posted on Jan, 17 2009 @ 02:24 AM
There are many "hate speech" and "hate group" web sites on the Internet. Opinions presented on these web sites are often directed at people of
another race, people of another religion, and homosexuals. Westboro Baptist Church is a prime example of what I am referring to.
There are also web sites dedicated to a "fringe" topics and opinions or beliefs. Content presented on these web sites are generally anything from
being pro-war to pro-suicide, and in some cases, radically pro-population control. A Facebook group celebrating the massacre of 8,000 Bosnian Muslims
by the Serbian army in 1995 is another example of what I am referring to.
These opinions and topics do anger people, and probably do cause emotional harm to victims of any crime or tragedy that is being mocked, celebrated,
or is simply the topic of a discussion that shows little or no remorse for the victims or their families.
This brings me to my primary question: Should "hate speech" or "fringe" topics and opinions or beliefs be outlawed on the Internet simply because
it causes emotional harm?
The question here is not whether it is right or wrong of someone to have insensitive, cruel, hateful, or fringe beliefs and opinions. The question is
whether it is right or wrong to oppress that person's right to his or her insensitive, cruel, hateful, or fringe beliefs and opinions.
Personally, I find it wrong. People are not obligated to read this sort of content. They are not required to visit these types of sites. People who
want to find and read this type of material are going to find and read this type of material. People who do not want to find and read this type of
material are not going to find and read this type of material. There is a choice. The user is in control of what they see and don't see.
To sanitize every corner of the Internet to give us this false perception of reality that no human being wishes or celebrates hurt or death upon
another human being does nothing to solve the problem; it only makes the people being silenced more radical in their beliefs and opinions.
What are your personal beliefs on this subject?