• rsuri@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        The First Amendment means the government can’t punish you for speech. That’s a good rule, and yes it means that even deplorable speech shouldn’t be punished by the government. Because “deplorable” speech at various times in American history could have meant anti-slavery speech, pro-lgbt speech, anti-war speech, etc.

        • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          Oh yes.

          I’m guessing you also think that, in order for free enterprise to exist, we have to allow American companies to pollute rivers at will too.

          Makes total sense.

          Free speech is not an absolute right under the law and absolutely should not be. There are innumerable examples why. Try threatening a judge if you think otherwise.

          • MentallyExhausted@reddthat.com
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            6 months ago

            Inventing a scenario that I don’t agree with and claiming that I do agree with it. Classic.

            I’m guessing you also think that, in order for hate speech to be stopped, we have to allow puppies to be slaughtered en masse. Puppy murderer!

            • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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              6 months ago

              I’m just accurately recharacterizing your assertion here.

              Clearly freedom can’t exist unless we tolerate its worst excesses.

              That’s what you’re saying, though I don’t think allowing fascist and Nazi speech is analogous to the argument the free speech needs to exist for the assholes. Being a Nazi and a fascist is a terrorist act, not “being an asshole”. An asshole pisses in the river. A Nazi is the American corporation dumping waste in the river en masse.

              Never mind that we can look across the pond at Germany and see quite clearly that freedom of expression can exist alongside a ban on fascist and Nazi speech.