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Politics, politics, politics (so long and thanks for all the fish)

But you just said that anyone has the right to say anything. That opinion isn't compatible with there being any kind of line.

I think the line is that when something is said which deliberately harms, offends, or causes aggressive physical situations, then it is beyond the realms of free speech.

I think the biggest issue has been the measure of what THAT all is. And to that degree, there has been an ultimately dangerous 'over-correction' which has now seen a pendulum swing back. Humour has suffered hugely, and a lot of what I would call average folk ended up being sucked into 'defending' themselves simply because they didn't 'proclaim' an issue. Social media has manipulated us into a society wildly divided, with architects on all sides 'benefitting' from sewing such seeds. I think it is tragic and dangerous, again on all sides. People are unfairly written off as 'fascists' just like people are unfairly written off as 'lefties' and both just become reactions to each other.

My biggest concern is that the whole idea and philosophy of responsible free speech is at a tipping point simply because no middle ground, or dialectic discussion, exists.
 
I think the line is that when something is said which deliberately harms, offends, or causes aggressive physical situations, then it is beyond the realms of free speech.

I think the biggest issue has been the measure of what THAT all is. And to that degree, there has been an ultimately dangerous 'over-correction' which has now seen a pendulum swing back. Humour has suffered hugely, and a lot of what I would call average folk ended up being sucked into 'defending' themselves simply because they didn't 'proclaim' an issue. Social media has manipulated us into a society wildly divided, with architects on all sides 'benefitting' from sewing such seeds. I think it is tragic and dangerous, again on all sides. People are unfairly written off as 'fascists' just like people are unfairly written off as 'lefties' and both just become reactions to each other.

My biggest concern is that the whole idea and philosophy of responsible free speech is at a tipping point simply because no middle ground, or dialectic discussion, exists.
That can't work either.

We can't use being offended as a measure, otherwise anyone can claim offence to silence anyone they want - see Islamists and blasphemy laws.

We can't use harm as a measure because words can't harm. They don't have a real, physical entity with which to do so.

We already have laws to deal with words that lead to actual, physical harm. We don't need to constrain free speech to use them.
 
So the prime minister says that it was a top priority of his government to get a man released who called for the death of police officers and says he hates white people.

No issue with that then gents?

Hmm ideology comes before what's right with you guys I guess.
 
That can't work either.

We can't use being offended as a measure, otherwise anyone can claim offence to silence anyone they want - see Islamists and blasphemy laws.

We can't use harm as a measure because words can't harm. They don't have a real, physical entity with which to do so.

We already have laws to deal with words that lead to actual, physical harm. We don't need to constrain free speech to use them.

Yes, and I am assuming you read beyond my first line? Just in case, I agree that it is no longer workable as a standard. Thanks to both 'sides' of the spectrum, each having 'agitators' who amplify/denigrate/conflate and mis-state to suit their own agendas.
 
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So the prime minister says that it was a top priority of his government to get a man released who called for the death of police officers and says he hates white people.

No issue with that then gents?

Hmm ideology comes before what's right with you guys I guess.
The real issue was that Starmer and other cabinet ministers made clear and definitive public statements on an issue without being anywhere near over the full facts of it, resulting in yet another sh*tshow being played out in public. Its becoming a regular theme for this government.....and why public confidence in them is so low.
 
Yes, and I am assuming you read beyond my first line? Just in case, I agree that it is no longer workable as a standard. Thanks to both 'sides' of the spectrum, each having 'agitators' who amplify/denigrate/conflate and mis-state to suit their own agendas.
I disagree that it's anything to do with the current state of public discourse.

It's an impossibility to find a workable solution where the legality of words can be defined by anyone who chooses to be offended. Far too many people are offended by things that are entirely inoffensive for that to work. Pretty much the entirety of the fun vacuum generation would be putting a stop to any form of discussion.
 
But you just said that anyone has the right to say anything. That opinion isn't compatible with there being any kind of line.
Anyone has the right to say (and do) anything (not the case in genuinely 'oppressed' countries). Those words or actions then pass thru the rules/laws filter. So that's where the discussion around lines come in.

Is there a discussion around the ladies right to say it in the first place? She can say what she likes (no matter how misguided)...but live with the consequences.
 
Anyone has the right to say (and do) anything (not the case in genuinely 'oppressed' countries). Those words or actions then pass thru the rules/laws filter. So that's where the discussion around lines come in.

Is there a discussion around the ladies right to say it in the first place? She can say what she likes (no matter how misguided)...but live with the consequences.
That doesn't pass the sense test.

Anyone in the most oppressed countries can say whatever they want and live with the consequences.

That's not free speech, it's not even close.
 
That doesn't pass the sense test.

Anyone in the most oppressed countries can say whatever they want and live with the consequences.

That's not free speech, it's not even close.
Just typical hypocrasy mate as is their "you're not allowed to be against her prison sentence as its in line with the law" (i.e. played with fire = got burned) which i'm 100% sure the same people will apply to laws they disagree with in the third world....."bi*ch got stoned to death for cheating on her husband....played with fire.....got burned.....no sympathy for the cheating witch"
 
I disagree that it's anything to do with the current state of public discourse.

It's an impossibility to find a workable solution where the legality of words can be defined by anyone who chooses to be offended. Far too many people are offended by things that are entirely inoffensive for that to work. Pretty much the entirety of the fun vacuum generation would be putting a stop to any form of discussion.

I believe that if modern agitators were not as influential, the balance would be far easier to find personally. But it is now very very hard to see a place where it can happen, and yes, in this era it appears (at best) utopian sadly.
 
I believe that if modern agitators were not as influential, the balance would be far easier to find personally. But it is now very very hard to see a place where it can happen, and yes, in this era it appears (at best) utopian sadly.
Its not just the agitators it is the whole set up of everything. Even down to AI algorthmns behind search engines and social media content that basically try to show you results and content you'll be happy with based on your past history (i.e. you're presented with confirmation that your views are correct all the time and views that challenge your views are buried). We increasingly live in an echo chamber of confirmation bias. One of the reasons why i spend a lot of time on here is that old school forum formats are one of the last bastions of unfiltered challenging opinions....
 
Its not just the agitators it is the whole set up of everything. Even down to AI algorthmns behind search engines and social media content that basically try to show you results and content you'll be happy with based on your past history (i.e. you're presented with confirmation that your views are correct all the time and views that challenge your views are buried). We increasingly live in an echo chamber of confirmation bias. One of the reasons why i spend a lot of time on here is that old school forum formats are one of the last bastions of unfiltered challenging opinions....

Absolutely agree mate.
 
Just typical hypocrasy mate as is their "you're not allowed to be against her prison sentence as its in line with the law" (i.e. played with fire = got burned) which i'm 100% sure the same people will apply to laws they disagree with in the third world....."bi*ch got stoned to death for cheating on her husband....played with fire.....got burned.....no sympathy for the cheating witch"
You've got the t-shirt on today, haven't you?
 
Its not just the agitators it is the whole set up of everything. Even down to AI algorthmns behind search engines and social media content that basically try to show you results and content you'll be happy with based on your past history (i.e. you're presented with confirmation that your views are correct all the time and views that challenge your views are buried). We increasingly live in an echo chamber of confirmation bias. One of the reasons why i spend a lot of time on here is that old school forum formats are one of the last bastions of unfiltered challenging opinions....
Or maybe not! :)
 
Its not just the agitators it is the whole set up of everything. Even down to AI algorthmns behind search engines and social media content that basically try to show you results and content you'll be happy with based on your past history (i.e. you're presented with confirmation that your views are correct all the time and views that challenge your views are buried). We increasingly live in an echo chamber of confirmation bias. One of the reasons why i spend a lot of time on here is that old school forum formats are one of the last bastions of unfiltered challenging opinions....

Spot on. 👍
 
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