Scoble notes the joint statement from Kathy Sierra and Chris Locke - which is a very positive thing to my way of thinking. While they disagree about some things (who doesn't?), it looks like they understand each other now. That's all to the good, but this (below) from Scoble just drives me nuts:

One thing, though, that I won’t support: more rules or laws or, even, more “guidelines.” I value my freedom of speech. This is not a “theory” for me. My mom grew up in Nazi Germany where free speech wasn’t allowed. My wife grew up in Iran, where free speech still isn’t allowed. You’re definitely not allowed to attack the government in Iran, even today

Asking people to treat each other with dignity is not a call for governmental censorship. Being judgmental about bad acts and bad actors is not an attempt to shut down free speech, any more than indicting someone for a stampede following a false cry of "fire" in a theater is. I wish more people understood that, instead of having the utterly bizarre belief that we must have tolerance for everything and anything. We don't. Guidelines are a good thing - manners are nothing more than guidelines, for instance. Shall we rid ourselves of those, too, in the name of "more freedom"?

Technorati Tags: speech