LXer: Notes on Free Speech, and a Line in the Sand

LXer · 06-13-2019, 03:50 PM

Published at LXer:

We received this anonymous letter and have published it as a follow-up to “Reader's Claim That Rules Similar to the Code of Conduct (CoC) Were 'Imposed' on LibrePlanet and the FSF“

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frankbell · 06-14-2019, 09:49 PM

I tried reading the article and couldn't force myself to finish it.

But I do have a general observation: I find that far too many persons like to conflate "freedom of speech" with "freedom to be rude and nasty."

They are not the same thing.

GazL · 06-15-2019, 05:25 AM

Yes, I often find that with techrights. I usually don't click on their links when they show up here.

I agree with your stance, but at the same time we live in an age of outrage culture and virtue-signalling, and that's just as, if not more, concerning. Here in the UK we have some absolutely insane Hate Speech laws because of this nonsense.

One should strive for Common Sense and Common Courtesy in equal measure. Sadly, neither appear all that common any more.

freemedia2018 · 06-18-2019, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GazL

at the same time we live in an age of outrage culture and virtue-signalling, and that's just as, if not more, concerning. Here in the UK we have some absolutely insane Hate Speech laws because of this nonsense.

What would be a better way than this article to call more attention to this problem? I think it's a cultural problem as much as a political one.

Most people are apathetic about it, or pedantic about it. People claim freedom of speech is important, but they're also willing to nitpick it to death, such as with FreeBSD: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16406946