Subj : Re: free speech
To : Boraxman
From : jimmylogan
Date : Fri May 23 2025 11:33 am
-=> Boraxman wrote to jimmylogan <=-
Bo> Re: free speech
Bo> By: jimmylogan to MRO on Tue May 20 2025 08:38 pm
> Interesting that you mention the KKK. I was talking to a friend
> who said a Swastika flag was 'hate speech.' I said it's still
> FREE speech. You don't have to like it.
>
Bo> I disagree. I think you misunderstand what Free Speech is for. Most
Bo> do.
Bo> I don't like the "hate speech is not free speech" argument, I think its
Bo> subterfuge to block political opinion, but Free Speech is not about
Bo> your right to express yourself however you want.
Free speech is when you can SPEAK or WRITE, but not express
yourself however you want. Is expressing yourself punching
someone in the nose? That is not free speech.
Bo> People think that Free Speech is about you saying what you like. The
Bo> idea, the supporting philosophy for Free Speech is the need for ideas
Bo> to be challenged, and for ideas to be challenged, then there must be
Bo> protection for those challenging.
I don't disagree.
Bo> Free Speech is there to ensure that people are able to hear other
Bo> peoples ideas, in particular, those which challenge the established
Bo> norms, powers and are not the mainstream position.
Bo> The purpose of Free Speech, is to ensure that YOU can hear my argument
Bo> if you want to, and ensure that I can make my argument to those who are
Bo> a willing audience. If you are blocked from hearing arguments, you are
Bo> harmed. It harms you more than me, because I already know what I'm
Bo> going to say, but you don't.
Sounds like we are saying the same thing. You should have the
ability to express yourself with your words or symbols.
Bo> Flying a swastica says nothing. It is not an argument, not a
Bo> statement, and no one is harmed, or loses out on understanding a
Bo> contrary point of view, by not being able to see one. Not that I
Bo> necessarily think that ban is right, but its ont a free speech issue
Bo> really.
My point in using that example is that you and I might agree that
it's a bad thing to fly, but what about when 'pop culture' says
that my Christian flag is hate speech to a subset of the
population? I could argue all day long that Jesus is the
oppisite of 'hate speech,' but that won't change someone's
mind.
So the issue becomes, who decides what is free speech/hate
speech?
... I'd love to help you out. Which way did you come in?
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