Too much free speech? Why total liberalism is a very stupid idea

Your opinion is not the same as incitement

Let’s pretend it’s 1605 and you and I are walking through the woods, gathering kindling sticks for the fire. We get into an argument, because I want you to carry all of them, and your arms hurt. “I curse you!” I shriek, pointing a twig at you. “May your body become ripe with sores, may illness curse your children, and may misfortune follow your every step.” Now, I don’t have magical powers, especially through a modern lens. But I’ve committed a crime. Then, and, now; except now we’d just call it malicious communications and harassment. That’s a fine, lawsuit, or a caution. Why? Because you can’t have people running around blackmailing, threatening, and manipulating people into doing things. Society wouldn’t work. The exact same would be true in 2025, if I threatened to burn down your construction company if you didn’t fix my roof for free, or vote for me. The way we talk about it might have changed, but the same logic applies.

You just can’t say ‘anything.’

Would you be so pro-freedom-of-speech if it was Hassam instead of Harry speaking?

Now, I believe opinions should be free range. You can have the stupidest opinion on the planet, but it is your opinion. No matter how daft, ridiculous, or cringe inducing it may be, it is your opinion. If I stood in the woods and said; ‘you are rubbish at…