The least popular post I will ever write

From an American perspective, it seems bizarre that this concept would be controversial. The issue has less to do with any particular type of vile speech, and rather the fact that "hate speech" is not a bright line [1], but a fuzzy and subjective gray area.

One person's critique of Israeli government policy is another's anti-Semitism. I simply don't trust those with a legal monopoly on violence to make that kind of distinction. Creating an environment where citizens are forced play it safe by self-censoring inhibits thought and gives too much power to the state.

While we do have limitations on free speech in the US, they at least tend to be bright lines: advocating specific violent actions, or intentionally causing social harm, such as yelling "fire" in a crowded theater. (This isn't to say that our ostensible rights aren't frequently violated, but that's a separate discussion.)

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bright-line_rule

Stacey posted on Twitter: "LOL, fuck Muamba. He's dead." Then some other dumb stuff that could be considered offensive at the worst. On twitter. A dump drunk college kid. And now he's ruined.

The type of morons that would throw someone in jail (for 2 months!) for something like that, are the same type of morons that would ignore this completely if the races were reversed.

This outrage was not about racism; it's about the self-image of the accusers and persecutors who get off on segmenting/separating themselves from others people by pretending those other people are inferior / not as clean as them....

That is, they do the same EXACT thing that they are persecuting the other person for. Except their crime is worse.

Hold your civil liberties close, kids.

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”