Freedom of speech should be unrestricted.

[miniboes]

Yesterday this statement was proposed in my political science class. I've had to debate in favor of this statement before, and thought a lot about each side, but can't really decide where I stand on this.

To clarify: by "unrestricted" I mean you can say literally everything. Discrimination, racism, hate speech, incitement of violence, etc. are all allowed.

I guess I learn towards disagreeing with the statement, although I often find myself argueing in favor of it (as it is the unpopular opinion). Discrimination and hate speech often result in harm, after all.

The problem for me is where we draw the line, as it very rapidly becomes a subjective matter.

Do you agree with the statement? Why (not)?

[Insert name here]

I do think that freedom of speech should be unrestricted, just because the majority of people do not like what someone has to say is not a reason to limit the freedom of speech. However, I have heard arguements regarding freedom of speech that claims that people should have the right to, say, force students in public school to pray. That is not freedom of speech, that is forcing people to participate in a ritual. While I may not lie, what people have to say, they should have the right to say it, when discrimination happens, that is where I draw the line.

[knot]

It should be unrestricted with exception of death threats/incitement to violence.
Everything else I think is a slippery slope

[Cirion Spellbinder]

Are there any studies out there suggesting that hate speech has long term negative effects? I'm not convinced that hurtful words can do much besides temporarily inciting certain emotions.

I agree with Insert name here and knot on this matter.

[Mateo3112]

I agree with insert name here and knot, censorship is a pile of @$%-!

[gab236]

I think it should be unrestricted as long as it is done as a private matter. For example, an english teacher should not have the right to tell his students that god exist (or does not exist) while working. For the hate speech matter, i don't think censorship is really efficient, these ideas should be confronted not hidden.

[Mateo3112]

Teachers telling their students God exists is not freedom of speech, it's indoctrination, bad indoctrination for that matter.

[SkepticSatanist]

Are there any studies out there suggesting that hate speech has long term negative effects? I'm not convinced that hurtful words can do much besides temporarily inciting certain emotions.

If hate speech had long term negative effects, it is the fault of the person offended. Freedom is more important than people's feelings

[Ravenworks]

Are there any studies out there suggesting that hate speech has long term negative effects? I'm not convinced that hurtful words can do much besides temporarily inciting certain emotions.

I agree with Insert name here and knot on this matter.

How do you even define 'hate speech' though.

Trump was accused of hate speech for wanting to restrict entry of a particular group of people who subscribe to an ideology. If this can be construed as hate speech then anything can.

The open market place of ideas is the best thing for maintaining a free and peaceful society. Once we stop talking, we start killing.

[SkepticSatanist]

The open market place of ideas is the best thing for maintaining a free and peaceful society. Once we stop talking, we start killing.

Exactly.

Look at the middle east.