Mad Viking wrote:Why are conservatives always trying to limit one of their own principles?
Both sides of the political spectrum try to limit free speech, specifically speech opposed to them.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
Mad Viking wrote:Why are conservatives always trying to limit one of their own principles?
Both sides of the political spectrum try to limit free speech, specifically speech opposed to them.
I agree.
However, since freedom of speech is not a left-wing principle (according to bcspace) it should come as no surprise that they try to limit it. But any attempt to limit free speech on the part of conservatives, should come as a great surprise since it is a conservative principle (according to bcspace). This would suggest that either they are hypocrites, or freedom of speech really isn't a conservative principle as bcspace suggests.
"Sire, I had no need of that hypothesis" - Laplace
Mad Viking wrote:Why are conservatives always trying to limit one of their own principles?
Both sides of the political spectrum try to limit free speech, specifically speech opposed to them.
I agree.
However, since freedom of speech is not a left-wing principle (according to bcspace) it should come as no surprise that they try to limit it. But any attempt to limit free speech on the part of conservatives, should come as a great surprise since it is a conservative principle (according to bcspace). This would suggest that either they are hypocrites, or freedom of speech really isn't a conservative principle as bcspace suggests.
In my experience the Left tends to trumpet support of Free Speech more then the Right. Both try to suppress the other. The Left tend to label it as 'hate speech' to bring it down. The Right tends to appeal to the people to support their suppression. Neither side has done much to destroy Free Speech in the general sense though they have manipulated it so that some forms of speech are unacceptable. Try writing about how the gay lifestyle is unhealthy and be condemned. On the other hand try writing about how the U.S. has lost all moral authority due to our use of torture and our use of offensive (defensive/preemptive) war and see condemnation from others.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
The Nehor wrote:Try writing about how the gay lifestyle is unhealthy and be condemned. On the other hand try writing about how the U.S. has lost all moral authority due to our use of torture and our use of offensive (defensive/preemptive) war and see condemnation from others.
...ermm - I think you'd better distinguish here between condemning 'what' somebody says, and declaring that somebody shouldn't be 'allowed' to say that.
I can be for free speech, and yet condemn what you say just fine.
The Nehor wrote:Try writing about how the gay lifestyle is unhealthy and be condemned. On the other hand try writing about how the U.S. has lost all moral authority due to our use of torture and our use of offensive (defensive/preemptive) war and see condemnation from others.
...ermm - I think you'd better distinguish here between condemning 'what' somebody says, and declaring that somebody shouldn't be 'allowed' to say that.
I can be for free speech, and yet condemn what you say just fine.
And here, you hit upon the crux of the matter.
The Left is for legalized free speech, but will loudly condemn what you say when it disagrees. Hell, they might even try to sue you or boycott your employer, if they are particularly outraged.
The Right will simply pass (as quietly as possible) legislation allowing government surveillance on your speech, and give government organizations power to restrict your movement or even imprison you based on that speech... made possible simply by labeling you an "enemy combatant".
Free speech includes the freedom to criticize the idiocy found in other people's speech. It doesn't include silencing speech thought to be unfavorable to the current power structure.
Thama wrote:And here, you hit upon the crux of the matter.
The Left is for legalized free speech, but will loudly condemn what you say when it disagrees. Hell, they might even try to sue you or boycott your employer, if they are particularly outraged.
The Right will simply pass (as quietly as possible) legislation allowing government surveillance on your speech, and give government organizations power to restrict your movement or even imprison you based on that speech... made possible simply by labeling you an "enemy combatant".
Free speech includes the freedom to criticize the idiocy found in other people's speech. It doesn't include silencing speech thought to be unfavorable to the current power structure.
I don't think the Left is that innocent. While I agree that what the Right is doing is reprehensible the Left's campaign against Hate Speech (the definition of which is broadening) is just as dangerous and it's working it's way into the legal system too.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo