Hate speech has always been a bad idea. Who gets to define it? What is "hate"? Disagreement? Disparagement? Today's definition of "hate" will not be the same as tomorrow's. It can be turned against the very people it was designed to protect--as in this case!
It's easy to be against hate but much harder to define what could possibly be outlawed without doing worse damage. Even shouting Fire in a crowded theater has its moment.
I think a free society has to hear the views it despises, silencing ideas breeds falsities, complacency, and eventually authoritarianism. I think that Mill's defence of free speech and open debate remains the benchmark.
For those curious about Count Dankula (sp?) and the "Nazi Dog" story, I recommend listening to Triggernometry's interview with the arrested party (6 years old . . . the interview, not the person). Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster have videotaped numerous individuals also menaced by the police in Great Britain because not very bright and humourless people have been granted undue influence over the authorities. Getting to the bottom of how this happens in an ostensibly free society is something more Americans should take an interest in learning about; because the ingredients are all here too in great abundance. Our First Amendment helps a great deal . . . but in a culture where politicians actually will stand up in public and claim with a straight face that "the Science" shows that human beings can change sex . . . well . . . :
Yardley seems to have confused Phyllis Schlafly with someone else? She was definitely NOT trans; she was an ultra conservative activist who died in 2016 (aged 92) before transmania really got going, so I don’t understand what she would have to do with anything here? That part was confusing.
I was pointing out that Conservapedia, against which the utterly batshit Rational Wiki was an atheist group’s reaction, was set up by Andy Schlafly, son of Phyllis.
Miranda, thanks so much for the interesting information. I tried to follow up on what you said about the bogus stats being used by the Trans Day of Remembrance "allies" which use murders of 3rd-world prostitutes, which have almost nothing to do with these wealthy Western activists' delusions of the widespread “trans genocide” supposedly occurring in first-world democracies.
I found this article, but it's old.
Léa, “Trans Murder Rates: The Data,” Medium (Athena Talks), 22 April 2017.
Thank you so much, both of you, for this wonderful conversation. Though I know of other cases, I did not know Miranda’s, to which I wish everyone would listen. It is awful and wrong to be put through any kind of legal process for stating one’s views—which, in this case were beyond benign, not that this should be the measure of free speech protection. Many thanks to Miranda, too, for speaking the truth, and with a lovely sort of understated wit along the way. I am glad to have “met” you.
Wow! Miranda Yardley is one of the most interesting people ever! Thrilled before I even listen!
Hate speech has always been a bad idea. Who gets to define it? What is "hate"? Disagreement? Disparagement? Today's definition of "hate" will not be the same as tomorrow's. It can be turned against the very people it was designed to protect--as in this case!
It's easy to be against hate but much harder to define what could possibly be outlawed without doing worse damage. Even shouting Fire in a crowded theater has its moment.
I think a free society has to hear the views it despises, silencing ideas breeds falsities, complacency, and eventually authoritarianism. I think that Mill's defence of free speech and open debate remains the benchmark.
https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/john-stuart-mills-enduring-arguments-free-speech
For those curious about Count Dankula (sp?) and the "Nazi Dog" story, I recommend listening to Triggernometry's interview with the arrested party (6 years old . . . the interview, not the person). Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster have videotaped numerous individuals also menaced by the police in Great Britain because not very bright and humourless people have been granted undue influence over the authorities. Getting to the bottom of how this happens in an ostensibly free society is something more Americans should take an interest in learning about; because the ingredients are all here too in great abundance. Our First Amendment helps a great deal . . . but in a culture where politicians actually will stand up in public and claim with a straight face that "the Science" shows that human beings can change sex . . . well . . . :
"Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone . . . " -- Joni Mitchell
Count Dankula on Being Arrested for a Joke
Triggernometry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9LqSwtodi0
Yardley seems to have confused Phyllis Schlafly with someone else? She was definitely NOT trans; she was an ultra conservative activist who died in 2016 (aged 92) before transmania really got going, so I don’t understand what she would have to do with anything here? That part was confusing.
I was pointing out that Conservapedia, against which the utterly batshit Rational Wiki was an atheist group’s reaction, was set up by Andy Schlafly, son of Phyllis.
Oh sorry, I missed that it was her son
Miranda, thanks so much for the interesting information. I tried to follow up on what you said about the bogus stats being used by the Trans Day of Remembrance "allies" which use murders of 3rd-world prostitutes, which have almost nothing to do with these wealthy Western activists' delusions of the widespread “trans genocide” supposedly occurring in first-world democracies.
I found this article, but it's old.
Léa, “Trans Murder Rates: The Data,” Medium (Athena Talks), 22 April 2017.
https://medium.com/athena-talks/trans-murder-rates-the-data-120b60b19cb4
Perhaps you might blog about it and provide some updated info?
Thank you so much, both of you, for this wonderful conversation. Though I know of other cases, I did not know Miranda’s, to which I wish everyone would listen. It is awful and wrong to be put through any kind of legal process for stating one’s views—which, in this case were beyond benign, not that this should be the measure of free speech protection. Many thanks to Miranda, too, for speaking the truth, and with a lovely sort of understated wit along the way. I am glad to have “met” you.