further to drive my point home a bit deeper about the censorship resistance of Steem and how it protects free speech.

Note: I have cut out one part that is a bit irrelevant for this to make it shorter. But you can view it in the original linked above if you choose.

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PART 1

Is it censored?

Censorship:

I just read a post claiming censorship from being flagged. This is always a bit of a touchy subject here since people think that freedom of speech comes with freedom from consequence and although I don't think anyone should flag without a decent reason, I can't see how flags are censorship.

censorship
ˈsɛnsəʃɪp/
noun
the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.
"the regulation imposes censorship on all media"

Now, that is the definition of censorship yet, I don't see how flags can be that. Yes, a flag (or enough flags) can potentially grey-out a post but, even then the posts are available and with a click or two, completely viewable. They are not really hidden at all and will forever reside on the blockchain with only a Hardfork able to remove them which requires witness approval as far as I know. This means that there is freedom of speech here and there is not censorship other than the self-censorship people experience.

Flags

Now, as far as flags themselves go:

Flagging a post can remove rewards and make this material less visible. Some common reasons to flag:

• Disagreement on rewards
• Fraud or Plagiarism
• Hate Speech or Internet Trolling
• Intentional miss-categorized content or Spam

This is the suggested uses of flags but on a blockchain with freedom of speech and no censorship, anything the code allows is possible (of which we are all too well aware) and suggestions are just that, suggestions. No one is forced to flag nor, are they forced to follow the suggestions about flags. Blockchain freedom. Well, as free as your own self-censorship allows.

This is the same for earnings as again we are aware as until they are yours (after payout) they are not yours. They are potential earning only. Most people tend to censor themselves and not post 'freely' because they want to earn something at the end of the week and approaching some topics, groups and people poorly will likely eventuate in some kinds of flags. But again, the flags aren't actually censorship and they do not infringe on freedom of speech. You are free, speak.

But, there is in general, consequences to speech of all kinds and some people who are either insensitive or hyper-sensitive can exact brutal costs if their position is threatened. Some might just do it for the fun of it. But at Steem at least, there is no cost paid by the person to receiving flags however, there could be cost of future rewards, support and of course, reputation. Reputation is not the person and to identify with it as if it is is egotistical at best.

So, post whatever you want but, the blockchain will record it for posterity, you need not fear censorship. At least, not yet.

In conclusion

• To finish up, as much as I disagree with people just flagging content because they don't like what it says, currently the code allows so, get used to it because most people play the code, not the ethical implications.

• You can post what you want freely but there are consequences to your words/actions. This might cost you or, it might help you.

• In general, if you approach topics openly and earnestly, it is very rare you will ever get flagged. Those that get flagged are usually in some way looking to incite a strong reaction from people and when they get it, complain. The funny thing is that the person who complained about being censored is still able to post whatever they want. They are not oppressed, they are not beaten, enslaved, caged or murdered for having their views. They are free to speak.

Back to work to make some money to pay debts <<< Real censorship.

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PART 2

Do you need the money?

Again, this is a touchy subject but since we are on Steem, let's get into it a little.

If you rely on the income from your posts, you are likely going to have to watch what you say if what you say is likely to incite flags.

While some people might not like this; on Steem, your speech is protected; Not your payout.

Anyone with access to the blockchain can write whatever they choose and have almost zero fear of having what they have said destroyed, taken away or hidden. Oh, you didn't know?? Not only are the non-accessible accounts available on the other interfaces like I outlined in this post a few days ago, interfaces like busy.org, partiko and the one I am posting on now, steeve.app do not even grey out the posts that have been flagged to grey point, like Steemit.com does. With more and more people using alternate interfaces, the flags have very little effect except taking payout value.

Again, taking payout is not censorship.

This is the problem with people wanting to earn for their freedom of speech on Steem, as Steem is a place that is free to act upon. Free to say what you want, free to upvote what you want, free to flag what you want and as I mentioned above, the payout isn't yours until it is in your wallet. Up until that happens, it is the blockchain's as it hasn't been mined until it is transferred from the pool into a wallet. What that also means is saying "you took my payout" is also not true as it was put back into the pool and currently 'costs' the opportunity of the equivalent upvote value or potential curation return for the for the one doing the flagging.

Steem is a free-market system where people are able to be rewarded for their content by upvotes, but that amount isn't finalized until the payout. It is also a free-market system that allows for removal of rewards until that payout time also, and as much as some people want to have their cake and eat it too, getting paid to say whatever you want isn't always going to work here unless what you say attracts more upvote value than downvote value.

But, this is the problem with relying on Steem income and it is the same issue with websites relying on advertising revenue. Once there is the reliance, one has to bow to the dollar that is required. This is why advertisers can have so much power over who and what gets published or banned on the centralized platforms, because essentially the platforms that rely on that income to survive are in prison and are the advertiser's prison bitch.

Not a pretty situation is it? But, it isn't censorship as the content is still not only available, but COMPLETELY visible not just on the blockchain, but through numerous interfaces with a few of them being among the most used Dapps in the world. Getting flagged doesn't make anyone a victim of censorship or even suppression of free speech, it just take whatever earning potential there is, which is a reward, not a salary. No one is suppressed to speak, however they might be suppressed from earning rewards. These are two different things.

Reliance on Steem for income itself is already a poor position but expecting income for anything one wants to say, is an even worse position. If on top of this one has to earn here for some reason, it is an utterly terrible position. There are always various costs in any position and there are potential costs in speaking one's mind also and, that could be something like the loss of employability or, the loss of rewards on Steem. The other thing people should remember in this world is, speaking one's mind doesn't automatically make it correct.

I am sure there will be many complaints to this and perhaps even some flags but, I don't rely on Steem for an income, I work real jobs. Perhaps one day that might change but I don't see myself relying on Steem for my livelihood for a very long time as it just isn't ready for it in my opinion. Not that it would matter that much as most of what I write about isn't controversial in the slightest including this piece, except for people who disagree with me perhaps.

I will end this with the same line as PART 1;

Back to work to make some money to pay debts <<< Real censorship.

Taraz
[ a Steem original ]

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