Alright, this is possibly the largest rant I’ve had on Hive.

So far, Hive has been a safe space for me to express myself through art and music. The community I’ve encountered is really great in the fact that it is very diverse, promotes high engagement, and connects people in ways that I find similar to the internet of ye olden days.

Yes, I appreciate the fact that I can express myself freely on Hive without fear of censorship. I enjoy the freedom America’s first amendment provides, which allows me to express what I want without censorship from our government.

I’m not here to inhibit or refute our right to free speech. Anyone can join Hive. I agree with this.

However, where I’m hung up, is should everyone feel welcome?

I’ve seen the hashtag #HiveFixesThis floating around on twitter in direct response to the suspension of Donald Trump’s account, as well as the removal of Parler from big-tech (which frankly, it’s their free-enterprise right). It’s a proclamation that Hive will never, and is unable to, inhibit a person’s right to their data, account, and online identity. Yeah, sure, all great.

I’m hung up on two things: Timing of the message, and who the message is for.

First of all, why now? It’s obvious that this is a direct response to a group that has been recently disenfranchised by big-tech. Specifically, and let me be clear, these groups were removed because of their roles and actions regarding the Jan 6th attack on the American capitol, among other conspiracies against leaders and groups of people in our nation. From my perspective, the message of “#HiveFixesThis” isn’t for anyone. It is calling to those who are recently unhappy with the big-tech censorship which was a reaction to the cause: hate speech and violence.

I have a burner account on Parler. I see what’s said there. It’s not really place teeming with members who strive for a civil and educated debate. It’s a place where people directly say, “I want to kill the coward Vice President for colluding with the enemy”. Or, “When Trump gives the word I am going to kill these liberal mother fuckers”.

I’m not questioning whether or not these people can say that and still be protected from the first amendment. Fuck em’, but they have rights, too. What I’m questioning is, do we want to actually welcome these people to our platform?

Do We Want to Welcome Hate Groups to Hive?

I wrote this analogy on @doze's post challenging twitter-hive's recent push to promote Hive in response to Trump's suspension.

Bear with me:

Say a school is allowing a group to meet in a class room every week, and it comes to light that the group is found to be a white supremacist group conspiring against non-white citizens. The school bans them from any future use and refutes them for what their cause is.

Is it wise for other meeting spaces to advertise to the group, "Please meet here! Our doors are open to ANYONE!".

I ask, because that's what it feels like is happening with #HiveFixesThis.

I believe it's impossible to mitigate such group activity on any platform. However, do we want to welcome such behavior and ideas with open arms?

History Could Repeat Itself

Parler isn't the first social platform to be challenged or shut down. Hive is not impervious to government laws, defamation & bad reputation.

What's your first thought when you hear "8chan"? 8chan was shut down for a spell after they were linked to the mass shootings of Christchurch Poway synagogue and El Paso. CloudFlare begrudgingly discontinued providing their service to 8chan. 8chan has since reopened and rebranded. However, does this sound like an enticing platform for any reasonable person to join in 2021?

What if Hive were to become the next 8chan? Let's say terrorists (domestic or otherwise) conspire on Hive and then take action, killing many. Let's say Hive representatives survive the legal battles. Do you think media outlets would be fair to Hive? Do you think Hive would have any sliver of a good reputation after such an event? Definitely not. Hive would be yet another bizarre Silk Road news story reinforcing the majority's view that crypto & block chain is for terrorists, drug traffickers and ne'erdowells.

Can I support Hive if its users actively welcome conspirators and hate groups?

This is a question for myself, I guess, but I want to share it out loud:

Is Hive a platform I want to support, and is it a platform I am comfortable using, if its members are so impetuous for the growth of Hive to actively welcome "anyone"?

And;

Can I share space with disparaged conspirators, terrorists, and those who are willing to execute hateful and or dangerous actions towards another person or group?

The answer is no.