Freedom of speech isn't tolerated by some

[WhatNextBanana]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/comment/2025/09/10/charlie-kirks-shooting-terrible-moment-american-democracy/

Political violence on the rise.

People are getting angry when people have Political views they don't agree with. Freedom of speech must be allowed not shutdown.

Tragic news of a young family man shot by someone today. Please remember he was a human with a family. Violence is never ok.

‘when people talk about freedom of speech what they generally mean is that they should be allowed to hold and express any abhorrent views they choose without consequence.’

The consequences of expressing opinions should be people disagreeing with you. Not people summarily executing you in public.

I would have thought that was obvious and fundamental in a civilised society.

That isn’t what I said, and you know it. Why be so disingenuous?

Why do you think we’ve reached the point in human civilisation that these things are wrong and bad if they haven’t been talked about?

What do you propose? We hide bad ideas away to fester, or expose them to sunlight? Do you think problems disappear if people ignore them, don’t talk about them, don’t communicate?

There is nobody in custody and no known motive.

As such to make this about “Free Speech” is ridiculous.

Ask yourself why the murder of a minor celebrity with no public position has been all over the front pages, with flags lowered the half-staff on Federal buildings; yet the murder and attempted murder of two respected public servants, their spouses and dog (not to mention a long hit list of intended future targets, all political) got a fraction of the attention. Why?

Totally agree. They are such snobs too and don't see the irony in berating the working class for daring to have an unapproved opinion, whilst pretending to champion socialist ideals about class.

This is true. We have absolutely no idea at this point who has done this or why.

Awful views according to me - yes. What's wrong with disliking homophobia for example? And believing in women's right to choose an abortion? Personally I think homophobic views and anti abortion views are awful.

So exactly what did you mean then? It sounds to me as if you're advocating for everyone to be able to say anything and everything. No disingenuousness on my part - that's just what I thought you meant. You talk about growth and progress - as far as I can see, the freer the speech, the more stunted and divided we become, certainly at the moment. There seems to be no room for deeper thought, introspection or understanding, just increasingly rancid invective. I think you give human beings far more perception than most of us actually have.

'if you are not free to voice your thoughts, and listen to others voice theirs, you’ll never grow, progress, or learn.
When you stifle speech, you’re inhibiting the ability to think. You become an unquestioning robot, churning out the ‘correct’ opinions you’re required to have that involve no deeper thought or introspection or understanding on your part. Why do you believe the things you believe? Can you defend your positions, or is it because someone told you that those are the correct opinions to hold?
If you’re not free to speak, in what way are you a free human being? What makes a human being unique other than their mind?

Do you think that people who are working class all have the same opinion on everything?

Personally I believe…

That’s the thing - ‘personally’. No one is arguing against your right to hold whatever beliefs you like. You’re at perfect liberty to. And others have the equal right to hold different beliefs to you. Do you agree? Otherwise you’d be arguing that your beliefs and values are the only correct ones to have, which would be supremely arrogant.

THIS!!!

How does the death of a podcast bro eclipse the political assassination of two Democrat politicians???!

But are they advocating killing the people who make these comments?

I can’t believe I‘m having to explain to adults that there’s a difference between disagreeing with someone and killing them.

Working class people are a monolith?

Middle class people are a monolith?

Ok.

Well indeed. Working class, don't like the flags. Traitor to my class, obviously 🙄

Those things are illegal. Expressing any legal viewpoint should be fine, however unpleasant others may find it.

But should people be killed, or in fear of their lives, for holding these opinions?

But the commentators aren't killing anyone - they're commenting, using speech. So why are they being berated by proponents of free speech? Don't get me wrong, anyone making light of this murder should be ashamed of themselves, but still, free speech, innit?

Berating someone isn’t the same as killing them. I’d have thought that was obvious.

Freedom of speech doesn’t mean people aren’t allowed to disagree with you. It means you shouldn’t be in physical danger because of your views.

But previous posters have suggested you should be able to talk about anything. Actually committing murder, rape etc is illegal. But posters are advocating for the right to be able to talk about it in any sense.

No, your post was ridiculous. You could have been making nuanced points about cultural differences, but instead you made yourself look like a fool by acting like Americans might as well be Martians compared to citizens of the UK. You said earlier that the two nations aren’t like brother and sister. That’s correct. It’s more like a parent and a rebellious child, who may have been influenced by other relatives and have her own ideas, but was taught by the parent growing up and bears the inescapable stamp of the parent’s DNA.

To be fair you seem to be the one losing control in this exchange 🤷‍♀️

How?

As a Catholic, you should know that it is the Church and the Pope that define Christian (Catholic Christian at least) beliefs and values, NOT you!

And, for a starter, they define that homosexuality is a sin so by supporting gay rights such as gay marriage (which the Catholic Church is clear is between a man and woman), you are at odds with Catholic Christian dogma, and so you, by your own yardstick, are not a Christian!

You’re arrogantly defining Christianity by your own morals and beliefs, rather than the Church (which purports to be the universal church no less) you subscribe to.

Is it normal for the House to have a minute's silence for murders? I was somewhat surprised given Kirk isn't an elected offical or on Trump's payroll.

The homicide rate in the US is 7x higher than in the UK.

The situation is not the same as in the UK.