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Language that is meant to intimidate? It seems pretty clear to me that the purpose of that is to stifle discussion.

by md8z 5y ago

akomtu 5y ago
The "is meant" part is unprovable. Trolling is often about sarcasm that obfuscates the intent. We can use the recently famous "let's go brandon" as an example - the intent is clear, but unprovable even with inquisition methods.
SllX 5y ago
What can someone actually say to you online to effectively intimidate you? I have had many people try in the last 20 years, but the basic problem is that they’re just an anonymous web surfer and so am I. Also: what about boycotts? Is this speech not designed to intimidate an organization into doing the thing or not doing the thing the organizers of the boycott want them to do (or not to do). A lot of speech which is designed to intimidate is perfectly legal because intimidating others is a valid tactic within reason. That’s also subjective, but when you’re in a position of power over someone, you can intimidate the crap out of someone without coming close to say, death threats, rape threats or the threat of doing anything actually illegal.
_-david-_ 5y ago
So if somebody intends to intimidate but fails they should go to jail?
Levitz 5y ago
>Language that is meant to intimidate? So like "Eat the rich?" or is it more like "I hope antivaxxers actually get covid"? Does "Fuck you" count?
StanislavPetrov 5y ago
To the mentally fragile, even the most innocuous statements are taken as intended intimidation. If this law is passed, how long before someone who states that there is a biological difference between men and women will be dragged before the court by complainants who claim that this factual statement was an "attempt to intimidate"? The internet is filled with people who openly state that, very literally and sincerely that "silence is violence" - this is not the atmosphere conducive to a law that criminalizes people who feel intimidated.

Language that is meant to intimidate? It seems pretty clear to me that the purpose of that is to stifle discussion.

by md8z 5y ago

Language that is meant to intimidate? It seems pretty clear to me that the purpose of that is to stifle discussion.

The "is meant" part is unprovable. Trolling is often about sarcasm that obfuscates the intent. We can use the recently famous "let's go brandon" as an example - the intent is clear, but unprovable even with inquisition methods.

SllX 5y ago

What can someone actually say to you online to effectively intimidate you? I have had many people try in the last 20 years, but the basic problem is that they’re just an anonymous web surfer and so am I. Also: what about boycotts? Is this speech not designed to intimidate an organization into doing the thing or not doing the thing the organizers of the boycott want them to do (or not to do). A lot of speech which is designed to intimidate is perfectly legal because intimidating others is a valid tactic within reason. That’s also subjective, but when you’re in a position of power over someone, you can intimidate the crap out of someone without coming close to say, death threats, rape threats or the threat of doing anything actually illegal.

_-david-_ 5y ago

So if somebody intends to intimidate but fails they should go to jail?

Levitz 5y ago

>Language that is meant to intimidate? So like "Eat the rich?" or is it more like "I hope antivaxxers actually get covid"? Does "Fuck you" count?

StanislavPetrov 5y ago

To the mentally fragile, even the most innocuous statements are taken as intended intimidation. If this law is passed, how long before someone who states that there is a biological difference between men and women will be dragged before the court by complainants who claim that this factual statement was an "attempt to intimidate"? The internet is filled with people who openly state that, very literally and sincerely that "silence is violence" - this is not the atmosphere conducive to a law that criminalizes people who feel intimidated.