4 ms·

I think you (and that article) completely missed the point behind the idea of free speech. The fundamental idea behind speech is that it is a reflection of our

I think you (and that article) completely missed the point behind the idea of free speech. The fundamental idea behind speech is that it is a reflection of our mind and our reasoning. It is NOT the same thing as the actual 'reason' in our mind. By restricting speech, you do not 'change' anything of real significance. If you force a man to only look in a mirror which shows a distorted view of his body, then not only he will be unable to do anything about his body, whenever he would want to do something about his body, he would go in the wrong direction. When someone says 'gas all kikes', it isn't that by him not expressing that thought, you have permanently altered his reasoning. He is expressing that idea (assuming he meant it seriously, and not in 4chany way), out of the feeling of hatred and anger in his mind. Similarly, when someone hears 'gas all kikes', and he thinks 'damn right', it isn't that without him hearing that vile statement from the first person, somehow the feelings in his mind won't really arise. Now what about a more reasoned structured argument made by the first person, instead of just some call, for instance systematically blaming a certain group of people, and presenting 'proof'? Again, if the speech is free, then it can be tackled down by other good people, explaining things. To every 'Mein Kampf', you can write 'Your Lies', or something else to appeal to anyone who wants to 'truly' believe in anything. Finally, irrespective of what you may think, it is not possible to successfully curb speech, if someone writes a hateful book, it is spread in the underground circles, credited to anonymous groups. And when people receive that literature, the first question they ask is "hmm.. I wonder why some people are so insistent about not wanting anyone to read this? I wonder what evidence of wrongdoing is listed in this book against the other group. I wonder if what this book says is right, because otherwise the rulers wouldn't be so interested in preventing others from reading this". And I have first hand experience of this. If by banning intolerant you can make people tolerant, if by forcing them to interact with others, you can make them like others, if by banning certain kinds of speech, you can change people's minds, then go for it. But since I know that's not possible, I am against restrictions on any kind of speech.

Delmania 9y ago
I'll have to disagree with your assessment. The reason we have freedom of speech in the United States is to prevent the government from silencing critics. The Founder's most definitely did not have the Nazi. Much of your argument resembles the same one used by critics of gun control, which is essentially that banning guns won't stop criminals from getting guns. I understand the sentiment, but I also think a society needs to draw lines around what it will tolerate and what it won't. Nazism and the Confederacy were harmful mindsets that killed people and tore apart nations. The only way to kill it is by education, but that doesn't mean we should let it fester.

Delmania 9y ago

I'll have to disagree with your assessment. The reason we have freedom of speech in the United States is to prevent the government from silencing critics. The Founder's most definitely did not have the Nazi. Much of your argument resembles the same one used by critics of gun control, which is essentially that banning guns won't stop criminals from getting guns. I understand the sentiment, but I also think a society needs to draw lines around what it will tolerate and what it won't. Nazism and the Confederacy were harmful mindsets that killed people and tore apart nations. The only way to kill it is by education, but that doesn't mean we should let it fester.