2 ms·
I don't think hate speech laws work. My country has hate speech laws and is often referred to as a positive example for it, but these laws are basically useless
by raxxorrax 5y ago
I don't think hate speech laws work. My country has hate speech laws and is often referred to as a positive example for it, but these laws are basically useless.
Still, for government online laws this doesn't seem as bad as you might think. At least on the first look.
- DanBC 5y agoI'm in favour of banning hate speech. My worries about this law are that it compels sites to host some speech that they'd define as hate but which the current UK government doesn't. For example, a forum that provides peer support to trans people could be forced to host transphobic views because the person making those points could claim it's political, and thus protected, speech.
- raxxorrax 5y agoI have sympathy to hold etiquette and show courtesy. But that is a matter of freedom of conscience. You cannot ban love or hate. You can ban it in cases it affects others. There is this saying about breaking bones and stuff that is brought forward very often. I believe it to be wrong, words can hurt people. But I think it would be imposing to require people not to hurt my feelings. And then there is the matter that is has been heavily abused. Speech can be used to bully people directly and you can identify such causes quite easily. But instead it was already used to sanction politically undesirable language and people actively try to seek out offense. In this case hate speech laws are not sustainable. Especially if corporation weight in that want to build a profile with championing the most "inclusive" langue.