I just add the ™ because people online seem to get so worked up over free speech issues. Usually because they believe in it except for the things they don’t like. Just poking fun of how contentious the concept is despite everyone saying they believe in it cause only their version of free speech counts.
Well then you’ll like me, because I am in no way a free speech absolutist. Nazi glorification and other hate speech should be banned in the U.S. like it is in Germany because it is an implicit threat of violence. Confederate monuments should similarly be banned.
A nation that allows glorification of such things is doing something majorly wrong. We have a cliff in Atlanta with portraits of Confederates on it for the whole fucking city to see. Black people in Atlanta have a constant reminder of their ancestors being in chains. That should not be legal and Stone Mountain should be sandblasted.
The problem with limiting “hateful” speech is determining who draws the line and where it’s drawn. In a democratic society, the majority’s opinion shapes these boundaries, which may not always align with progressive values. For instance, the current efforts to ban “trans ideology” demonstrate how subjective interpretations of “hateful” and harmful speech can be. From one perspective, certain speech is harmful; from another, it’s essential. This subjective line-drawing risks silencing minority views (which might be your views).
I come from an evangelical, deeply conservative area in Appalachia, where my leftist beliefs were often seen as degenerate. Without the broad protections of free speech, expressing these views could have been much more difficult. While the intention to limit hate speech comes from a place of wanting to protect, the reality of implementing such restrictions can ironically end up silencing the very voices we wish to empower.
There is no problem in the way you claim when it comes to limiting speech which is pro-Nazi or pro-Confederate. There is no question what such things are. Things like the march in Charlottesville or, as I mentioned, Stone Mountain, GA.
And they would say there is no question about trans or queer rights. You seem to be failing to consider how this would work from other’s points of view. Just because you’re right doesn’t mean you’re not outnumbered. You cannot change the status quo without necessarily being outside of it. Letting the state, with its monopoly on violence, enforce the status quo is counterproductive to the progress you and I both want. It is on us to use our speech to push for change and drown out the hateful speech.
You could make this argument about virtually any progressive idea. Of course political ideas can be used against you. That’s not an argument for maintaining things as they are.
Kind of. As a private institution the ACLU is free to enforce restrictions like this if it chooses to. I would argue that there is still an ideal of free speech that people can believe in beyond its legal definition, which I would have hoped the ACLU does.
I read this expecting to be on the ACLUs side. As a pretty liberal guy… I don’t see it. Sounds like they don’t like her speaking up is all.
It is perfectly consistent to be liberal and fully in favor of Free Speech™.
Can your explain your comment? I’m unsure what the TM here is supposed to imply. Not trying to be a dick, I’m genuinely unsure lol and trying to learn
I just add the ™ because people online seem to get so worked up over free speech issues. Usually because they believe in it except for the things they don’t like. Just poking fun of how contentious the concept is despite everyone saying they believe in it cause only their version of free speech counts.
Well then you’ll like me, because I am in no way a free speech absolutist. Nazi glorification and other hate speech should be banned in the U.S. like it is in Germany because it is an implicit threat of violence. Confederate monuments should similarly be banned.
A nation that allows glorification of such things is doing something majorly wrong. We have a cliff in Atlanta with portraits of Confederates on it for the whole fucking city to see. Black people in Atlanta have a constant reminder of their ancestors being in chains. That should not be legal and Stone Mountain should be sandblasted.
Why do people who want to ban certain speech always seem to believe those with the power to choose exactly what to ban would agree with them?
Y’all already forget Trump was president and has another chance to be?
The problem with limiting “hateful” speech is determining who draws the line and where it’s drawn. In a democratic society, the majority’s opinion shapes these boundaries, which may not always align with progressive values. For instance, the current efforts to ban “trans ideology” demonstrate how subjective interpretations of “hateful” and harmful speech can be. From one perspective, certain speech is harmful; from another, it’s essential. This subjective line-drawing risks silencing minority views (which might be your views).
I come from an evangelical, deeply conservative area in Appalachia, where my leftist beliefs were often seen as degenerate. Without the broad protections of free speech, expressing these views could have been much more difficult. While the intention to limit hate speech comes from a place of wanting to protect, the reality of implementing such restrictions can ironically end up silencing the very voices we wish to empower.
There is no problem in the way you claim when it comes to limiting speech which is pro-Nazi or pro-Confederate. There is no question what such things are. Things like the march in Charlottesville or, as I mentioned, Stone Mountain, GA.
And they would say there is no question about trans or queer rights. You seem to be failing to consider how this would work from other’s points of view. Just because you’re right doesn’t mean you’re not outnumbered. You cannot change the status quo without necessarily being outside of it. Letting the state, with its monopoly on violence, enforce the status quo is counterproductive to the progress you and I both want. It is on us to use our speech to push for change and drown out the hateful speech.
You could make this argument about virtually any progressive idea. Of course political ideas can be used against you. That’s not an argument for maintaining things as they are.
The ACLU isn’t the government…free speech is a red herring in this case.
Kind of. As a private institution the ACLU is free to enforce restrictions like this if it chooses to. I would argue that there is still an ideal of free speech that people can believe in beyond its legal definition, which I would have hoped the ACLU does.