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Comment by jeffalyanak | Hacker News Reader

Just like how speed limits necessitate the arrest of everyone who drives.

...over the speed limit, yes. The point of parent's post is that the offensive nature of a statement or speech in general is subjective and can change with whims and the time. A speed limit is objective and quantifiable; if you go over the speed limit stated you get fined, there's no room for interpretation

Speed limits are not objective at all - Germany infamously does not have speed limits on highways.

And yes, speed limit laws, do change over time.

And no, you can't be punished for having broken a speed limit in the past, that is not in effect today.

Parent's comparison seems rather apt.

They obviously meant speed is quantifiable. You can measure speed and say "you violated the limit".

Yes, but it doesn't strengthen the argument.

If society A says the speed limit is X and society B it's Y and society C it's infinite. What's the point that speed is objectively measurable?

That making a rule even makes sense. It is not an argument as to what amount is sensible, just that "amount" is sensible.

You’re missing the point.

Society A and society B won’t disagree on whether something is moving at 150km/hr.

Well, they might if a physicist gets involved and starts complaining that no one has defined their point of reference.

Your comparison would be true if the speed limit differentiated on the intent on the speeder, e.g. person A can drive over the speed limit but not person B because person B has the wrong intent.

Ambulance, firefighters, etc.

They can do that because of regulation, not intent.

It is more like this, person A is in a hurry and is allowed to drive over the speed limit because person A is good person, but person B, who also is in a hurry, is a scumbag and therefore person B is not allowed to drive over the speed limit. It is very similar to how woke culture works.

In the UK it does. If you are speeding because you are an appropriately trained person performing emergency response duties then it's not illegal.