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Mattwall1 May 16th, 2017 5:56pm

"While the argument that slurs only harm due to the weakness of their targets is a misrepresentation of linguistic and sociological phenomena, the harm of a word in itself is never a valid means of justifying a limit on free speech." A classmate

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LaReine Communist Lesbian
05/17/17 12:45 pm

Your classmate has misconstrued and misrepresented the argument. He is not refuting the material outcome of it, but rather an ideologically constructed version of free speech.

It ignores the material contradiction of the ideological form of freedom of speech. Speech in a physical, material world is never free.

Allowing the growth of violence that acts systemically is not free for the victims at the end. Was it free for the queers, Jews, socialists, roma, and all other untermensch to live in a society where fascists materialized their position of systemic violence against them?

Free speech of the ideological manner enables and permits positions of systemic violence.

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pietsch Another Adoring Fan
05/17/17 12:23 pm

Someone needs to edit that wordy little quote.

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HammeringMan Gods Away On Business
05/17/17 11:53 am

Is this really the one and only incredibly incredible SOH'r MattWall? Are you still on a self enforced educational sabbatical or are you back in the program?

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HammeringMan Gods Away On Business
05/17/17 11:52 am

Great question. Tough answers. See below.

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Liberty 4,032,064
05/17/17 7:57 am

Disagree with the first thought, agree with the second.

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HammeringMan Gods Away On Business
05/17/17 11:51 am

Darn Library. I agree with the first. Disagree w the second.

1: A single word can be powerful enough to affect an individual even if they themselves are not weak. For example, I am not a weak man, however mentioning certain war crimes brings very painful memories to mind.

2: I do not believe that anyone sitting on a airplane in flight has the right to scream the word bomb or a terrorist threat. And, there are times when freedom of speech must be subordinate to the greater good

Liberty 4,032,064
05/17/17 12:40 pm

1) The quote in the poll used the word "harm" rather than "affect."

2) That particular example wouldn't be related to the topic of the poll in any way.

Liberty 4,032,064
05/17/17 12:40 pm

Also, there is no such thing as "the greater good."

HammeringMan Gods Away On Business
05/17/17 2:08 pm

PTSD triggered by a single word Andes a result a highly skilled operative seeks out and eliminates an opponent. That could be both affect, effect, and harm!

LOL

Semantic sensibilities stimulate sarcasm.

I think we both have a point. I will not argue mine much further.

Liberty 4,032,064
05/17/17 4:02 pm

That wouldn't be relevant to the topic either.