The US should probably consider banning hate speech like the rest of the free world.

[Kopikatsu]

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/09/10364954-anti-gay-westboro-baptist-church-to-protest-at-slain-powell-boys-funeral

If you're too lazy to read the article, there was an incident recently where a man killed himself and his two sons after losing custody of them. (This same man was under investigation for the disappearance of his wife two years ago). The Westboro Baptist Church is going to be holding an anti-gay protest at their funeral, because they claim that the boy's deaths were an act of vengeance from God because of Washington's recent support of homosexual rights.

And it's completely legal. Go America.

 

[Pimppeter2]

I like the oxymoron in your title.

 

[SilentCom]

Banning hate speech in the free world... Well that's a bit ironic seeing that speech is suppose to be free in the 'free world'. Can't really call it the 'free world' if you start banning something like that, even if some people are hateful and stupid.

 

[Kopikatsu]

I like the oxymoron in your title.

But it's true. The US is the only first world country (and I don't think there are even any second world countries where it's legal) where hate speech is legal.

Banning hate speech in the free world... Well that's a bit ironic seeing that speech is suppose to be free in the 'free world'. Can't really call it the 'free world' if you start banning something like that, even if some people are hateful and stupid.

See above.

 

[twohundredpercent]

Shit man, I'm not going to throw freedom out the window because some internet people don't like what this one group is doing. That would just be stupid.

And the free world you just mentioned doesn't sound that free if some clean handed pussies can go around prosecuting people for saying shit.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Shit man, I'm not going to throw freedom out the window because some internet people don't like what this one group is doing. That would just be stupid.

And the free world you just mentioned doesn't sound that free if some clean handed pussies can go around prosecuting people for saying shit.

I was merely using this one case as an example. There are many, many, MANY other examples out there. Like the Neo-Nazi march through the Jewish town of Skokie, Illinois.

 

[Pimppeter2]

I like the oxymoron in your title.

But it's true. The US is the only first world country (and I don't think there are even any second world countries where it's legal) where hate speech is legal.

Umm...
Look up oxymoron...

 

[Kopikatsu]

I like the oxymoron in your title.

But it's true. The US is the only first world country (and I don't think there are even any second world countries where it's legal) where hate speech is legal.

Umm...
Look up oxymoron...

I didn't say that it wasn't an oxymoron.

 

[Pimppeter2]

I like the oxymoron in your title.

But it's true. The US is the only first world country (and I don't think there are even any second world countries where it's legal) where hate speech is legal.

Umm...
Look up oxymoron...

I didn't say that it wasn't an oxymoron.

Then your quoting me is pointless. Because I clearly dont care how many other countries have laws against hate speech, its still wrong.

 

[Kopikatsu]

I like the oxymoron in your title.

But it's true. The US is the only first world country (and I don't think there are even any second world countries where it's legal) where hate speech is legal.

Umm...
Look up oxymoron...

I didn't say that it wasn't an oxymoron.

Then your quoting me is pointless. Because I clearly dont care how many other countries have laws against hate speech, its still wrong.

My point in saying it was, the rest of the free world is still free despite not permitting people to be racist/sexist/homophobic/etc douches. Not being able to call people " are all going to hell and blah blah blah" isn't going to lower your quality of life, and will raise quality of life for others, even if it's only by a minuscule amount.

 

[DudeistBelieve]

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/09/10364954-anti-gay-westboro-baptist-church-to-protest-at-slain-powell-boys-funeral

If you're too lazy to read the article, there was an incident recently where a man killed himself and his two sons after losing custody of them. (This same man was under investigation for the disappearance of his wife two years ago). The Westboro Baptist Church is going to be holding an anti-gay protest at their funeral, because they claim that the boy's deaths were an act of vengeance from God because of Washington's recent support of homosexual rights.

And it's completely legal. Go America.

Thats actually suppose to be one of the perks of being an American, that you can hold and voice any personal held belief you want provided your not hurting anyone else.

Besides, WBC are just a minor nusciance, they don't do anything but protest. If people (Media) just ignored them for once they'd probably stop.

Or someone could take one for the team and murder them... Mind you, said Gunman would have to go to jail, but he'd go to jail a national hero dammit!!!!

 

[twohundredpercent]

Shit man, I'm not going to throw freedom out the window because some internet people don't like what this one group is doing. That would just be stupid.

And the free world you just mentioned doesn't sound that free if some clean handed pussies can go around prosecuting people for saying shit.

I was merely using this one case as an example. There are many, many, MANY other examples out there. Like the Neo-Nazi march through the Jewish town of Skokie, Illinois.

I know about that shit too. I fucking lived near Skokie. They didn't even need to go through with the march because by fighting it, people drew attention to it.

 

[Pimppeter2]

I like the oxymoron in your title.

But it's true. The US is the only first world country (and I don't think there are even any second world countries where it's legal) where hate speech is legal.

Umm...
Look up oxymoron...

I didn't say that it wasn't an oxymoron.

Then your quoting me is pointless. Because I clearly dont care how many other countries have laws against hate speech, its still wrong.

My point in saying it was, the rest of the free world is still free despite not permitting people to be racist/sexist/homophobic/etc douches. Not being able to call people " are all going to hell and blah blah blah" isn't going to lower your quality of life, and will raise quality of life for others, even if it's only by a minuscule amount.

Not free according to my definition. Not being able to speak for myself and my ideals is exactly what I don't consider free.

There is no proof that it would raise the quality of life whatsoever. There is no evidence of that.

 

[Thamous]

I like the oxymoron in your title.

But it's true. The US is the only first world country (and I don't think there are even any second world countries where it's legal) where hate speech is legal.

Umm...
Look up oxymoron...

I didn't say that it wasn't an oxymoron.

Then your quoting me is pointless. Because I clearly dont care how many other countries have laws against hate speech, its still wrong.

My point in saying it was, the rest of the free world is still free despite not permitting people to be racist/sexist/homophobic/etc douches. Not being able to call people " are all going to hell and blah blah blah" isn't going to lower your quality of life, and will raise quality of life for others, even if it's only by a minuscule amount.

If "raising my quality of life" gets in the way of my freedom and being able to say whatever I please, then I think I will be happy just as I am.

 

[acturisme]

I like the oxymoron in your title.

But it's true. The US is the only first world country (and I don't think there are even any second world countries where it's legal) where hate speech is legal.

Umm...
Look up oxymoron...

Once you take away the protections of the first amendment you instantly loose the ability to defend the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth. Where's the freedom?

 

[Thaluikhain]

Once you take away the protections of the first amendment you instantly loose the ability to defend the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth. Where's the freedom?

Eh, those aren't defended so well anyway.

In any case, a law against picketing funerals would seem to be a better idea.

If you can't say "God did X" then you have to ban all religion.

Now, if he was calling upon all good Christians to rise up and murder homosexuals, that's different.

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/09/10364954-anti-gay-westboro-baptist-church-to-protest-at-slain-powell-boys-funeral

If you're too lazy to read the article, there was an incident recently where a man killed himself and his two sons after losing custody of them. (This same man was under investigation for the disappearance of his wife two years ago). The Westboro Baptist Church is going to be holding an anti-gay protest at their funeral, because they claim that the boy's deaths were an act of vengeance from God because of Washington's recent support of homosexual rights.

And it's completely legal. Go America.

lol the WBC are trolls, don't take them serious.

As for your title, no thanks I don't want the US to be like West Europe(some but not all), who seem to feel that it should be illegal to say things like the Holocaust didn't happen. I know it happened, and my Jewish grandparents knew it happened, so I don't need laws that treat me like a child, trying to protect me from being offended by things like holocaust deniers. Also, I like our first Amendment.

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

Then your quoting me is pointless. Because I clearly dont care how many other countries have laws against hate speech, its still wrong.

I think free speech applies to what comes out of ones mouth, not what is forced down the throats of others. Instead of banning free speech, (which i think is wrong), instead instate laws calling peoples pirvate places of mourning and funerals places where it is tresspassing to attend wihout invitation, similar to the laws on entering and harassing someones property.

The WBC is harassing people. I dont care they say stupid shit, i dont need laws telling me its stupid shit, its just obviously stupid shit. However i feel that its inherently wrong to lose the freedom of being able to go about my life unmolested by people who will maliciously track me down and harass me with hatred for random periods of my life. I dont want to ban speech ever. I do want to ban harassment with hatred and the invasion of people private lives with speech. Funeral crashing should be treated as seriously under the law as tresspass and harassment on property and should be illegal. I have the right to avoid and ignore the WBC by staying clear of where they preech. They do NOT have the right to track me down and FORCE me to hear their stupid shit.

 

[Hal10k]

Then your quoting me is pointless. Because I clearly dont care how many other countries have laws against hate speech, its still wrong.

I think free speech applies to what comes out of ones mouth, not what is forced down the throats of others. Instead of banning free speech, (which i think is wrong), instead instate laws calling peoples pirvate places of mourning and funerals places where it is tresspassing to attend wihout invitation, similar to the laws on entering and harassing someones property.

The WBC actually takes that into consideration. All of their "protests" take place just outside of the property lines of the funeral homes. They're idiots, but they're well-executed idiots.

 

[Jonluw]

No.
Hate speech is a dumb concept.
The beauty of free speech is that you fight stupid speech such as hate speech with speech of your own, without imprisoning people for voicing opinions that society at large disagrees with.

The freedom of speech is meaningless if it only protects those that wouldn't be attacked for their speech in the first place.