Holocaust Deniers (deniers really looks like it's spelled wrong)

If you haven't figured it out yet, I think the Intarwebz should be a place where you can go, do or say whatever the hell you want. If certain websites don't allow what you have to say, then go somewhere else or create your own little piece of virtual grass to piss on (like I did). What drives me insane is when people start to infringe on the basic principle of free speech, no matter how crazy or ridiculous it may sound.

Recently, the brother of millionaire Mavericks owner Mark Cuban (Pittsburgh!!), Brian Cuban decided to wage a personal war against Holocaust deniers who carved a niche for themselves over at Facebook by sending Zuckerberg a letter about it. Of all things to fucking worry about, Briann Cuban thinks the 300 members spread across five or so groups are an apparent threat. His letter is a follow-up to a previous article in which he reprints his letter to Facebook where he tattles like a school-girl on the five Holocaust Denying groups (of which, only three are operating). His first mistake is claiming that Facebook is a prime example of,"social media where anonymity protects deniers like a white sheet" when clearly Facebook is one of the biggest personal social websites...people aren't hiding behind anything when they join groups like that. Shit, all of their friends were probably updated when they joined the group.

He then goes on to note that there, "is no such thing as a 1st Amendment private right of free speech in the United States" and uses this to pretend that he believes that Facebook has the right to put anything on their site, but really believes that Facebook has the right to CENSOR anything on their site. He claims that because Facebook's ToS protect international law, the Holocaust denier groups are specifically breaking the law in countries where denying the holocaust is illegal, which is ridiculous (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Israel, Slovakia and Switzerland). I call bullshit. The way I see it, when you start censoring groups across the board because their words or ideas are illegal in one place then you leave yourself open to censoring everything or anything that offends anyone. I wish Frank Zappa were still alive today..."We're talking about words."

Watch Zappa on Crossfire debate censorship in music. I think this relates perfectly. FZ was awesome.


Cuban's miasma goes on in his second "open letter to Facebook" to ask Zuckerberg why Facebook decided to allow the groups, as if Zuckerberg owed him an explanation...as if Cuban had some sort of paying interest in Facebook. Like he said in the beginning of his little girly rant, there is no garauntee of free speech in a private setting or in a private business. Zuckerberg has no need or obligation to explain himself.

Furthermore, if Cuban's real quest is to make sure groups on Facebook are within the ToS why isn't he trying to get Christian groups banned. After all, Facebook is now available in Arabic and Saudi Arabia.

When you begin to censor the internet you begin to censor thought and intellectual property. When you censor thought, you've lost all freedom. Seriously, Brian Cuban, WTF...


On a related note, I think that people who deny the holocaust are probably retarded. And possibly severely. I also think that their opinion is just as vital as those who believe that the holocaust happened. To deny people the right to debate things like denying the holocaust is to deny the basic social needs of any society. Open free speech and debate is what drives societies to greatness. When you limit that free speach and make those people you disagree with go underground, you create a hostile caldera of extremism, resentment and hatred. Good luck with that.