Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the (potential) right to be free from insult

[Ser Scot A Ellison]

Ramsay,

In fairness the same argument can be used in favor of such speech restrictions. Neither Canada nor Australia are about to become States where people cannot reasonably be afraid to offer their political opinions.

This comes down to, in my opinion, a preference for more or less State interfearance in political speech. Neither side can show more than, "it hasn't screwed things up as badly as it can be screwed up." Therefore, I think it comes down to a genuine difference of opinion on where to draw the line.

[Ramsay Gimp]

Is that a good argument?

Many countries severely curtail ownership of handguns, yet, they didn't become crime-ridden hellholes, either.

Of course it's not a good argument. But why not call Shryke on his similar shitty logic?

[Ramsay Gimp]

Ramsay,

In fairness the same argument can be used in favor of such speech restrictions. Neither Canada nor Australia are about to become States where people cannot reasonably be afraid to offer their political opinions.

This comes down to, in my opinion, a preference for more or less State interfearance in political speech. Neither side can show more than, "it hasn't screwed things up as badly as it can be screwed up." Therefore, I think it comes down to a genuine difference of opinion on where to draw the line.

I agree. Shryke was claiming that such laws inhibit the spread of those ideas, and I was challenging that claim

[ants]

Ramsay,

In fairness the same argument can be used in favor of such speech restrictions. Neither Canada nor Australia are about to become States where people cannot reasonably be afraid to offer their political opinions.

This comes down to, in my opinion, a preference for more or less State interfearance in political speech. Neither side can show more than, "it hasn't screwed things up as badly as it can be screwed up." Therefore, I think it comes down to a genuine difference of opinion on where to draw the line.

Yes, it isn't really possible for either side to win this one. At least on evidence, too few data points, not enough history. Let's get back to this a few centuries from now.