I am not targeting any group, race or religion or whatever, just an observation why does it seem that freedom of speech appears to invoke an image of a defence to be an asshole?
I get it, free to speak your mind and all and sometimes hard truths need to be said that but is the concept so out of whack that people have less empathy for others that they don’t agree with that they antagonise another to the point of disrespecting the right to dignity?
It seems like humanity is hard wired for conflict and if it isn’t actively trying to kill itself it seems to find an outlet for violence some way somehow. Maybe it is social conditioning or just some primal urge that makes humans human.
I don’t even know where else I could ask it, and it seems kind of stupid to think about so… have at thee
Because people don’t grasp what “free speech” means, at least in the US context.
Freedom of speech (expression) protects one against government interference with expression. The US government can’t stop you from saying bigoted, racist, or sexist things because you have the freedom to express yourself.
But.
Freedom of speech doesn’t require anyone to offer you a platform to share your views, nor does it mandate an audience. If your views are unpopular, freedom of speech doesn’t prevent others from denying you business or employment generally either; the ol’ “consequences of your actions” principle.
Bad actors want the right, a mandated platform, and no consequences for being shitty. They get upset when they find out that they’re entitled to neither a platform nor protection from consequence.