Hate speech definitely exists, but it's hard to define - which is why it's dangerous to ban "hate speech" because there's really no way to determine what it constitutes. There's also that "pesky" First Amendment.
We as a society need to stop trying to ban words and speech, if for no other reason than it allows us to identify who the a$$holes are.
The fact that a stand against hate speech can bring forward so many people opposed to that opposition just goes to show that there's still so much work to do.
I wanted to present both of your posts as evidence as why the issue surrounding “hate speech” is a difficult one.
But for the record, I agree with sdwaltz.
The problem with banning hate speech is that it varies in degree, is subjective, and constantly changing.
What is hateful?
How does one define hateful?
How many hateful forms of speech are there?
The most problematic issue surrounding the banning of hate speech is that the logical conclusion will be to ban all speech. In other words, no free speech.
Some of you might be laughing and think that’s ridiculous. Don’t believe me?
Let’s say there are 3 hateful speeches:
#1 is the most hateful speech.
#2 is considered hateful by some, but innocuous by others.
#3 is barely hateful, perhaps just conceited or arrogant in most contexts, but nonetheless can sometimes be considered hate speech.
Clearly, #1 should be banned, right? No one should speak such things, so we all agree it should be banned. And so it is.
Now that #1 is banned, #2 takes its place. Why? Because #2 no longer has #1 to define its severity, and it now becomes the most hateful form of speech. #3 moves up into second place, and so on.
So what now? Well clearly, #2 must be banned. We cannot allow hateful speech, so off it goes. Good riddance #2, we hardly knew thee.
And now we get to #3. What about #3, you might say. It’s rude to say such things, but not hateful. Ahh but you see, now #3 is the most hateful speech one can possibly say. And we need to do away with it, too.
So therein lies the problem: all speech — including “hate speech” — is relative. If you ban one form of hate speech, something else will just move up to take its place. Eventually, you will get to “non hateful” speech being banned. At which point, you don’t have free speech.
