4 ms·
Words are used to spread ideas and tell stories, no? That much we can agree on? Do we agree that stories are a powerful medium for spreading good stories that
by madeofpalk 8y ago
Words are used to spread ideas and tell stories, no? That much we can agree on?
Do we agree that stories are a powerful medium for spreading good stories that make people happy? What about making people sad? What about educating people?
If 'words' can do all of this, then surely 'words' can also incite harm?
- jlawson 8y agoWe all know words can incite harm. Incitement is a specific class of speech that is generally prohibited. I see nobody here arguing against this. However, much speech that is not incitement is also called hate speech, and that part of the Venn diagram is what we're talking about. These words are called harmful to justify the use of force to silence them, on much more abstract grounds than incitement.