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(not satire – it’s history)
There is serious talk – especially after the Leveson report – of controlling Twitter and social media users because of the way ‘falsehoods’ and ‘malicious gossip’ can so easily get out of control.
Well good luck to anyone who tries it because it’s worth remembering the government has attempted to do this before. And failed.
In December 1675, King Charles II issued a “A PROCLAMATION FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF COFFEE HOUSES” on the grounds the coffee houses allowed ‘tradesmen’ and other plebs to ‘misspend much of their time’ spreading ‘false, malicious, and scandalous reports’.
In other words, in 1675 coffee houses were the social media of their time – where normal people could talk and communicate freely outside the control of the powers that be. And the powers that be didn’t like it.
They don’t like it today either – and just like in 1675 they’re trying to suppress and control it for exactly – exactly – the same reasons.
But the most interesting thing about the attempt in 1675 to suppress the population from communicating with each other freely is that it didn’t work.
The King’s declaration was issued on December 23rd but was revoked just 16 days later on January 8, due to widespread protests by the citizens.
“Those who ignore history are ConDemned to repeat it” as George Santayana so nearly said.
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The government should indeed suppress lies and malicious gossip.
It would put an end to the odious campaign of disinformation against DWP claimants.
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thats true chibipaulp however i like to think i have the freedom of speach .but the only lies i see are those coming from this con/lib government who”s only goal is to put down and trample on the sick and poor working class of our country ,the govenments job is to create a safe economic enviroment for us to work in .in attacting sick and disabled and unemployed people saying we are scroungers and taking too much from the system they only highlight their inability to do there job of witch claim more money in so called expenses than they allow me and my wife to live on …thats the kind of talk they dont want us to talk about so they want to monitor what we say so they can focus who they pick on next ….my answer to people like this government will always be FUCK YOU!!
and please do read this mr camron and co
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This Coalition, in fact any governing party, would do well to seriously consider the effects of any restriction on freedom of speech.
This is not China or Russia, this is Britain. British men and women, not forgetting those from our old colonies, fought and died to preserve our freedoms and if necessary we will do so again.
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Have to agree that the recent attempt to seemingly clamp down on social media is worrying although these things usually tend to blow over. Next week there will be another person hauled off by the police for complaining about his solicitor or doctor on the internet and we’ll be back to where we were.
Interesting historical and thought proking theme to the artlcle. A fascinating period but I did not know much about the coffee house restrictions. One must remember that those times were very dangerous because of the religious conflict and intolerance between Catholics and Protestants. A little while after this time was the so called ‘Popish Plot’ where malicious gossip was spread by a dishonest opportunist called Titus Oates about a foreign inspired catholic plot against King Charles II which was false. It is understood that the king personally questioned Oates about the plot and suspected he was a liar but still many innocent people were executed based on the rumours and innuendo before the perjurer was brought to book and the hysteria and paranoia eventually receded. In my opinion King Charles II was a good king to have in a crisis (there were numerous during his reign) but he stood out as pragmatic, forward thinking and clever for his time – and was not prone to the knee jerking as you so often see nowadays.
When his openly catholic brother, James II came to the throne he felt the punishment of prison was not harsh enough for Oates and every year he had him tied to a cart and publicly whipped. James II was completely different to his brother – stubborn and opinionated and was forced to flee for abuse of his power. Then came the ‘Glorious Revolution’ and the Bill of Rights from which flowed religious tolerance, independence of judges and freedom of speech and the press. That was 1688.
Not sure whether the above history lesson provides more arguments to the free speech fraternity or those who wish to curb the internet. Probably the lesson I would take from that is not to make kneejerk decisions which adversely affect the majority because of short term noise generated by a minority.
Anyway a very interesting period and one you can learn alot from when considering what is happening today. The diaries of Samual Pepys are highly recommended too.
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Oh how I love ‘just another piece of History repeating’ ?!
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Pingback: Our government’s tried to suppress Twitter users for spreading malicious gossip before. In 1675! | Mental Health, Politics and LGBT issues | Scoop.it
Did they also protest because they were denied their coffee i wonder. When we were on holiday, the nearby coffee shop failed to open on time. The people outside who were on their way to work and wanted a takeaway, became extremely angry at not getting their morning coffee.
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Interesting to see how “plus ça change, plus ç’est la même chose”.
It’s not just Twiitter. Closely aligned to the coffee houses of those times we have seen the same assault on pubs today. People could go for a drink and talk about issues that affected them but these days it is cheaper to buy your booze at the supermarket. Economics has forced many pubs out of business – 18 closures per week – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/9646395/Pub-closures-rise-due-to-beer-tax-campaigners-warn.html
This isn’t by accident.
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“Next week there will be another person hauled off by the police for complaining about his solicitor or doctor on the internet and we’ll be back to where we were”
Further to my earlier post above, I suspect the person to be hauled off to the police next week will be Jeremy Clarkson. That is if previous events are anything to go by – (e.g Robin Hood Airport tweet court case etc)
Alternatively, perhaps the USA might decide to put in an extradiction request which might be granted.
Jeremy Clarkson @JeremyClarkson
American Airlines. I have acquired a special set of skills over many years. Find my wife’s suitcase or I will find you. And I will kill you.
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Pingback: When coffee shops are in the news so is dissent » Tax Research UK
The government has not gone insane. It has been usurped by hostile foreign interests more commonly referred to as “commies”. What we are seeing is the methodical implementation of the control mechanisms, from internet kill switches to portable DHS checkpoints to drones over America. Like any control grid, however, it’s reliability is contingent upon infrastructure maintenance and repair. Based on government’s previous lackluster performance in infrastructural issues, we can look forward to a time when the whole system takes a dump.
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Next week there will be another person hauled off by the police for complaining about a sanction or the DWP on the internet and we’ll be back to where we were.
Fixed that for you, Loverat.
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