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It's because of the belief that specific acts shouldn't be illegal, just the negative effects caused by those acts. People can say racist things all they want,
by dx87 8y ago
It's because of the belief that specific acts shouldn't be illegal, just the negative effects caused by those acts. People can say racist things all they want, but if there isn't anyone actually being harmed by it, should they be punished by the government? It's like with Musk, he's not being investigated for a stupid tweet, he's being investigated for a stupid tweet that appears to have been made with the purpose of directly influencing the stock market. Specific acts should only be made illegal if it can be proven that the specific act essentially guarantees that someone will be harmed as a result.
- atonse 8y agoTo add to this good explanation, that's also why slander and libel are not protected forms of speech (but they do have high standards of evidence). You can call a person a million names to their face, but if you publish an article or book saying you think that person's a thief, and that person's life was ruined because nobody would hire them anymore, then yes you're potentially opening yourself up to legal action.
- lgeorget 8y ago> It's because of the belief that specific acts shouldn't be illegal, just the negative effects caused by those acts. Ah ok it actually makes a lot of sense presented that way. So it really is about "culture" then.