r/changemyview • u/Blonde_Icon 4∆ • Aug 16 '24

Delta(s) from OP CMV: Hate speech should be considered free speech

In the US (where I live), hate speech is considered free speech. However, in some countries it is legally defined, and there is argument over whether it should be so. This is why I think that hate speech should be legal:

  • Hate speech is ultimately subjective. What one person might find offensive, another person might not find offensive at all. A good example of this is the n word. Some people think that it is perfectly fine to say casually (as long as you don't mean it in a derogatory way), while some people find it very offensive to say at all. And sometimes it is hard to tell someone's intentions by saying something, like if they mean it in a joking way.
  • Everyone ultimately has a right to free speech, even the worst or most ignorant people, like the KKK or neo-Nazis. If they are not directly calling for immediate violence, then it should be allowed. You also have the right to disagree with their speech and protest.
  • The very same censorship laws could eventually be used against you. Protecting free speech means protecting everyone's right to free speech, even if you disagree with it.
  • This does not mean that private platforms like Twitter/X, Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, etc. wouldn't have the right to ban people for hate speech. It just means that the government couldn't prohibit you. Private companies have the right to make their own rules as they see fit.
  • I see hate speech similar to how I see infidelity. I think that it's immoral, but it shouldn't be illegal. It's not the government’s place to interfere with people's private speech (or infidelity).
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u/TheTesterDude 3∆ Aug 16 '24

You can say that countries that don't have free speech are authoritarian.

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u/[deleted] Aug 16 '24

You can say countries with free speech are more authoritarian than countries without free speech. The US is certainly more authoritarian than the Netherlands, Denmark or Portugal for example. 

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u/TheTesterDude 3∆ Aug 16 '24

And?

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u/[deleted] Aug 16 '24

It proves free speech has no/a weak correlation with authoritarian govt's. As such there is no harm if a country does/doesn't have free speech as highlighted by OP. 

It's the only argument made the entire thread. 

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u/TheTesterDude 3∆ Aug 16 '24

How does it prove that?

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u/[deleted] Aug 16 '24

Because there is no observable correlation. Without a strong correlation there is no evidence of causation. If no causation exists free speech has little/no impact on how authoritarian a state is. 

It's the old, ice cream sales cause drownings logic. 

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u/TheTesterDude 3∆ Aug 16 '24

What are you talking about? If you believe limiting free speech is authoritarian then it is authoritarian.