suburbanreuben
Old School Grand Master
Neil":a9ljpuyx said:There's a difference, though - subtle it may be - between having a certain opinion, and abusing somebody either verbally, or physically.
If, for some, that line seems rather thin and tenuous, I'd just like to say this - for all of those suggesting this is really just about free speech, and people having the right to air their "opinion" however unsavoury that is, I'd rather a society where people can walk free with the right not to be abused and harassed, than some malcontent feels repressed because they can't call them a fatty, or a ginge, or whatever term they'd use to insult a goth, or whoever else those with low self-esteem feel the desire to deride / insult / abuse in order to feel better about themselves.
Freedom of speech is one thing - but it's not a blank cheque to go blathering around society being thoroughly uncivilised. For those that want to - rant at your TVs or something. Freedom of speech is not universal now - and hasn't been for quite some time, in most democracies, and certainly in most non-democratic countries.
Subtle? Thin and Tenuous?
Hardly; There's a very big dividing line between thinking something and punching someone because you don't like the cut of their jib.
Bring on the Thought Police...