Is it OK to mock ideas and idealogies?

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The discussion centers on the limits of freedom of speech, particularly in the context of provocative art that mocks religious figures. Participants debate whether such expressions should be protected under free speech or if they should be restricted to prevent offense and potential violence. The conversation highlights the complexity of defining freedom of speech, noting that it is not absolute and must balance individual expression with societal well-being. Concerns are raised about the potential harm caused by misleading statements and the subjective nature of what constitutes an opinion versus a fact. Ultimately, the dialogue reflects a struggle to find a consensus on where to draw the line between free expression and responsible communication.

Would you ban this?

  • I'm religous and I would have it banned

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • I'm not religious: I would still have it banned

    Votes: 2 4.4%
  • I'm religious but freedom of speech is all important to me so no

    Votes: 6 13.3%
  • I'm not religious: freedom of speech is all important

    Votes: 31 68.9%
  • Other: explain if you could.

    Votes: 5 11.1%
  • What was the question again? Pass.

    Votes: 1 2.2%

  • Total voters
    45
  • #151
marlon said:
No, YOU should consider using it since YOU are the one who refuses to explain his point. Regurgitating general remarks is not very convincing, you know.
I've explained suffieciently in my first post, and if you fail to comprehend that I'm not going to expect any different from additional clarification.

But the ban you quote contradicts with history. I would say that is a pretty big difference !
So now you do an about turn and argue based on the truth value of the banned speech. Would you support a ban on evolution denial because it "contradicts with history"?
 
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  • #152
Gokul43201 said:
I've explained suffieciently in my first post, and if you fail to comprehend that I'm not going to expect any different from additional clarification.
You agreed that the hoocaust ban is very harmful to our free society. I asked you to name me some of those dangers which harm our way of living. I still have not seen any such examples.

So now you do an about turn and argue based on the truth value of the banned speech. Would you support a ban on evolution denial because it "contradicts with history"?
I do not turn anything since i have always used the "historical facts" reasoning.

History is science. The denial of evolution contradicts history, so YES it needs to be banned. Evolution is a historical, thus scientific, fact.

marlon
 
  • #153
marlon said:
You agreed that the hoocaust ban is very harmful to our free society.
Yes, it is almost a tautology. Every time you suppress a freedom (that does not infringe on anyone else's rights), you become less of a "free society".

I do not turn anything since i have always used the "historical facts" reasoning.
I admit I've not read every post in the thread, but I got the impression you wanted to ban all expression that would "harm society" through being disrespectful of peoples' feelings, not on the basis of its truth value.

History is science. The denial of evolution contradicts history, so YES it needs to be banned. Evolution is a historical, thus scientific, fact.

marlon said:
For example, opinions that can harm our democracy (eg denying holocaust, neo nazism etc etc) should be banned. Also, mocking the church should be banned because too many people care about religion (too much, but we NEED to respect that).
So, by your previous admission, any scripture mentioned publicly that contradicts a result of science should be banned, and by this quote above, any denouncement of aforementioned reading of scripture on the basis of its contradiction with science should also be banned?
 
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  • #154
History is science. The denial of evolution contradicts history, so YES it needs to be banned. Evolution is a historical, thus scientific, fact.
Let me get this straight, any opinion that contrdicts scientific fact should be outlawed?
 
  • #155
Schrodinger's Dog said:
This is why it's no longer illegal in Europe, and why it's no longer classified as a mental illness or disorder by both the BMA and AMA.

Ok, but there is still a huge difference between *forbidding* something on one hand and requiring absolute non-discrimination on the other: these are two extremes. The problem I have with absolute non-discrimination, is that it would then be illegal *in any circumstance* to make any difference between those who do/are/belong to and those who don't - and by extrapolation, forbidding to SAY SO. When we include in a kind of constitution, the principle of non-discrimination, this is what will come out of it: that even making a difference based upon that in a statement of opinion will ultimately become illegal. The only thing for which I can accept that, as I said, is "race". I think there could be circumstances in which even gender should be "discriminated" against (as in who has access to the ladies rest room to give a silly example - while I can perfectly well accept that there shouldn't be any "black's rest room" or something of the kind). And I certainly don't want sexual practices to be absolutely protected of any kind of instance where it might be discriminated against. That's something entirely different than the other extreme, which is forbidding it, or harassing people who do so.

It is not because something is "genetically favored", that we should declare it something against which absolutely no discrimination can be made, in no single circumstance. As I said, even gender doesn't qualify in my eyes, so certainly not homosexuality. Also, with fine enough magnifying glasses, I'm sure one can even find a genetic favor/disfavor to be a good soccer player or not, or a mass murderer or not, or a brilliant scientist or not. And we do discriminate against those properties without problems.
 
  • #156
marlon said:
History is science. The denial of evolution contradicts history, so YES it needs to be banned. Evolution is a historical, thus scientific, fact.

Ok, we're home. I rest my case.
 
  • #157
Gokul43201 said:
I admit I've not read every post in the thread, but I got the impression you wanted to ban all expression that would "harm society" through being disrespectful of peoples' feelings, not on the basis of its truth value.
Well, if you had read all posts, at least mine, you would know i never said that. I only tried to outline why the holocaust is treated in "a special way"

So, by your previous admission, any scripture mentioned publicly that contradicts a result of science should be banned, and by this quote above, any denouncement of aforementioned reading of scripture on the basis of its contradiction with science should also be banned?
No. I already outlined why, as a society, the majority of people wanted to ban holocaust denial. I explained, over and over again why this was done in the past. I live in a country that has this law but we have a total freedom of speach as well.


marlon

PS : i gues i am not getting any answers to my questions to you then ? :rolleyes:
 
  • #158
vanesch said:
Ok, we're home. I rest my case.

:smile:

You rest YOUR case ? That's a bit easy, no ? How 'bout you answer to the questions i asked you over and over again. Why is that sodifficult ? Yeah, i really wonder why that is.

Besides, what i said above was a response to Gokul and has nothing to do with what we were talking about. You are placing my words out of their context and conclude that "ohh, this marlon just wants to ban all notions that contradict with history". Well, my friend, that is not what i have said and this is not why holocaust denial is banned, as i have explained for a 1000 times.


marlon
 
  • #159
Gokul43201 said:
So, by your previous admission, any scripture mentioned publicly that contradicts a result of science should be banned, and by this quote above, any denouncement of aforementioned reading of scripture on the basis of its contradiction with science should also be banned?
Lol, i guess this is what people call "jumping to conclusions". What is read in scripture has nothing to do with science what so ever. I suggest you actually attend to a catholic mass. Nor is it the intention of the church to contradict science. Religion and science are two separate human activities and one can perfectly coexist next to the other. Don't you know that the content of the Bible needs to be looked at "through different glasses" than the ones you use to read a scientific paper ? :rolleyes: .That is all i have to say about that.

marlon
 
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  • #160
vanesch said:
This is nevertheless exactly what the law states.
Ofcourse the main point of the law is just that but you forget to consider all the associated reasons as to why this law exists. I already outlined this so i am not going to repeat myself over and over again.

If tomorrow I write a book
LOL
God beware us of that

Anyways, you were saying :

(hypothetical! Really! I'm just giving an example in an argument, your Honor! Please don't put me in jail for that!) in which I try to explain that I'm convinced that the holocaust actually concerns the execution of 50000 Jews, and that all the rest is propaganda invented by the Americans and British at the end of WWII to vilify Adolf Hitler a bit more and to justify their military intervention in continental Europe with all the losses it entailed towards their public opinion (a bit like the "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq), then *I go to court for just that*. Even if my book is NOT about Nazism, NOT about anything anti-semitic, but just about a conspiracy theory concerning the allied forces in WWII.

Even if that book is not about neo nazism ? Lol About what than ?

Anyhow, what is your point ?

Now, THAT's a great argument. You won :biggrin:
OF COURSE it is a limitation of the free expression of one's opinion. EVEN without any hate speech.
Thanks, but i would still like to have an answer please.


The fact that a satiric journal goes to court for a few drawings I think should be compulsory in middle school !
What is so bad about that. Let justice do its part.

It is difficult to *prove* historic facts, if you are a believer in a conspiracy.
So ? Does this specific argument means that the law is bad ? :smile:

I'm of the opinion that for ecological reasons, we should exterminate 90% of the Earth's population (I belong to the 10% survivors of course). Now there. Maybe this is the ONLY WAY to save humankind, and the idea has been banned by law. So humankind is doomed because of a stupid law o:)
Again some poor example, just like the "i want to be leader of the world"

You are not basing yourself on facts. We have had this discussion already. Don't start again.

In the "good ol' days", the rules, as approved by the majority, required the Jews to have a big yellow star on their coat.
So ?
Did i say that the majority ALWAYS takes the best decisions ?

For how long ?

Who says there is a danger ?

marlon
 
  • #161
marlon said:
Lol, i guess this is what people call "jumping to conclusions".
No, it's called "asking a question." The punctuation at the end, often referred to as a 'question mark' is used to indicate that a question is being asked.

I suggest you actually attend to a catholic mass.
Now this is called "jumping to conclusions."
 
  • #162
vanesch said:
Ok, but there is still a huge difference between *forbidding* something on one hand and requiring absolute non-discrimination on the other: these are two extremes. The problem I have with absolute non-discrimination, is that it would then be illegal *in any circumstance* to make any difference between those who do/are/belong to and those who don't - and by extrapolation, forbidding to SAY SO. When we include in a kind of constitution, the principle of non-discrimination, this is what will come out of it: that even making a difference based upon that in a statement of opinion will ultimately become illegal. The only thing for which I can accept that, as I said, is "race". I think there could be circumstances in which even gender should be "discriminated" against (as in who has access to the ladies rest room to give a silly example - while I can perfectly well accept that there shouldn't be any "black's rest room" or something of the kind). And I certainly don't want sexual practices to be absolutely protected of any kind of instance where it might be discriminated against. That's something entirely different than the other extreme, which is forbidding it, or harassing people who do so.

It is not because something is "genetically favored", that we should declare it something against which absolutely no discrimination can be made, in no single circumstance. As I said, even gender doesn't qualify in my eyes, so certainly not homosexuality. Also, with fine enough magnifying glasses, I'm sure one can even find a genetic favor/disfavor to be a good soccer player or not, or a mass murderer or not, or a brilliant scientist or not. And we do discriminate against those properties without problems.
You do have laws against sexual discrimination though already, in my opinion provided these laws remain on a very limited number of circumstances I don't feel my civil liberties have been compromised, obviously if it was something else like say, people with ginger hair, then I would draw the line and no doubt TB would veto such a proposition as being silly, again there's no slippery slide going on here, it's taken 100 years just to get these five and I find it very unlikely that they're going to be added to very much.

Also the courts decide whether it warrants there attention, if I go down the road and meet x, and shout you effin n****r at him, then that's not likely to get me locked up, if however I get together a group of 200 people and start saying they're vermin let's get them out of the country, we hate them and we want them to go back to friggin abo jabo land, come here stealing our jobs, or spongeing off the dole etc; or on the other hand they say we hate them, I've had a few scrapes with, soft as anything, take 'em out, punch 'em, there scum treat 'em how you like. Again, but if I get a group of people together and poke light hearted fun at x race, then I'm sure the courts aren't going to take much notice. The law is very particular on what constitutes incitement of hatred and discrimination.
 
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  • #163
Gokul43201 said:
No, it's called "asking a question." The punctuation at the end, often referred to as a 'question mark' is used to indicate that a question is being asked.
Ok then, let me answer to your question by repeating what i said above : what is read in scripture needs to be looked at through different glasses as the ones you use for reading science. You know this as well as i do and it is because of this essential difference that your question does not apply to the holocaust denial ban.

Now this is called "jumping to conclusions."
Not at all. I asked you an associated question to which i, surprisingly, did not get an answer.

Why is it that i always answer your questions but you just ignore mine ?

Also, both you and Vanesch are going for the easy way out. You guys say : ok, this marlon says that all opinions violating historical facts need to be banned. Then you say : i rest my case :smile:, which implies that you think you proved the harmful nature of the holocaust denial ban.

This is very cheap because although what i said is my PERSONAL opinion, it does not prove that the holocaust denial law is bad, as you guys are claiming. My personal opinion is very different from a law that is accepted by majority. You are therefore using two measures to asses this case.

I suggest you come up with some actual arguments to defend your point and stop using my own personal opinion to counter a law :rolleyes:

marlon
 
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