It's true, though. The entire first amendment of the constitution is based around that ~shit. You can't outlaw words or ideas, no matter how ugly and heinous they are.
That is complete and total bullshit. You want to tell that places like Canada, France, and the UK are places that are more restrictive than the US, that we're in danger of turning into 1984? No, you can't outlaw words or ideas. But you can and should be able to outlaw the use of such words to torment, harass, and demean others. We have a right to live a life without having hate spewed at us that frighten and attack us.
I agree. What Mahar should say is "I don't like what you have to say, but I'll defend your right to say it."
I didn't watch the video, but I'm guessing it's the same thing that was posted here a few days ago. He's basically saying that yes, people like Limbaugh, Kirk Cameron are fucking morons, but let them be morons.
Being an asshole still falls under free speech.
Now if Kirk Cameron had said he wants to castrate gay men, or if Limbaugh said that we should kill women who have abortions; that would be hate speech.
I hate the vile words that spring from the fundie right wing; but they still have the 1st Amendment as do I when I call them idiots.
I take it most people wanking in here would love it if the Obama administration came through here and started deleting their comments because they're deemed inappropriate by some old white dudes in DC whose moods change every other week.
YESSSSSSSS for legislating WORDS and mandating STFU! Let's throw a fucking rally!
Because I agree 100% with the sentiment that I don't agree with a word you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
hate speech laws "working" just means people aren't expressing their hateful thoughts anymore. They're still having them and seething with them. Other countries can do what they like, but as an American, I believe it's vital not to outlaw thoughts or expressions thereof, because that shit is subjective, no matter how many people claim otherwise. Especially when it comes to specific words. That's some Orwellian nightmare right there.
It's similar to how people wanted to outlaw flag-burning back in the day. To them, it was an unbelievably vile act, an expression of a thought that they wanted eliminated. You can't do that shit.
If I can jump in too, I agree with what wauwy said but I also think that the problem in America with banning 'hate speech' is that we'd probably deal with punishing offenders in a way that would only exacerbate the issue rather than help quell it. I mean, we put people in jail for the most ridiculous things as is it, so there's no way we'd spend the time or money on actually trying to teach people why their way of thinking is wrong. At least we're able to charge people with harassment, which is imo the only part of this that's a problem. If I hear hate speech on my TV I just turn it off. Easy. If someone was following me around saying shit to me then I'd call the cops. Works fine for me.
I don't agree with the First Amendment because personally, I don't think a bunch of rich white guys in 1791 should get to determine in 2012 and forevermore that the right to free speech is more important than a right not to be hated upon on the grounds of race, gender, orientation or whichever reason bigots choose today.
Ugh, I just want to punch that dude sometimes. He can say the most ass backwards shit and then always comes back with, "But I'm gay, so I know how hard it is out there."
I'm gonna get some flak ITP already, I can tell
I didn't watch the video, but I'm guessing it's the same thing that was posted here a few days ago. He's basically saying that yes, people like Limbaugh, Kirk Cameron are fucking morons, but let them be morons.
Being an asshole still falls under free speech.
Now if Kirk Cameron had said he wants to castrate gay men, or if Limbaugh said that we should kill women who have abortions; that would be hate speech.
I hate the vile words that spring from the fundie right wing; but they still have the 1st Amendment as do I when I call them idiots.
It turns my stomach that people are even arguing with you!
YESSSSSSSS for legislating WORDS and mandating STFU! Let's throw a fucking rally!
I can only watch his show but I stopped because I couldn't stand him anymore.
if you argue for free speech then that includes public reaction to your initial speech, even if it's offensive - ESPECIALLY if it's offensive. period.
i couldn't watch more than 23 secs of the first video...
Harassment, bias intimidation, all that is and should remain a crime. But expressing hate speech shouldn't be.
hate speech laws "working" just means people aren't expressing their hateful thoughts anymore. They're still having them and seething with them. Other countries can do what they like, but as an American, I believe it's vital not to outlaw thoughts or expressions thereof, because that shit is subjective, no matter how many people claim otherwise. Especially when it comes to specific words. That's some Orwellian nightmare right there.
It's similar to how people wanted to outlaw flag-burning back in the day. To them, it was an unbelievably vile act, an expression of a thought that they wanted eliminated. You can't do that shit.
and don't you think that eventually people express hatred can act on it
at the same time there's a line when hate speech encourages violence. this is when hate speech gets out of line :(
Edited at 2012-03-25 08:39 pm (UTC)
can't stand him anymore. he's just as much a bigot and misogynist as the fat fool who i all not name
never understood why this guy has a show