Pod Delusion 82 – Is it valid to censor internet comments?

I’m ba-ack! Drowned out a little by a certain wedding, here’s the latest Pod delusion, including my piece on censorship of internet comments.

I find myself increasingly nauseated by the wretched snark and spite you sometimes find on the lower half of the internet, especially, sadly, in the Guardian comments section. But what to do? It is, after all, free speech. Or is it?

The word ‘troll’ for example, seems to have evolved to the point where it means ‘anyone who annoys you online’. And, as is often pointed out, you see some pretty wretched stuff above the line too, often – paradoxically, within the cascade of ‘I’m Such A Good Person’ blogging and journalism that seems to be increasingly prevalent, and makes me very uncomfortable, particularly as I should technically be cohabiting with it very happily, given its supposed liberal agenda.

All I can say is ‘discuss’.