Thread: Free speech vs hate speech

Originally Posted by Universal Mind

They were pushing to keep her from speaking. That is something I don't agree with. If Hitler (before he killed anybody) wanted to speak at a university near me, I would not speak in favor of stopping the speech from happening. I would probably attend the speech and listen to it.

I saw some of those protestors on television. The ones I saw were so hateful it was creepy. They acted like that and cried out for the stifling of speech. I could see what kind of people they are. I am pretty sure that their hatred for Ann Coulter is not born of love for humanity.

I really do agree with you, but its a hard line to identify. I doubt any of those protesters could come by the oportunity to stand up in front of hundreds or thousands of people to talk calmly about how much of a douche Ann Coulter is. Sometimes people have to excercise their free speech in the loudest way possible in order for it to be heard at all.

They also were not arguing for Ann Coulter to be permanently silenced, which is what limiting her free speech would entail. Being able to exercise your free speech on a stage in front of a crowd of people is not part of the right to free speech.

Originally Posted by Xaqaria

They also were not arguing for Ann Coulter to be permanently silenced, which is what limiting her free speech would entail. Being able to exercise your free speech on a stage in front of a crowd of people is not part of the right to free speech.

It's trut that they were arguing for her to not be able to speak at the university, but not to never be able to speak anywhere at all. The university had a right to tell her she couldn't speak.

If hate speech applies to criticizing Israel
and the suffering Israel causes to
Palestinians ,I don"t buy it.

Originally Posted by mapleleaf

If hate speech applies to criticizing Israel
and the suffering Israel causes to
Palestinians ,I don"t buy it.

Interestingly, hate speech would apply to the criticizing of Israel. Good example of how perspective interacts with hate speech. It actually may be partially why hate speech was devised(?).

Anyhow, hate speech looks like a way of weaseling in and controlling free speech. Slowly, but surely? One step at a time? Maybe.