I want to cover off on a couple points before I start so that we're all on the same page, and I also want to acknowledge that my title isn't very creative.
For the sake of clarity, here's a basic definition of what censorship actually is: "A system in which an authority limits the ideas that people are allowed to express and prevents books, films, works of art, documents, or other kinds of communication from being seen or made available to the public, or the act of doing the same." [Cambridge Dictionary]
Secondly, and to avoid any possibility for ambiguity, censorship does not occur on Hive.
I read a post by 
One of those platforms in particular is a wasteland of Hive-rejects who mostly destroyed their Hive accounts through abusing the system and other users, spamming, reward farming and in other ways that were counter-productive to the community in general. They band together and talk about how terrible Hive is, how censored, and how horrible people like me are for various reasons; more about that later.
But censorship doesn't happen and none of those accounts have been censored on Hive, some even still post on Hive despite saying how terrible it is. Nutbags.
Anyway, here's a couple real-world examples.
Example One:
There was a user who didn't like an English only rule I'd set in my first community, the WEEKEND EXPERIENCES community.
You see, because it is mine I'm able to set a few guidelines and enforce them because I want the community to appeal to everyone and to appear a certain way, I'll not apologies for that and if people don't like it they are under no obligation to post there. Failure to follow my guidelines is essentially like coming into my home and spitting on the floor - and I'd deal with that without a hint of mercy or compassion. So coming into my community and writing in a language other than English (or in dual language) or failing to follow any other guidelines is not tolerated - I mute those posts. I generally let people know and give them a chance to edit and if they do (and let me know about it) I'll unmute the post and often throw in an upvote. That's what I did with the fellow I mention, he had a chance to edit...but wanted to escalate the matter. I obliged.
That account was destroyed over it and all because the user didn't want to edit their post into English (ego and hubris I presume). I was called racist, a Nazi, white trash (I'm not white and calling my white trash is actually a racist comment right?) and other such things and that person also started in on my partner as well with some pretty terrible dialogues and behaviours...and that particular account now has a reputation score of -11 which means every post and comment is instantly hidden...but that's not censorship.
You see, the posts or comments are still there for all to see, they're just initially hidden. If a person was to click on any of them the original content would be there in its entirity...so it's not at all censored, it's right there, but "currently hidden." I'll say it again, it...is...still...there.
Example two:
Now to another thing some call censorship on Hive, the downvote.
Rewards do not belong to "the author" until after the seven day payout and until just before payout can be added to or subtracted from; an up or downvote doesn't edit or remove the text or images from the post or comment, it simply adjusts the amount of reward possible, up or down. So, a downvote isn't censorship, just a redistribution of potential rewards back to the reward pool so others may than share from it; people see a downvote as an assault on their ego I guess, but it's certainly not censorship.
I've been asked a few times about why I have deployed a downvote and I reply to find out if they have ever asked why someone has bestowed an upvote on them...of course, no one has ever done that. People downvote for various reasons and I'll not get into it here because downvotes are not censorship and this post is about censorship, and the fact that it doesn't occur on Hive. Also, because the blockchain is not censored, people can choose to act as they please.
Example three:
I often mute people in my communities and that sometimes drives them fucken crazy. I'm ok with that. You see, if someone abuses me, calls me a Nazi or a fuckin gay cunt for instance do you think I'd invite them into my home? (No is the answer). So, why would I welcome them in my community? Muted. (But that's not censorship.) I don't mind what people call me as I'm comfortable with who I am and most who say things like the above literally don't matter, but out of principle, and for the preservation of the look and feel of my communities, I address it...because the blockchain gives me the freedom to do so, just as they have the freedom to act as they do.
Their comment or post is still on the Blockchain forever (even though they sometimes realise their error, feel remorseful, and delete it) - It's still there to be found so...yeah, it's not censored.
They can still vomit their hateful vitriol and like-minded people (everyone in fact) who tend to flock together can all see it, celebrate it and comment about how witty and clever and powerful they are. All the while, they sink deeper into the abyss they self-create. It must be a terrible place for them, inside their own hearts and minds, that are so reluctant to move forward.
The user I mention above used to talk about freedom a lot, the freedom to say and post anything...and I agreed totally, utterly and one hundred percent with that user.
However, the caveat is that the same freedom that user is entitled to and enjoys extends to everyone else as well, and that means me too. You have the same freedom as well which means that you can mute my account from your feed, upvote, downvote, comment or not comment as you see fit. I cannot stop you, or force you into it either; you're free to choose. Your actions or words are not censored.
The sad thing is, a few bad eggs choose to use their freedom in self-serving ways which negatively impact others and Hive in general: Spam posting and self-voting multiple own-posts or comments every day for instance, many other things too. Sad indeed. But, because freedom is for everyone, others have the ability to choose how to react and it's no surprise that people like me who actually like Hive and want to see it succeed and want to support those good actors out there end up using our freedom to react when those bad actors reveal themselves. Freedom for all! Splendid.
I've seen dialogues (from these bad actors) about "good users being turned away from the platform" but are they good? A good user would apologise for not following community rules, edit the post and be unmuted and upvoted. A bad? Well, they call names and offer reprisal downvotes - that usually have no value because they extract all their rewards rather than finding a balance between supporting the community and taking away some reward as well.
Anyway, I could write several thousand words on this but I think you get the idea...those that read it anyway which is probably very few and there's no point belabouring the point. But I'll say it again...you have the freedom to act as you please on Hive and will not be censored...but that same freedom you enjoy applies to others as well and they can use it as they like...just like you.
I started here in mid-June 2017 and enjoy it and I think most normal people who see my posts, some of the concepts I've created and run, the support I've given to other people's concepts and communities and individuals themselves, they'd at least feel that I have put in a lot of effort, time and personal emotional investment; that doesn't make me special but it does make me feel like I want to protect what's been created here, and so I use my freedom to do so.
Do I want to see censorship on Hive? No.
Is Hive censored? No.
Do you have the freedom to act as you like? Yes.
Do others have the same freedom? Yes.
But there's always going to be those disgruntled few who throw around words like censorship and freedom and skew and distort those concepts to suit their own ends. Most of those are on that other platform calendulacraft mentions in her post and that's just where they belong; a group of malcontents spinning stories and fabrications of censorship, being downtrodden and others impinging upon their "right to freedom"...all the while seeking to impinge upon the freedom those others have a right to it as well. I get it, they don't like Hive...so fuck off and don't come back. But they just can't help themselves so they creep back in, try to stir some drama and then slink away again with their little dialogues and plots ignored back to that stinky place from whence they came.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
[Original and AI free]
Image(s) in this post are my own
