Gonna have to make a mute discussion bingo at some point. The words "hugbox" and "echo chamber" are just code for "LET ME SHOVE MY SHITTY OPINIONS DOWN YOUR THROAT AGAINST YOUR WILL, DAMMIT." Yes, I said shitty opinions. Contrary to what your douche freshman philosophy professor with a ponytail told you, you can, in fact, have a shitty opinion, and I can, in fact, choose to ignore it. I'd rather be hugged in a box that echos like a giant ass chamber then be stabbed by a piece of shit racist. Also it's really easy to argue for "discussion and logic and reason" when you're a straight white dude and nobody will argue that your existence is invalid or that women deserve it.
Sorry, was all that meant to address me directly? I'm not a straight anything. White? Sure. Dude? I have mixed feelings. I'm not here to play privilege bingo, though, or any sort of bingo. I'm on Hubski because I think it's a great place for thoughtful discussion. I didn't take philosophy or have a professor with a ponytail and I don't think they really have "freshmen" at community college. Why are you engaging in so much rampant generalization? Anyway, it's not as though the only things being muted are racist, misogynistic, or transphobic. Personally, those are reasons why I would mute someone. Do you genuinely believe that there are no discussions to be had about splintering or chilling effects on discussion caused by frivolous muting?
Shitty opinions are one of those things that "I know it when I see it", and I wish I had a better way of explaining to people why their opinions are shitty. What makes an opinion shitty? Is it when it's formed without sufficient information or experience? When it's fringe? When it's formed on the basis of pop culture rather than... what else? I don't even know what questions to ask. I guess I can just ask you directly: What do you think makes an opinion a shitty opinion?
I would agree with you if there wasn't already a functionality that works perfectly fine to get rid of opinions you dislike. I don't think anyone wants to force you to listen to our opinions. After all, you can just as easily scroll past any post with my name on it and ignore it. I don't mind if you don't want to read my posts. But again, why should you dictate what others are allowed to read? It's already made very easy for anyone to filter posters they dislike, so why take it a step further and filter posters so that other people can't filter them themselves?