The right to offend and the right to be offended

a reply to: LesMisanthrope

The old tyranny of the listener. Being "susceptible to hurtful language" doesn't mean physical affection to this listener.

originally posted by: Deaf Alien
a reply to: DBCowboy

That's extreme but yeah. Isn't that how we defeat dictatorship?

We're enabling it when we support civil speech over free speech.

originally posted by: daskakik
a reply to: DBCowboy

That is the reality of the situation, isn't it?

Sadly, it is the reality.

a reply to: daskakik

The old tyranny of the listener. Being "susceptible to hurtful language" doesn't mean physical affection to this listener.

Then what does it mean? Spiritually? Magically?

a reply to: DBCowboy

Supporting civil speech does not mean not supporting free speech.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
We're enabling it when we support civil speech over free speech.

I think that was what was meant by blaming parents because they were the ones that used to instill the fear of you opening your mouth and saying something stupid aka "civil speech".

a reply to: LesMisanthrope

Emotionally?

originally posted by: Deaf Alien
a reply to: DBCowboy

Supporting civil speech does not mean not supporting free speech.

Of course it does.

You're differentiating..

originally posted by: daskakik

originally posted by: DBCowboy
We're enabling it when we support civil speech over free speech.

I think that was what was meant by blaming parents because they were the ones that used to instill the fear of you opening your mouth and saying something stupid aka "civil speech".

There's a difference between manners and censorship.

a reply to: DBCowboy

Are you saying that people who want civil speech want to force that on others? That's quite a logic jump.

a reply to: DBCowboy

I have often heard and said the same thing but in a slightly different way.

It would seem to me that in a society based on freedom of speech, you do not have the right to not be offended. If you hear something which you don't like, you can just walk away. Whenever people argue over an opinion, one of them is a fool and will drag the other down to their level.

As a friend once told a person we knew, "If you get you feelings hurt by being told the truth, you should not hang around with honest people."

The same should hold true with being offended; you should not hang around with people who freely speak their mind.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
There's a difference between manners and censorship.

One could argue that manners are self-censorship and you said:

But when we self-censor, we are voluntarily denying ourselves the right to free expression.

originally posted by: Deaf Alien
a reply to: DBCowboy

Are you saying that people who want civil speech want to force that on others?

yes.

originally posted by: daskakik

originally posted by: DBCowboy
There's a difference between manners and censorship.

One could argue that manners are self-censorship and you said:

But when we self-censor, we are voluntarily denying ourselves the right to free expression.

Are we self-censoring because we choose to, or are we self-censoring because we have no choice?

“Tact is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip.”

― Winston S. Churchill

a reply to: daskakik

Emotionally?

Emotions are quite physical.

a reply to: DBCowboy

Well then you're wrong. Sorry. I can choose to be polite to you just because I want to. And because I respect you. Nobody is forcing that on me. It's my choice. That's how society operate. If you want to be an asshole then that's on you and that's your choice. I can't do anything about that.

a reply to: DBCowboy

Are we self-censoring because we choose to, or are we self-censoring because we have no choice?

I think you are beginning to understand.

a reply to: Deaf Alien

When it's the choice of the individual, then that is free speech.

When the choice is no longer up to the individual, that that is "civil" speech.

a reply to: LesMisanthrope

So, you agree with that statement?

If emotions are physical then what part is superstition supposed to be playing?