I think the problem lies with the definition (or lack thereof) of gaslighting.

According to Dr Vara Saripali (Psy. D), gaslighting "is a form of psychological abuse in which a person or group causes someone to question their own sanity, memories, or perception of reality. People who experience gaslighting may feel confused, anxious, or as though they cannot trust themselves."

@eschatologyguy there are lots of ways to abuse people that are perfectly legal. Our laws are predicated on people being able to judge and making decisions to protect themselves as sovereign individuals. For instance, I am a hybrid troll around here. I'm responding to you, because I like you. Mostly though, I refuse to view replies. Especially if they're from our local communists. One side of that coin is that I'm refusing to debate, and enforcing my own echo chamber. The other side is that I'm simply refusing to subject myself to the exact type of abuse you are describing. There are only so many fake news talking points and verifiably false facts that one can spout before I discount them completely. Others may be incapable of protecting themselves. But it has to be this way. There has to be a line in the sand, else our rights become subjective. If we lose the freedom to be a heretic, we lose everything.

@JordanMiller The better utilization of Liberty is to have the freedom to do what we ought, not the freedom to do whatever the hell we like. To misuse liberty to do whatever the hell we like is the recipe for societal collapse.

@eschatologyguy I would argue that one of the most profound powers that freedom delivers society is the protection of those who "do whatever they like", as long as it doesn't infringe in the rights of other. It is that very principle that creates the petri dish from which almost all human progress springs. You have to put up with the seemingly untolerable, to reap the benefits of exceptional. The moment you start to "decide" what is a "like" and what is an "ought", we are infringing on that progress to the degree of force we use.

I see you complaing about a lot of things the Left say. What are you complaining about then?

@eschatologyguy I don't see what I am saying here as a complaint. Just not going with the idea that free speech can be limited by any but the most extraordinary circumstances.

As to commenting about "the Left", I think you might be confusing my terminology. There was a nice little piccie that captured the idea, but, of course I cannot find it now.
Anyhoo, a few years back there was a simple spectrum, the Left and the Right. Now, I agree with JPeterson, both are desperately needed in any functioning society. But, over the last few years the group occupying the left side of the spectrum have wholeheartedly embraced the most poisonous ideology in history -- any sort of collectivist BS. This has moved the spectrum drastically. So much so that those few folk who have held on to their beliefs (formerly called "Left" ) now find themselves in the middle. They also find themselves grossly outnumbered and nudged out of power since they refuse to buy into the cult.
The left side of the spectrum is totally dominated by what I call commie trash. They have no one's well being in mind except their own. It has gotten so bad in some areas that ..... well, few gov'mts once in that state can peaceably right themselves.

Gaslighting is free speech, I suppose, but it’s a distasteful by-product of rights in a supposedly free society,

The Right mostly allows the Left to say what they want, but the Left is already making strides at censoring the Right.