I disagree.
There is a very vocal, very small minority that's ruining it for everyone else.
Certainly not mainstream.
You're both right. Unfortunately, that very small minority is culturally dominant, so it is the case that:
1) >> We have reached a point where it has been a mainstream position to view the idea of defending free speech as disagreeable, or even deeply offensive. And;
2) > There is a very vocal, very small minority that's ruining it for everyone else.
In the same way a relatively small but well-organized group like the Taliban can control an entire country despite lacking enthusiastic support from the majority of the population, a small but well-organized subculture can dominate and dictate what is/is not acceptable in mainstream American culture.
For a better and more nuanced explanation, see "The Minority Rule" by Nassim Taleb. https://nassimtaleb.org/2016/08/intolerant-wins-dictatorship...
because I honestly do not know, and I dont think it is "small minority" on either side.
There are ALOT of people that oppose free speech as a concept, hiding behind statements like "hate speech is not free speech" or "words are violence"
So while think you are attempting to defend free speech, I can also see how your statement would be "free speech absolutist are ruining everything"