Free speech or hate speech.
Where is the line?
I'm a huge advocate of free speech and have never been shy to say what I think about a matter. To me it doesn't matter that I might offend people. For some strange reason people seem to think that only they have the right to think or feel a certain way. That their way is the only way and that nobody else is entitled to hold a different point of view or opinion.
I can never understand this myself. I might not like your opinion but you are fully entitled to have one. To be your own person and to feel free enough to express that. How else can people understand each other if they are afraid to speak.
At the moment most of the news that I can see is about a world divided. Most of it is focused on either England/Brexit or America/Trump. Two controversial issues and ones which are massively divisive. It seems to me that on both sides the opinion is,
"Our side is right and good. Your side is evil and wrong."
Neither side is willing to listen to the other or even accept that they might have some valid life views. From where i'm sitting the media is firmly backing the politically correct version and castigating anybody who dares to rise their head above the parapet.
But there is a line. When does expressing your opinion become hateful?
When does it cause harm to others?
Words are a dangerous commodity and can be used to cause untold damage if used in a certain way. We've seen countless examples throughout history of the devastation that can be caused by people in power using it to target other groups for their own gain. It's the oldest tactic in the book. Demonize the opposition. Make them the enemy, make them evil and turn people against them. It's easier to perform terrible acts against them if they are considered less than human.
There is my line.
I will always say what I feel is relevant. I'm not a politician that worries about being called out on social media and targeted in the comment and by social media justice warriors. To be honest I couldn't give a fuck about random internet people not liking my opinion. I don't see the point. I have no problem with them not agreeing with me as that is part of life.
We all have different opinions and biases from how and where we grew up. As long as my words aren't being used to demonize a person or group of people I will continue to say it as I mean it. I think it would be better if more people spoke freely and weren't afraid of being true to their opinions.
We are all different.
People will never be all equal and live in a utopian society and we never should be.
There is no point in having 8 billion clones on the planet only capable of acting or thinking in the one direction. What would even be the point.
As long as we can all remember that everybody is human at the end of the day and that we are all entitled to an opinion. We might have a lot of differences but we have a lot more that makes us the same. It's important to embrace the difference rather than trying to turn us all into the same shade of grey.
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Free speech is tricky when the people speaking are advocating hate or fear. Often people dont even realize their own prejudice or paranoia, so when you are talking to them you need to be careful not to trigger anything they hold dear to their heart, like dissing their nationalism, religion, or politics.
I think my line is when people are using their power to dictate how other people should live. theres this idea that the PM or the Pres is in power and we shouldnt question how they got there or what they do with this power, and thats where the issues arise. Some people use their power out of fear and hate, mask their racism and entitlement in "we need to protect ourself" from those evil immigrants... forgetting that we were all immigrants at one time.
Protection is all good, but it can be reached in a number of ways. Bombing another country because they have a few bad eggs is not a just cause, imho. Putting children in camps after you've taken them away from their parents is not protection. Making better laws and procedures is protection.
But if you are harming innocent people in the name of protection, this in my book is as close to evil as you get, because you are hiding behind the veil of authority, sanctifying something as right and accepting "collateral damage" to gain your objective. It's not something that should be done lightly. If your actions are not the will of the majority and you represent a country, if that country is divided about what needs to be done, then you step back from that action. You dont just decide what you think is right, and tough shit for half the country who will be harmed by the decision. If there isnt a majority in agreement, then the decision should not be made. We saw this with Brexit.
I try to see both sides of an argument. however when a person in govt or a position of power and responsibility uses bully tactics, uses their power, personality or status to benefit their social group or agenda, and acts with little regard to ethics, this is when i call bullshit. you cannot fight a person in power by being fair and impartial, because it doesnt get you diddlysquat if the person in power mocks your input or belittles your words.
So what you are seeing as hate speech, I see as a war of ideologies, and theres no fair play in war. Im not saying its right. Im saying we got here because people in power are making decisions that ought not be made, and this is the fall out. People get fooled into believing this is about religion or politics, when its really about power - how people make decisions and who gets hurt by it.
people think words dont have power and they dont mean anything, but i disagree. words can influence peoples opinions and thats why free speech exists - to educate and influence, at ALL levels. but when words only serve to bully and mock because someone else doesnt agree with the viewpoint, thats when free speech is no longer exercising a right. its intent is to hurt or discredit or misdirect attention from the real issue. and i find that is the real issue, is that people think bullying and trolling equals free speech, when they think that they are entitled to act in a reprehensible manner because they were born into it, or bought the privilege by climbing the ladder.
Is there a solution? Imho, yes. change the power structure so that power isnt based on money and privilege. Decentralize and make activism more accessible and acceptable. Ecucate people about their choices and rights, and give them time.There will always be fringe groups that are fearful and want to be rebellious. But if the majority felt like what they say counts, then maybe people would be willing to listen more to people who disagree. idealistic, but there is always hope.
Damn, that was almost a post in itself. :D
Free speech is tricky as there is a very fine line between telling truths and targeting people. People can get triggered very easily over sensitive topics like politics, religion and nationality.
Power is a dangerous tool in the wrong hands. We can see how it is misused when people in authority decide that their way is the only way and discredit and belittle everybody that doesn't agree with their position. Those in power use propaganda to discredit their opposition and spread lies and bullshit so stop them being challenged. The people who don't agree with them are radicals and racists. Left-wing or right-wing depending on who it is. They like to have control over those below them and make sure that nobody can rise high enough to challenge the status quo.
If you look at any of the wars over the past number of years, they have only been about expressing power over weaker countries for money or influence. They might pretend that there is some righteous cause to bomb and kill people but in reality there is nothing that justifies doing this to people. It’s been the same going back to the days of the crusades and religious wars over the non-believers. They can try and justify it all they want but in the end it comes down to power, control and money.
It’s only right to challenge these people but as long as they have the power and the money it will not change anything in reality. Decentralization is a god start to break the grip of the large corporations and banks that are currently setting the rules. I read a good quote lately,
If different people have the power then the rules of the game change instantly. Individually we might not have much but we do when people join together to create change.
We all have inherent biases that have been picked up through life experience and for the most part they are not a real problem. Not all people are going to get along in life as we all have different believes and opinions. I just think it’s important that we all understand that people will have differences and not to be affected by them. Words have a lot of power especially when used by those in power. It amplifies what they say when backed by money and position. That holds true when used both positively and negatively.
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