4 ms·

> the real physical world has freedom of speech and it works pretty well If someone were to enter a privately owned "public square" in the physical world and s

• airhangerf15 4y ago
  No, that is protected and has been for decades: Robins v. Pruneyard Shopping Center
  • ericbarrett 4y ago
    That ruling is (a) only relevant in California, (b) has been significantly narrowed since it was issued in the 1970s, and (c) involved political solicitation, not simply yelling slurs.
• zug_zug 4y ago
  Fascinating, I didn't know that ruling. However, to the larger point, in pre-internet times if you were to enter a public forum and shout racial obscenities it wouldn't be possible to do so anonymously, I imagine you'd get cited for creating a public disturbance (possibly thrown out on appeal if you bought an expensive lawyer?), and you'd suffer multiyear reputational damage [at least in small town]. These mechanisms seem to work - I scarcely ever seen in-person behavior that sinks to the level of online behavior. And I think we're all happier for it, imagine if the public playground allowed strangers from all over the world to shout whatever phrase they want anonymously with no transportation cost.