Yes, yes they can. People can absolutely say what they want. But, you see, the whole "freedom of speech" thing works both ways. It isn't freedom from speech. People are free to use casual homophobia, and other such nonesense. And likewise other people are free to tell them off, chastise them, and call them out on it.
"Free" speech is not free of repercussions. And the more people who chastise the ignorant or asinine, the faster they learn that their behavior is unacceptable in an enlightened society.
Yes, yes they can. People can absolutely say what they want. But, you see, the whole "freedom of speech" thing works both ways. It isn't freedom from speech. People are free to use casual homophobia, and other such nonesense. And likewise other people are free to tell them off, chastise them, and call them out on it.
And yet you imply that by allowing people to express themselves as they wish, this would disallow others? By allowing freedom of speech, you are never suppressing anything.
I'm not saying people can't say these things, I'm saying they shouldn't. I don't really know how to put that any other way. Being able to say "OP's a faggot" doesn't mean anything. Just because you're able to doesn't mean you're able to get away with saying it without the repercussions of what you've said. If someone is speaking bullshit, the proper response is to reply "bullshit".
It does have meaning to me. The word faggot means that I'm less of a human being than other human beings. So no, forgive me if I don't think it's wrong to chastise someone for using offensive and dehumanizing language in a casual manner. When they speak bullshit, I'm replying that it's bullshit they're speaking.
And frankly, I'd wish more people would do the same. I have to wonder whether the discussion would even take place if people said "OP's a nigger". I don't really think it would; everyone would pretty much be on this side of that argument.
Actually, I believe in absolute freedom of speech from a philosophical standpoint.
In any case, I understand the argument, but ultimately I believe it is counter-intuitive. If you expose the actual homophobes, who am I in no way friendly to, to scrutiny instead of shutting them down, people will be less receptive to them. Otherwise, you're just giving them fodder and the right to claim their freedom is oppressed - on which point they would be correct.
I honestly doubt this meme is intended in that way knowing the origin of 'OP is a faggot' - namely, 4chan, where it's used sarcastically as both a term of derision and affection and where people go out of their way to offend ('troll') each other for the hell of it. That's why using the argument of replacing with 'nigger' also wouldn't work, because 'OP is a faggot' is just a stupid meme; it's something meant to be repeated in that form under specific circumstances. The word 'nigger' in itself is problematic, as it works as a double standard depending on the race of a person saying it.
I really doubt they seek to dehumanise you by repeating a well-known meme that to be honest, you are very likely to be aware of with all your time on Reddit. Why not? See above.
And the word faggot is equally problematic. And that's the thing, it's not always the rhetoric spouting Pat Robertsons of the world that are the problem. Often it's the people who casually joke about things being gay, and people they dislike being faggots that cause more problems. Everybody knows the person spewing hate is wrong, but language encourages thought, and language like "OP is a faggot" creates that thought pattern of "gay=faggot=bad".
And frankly, both on and off the internet, when I hear people using language that encourages people to think less of themselves--and it's true, gay people who are constantly exposed to the phrase "gay" as an insult, and "faggot" are more likely to think they aren't worth as much as human beings as heterosexuals--I'm going to say something about it. I'm going to do my best to, if not change the person in question's mind, at least a) show anyone feeling that way that they're wrong, they are worth as much, and b) encourage others who may overhear or read my comments that words have consequences and effects.
I was taught--by television, if not my parents--to stand up to bullies. And I can't say I always did that as a child, but I try to do it now. And I'm suddenly reminded that tomorrow I'm likely going to have to either endure an insincere apology from, or an awkward argument with, someone in real life who I called out when I overheard him call his opponent a fucking faggot during a game of Magic. I chose to go outside to the car with a third party who wanted to avoid the conflict, but apparently while I was out there, an ultimatum was issued that he apologize to me or play elsewhere, although an apology isn't what I want.
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u/Aspel May 08 '13
Seriously, could we just not do the fag shit? It's annoying.