To think people don’t actually want free speech, they just want their views protected?

[BluntOliveViper]

Everyone says they value free speech but AIBU to think what most people really mean is “I want to say what I like without consequences but I don’t want to hear things I dislike?”

My job is, arguably, to protect the free speech of a group of people who think free speech is important. A good 75% of the free speech I'm protecting is them shouting that they want a ban on people saying things they disagree with. Come on, make it make sense at least.

Most people misunderstand what free speech actually is. Freedom of speech as a concept is essentially the freedom to hold and express a view without government interference or persecution. Not being put in prison for criticising the government, an independent and free media to communicate ideas and dissent. Other people around you can object to your views or call you stupid for having them, but freedom of speech isn’t about those consequences of expressing a view.

Yanbu 100%.
What's happening in the US for example. People getting sacked for not hero worshipping right wing characters.
Kimmel taken off air for saying the MAGA crowd are so desperate to blame anyone but one of their own for the killing of someone whose name I won't mention (so this post doesn't attract the bots).

Most warriors for free speech are fighting for the right to say things against the minority. They don’t want restrictions on speech that hurts particular groups. Look at them and you see free speech absolutists are usually white men fighting for the right to say what they like. In saying what they go on the attack and silence the minorities they are attacking who then disengage from the debate.

These dominant groups campaign against restrictions on hate speech, bullying behaviour and things like pornography. They usually also dislike restrictions on large corporations funding political parties. However, the rules they portray as enemies of freedom, actually often enhance public debate by amplifying the voices of the disadvantaged. If you amplify those voices you help ensure and a really uninhibited, robust public debate and boost political engagement by all.

so yeah, I don’t buy into the over simplified message of the free speech campaign.

I think that the vast majority of people don't care about hearing things that they dislike. They understand that's the price of free speech and are emotionally stable enough to deal with it. Cancel culture is practiced by pretty fringe groups. Problem is that the establishment are scared to tell them to fuck off.

Don't bother answering. This is almost word for word the same post as a previous one last week, from a new 3 word username, with an argumentative post, who in all likelihood will never be back again
Discuss.

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All the videos I saw that people got sacked for were reacting so extremely that I thought that they might all be completely made up because if not they needed mental health intervention. I did not know any of these people before, which is why I wondered if they were made up. But the internet is awash with people you don’t know.

Why don't you tell us that you think or fuck off?

100 % You're all free to express an opinion as long as it's the right one. And if it's not you are labelled transphobic or racist or sexist or far right or loony left or woke and the labelling means they don't have to listen or engage with or take you seriously.

Couldn't have put it better myself OP. People want free speech but they only want to hear their own opinions coming out of other people's mouths.

Disagree.

There are laws in various countries that enshrine freedom of speech as a legal right. But outside of that it exists as a widely understood principle.

If your speech is unfairly limited by a group other than a government, that is still a breach of your freedom of speech.

OP loads of people believe in the freedom of speech even for their opponents.

I completely agree. I also agree freedom of speech is not freedom from consequences of that speech but I see increasingly anyone with a discriminatory view thinks they should be free to spout exactly what they want without anyone telling them an opposing viewpoint or pointing out they are being discriminatory, or even facing legal consequences because of what they have aired because "it's my freedom of speech." There also seems to be a strange sort of movement where the group should shouts the loudest thinks this means they are correct and that they are the only ones allowed to air their views. It can be seen imo most recently with the whole Charlie Kirk martyrdom movement. Obviously murder is very wrong but it seems to be that no one is allowed to now say "I didn't agree with his stance on this particular issue" purely because he has been murdered, because apparently that means you're pro murder and the only people allowed to speak on the issue are 100% supporters of every view he had, but that's not what freedom of speech is about.

Yes I completely agree. People are getting so unhinged in the name of a mistaken "free speech" that they are actually destroying real free speech.

Yes completely agree and I can see it everywhere at the moment.

The far-right want free speech for the far-right.

Look at how many people are denied entry into America because of anti Trump opinions that they have expressed.

Look how many people are losing work because of their sympathy for Palestinians.

It can works both ways 'i want free speech but only if it is what i agree with'

The far left are running a campaign against free speech.
it’s ’ agree with us or we will systematically ridicule, bully, belittle and demean you, we will harangue you relentlessly and ultimately we will threaten you with violence, and kill you.’

and we will laugh with glee that we have killed you.

the far left are showing themselves as toxic and as a consequence we are about to experience a period of right wing control.

It’s ironic isn’t it that the far right like to label everybody snowflakes but then kick off as soon as they’re criticised. Especially if they’re being called racists…

The far right do this too. The difference is that the far left have morals and ethics.

To be honest, I think both sides are just as bad.

Let's take Strictly for example, and the inclusion of this Tom Skinner guy. I'd personally never heard of him as I don't watch the apprentice. From watching Saturday's show, he came across as an utter tool and isn't someone I'm interested in watching.

BUT lets look at the details here.

On The Rest is Entertainment a few months ago (I cant remember which episode, but it will be listed on their episode listing), they did some research on political beliefs of TV viewers. Overwhelmingly, their survey (conducted by a survey company) showed that if the next general election was ONLY voted for by Strictly voters, Reform would be the next government.

So, you can see why the producers chose him.

As much as I don't like the guy, would there be as much howling if they had chosen to ask Jeremy Corbyn to be a contestant? If you're happy with a left wing contestent, you can't complain about a right wing contestent.

On Reddit, they are overwhelmingly denoucing this guy as a racist because of his association with right wing politicians. They are saying he shouldn't be on the show, he should be kicked off etc. But as far as evidence goes, I can't see that he's said anything that is racist. It's literally disinformation. On first impressions, I don't like the guy at all, but we can't go round saying things like this, while also declaring only the right shout 'fake news'

And declaring that someone shouldn't be on a TV show because of their political opinions differ to yours is potentially the more facist thing....

The far left were very happy cancelling/silencing/firing anyone they disagreed with a few years ago, even when those people were making obviously true, factual statements of basic reality.

So to hear the same people now whining and complaining about ‘free speech’ is quite funny. They sowed the wind, they’re reaping the whirlwind.

They like to pretend they have a monopoly on morals and ethics, yes.

Amen