When did Free Speech disappear?

SamsReturn

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I am concerned that it appears to have become impossible to have rational debates on certain issues.

OP you're not on your own. I've had my wrist slapped; and both posts & threads removed by someone in Mse towers if i talked or tried to start a discussion about an everyday subject.:mad:

[Deleted User]

The problem isn't so much about freedom of speech, although I agree it is under attack. The problem is that folk misinterpret their own perception of the consequences of feeling offended. It is not the "speech" bit that is the problem, it is the response to the speech. (e.g. Fatwa on Salman Rushdie, response to the "Danish cartoons", Charlie Hebdo, cries of racism or bigotry if one protests about religious circumcision, religious opposition to sex equality, the rights of girls to be educated, established churches, Bishops in the House of Lords... etc ad nauseam)

The opinion that one's beliefs are so important, worthy and perfect that ludicrous retaliation is not only needed but justified is simply a magnified example of what seems to go on around here.

True, things here aren't quite as bad as examples like this - "A mob of up to 20,000 Muslims burned down a Hindu village in Bangladesh after rumours spread that a resident had insulted Prophet Mohammed on Facebook."

(From http://metro.co.uk/2017/11/13/village-burned-to-the-ground-after-man-posts-rude-comment-about-mohammed-on-facebook-7074470/ )

I found that example interesting as it was a clear case of folk being offended on behalf of another 'party' although as far as I know the 'party' that was the subject of the 'offence' expressed no view on it one way or another. Not only was offence taken, violent retribution was carried out.

In one more local case, a 'gentleman' traveled hundreds of miles to visit the Glasgow business of someone whose version of the same religion was so wrong that murder was justified. In his view.

The notion that all opinion is equally valid, and worthy of the same "respect" is utter nonsense. I fully accept that people can hold any belief they like, but nothing obliges me to respect the belief, or those who hold it.

WR

sillygoose

fairy_lights wrote: »

Free speech hasn't disappeared, some people just confuse it with being a bigot.

.....aaaaaaaaaaaaaand there is the problem.

Declaring someone a bigot is a judgement call in reference to your own beliefs. It is an automatic assumption yours are right and others are wrong. But can you be sure?

For example I often see people defending people believing in LGBT issues by attacking people that believe in 'the sky fairy or old fashioned ancient man made stories, medieval, deluded religion etc'

Which are the bigots?

fairy_lights

Penitent wrote: »

(Have replaced the picture with a link, as I've just noticed it violates the bad language rules.)

Bad language rules you say?
They're robbing you of your freedom of speech! :rotfl:

andrewf75

What a load of nonsense. And I always find it ironic that people who come out with this kind of stuff are the ones who label others "snowflakes"!

Redknapps_Dog

andrewf75 wrote: »

What a load of nonsense. And I always find it ironic that people who come out with this kind of stuff are the ones who label others "snowflakes"!

The 'anti-snowflake' is even more sensitive than the snowflake, and they love being outraged by these subjects, so much so they constantly post the same repetitive rubbish. Just imagine getting so worked up about a sign on a toilet for example.

fairy_lights

sillygoose wrote: »

Which are the bigots?

The ones who get worked up about their free speech being taken away because they can't say whatever they want, whenever they want with no consequences.

NineDeuce

People who complain about no free speech are normally people who just want to create offence without any backlash.

What they dont want to acknowledge is that free speech works both ways. If you make a comment that is, for example, racist, then free speech allows for other people to call that out.

fairy_lights

staffie1 wrote: »

Removed by Forum Team

What do you mean by this?

SamsReturn

Penitent wrote: »

If you feel you're being restricted here, you are free to start a website, blog or forum and publish your views there.

I know Mse isn't just picking on me. It's a common complaint by many long standing members, that threads are removed. :mad: