04-08-2023, 10:06 PM
If sites like these got shutdown that would be a good thing. I'll explain.
Shutting down these sites would be counter to their agenda. If controlling the populace is their intent then the dumbest thing they could do is establish a totalitarian state with a heavy hand. They must allow the existence of a "resistance" otherwise they guarantee that the populace will rise up and fight back. This has been true throughout history. These sites benefit the states in multiple ways: 1. they allow a place for the most likely rebels to vent in a marginalized community. Who cares if we scream at each other, we're not waking up the majority of the population here. 2. It allows the state to easily track and monitor their enemies. If you gain access to your enemies radio chatter, you don't jam that radio signal.
Now, there is a scenario where they shut these sites down. They shutdown Parlor because they were terrified of it. They don't start shutting down these sites unless they become a threat they cannot control. They semi-publicly labeled pissed off parents at school board meetings as domestic terrorists because they were terrified the parents would take back the power they schemed so hard to obtain. I think shutting down these sites would be a last ditch effort as they lose control.
There is one more scenario where they reach a level of ineptitude where their dumb enough to believe they can cross the Rubicon without consequences.
Here's the bad news. I think they've already killed them. Ever heard of dead internet theory? I took a hiatus from this community a few years back (`2018) unintentionally when I got married and started having kids. I'm just getting back into shooting and as such I've started lurking these forums again. Compared to the amount of discourse and data being shared 5+ years ago, these forums seem to be dead. I'm not sure if I missed something big that happened online or if they've found a way to kill these communities through a combination of algorithmic manipulation, bots, and implanted trolls.
Shutting down these sites would be counter to their agenda. If controlling the populace is their intent then the dumbest thing they could do is establish a totalitarian state with a heavy hand. They must allow the existence of a "resistance" otherwise they guarantee that the populace will rise up and fight back. This has been true throughout history. These sites benefit the states in multiple ways: 1. they allow a place for the most likely rebels to vent in a marginalized community. Who cares if we scream at each other, we're not waking up the majority of the population here. 2. It allows the state to easily track and monitor their enemies. If you gain access to your enemies radio chatter, you don't jam that radio signal.
Now, there is a scenario where they shut these sites down. They shutdown Parlor because they were terrified of it. They don't start shutting down these sites unless they become a threat they cannot control. They semi-publicly labeled pissed off parents at school board meetings as domestic terrorists because they were terrified the parents would take back the power they schemed so hard to obtain. I think shutting down these sites would be a last ditch effort as they lose control.
There is one more scenario where they reach a level of ineptitude where their dumb enough to believe they can cross the Rubicon without consequences.
Here's the bad news. I think they've already killed them. Ever heard of dead internet theory? I took a hiatus from this community a few years back (`2018) unintentionally when I got married and started having kids. I'm just getting back into shooting and as such I've started lurking these forums again. Compared to the amount of discourse and data being shared 5+ years ago, these forums seem to be dead. I'm not sure if I missed something big that happened online or if they've found a way to kill these communities through a combination of algorithmic manipulation, bots, and implanted trolls.
"Those who sacrifice liberty for security, deserve neither." Benjamin Franklin