4 ms·

No. If south park had shown Muhammad, and someone had gotten killed because of it, the only people to blame would be the ones who killed them, not anyone invol

No. If south park had shown Muhammad, and someone had gotten killed because of it, the only people to blame would be the ones who killed them, not anyone involved with south park. As cliche as it is, if we let them dictate what we do and do not do, the terrorists win.

ErrantX 16y ago
Yes, to a point. But there is an element of blame too; they must know what reaction their actions would provoke - and yet they choose to continue with them. There is, perhaps, only a small portion of blame - but it is akin to throwing a red cape between a bull and a man with his back turned. I think it is morally justified to think: "if I say this will some idiots try to kill other people? perhaps I should tone it down"
- inerte 16y ago
  What will happen is that in some time there will nothing left to be said. Mind you, I'm drawing a line between incitement (flat out saying "go and do something wrong") and saying something knowing others, in reaction, will do something wrong. You're opening the opportunity for every type of speech to be silenced. Example? If you disagree with me, I will kill every poney in the world. Now you see, we can't even discuss the chance of having a discussion. Also, one last point to be made: How do you "tone down" against a belief that EVERY visual representation of a person is wrong?
  - ErrantX 16y ago
    > If you disagree with me, I will kill every poney in the world. The only real point there is that is an unlikely threat. I can ignore it. If a substantial number of people developed a long history of killing ponies and then made that threat I might reconsider. One of two things has to happen in my mind. Either we have to ignore the terrorists - which is my preferred solution, but I highly doubt the media will let us. Or we avoid inciting them for a bit as best we can whilst eradicating the problem.
    - inerte 16y ago
      You know that blame means punishment right? I just drew Mohammed on a napkin. Do you think I should pay a fine, go to jail, something?... If you think "of course not, don't be silly", then tell me how can I know, prior to expressing my thoughts, if my work will result in a murder. What's a substantial amount of people, how much time is a long history? You're saying there's a line that speech should not cross, because after a certain point bad things will happen. Where is that line? You're being vague if you say "some people, long history, napkim is okay, cartoon in national newspaper is not". I want to be a law abiding citizen. Should the government publish a list of prohibited things to say? A civilian committee? Should I use "common sense" (as if there's anything common in 2 billion people and 2 major religions spanning 2 thousand years). Or will I only know if what I said was okay after someone killed? There are serious implications on who you choose to blame, I don't think you've thought this one through.
      - ErrantX 16y ago
        > I just drew Mohammed on a napkin. Do you think I should pay a fine, go to jail, something?... You know that's not what I mean :) and it's unrelated. Also your definition of blame is fallacious because punishment does not always take the form of jail/fine (i.e. social blame, personal blame). Besides your action is not inciting; who will see it? If you now go into the town centre and happen to post it near a mosque athat has potential to be inciting. And you need to consider whether that is the sensible thing to do. (the answer is; it's probably fine because no one is likely to get killed) > then tell me how can I know, prior to expressing my thoughts, if my work will result in a murder. Strawman; there is ample precedent for media, particularly cartoons, to cause offence and elicit extremist response. > You're being vague if you say "some people, long history, napkim is okay, cartoon in national newspaper is not". I want to be a law abiding citizen. Should the government publish a list of prohibited things to say? Deliberately so; it's a personal choice, not something anyone else should decide! > I don't think you've thought this one through. You skirt around some good points - particularly with regards to "social interference" (i.e. a moral brigade deciding what is right/wrong to publish based on their feeling on what will cause extremist response). However I think you make a few fatal mistakes in rhetoric (mostly by building on increasingly shaking links); ultimately I'm not sure you've thought the counter argument through clearly.
- J3L2404 16y ago
  Give me Christ or give me Hiroshima!

ErrantX 16y ago

Yes, to a point. But there is an element of blame too; they must know what reaction their actions would provoke - and yet they choose to continue with them. There is, perhaps, only a small portion of blame - but it is akin to throwing a red cape between a bull and a man with his back turned. I think it is morally justified to think: "if I say this will some idiots try to kill other people? perhaps I should tone it down"

inerte 16y ago
What will happen is that in some time there will nothing left to be said. Mind you, I'm drawing a line between incitement (flat out saying "go and do something wrong") and saying something knowing others, in reaction, will do something wrong. You're opening the opportunity for every type of speech to be silenced. Example? If you disagree with me, I will kill every poney in the world. Now you see, we can't even discuss the chance of having a discussion. Also, one last point to be made: How do you "tone down" against a belief that EVERY visual representation of a person is wrong?
- ErrantX 16y ago
  > If you disagree with me, I will kill every poney in the world. The only real point there is that is an unlikely threat. I can ignore it. If a substantial number of people developed a long history of killing ponies and then made that threat I might reconsider. One of two things has to happen in my mind. Either we have to ignore the terrorists - which is my preferred solution, but I highly doubt the media will let us. Or we avoid inciting them for a bit as best we can whilst eradicating the problem.
  - inerte 16y ago
    You know that blame means punishment right? I just drew Mohammed on a napkin. Do you think I should pay a fine, go to jail, something?... If you think "of course not, don't be silly", then tell me how can I know, prior to expressing my thoughts, if my work will result in a murder. What's a substantial amount of people, how much time is a long history? You're saying there's a line that speech should not cross, because after a certain point bad things will happen. Where is that line? You're being vague if you say "some people, long history, napkim is okay, cartoon in national newspaper is not". I want to be a law abiding citizen. Should the government publish a list of prohibited things to say? A civilian committee? Should I use "common sense" (as if there's anything common in 2 billion people and 2 major religions spanning 2 thousand years). Or will I only know if what I said was okay after someone killed? There are serious implications on who you choose to blame, I don't think you've thought this one through.
    - ErrantX 16y ago
      > I just drew Mohammed on a napkin. Do you think I should pay a fine, go to jail, something?... You know that's not what I mean :) and it's unrelated. Also your definition of blame is fallacious because punishment does not always take the form of jail/fine (i.e. social blame, personal blame). Besides your action is not inciting; who will see it? If you now go into the town centre and happen to post it near a mosque athat has potential to be inciting. And you need to consider whether that is the sensible thing to do. (the answer is; it's probably fine because no one is likely to get killed) > then tell me how can I know, prior to expressing my thoughts, if my work will result in a murder. Strawman; there is ample precedent for media, particularly cartoons, to cause offence and elicit extremist response. > You're being vague if you say "some people, long history, napkim is okay, cartoon in national newspaper is not". I want to be a law abiding citizen. Should the government publish a list of prohibited things to say? Deliberately so; it's a personal choice, not something anyone else should decide! > I don't think you've thought this one through. You skirt around some good points - particularly with regards to "social interference" (i.e. a moral brigade deciding what is right/wrong to publish based on their feeling on what will cause extremist response). However I think you make a few fatal mistakes in rhetoric (mostly by building on increasingly shaking links); ultimately I'm not sure you've thought the counter argument through clearly.
J3L2404 16y ago
Give me Christ or give me Hiroshima!