One of the profound joys of using networks like Steemit and other blockchain powered applications is structural decentralization, which theoretically aligns itself with a non-censored platform. Unlike corporate mandates, the blockchain truly facilitates open source commerce and communication.
The problem that we encounter, particularly on Steemit, is that certain powerful individuals have the capability of shutting down content that they deem undesirable for whatever reason. Such dynamics imply that while the infrastructure may be decentralized, the spirit of the network is not.
Case in point is a discussion that @leopotato forwarded to me. He wrote an article describing a horrific case of injustice by a Canadian court. But allegedly due to the politically incorrect nature of @leopotato's article, his post was shut down from the Steemit feed.
For full disclosure, I cannot verify that censorship was what actually happened to @leopotato. However, as I describe in my video below, it's not surprising if indeed the post was censored.
Mainstream institutions, and many powerful organizations on the alternative, have a vested interest in promoting certain stories, but not others. If it's true that outright censorship is occurring on Steemit and in other blockchain applications, I would be disheartened.
Steemit and the blockchain is designed for open source discussions of all topics. So long as the materials are presented in a non-threatening or illegal manner, anything and everything is free game. Just because speech may be offensive or disagreeable to us personally does not give us the right to censor it.
Censorship is an extremely slippery slope, one that I hope Steemit does not traverse.