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>Everything else should be able to be said and be heard But what does that actually mean? If all you're saying is that the state should not stop them, then rel

>Everything else should be able to be said and be heard But what does that actually mean? If all you're saying is that the state should not stop them, then relatively few people disagree with that, but the argument usually goes further. There are many ways people's speech can be limited without the involvement of the state. Be that de-platforming, protests or economic or social limitations. >Restricting Free Speech puts power among the ones in control of Speech. This is true, but the reality is there will always be restrictions on speech. It is not physically possible to let everyone speak to everyone, or even just those willing to listen. However we structure our societal discourse, it will always privilege some speech over other speech. We have to engage with, and be ready to criticise, the implicit decisions being made about what speech is privileged and why. Because if we don't, then we cede power to those who already restrict speech with these decisions. Just saying "don't restrict speech", and thinking that gives everyone a voice, is incredibly politically naive.

ekianjo 9y ago
> Just saying "don't restrict speech", and thinking that gives everyone a voice, is incredibly politically naive. I don't see how "incredibly naive" is something that is the fundamental piece of Western Civilization (at least in most of the English world). > It is not physically possible to let everyone speak to everyone No, but first not putting any filter on the nature and contents of speech, as long as it is not violent, is something we should stand for. The "How" is irrelevant. > However we structure our societal discourse, it will always privilege some speech over other speech. This should be an individual's choice to make, as in what "speech" you want to listen to. When you go on social networks for example, it should be expected and natural to find people who share different views, no matter how revolting they might appear to you. And we should find comfort in the fact that they are allowed to be expressed, because in turn we are allowed to express ourselves just as well. So in fact, there is no intervention needed by any state actor - on the contrary, free speech is the tool that enables us to discourse and experiment with ideas. Just shutting the door, or filtering inconvenient speech is not making it go away, and certainly will end up having no positive effect towards those who profess such speech, because it could further solidify their opinions and prevent them from being receptive in the future.

ekianjo 9y ago

> Just saying "don't restrict speech", and thinking that gives everyone a voice, is incredibly politically naive. I don't see how "incredibly naive" is something that is the fundamental piece of Western Civilization (at least in most of the English world). > It is not physically possible to let everyone speak to everyone No, but first not putting any filter on the nature and contents of speech, as long as it is not violent, is something we should stand for. The "How" is irrelevant. > However we structure our societal discourse, it will always privilege some speech over other speech. This should be an individual's choice to make, as in what "speech" you want to listen to. When you go on social networks for example, it should be expected and natural to find people who share different views, no matter how revolting they might appear to you. And we should find comfort in the fact that they are allowed to be expressed, because in turn we are allowed to express ourselves just as well. So in fact, there is no intervention needed by any state actor - on the contrary, free speech is the tool that enables us to discourse and experiment with ideas. Just shutting the door, or filtering inconvenient speech is not making it go away, and certainly will end up having no positive effect towards those who profess such speech, because it could further solidify their opinions and prevent them from being receptive in the future.