Do we really support an unlimited freedom of speech or expression or merely hide behind it when supporting controversy that pleases us?
Express yourself, be vocal and unpleasant.
Or maybe free speech is freedom from government interference only?
Apparently daddy Rudd doesn't like small breasted women or female ejaculation.
Mmm, a good question. Are we as willing to accept free speech for Islamist Extremists as we are for Senator Fielding? Ok, poor comparison.
ReplyDeleteLogic states that for a rule to be valid it must work under all circumstances. If we say that Mr A can have freedom of speech by Ms B can't, we no longer have a rule, or the rule needs improvement.
So is freedom speech a false concept? Certainly our anti-discrimnation, libel and pesky conspiracy and incitement to riot laws do limit what opinions we can proclaim publically, and it's hard to deny they serve a good purpose.
I suggest the value of freedom of speech is that it provides us with data. An important point - just because someone doesn't express their very poor/dangerous/idiotic opinions doesn't mean they don't have them. In fact, due to social pressures, those with negative opinions are LESS likely to express them, or express them disguised as positive (here's to you Andrew Bolt).
Paline Hanson is the perfect example - she provided a figurehead and legitimacy for the moderately racist views held by a very large number of Australians. Her views were flawed and easily disprovable, but they existed before she expressed them and still exist in her supporters even after their mouthpeice has faded away.
Allowing people freedom to express their opinions, right or wrong, allows us to accurately determine what they think. Only once we know this can we act successfully.
In an ideal situation everyone would feel free to e press any opinion publically, knowing it would be considered seriously and accepted or rejected on it's empirical merit, free from slander, labling or personal attacks.
This world being imperfect, anti-discrimnation, libel and pesky conspiracy and incitement to riot laws are necessary stop-gaps. For now.
I concur, or I would if I thought rioting, insulting people without merit and stating idiotic fantasies as fact was a bad thing
ReplyDeleteHuzzah for chaos!
ReplyDelete