Hi everyone—I will be posting my actual Substack on Friday, but here is an open letter to the Substack founders that concerned substackers drafted as part of a group of publishers seeking answers to questions about the platforming and monetizing of Nazis.
Wow. I can't believe that white nationalists are fining platforms. I am in favor of free speech, but I'm against speech that incites or threatens. The entire foundation of neo-Nazi 'speech' is incitement and violence.
I was with this until "newsletters written by sex workers." Why would these need to be banned? And why are the authors of the letter congratulating Substack on banning these?
I don't think they are advocating banning sex workers. I thought the comment meant that Substack already has a history of banning sex workers (which is strange but maybe it has to do with trafficking laws and solicitation?) I assumed they were asking why wouldn't they ban Nazis in addition to or over sex workers. As in, if there are "standards" then why don't Nazis fall outside of these. But you're right, it's strange. I also sometimes question free speech issues here because if we do ban Nazis then what does that say about the right to free speech, and yet this is a monetizing platform, so the speech here is not exactly free if we're going to be literal about it (and my AuDHD mind is literal).
I think there is a long legal history about the line between free speech and hate speech. I'm not familiar with the arguments or decisions. But since Substack is not a governmental or public entity, perhaps they can include or disinclude whomever they like? In my former life as a fundraiser/communications person for human rights orgs, I did some stuff around sex workers rights internationally. Unless Substack has rules about no solicitation (for workshops, books, services, etc) then I wouldn't be down for them banning sex worker Substacks even if they included solicitation. But I'm out of my lane here as I don't really know what Substack's rules are or what has transpired around sex worker newsletters. I think I'll look into it at some point!
Wow. I can't believe that white nationalists are fining platforms. I am in favor of free speech, but I'm against speech that incites or threatens. The entire foundation of neo-Nazi 'speech' is incitement and violence.
Yes, it's really pushing the idea of free speech, and yet... I had to think long and hard before reposting and signing the petition.
I was with this until "newsletters written by sex workers." Why would these need to be banned? And why are the authors of the letter congratulating Substack on banning these?
I also wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your post about Palestine. Thank you for that! Very well articulated.
Thank you!
I don't think they are advocating banning sex workers. I thought the comment meant that Substack already has a history of banning sex workers (which is strange but maybe it has to do with trafficking laws and solicitation?) I assumed they were asking why wouldn't they ban Nazis in addition to or over sex workers. As in, if there are "standards" then why don't Nazis fall outside of these. But you're right, it's strange. I also sometimes question free speech issues here because if we do ban Nazis then what does that say about the right to free speech, and yet this is a monetizing platform, so the speech here is not exactly free if we're going to be literal about it (and my AuDHD mind is literal).
I think there is a long legal history about the line between free speech and hate speech. I'm not familiar with the arguments or decisions. But since Substack is not a governmental or public entity, perhaps they can include or disinclude whomever they like? In my former life as a fundraiser/communications person for human rights orgs, I did some stuff around sex workers rights internationally. Unless Substack has rules about no solicitation (for workshops, books, services, etc) then I wouldn't be down for them banning sex worker Substacks even if they included solicitation. But I'm out of my lane here as I don't really know what Substack's rules are or what has transpired around sex worker newsletters. I think I'll look into it at some point!