WYS + 3R

You've probably noticed this old man being all analytical about life. When I was young and too busy to think about it, I just muddled through doing whatever with the occasional guidance of parents, teachers, elders and pop psychology books. Then I became parent, teacher and elder. It's time I figured it out and wrote my own book. (Just kidding. 500 words or less.)

3R is my mnemonic for a neat little set of virtues that make it possible for us to live together with mutual benefit: Respect, Restraint and Reciprocity. It seems that the 3Rs are supported by nature (an instinct for fairness) and nurture (being sent to my room until I apologize). Social imperatives are often in conflict with egoic motives, so life is lived in tension. How much do I owe to others and what do I get in return? This question deserves a balanced answer, or we wind up in chaos. So there is a lively debate ongoing.

For example, Virani defends Online Harms Bill after Margaret Atwood warns of the slippery slope towards 'thoughtcrime' and imprisonment without trial. 

Whatever you say, Margaret, unless you are using hyperbole in unreasonable opposition to reasonable legislation implemented by a fair, independent judiciary. Do you choose to live in a society that permits online hate speech, abuse of children, and incitement to violence? If not, we need a law and a justice system that can enforce that law. If you want to criticize government, complain about the recruitment crisis of the RCMP and judicial vacancies at the federal level. Understaffed agencies can't enforce laws. Then it's like traffic without stop signs. Look out.

Margaret's pronouncements are always good for discussion, and she didn't break any laws, but I don't buy her censorship paranoia. She seems to be advocating liberty without responsibility. The World Wide Web is Woefully Wild and Wayward because it is only 35 years old and the laws haven't kept up with the mayhem: extortion, fraud, propaganda, political interference, sexual exploitation, disinformation, slander and aggression. It's happening now in this aspiring democracy, not in a hypothetical future controlled by Atwood's malignant autocracy.

We earn freedom by respecting the rights of others, restraining our own behaviour, and treating others as we expect to be treated. If we can't behave on our own, there is law. Autocracy will fill the vacuum after law fails and we tire of anarchy.

So let's play WYS + 3R:
Whatever You Say 
with Respect, Restraint, and Reciprocity. 

The only losers in this game are those who won't play by the rules.

**************

That was 427 words. Here are some more if you want them.

Debate on Internet Content Regulation: Chris Wick, Opinion-Canada

A World Without Rules: Nick Chater, BBC

Et tu Brute: Gretta Vosper