I never thought I'd say this - until this year I considered myself a bit of a rabid libertarian where censorship was concerned no matter HOW awful it was - but I'm starting to think that there needs to be some kind of basic limits put on free speech. It has been effectively weaponized by the stupid.
At this point I'd probably support a law banning all comment sections online. (I'm only half-serious but legitimately alarmed)
When did all public discourse become a teenaged game of CounterStrike?
@The_Dude Well yes, direct threats and the sort have never been covered. But saying, for example, "all women deserve to be raped" and starting a website to that effect is completely legal so long as there isn't a specific, actionable target. As long as they aren't saying "go rape so and so" it skates by. And I'm seeing a LOT of that lately, specifically. Incredibly threatening and damaging, but not illegal.
That's the sort of thing I mean. But it's one of those "slippery slope" things.
@malice all rights including free speech can be limited when they infringe on other people’s rights. Speech is already by time and place i.e. shouting fire in a theater. We need to be cognizant of the use of speech as a tool for both good (sharing ideas) and bad(threats). I believe the weaponization of lies will be adjudicated as causing harm to the greater good and therefore will be regulated.