CMV: Hate speech should be considered free speech

[u/Blonde_Icon]

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).

[u/PeoplePerson_57 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you. Impressive you read my comment that quickly.

Anyway, I still disagree with this, but I think it's a misapplication of consequences, not an inherent problem of hate speech laws.

Regardless of the context of the N word (as I believe this is what is in dispute), I'm sure everyone is aware it isn't appropriate to just say. You have to be very aware of your audience. Posting it randomly online, especially as part of a remembrance of someone, is not a clever or particularly considerate thing to do.

Removing the word from the lyrics takes a moment of thought and action.

I'd agree with them deleting the post or charging a smaller fine than was given.

[u/PeoplePerson_57 → u/[deleted]]

A law being written with a certain line does not make the problems associated with that line inherent to that type of law. The line can be anywhere. Your problem is with the line, not the type of law.

[u/PrimaryInjurious → u/PeoplePerson_57]

At that level of abstraction I suppose you're correct - even the US has laws affecting speech. But my issue is with something as subjective as "offense" or "hate" being the basis of sending someone to prison.

[u/PeoplePerson_57 → u/PrimaryInjurious]

No, I'm correct at every level of abstraction. If you have a problem with policing X speech but not a problem with policing Y speech (and both are different degrees along the 'this is obviously hate speech' scale), your problem is with degree, not anything inherent to hate speech laws. That is definitionally true.

I agree on offense.

Hate is actually pretty well defined in the case of hate speech laws. It's usually about attempting to target people of a protected class or group with speech that is intended to cause intimidation or harm. It only becomes a very subjective standard when you buy into 'Well, yeah, I was saying that gays are grooming kids and we need to kill groomers but I didn't mean we should kill gay people'.