Eight Values of Free Expression - Blog #5

 All of the Eight Values of Free Expression are still current in today's society but unfortunately each "free" expression is not "free" of judgment or backlash from those who may not agree. The backlash nowadays goes by the mantra "if you're not with me, you're against me" which leaves little to no room for productive conversation or expressive diversity of thought. 

I find the most important of these values is the "Promote Tolerance" value which stresses the importance of having free speech but also respecting the ideals of others and knowing that it is productive to disagree. If everyone were to agree on each aspect of life then growth would never occur. The difference of ideas should not be discouraged but valued in itself. This value is also the most personal to me because my home life is full of different ideas and while we may not agree, we listen and leave room open for discussion. I may have a certain view or way of thinking but I believe I can be convinced away from my current views. This is also the value I find to be most prevalent in today's society due to it relevancy with opinion and how a persons' perspective can impact their close nit relationships in a way that they never have before.

https://www.verywellmind.com/small-talk-topics-3024421

The word "hateful" stood out the most to me within the "Promote Tolerance" value and how social media can be seen as very "hateful" since you no longer have to match the face with words. For example, if someone disliked something on Twitter or Instagram, they have the ability to create an account that consists of no personal identity that can lead back to a specific person; ultimately, creating an environment where anything can be said but with little to no repercussion if that content were to become detrimental to one person or their emotional state.

https://marketingland.com/library/channel/social-media-marketing

Social media is very present in every day life especially when there are political aspects tied to it. During an election, specifically a presidential one, there are usually lines drawn to where someones "alliances" lie and often one idea is often challenged by the other side or parties' views. Often if someone were to agree with different aspects on each side, they are considered not strong enough to choose a side and are considered to be on the "wrong side" when they are not completely on a side. Instead of tearing each other down for believing in different views, we should normalize political discussions that end in a productive manner instead of not speaking at all.