Free Speech Deemed Contentious.

[Theland]

Our tradition of free speech is threatened by a growing trend find within it reasons to be offended where no offence was ever intended.
Such offence is manufactured, and validated by a subjective redefinition of meaning.
Surely this trend has its roots in post modernism and relativism, where any word or phrase can be deemed to be offensive when no offence was ever intended.
Will this idea ever be challenged successfully to reinstate the value and protection of free speech as it has always be understood?

[sevenOP]

"NJ, Theland's example was not to do with third party offence but with a doctor interviewing for benefits for the disabled and how he had behaved to an interviewee."

There was NO interviewee.

[Theland]

If the world has gone nuts, I do not see that as a reason to join in.
Germany 1933, Jews were officially deemed to be less than human.
(Oh that word again - deemed.)
It's a shame that the German people did not refuse to accept the falsehoods.
They did though, and the, "deems," came thick and fast.
We live,in a dangerous world where there are always new and dangerous ideas waiting to be imposed on us, in whatever guise, sympathy, good manners, whatever, but by not standing firm on ones principles, the tail wags the dog more often and wags it harder.
That is unacceptable to me.

[sevenOP]

We live,in a dangerous world where there are always OLD and dangerous ideas waiting to be imposed on us.

[Theland]

SevenOP - Example?

[sevenOP]

You think invented jew hate ? it was a new idea he independently thought into being ?

[sevenOP]

^^ Hitler,

[Theland]

The antisemitism is an old idea, yes.
The new ideas that threaten free speech include this idea of compelled speech for preferred pronouns, and gender blindness.
By the way, so far, many thanks for keeping this conversation civil.

[Canary42]

Perhaps the pendulum will eventually start to swing back Theland - that's something I try to comfort myself with.

[ummmm]

Like has been said, we've never had free speech, if we all said what we thought they'd be a lot more hospital admissions.

[Mamyalynne]

Spot on Ummmm x

[tonyav]

if we all said what we thought they'd be a lot more hospital admissions.

To right.

[sevenOP]

If we were asked to justify what we said ( OR thought) perhaps there would be no hospital admissions.

The 'free speech' I envision is personal, SENSIBLE (do unto others as you'd wish them do unto you) speech and possibly as important, that free speech that should be being exercised but is NOT; the media using free speech to question Power.

[Theland]

Ummmm & Mamya - Am I to conclude that you actually approve of compelled speech?

[ummmm]

No, Theland, contained though.

Once I was behind the bar listening to a bloke slating my uncle. He didn't know who I was. He soon found out.

People should know when to keep quiet or they might receive a bad reaction.

[Theland]

Ummm - Yes you have quoted a case of offensive bad manners. I agree, it was wrong.

I am of course very happy to abide by laws and conventions that prohibit certain words and phrases because they are offensive, but I will never abide by any law, convention or rule that compels me to use certain words or phrases and neither should anybody else

[Theland]

Words are an extension of our thoughts.
Freedom of speech is freedom of thought.
I believe all people are entitled to my respect, unless they void it by their words or actions.
I also believe that science recognises two genders, and birth gender is fixed, (small exception in a medical condition.)
Gender cannot be changed on the basis of feelings.
Feelings cannot trump science.

[ummmm]

I do believe in freedom of speech.....but it should be saved for those who have a viable IQ.

[Theland]

A viable IQ?
What do you mean by that?

[MartinMillar]

I find that that those that complain there is no free speech just really want to make comments about others that will cross the line of decency

[ummmm]

What Martin said.

Some people speak before they think. Some get their news via gossip because they've never read a news paper, watched the news....they get their news from people in the pub.