Whatever did we do before the Internet arrived, and gave us access to social media sites? Most people would have to pause before being able to answer this question.
We have been using the internet for so long now, that it seems almost incomprehensible to imagine life without 'surfing the net'.
Before the net the trusted encyclopaedia would have been within arm's reach, forever on call, awaiting questions that needed answering or for any structured reading.
If the required information could not be easily found we would have searched out reference texts or experts for advice.
Pre-internet newspapers, periodicals, submissions, manuscripts and the like would be printed and delivered to their readers by "snail mail".
People's point of view, opinions and completed work would be on display, able to be read and reviewed by anyone interested in the topic, via public libraries.
Theories and viewpoints were promulgated in this way and authors had to convince a publisher to print the finalised work before it would be aired widely.
It goes without saying, that substandard work would be weeded out and rejected for publication.
Today, it is a different story.
In this brave new world in which we live, anybody and everybody can utilise social media, and claim to be an expert in any topic they wish.
Credentials can be self generated and individuals with creative imaginations can attempt to persuade people from all walks of life to take what they read, at face value.
Sadly, a large proportion of our population take what they read and see literally, and at face value their thought processes may not extend to questioning and looking further into the written word.
Individuals can regurgitate what they choose, take on the role of 'expert' in their field, and engage in debate and discussions on the social media.
However, it is apparent, that some of these so called 'experts' do not like to read opinions that conflict with their own, and it has become convenient for these individuals to block a post, as a remedy.
Of course, there are some genuine reasons why inappropriate posts should be blocked, where the topics cause offense or incite violence for example.
The subject of the Holocaust where millions of Jews met their deaths in the death camps and Auswitch atrocities, may well fall into this category if the posts glorify these horrific events.
Posts dealing with offensive conspiracy theories are another.
Leaving the extremists aside, we should be concerned about how easily the Internet can be used to block the posts of ordinary citizens who enjoy a discussion on social media sites, and is not in any way resorting to threatening behaviour, but simply because their views are not favourably received by the person who posted the question or statement, so further discussion is blocked.
The Internet is supposed to facilitate communication in an open and transparent way, and yet, opposing opinions can be erased in the 'blink of an eye'.
This is the norm in social media.
Are people so insecure in their ideologies and beliefs that they cannot cope with constructive criticism or differing of opinions? How shallow and insecure a person is, if that is the case.
Are they merely grandstanding on their soapbox, and in the process stroking their own egos, and attempting to consolidate their 'statuses' in their ivory towers? When large friendship groups are reading a public forum, they have the right to agree or disagree with the information at hand.
After all, this is what a democracy is all about; free speech, not indoctrination or abiding by the adage 'my way, or no way'.
This type of negative behaviour does not encourage healthy, robust debate.
Deleting posts in this way, shows a lack of moral fibre on the part of the person acting in this way, as well as a refusal to back their viewpoints in the face of criticism.
Online bullying is evident when one eyed views are stated, and people are denied the opportunity to voice their opinions in rebuttal.
This is not a healthy mentality and equates with a young child not getting their own way, and throwing a tantrum.
We now enjoy many advantages with the advent of the Internet, such as accessing social media sites, unfortunately, the abovementioned habit of blocking posts to restrict open and free discourse, is not one of them.
This is a shortcoming of the Internet, where anyone can claim to be an authority in their chosen field, and can bolster their own perception of that authority by refusing to take notice of anyone who dares to challenge their views and beliefs.
One-sided debates are not debates at all, but diatribes.
The widespread adoption of technology and the advent of social media have opened the door for a flood of often pretentious, pseudo intellectuals to spruik a host of views without fear of contradiction.