While growing up at 101 Cascade Street, my siblings and I were subjected to a set of rules and expectations. Our parents set the rules and expectations without any input from us. In order to live there and enjoy our free room and board until we were eighteen years old, we had to abide by the rules and strive to meet the expectations.

If rules were broken then there was punishment. If expectations were not met then there were consequences. Like being grounded, banned from using the only phone in the house, or denied use of the family car. The boundaries and expectations were clear. Infractions were addressed through appropriate punishment or consequences.

We each managed to survive to eighteen years old while living in this gulag. We each emerged stronger and wiser for our years of incarceration. Fifty years later it is clear to me why it had to be that way. This prepared us to function in society where there are a set of rules and expectations that we must live by in order to navigate well through life alongside others.

If you are fifty or older you may share a similar history. So how did we become the generation that accepts and even encourages ignoring the rules and cursing the consequences? There is much wailing and gnashing of teeth that the social media platforms are censoring a particular point of view. When you joined the platform, you agreed to abide by their rules and expectations. They are private companies and are under no obligation to protect your freedom of speech.

There are many ways to share thoughts and ideals over the internet. There are platforms like Parler that touts itself as the Free Speech Social Network. So take the thoughts and ideas there and be liberated from the other platforms that are attempting to keep their platforms humane. Because no one has the authority to force you to be humane. That is up to you.