4 ms·

This is the problem today. Everyone says they want free speech. But deep down they don't. Some don't want gay marriage written in books, and some don't want an

by juve1996 4y ago

This is the problem today. Everyone says they want free speech. But deep down they don't. Some don't want gay marriage written in books, and some don't want anti-vaxxers to post misinformation. Those are 2 sides of the same coin. Freedom of speech is a critical cornerstone of liberal government. The fact that so many sides want to reduce this right is what is scary.

1270018080 4y ago
But there isn't an enlightened centrist middle ground here where we allow all speech off of principle. First off, because that has never happened in American history (or any country's history?). So there is no good ol days to look back on when speech was more free. Second of all, people are way too stupid to process information on their own. Governments are at their best when they are paternalistic, that's why we have seatbelts, no lead in gasoline etc. Of course the question is "who can decide what's good for you?" but it's definitely not Florida's government. Or the demographic that frequently shows up on r/hermancainaward
- Dracophoenix 4y ago
  > Governments are at their best when they are paternalistic, that's why we have seatbelts, no lead in gasoline etc. The same paternalism has justified poisoning one's own people in a "war" against alcohol, dictated who was allowed to have sex with whom in privacy of their own home, and resulted in human experimentation for the supposed betterment of society.
  - a-user-you-like 4y ago
    Of course the law should dictate who you sleep with. In the 13 colonies adultery was rightly a capital crime.
- gnaritas99 4y ago
intrasight 4y ago
Very well said - and inspired me to chime in. We have much less freedom than we think, and the freedom we do have we pay a very high price for. I often use the phrase "What price freedom?" in conversations, and unfortunately most don't understand what it means.
- rhn_mk1 4y ago
  What does it mean?
  - intrasight 4y ago
    I think of it as having these meanings: 1. Your freedom can cause problems to me an to society as a whole 2. We pay much in blood and treasure to maintain our freedom 3. There are unintended consequences and knock-on effects to most all rules regarding freedom. Or to generalize: "Freedom isn't free"

1270018080 4y ago

But there isn't an enlightened centrist middle ground here where we allow all speech off of principle. First off, because that has never happened in American history (or any country's history?). So there is no good ol days to look back on when speech was more free. Second of all, people are way too stupid to process information on their own. Governments are at their best when they are paternalistic, that's why we have seatbelts, no lead in gasoline etc. Of course the question is "who can decide what's good for you?" but it's definitely not Florida's government. Or the demographic that frequently shows up on r/hermancainaward

Dracophoenix 4y ago
> Governments are at their best when they are paternalistic, that's why we have seatbelts, no lead in gasoline etc. The same paternalism has justified poisoning one's own people in a "war" against alcohol, dictated who was allowed to have sex with whom in privacy of their own home, and resulted in human experimentation for the supposed betterment of society.
- a-user-you-like 4y ago
  Of course the law should dictate who you sleep with. In the 13 colonies adultery was rightly a capital crime.
gnaritas99 4y ago

intrasight 4y ago

Very well said - and inspired me to chime in. We have much less freedom than we think, and the freedom we do have we pay a very high price for. I often use the phrase "What price freedom?" in conversations, and unfortunately most don't understand what it means.

rhn_mk1 4y ago
What does it mean?
- intrasight 4y ago
  I think of it as having these meanings: 1. Your freedom can cause problems to me an to society as a whole 2. We pay much in blood and treasure to maintain our freedom 3. There are unintended consequences and knock-on effects to most all rules regarding freedom. Or to generalize: "Freedom isn't free"