3 ms·

I wonder how someone like Hitler would have been treated. I guess free speech advocates would have helped him to spread his sick ideas and rise to power? Free s

I wonder how someone like Hitler would have been treated. I guess free speech advocates would have helped him to spread his sick ideas and rise to power? Free speech needs to have limits somewhere. If others are insulted, smeared, de-humanized, if hate is spreaded, if under the protection of free speech people rise to power who poison the political climate, then the whole system is in danger of falling apart, with all the good elements, even the right for free speech.

50ckpuppet 6y ago
The protection of the whole system is a sound education that teaches people how to think not what to think. you should try it sometime.
NE2z2T9qi 6y ago
So you think people who are fierce advocates of everyone's fundamental rights and liberties would--on net--enable the Nazis? The idea that we still have rabid censorship advocates in 2020 is dumbfounding. How many "heretics" have to burn before people realize that policing ideas is deeply illiberal?
- submeta 6y ago
  Free speech is not a god given right to spread hate, misinformation, antisemitism, misogyny, etc - And yes: Not confronting people who threaten the very basics of our democracy (respecting human rights and the dignity of our fellow citizens) will help those dark forces rise to the power. The nazis have been elected to power in the Weimar Republic.
  - NE2z2T9qi 6y ago
    The medieval Catholic Church: "Free speech is not a God given right to spread heresy! Not burning heretics threatens the eternal souls of our flock and helps the dark forces of Satan rise to the power."
  - disposekinetics 6y ago
    > Free speech is not a god given right to spread hate, misinformation, antisemitism, misogyny Free speech is a natural right. In a stat of nature one can say whatever they want. Rights are not some game of mother-may-I with the government.
    - pvg 6y ago
      In a state of nature, others can slap your speech right out of your mouth.
anm89 6y ago
Throwing Hitler out as a boogie man does not nullify the entire legal system of our country or the intellectual tradition behind it. Yes Hitler would have had free speech too although most of what is viewed as problematic by Hitler would have been considered violent hate speech in our current legal system and would still not be allowed. As a jew, I support free speech for hypothetical Hitler. Stop using these lazy arguments.
ummonk 6y ago
The Weimar Republic had hate speech laws, and prosecuted Nazis for violating them. This simply resulted in more polarization and Nazis becoming more committed to their cause.

50ckpuppet 6y ago

The protection of the whole system is a sound education that teaches people how to think not what to think. you should try it sometime.

NE2z2T9qi 6y ago

So you think people who are fierce advocates of everyone's fundamental rights and liberties would--on net--enable the Nazis? The idea that we still have rabid censorship advocates in 2020 is dumbfounding. How many "heretics" have to burn before people realize that policing ideas is deeply illiberal?

submeta 6y ago
Free speech is not a god given right to spread hate, misinformation, antisemitism, misogyny, etc - And yes: Not confronting people who threaten the very basics of our democracy (respecting human rights and the dignity of our fellow citizens) will help those dark forces rise to the power. The nazis have been elected to power in the Weimar Republic.
- NE2z2T9qi 6y ago
  The medieval Catholic Church: "Free speech is not a God given right to spread heresy! Not burning heretics threatens the eternal souls of our flock and helps the dark forces of Satan rise to the power."
- disposekinetics 6y ago
  > Free speech is not a god given right to spread hate, misinformation, antisemitism, misogyny Free speech is a natural right. In a stat of nature one can say whatever they want. Rights are not some game of mother-may-I with the government.
  - pvg 6y ago
    In a state of nature, others can slap your speech right out of your mouth.

anm89 6y ago

Throwing Hitler out as a boogie man does not nullify the entire legal system of our country or the intellectual tradition behind it. Yes Hitler would have had free speech too although most of what is viewed as problematic by Hitler would have been considered violent hate speech in our current legal system and would still not be allowed. As a jew, I support free speech for hypothetical Hitler. Stop using these lazy arguments.

ummonk 6y ago

The Weimar Republic had hate speech laws, and prosecuted Nazis for violating them. This simply resulted in more polarization and Nazis becoming more committed to their cause.