It is absolutely stunning and sickening that so many otherwise intelligent people cannot (or refuse to) grasp the simple concept that banning any speech or free

It is absolutely stunning and sickening that so many otherwise intelligent people cannot (or refuse to) grasp the simple concept that banning any speech or free expression is the opposite of having "free speech". It doesn't matter if the government (or some other entity) designates that speech as "hate speech", offensive, false, defamatory, or anything else. You either have free speech, or you don't. You cannot partially restrict free speech. Restricted speech is not free. Freedom is dangerous. If we were all locked in our own individual, soundproof cells all the time, nobody would be in danger of being assaulted or offended. That is not a free society. In a free society, you are constantly at risk. It would be bad enough if censorship, fascism, and bondage were being inflicted upon us by domineering overseers using violence and sheer force. It is far more disgusting and disheartening that so many of my fellow human beings are actually embracing and endorsing this authoritarianism. Unfortunately, it looks like the human race is going to get what its asking for.