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A lot of self-proclaimed free-speech advocates believe it is illiberal to criticize them. For example, say I give a speech and people criticize me for it. If I
by medler 4y ago
A lot of self-proclaimed free-speech advocates believe it is illiberal to criticize them.
For example, say I give a speech and people criticize me for it. If I then say “I’m practicing free speech. My critics are against free speech” then it’s like I’m saying that only the first person to speak is allowed free speech; everyone else needs to shut up.
It sounds silly in this example but this is an extremely common rhetorical technique.
- salawat 4y agoIndeed. The rhetorical technique is frustrating, but there is a clear dividing line between exercising free speech, and coordinating with enough people to facilitate a societal ostracization. In one, a party is availing themselves of making a point; adding something to the intellectual crock pot, if you will. The other is essentially working the room to prevent a party in particular from doing so at all. I do not think anyone can reasonably argue that someone 'gathering up the boys to defenestrate someone with an odious opinion' is merely a good faith "exercising of free speech". But again, at that point we're starting to argue about something other than free speech, and more representing enforcement of the Overton window, and what everyone is comfortable with counting as reasonable to be an outcome of being found to be outside it.