Where does Free Speech end and Hate Speech begin?

Spud thinks it comes down to openly advocating violence against an individual or member of an identifiable group.

That's the line.

Derogatory comments and slurs while not particularily useful in terms of advancing the dialogue is not Hate Speech.

It's merely dumb speech.

Be Well.

Btw, that shoulda been "Unconstitutional" in headline.

Hopefully the blog-god fixes that at some point.

Be Well.

Since Hate speech isn't normally Popular speech it needs protecting.

Wot if someone starts a website that continually calls for people to lynch black folks or Jews or gays or left handed Lutheran Bowlers or sommat?

Wot happens if other idiots actually act on those words and start terrorising and murdering folks?

Is that Free Speech, Larry?

...or is it Hate Speech?

The decision by the HRC here that Free Speech trumps the ill concieved and overly obtuse Hate Speech laws currently in place is one which Spud applauds.

That sed, there is real hate speech out there and the line has to be observed and respected.

There's a reason you can't yell Fire in a crowded Movie house, ya know.

Be Well.

/K, really gone now.

If it is a credible threat, there are already laws to cover that. There is no need for "hate speech" laws. Those types of laws (hate crime), by definition, punish a thought not an action.

Well put.

Spud agrees that the laws on the books that cover Threats, Intimidation, Slander and Libel are sufficient to the purpose and that Hate Crime laws themselves cause waaaaay more problems than they solve.

You can't achieve equality with inequal treatment.

Is foolish to even try.

Be Well.

/KK, supa-dupa gone now.

Hate Speech IS protected speech. Sorry about that one Spuderick

Try posting a blog entry calling for the death of an elected official here on the DR and Rcade will set you straight on that point, pdq.

Be Well.