Should "hate speech" be criminalized in the U.S.?

*Andrew NDB* · 12-17-2018, 10:37 AM

Should "hate speech" be criminalized and legislated against in the U.S., in spite of the First Amendment? If so, who should define what it is?

*Original TMNT Cartoon Fan* · 12-17-2018, 10:56 AM

It shouldn't be illegal. Democracy must accept even the opinions of its enemies.

~~AquaParade~~ · 12-17-2018, 11:10 AM

What I find tricky is finding a way to distinctly label speech that incites violence/danger (and therefore, what can truly be defined as "violent/dangerous") vs speech that could be labeled hateful, yet isn't putting anyone in harms way.

I generally believe that if it isn't a call to violence or harm, we must allow it to be spoken. We are free to disagree, ignore, or rebuke.

It really is a complicated subject.

*Prowler* · 12-17-2018, 11:14 AM

Who decides what "hate speech" is, exactly? I mean, what if someday making jokes about a certain race/ethnicity is considered "hate speech"? It's really open to interpretation, it seems.

Could you give examples of what sort of "hate speech" you have in mind? In some European countries, such as Germany and France, publicly denying the Holocaust is considered "hate speech" and it's punishable by law. Is that the type of hate speech you're referring to or other examples? I'm sorry, but the video is nearly 50 minutes long and I'm not gonna watch it in its entirety.

Anyway, I'm not American as everyone knows already. So I will abstain from voting and won't be telling you guys how to run your yard.

*Coola Yagami* · 12-17-2018, 02:18 PM

I'd say no because there's the slippery slope that even a valid criticism could be called hate speech.

Think the whole 'you're automatically a misogynist for not liking the female Ghostbusters movie' but cranked to 11 and you get actual jail time for voicing your opinion.

*FredWolfLeonardo* · 12-17-2018, 02:23 PM

I'd say that any country should be open and honest about what it stands for.

If any country claims to uphold freedom of speech, then all speech must be free, no exceptions, no matter how unpopular it is. Claiming freedom of speech, and then surpressing certains forms of speech because its "hateful" or "harming someone" is an act of hypocrisy, lying and cowardice.

*Leo656* · 12-17-2018, 03:14 PM

No, I don't believe in criminalizing words. Words are an extension of thoughts, and you can't police that, either. Much as many wish that could be done.

I mean, in theory, if I simply said to someone, "I hate you", that would now be a criminal act, under the broadest possible definitions. How could it not? It's literally "hate speech", because you told the person you hate them. Obviously, those in favor would literally want it to mean "Don't be racist/sexist/whatever-ist", but again, "hate speech" doesn't get any more clear than simply saying "I hate you" to someone. And under the broadest application they'd still be punished for it. Which is nuts.

*Autbot_Benz* · 12-17-2018, 04:36 PM

Id say no too because all the easily Triggered SJW's would say everything is hate speech and what not

*Leo656* · 12-17-2018, 04:40 PM

Many of them already do.

*FredWolfLeonardo* · 12-17-2018, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Autbot_Benz

Id say no too because all the easily Triggered SJW's would say everything is hate speech and what not

You voted Yes

*Autbot_Benz* · 12-17-2018, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FredWolfLeonardo

You voted Yes

That was before I thought of what the SJW regime would do if they had that power.

~~Kenwatanabesclone~~ · 12-17-2018, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Autbot_Benz

That was before I thought of what the SJW regime would do if they had that power.

No disrespect to your personal opinion, but why'd you pick yes in the first place? Everybody has a different view of what's right and wrong. What's hate speech to one might be a light hearted joke to another. Taking away the right to say certain things because a couple people get their feelings hurt doesn't sound very nice. Like someone said above, I feel everyone should be able to say what's on their mind as long as it doesn't cause violence or illegal activity.

Also, I want to clarify that I don't agree with people using words with the intent of offending others, and I'm not trying to justify it in my post. I just want everybody to be able to speak their views/opinions/beliefs. The definition of "hate speech" can be very loose so I disagree with it being criminalized.

*Leo656* · 12-17-2018, 05:14 PM

Besides, if we outlaw "hate speech", how will kids on XBox Live and PSN communicate with each other?

*CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy* · 12-17-2018, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo656

Besides, if we outlaw "hate speech", how will kids on XBox Life and PSN communicate with each other?

Threatening to defile each other's mothers isn't hate speech unless their moms are non-white. So the little punks should be okay.

*Leo656* · 12-17-2018, 05:28 PM

I banged your Mom.

D'you hate me yet?

*CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy* · 12-17-2018, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo656

I banged your Mom.

D'you hate me yet?

Dad?

*Leo656* · 12-17-2018, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

Dad?

"...................LIQUID?!?!"

*IndigoErth* · 12-17-2018, 05:56 PM

No. But people who like to spout off in that way need to get it through their thick and presumably somewhat empty skulls that not being arrested/charged for it is where the "right" to do it ends.

Freedom of speech does not grant them a right to not be called out on their behavior. And it doesn't require others to just tolerate your garbage in silence if you're being an ass.

*Candy Kappa* · 12-17-2018, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo656

"...................LIQUID?!?!"

https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/...shed_snake.jpg

He looks nothing like Sean Connery, FAKE SNAKE!

*Leo656* · 12-17-2018, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Candy Kappa

He looks nothing like Sean Connery, FAKE SNAKE!

That's funny for multiple reasons if you're familiar with MGS V.

View Poll Results: Should "hate speech" be criminalized in the U.S.?
Yes	1	6.67%
No	14	93.33%
Voters: 15. You may not vote on this poll

12-17-2018, 10:37 AM	#1
Andrew NDB Weed Whacker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 29,279	Should "hate speech" be criminalized in the U.S.? Should "hate speech" be criminalized and legislated against in the U.S., in spite of the First Amendment? If so, who should define what it is? __________________ [ ODYSSEY \| ORIGIN \| THE IMAGE/VOL. 3 CONCLUSION \| THE SHELLSHOCKED PODCAST \| ON FACEBOOK ]

12-17-2018, 10:56 AM	#2
Original TMNT Cartoon Fan Overlord Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 10,155	It shouldn't be illegal. Democracy must accept even the opinions of its enemies. Last edited by Original TMNT Cartoon Fan; 12-22-2018 at 02:48 AM.

12-17-2018, 02:18 PM	#5
Coola Yagami Overlord Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 14,016	I'd say no because there's the slippery slope that even a valid criticism could be called hate speech. Think the whole 'you're automatically a misogynist for not liking the female Ghostbusters movie' but cranked to 11 and you get actual jail time for voicing your opinion. __________________ "I was down with TMNT once, but then they changed what TMNT was. Now what I was down with is no longer TMNT and what TMNT now is seems weird and scary. And it'll happen to YOU." Check out my blog for Comic Reviews and other things. https://markepicblogofrandomness.blogspot.com/ I also started The AEW Crew, the All Elite Wrestling Fan Club! https://www.facebook.com/groups/637508120044168/

12-17-2018, 03:14 PM	#7
Leo656 The Franchise Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,696	No, I don't believe in criminalizing words. Words are an extension of thoughts, and you can't police that, either. Much as many wish that could be done. I mean, in theory, if I simply said to someone, "I hate you", that would now be a criminal act, under the broadest possible definitions. How could it not? It's literally "hate speech", because you told the person you hate them. Obviously, those in favor would literally want it to mean "Don't be racist/sexist/whatever-ist", but again, "hate speech" doesn't get any more clear than simply saying "I hate you" to someone. And under the broadest application they'd still be punished for it. Which is nuts. __________________ "I left some words quite far from here to be a short reminder... I laid them out in stone, in case they need to last forever..." "But hey... I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know." nWo Tech: The Official Thread Poison of the Technodrome Forums https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxr...awnHgDz1ceDcfA https://theroxxshow.blogspot.com/

12-17-2018, 11:10 AM	#3
~~AquaParade~~ Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 8,450	What I find tricky is finding a way to distinctly label speech that incites violence/danger (and therefore, what can truly be defined as "violent/dangerous") vs speech that could be labeled hateful, yet isn't putting anyone in harms way. I generally believe that if it isn't a call to violence or harm, we must allow it to be spoken. We are free to disagree, ignore, or rebuke. It really is a complicated subject.

12-17-2018, 11:14 AM	#4
Prowler Emperor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Portugal Posts: 8,909	Who decides what "hate speech" is, exactly? I mean, what if someday making jokes about a certain race/ethnicity is considered "hate speech"? It's really open to interpretation, it seems. Could you give examples of what sort of "hate speech" you have in mind? In some European countries, such as Germany and France, publicly denying the Holocaust is considered "hate speech" and it's punishable by law. Is that the type of hate speech you're referring to or other examples? I'm sorry, but the video is nearly 50 minutes long and I'm not gonna watch it in its entirety. Anyway, I'm not American as everyone knows already. So I will abstain from voting and won't be telling you guys how to run your yard.

12-17-2018, 04:36 PM	#8
Autbot_Benz Hellblazer Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Ventura California Posts: 8,288	Id say no too because all the easily Triggered SJW's would say everything is hate speech and what not __________________ I respect what FW cartoon did for the turtles franchise but it is the most overrated and hard to watch of the 3 turtles cartoons.

12-17-2018, 04:40 PM	#9
Leo656 The Franchise Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,696	Many of them already do. __________________ "I left some words quite far from here to be a short reminder... I laid them out in stone, in case they need to last forever..." "But hey... I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know." nWo Tech: The Official Thread Poison of the Technodrome Forums https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxr...awnHgDz1ceDcfA https://theroxxshow.blogspot.com/

12-17-2018, 05:14 PM	#13
Leo656 The Franchise Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,696	Besides, if we outlaw "hate speech", how will kids on XBox Live and PSN communicate with each other? __________________ "I left some words quite far from here to be a short reminder... I laid them out in stone, in case they need to last forever..." "But hey... I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know." nWo Tech: The Official Thread Poison of the Technodrome Forums https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxr...awnHgDz1ceDcfA https://theroxxshow.blogspot.com/ Last edited by Leo656; 12-17-2018 at 09:38 PM.

12-17-2018, 05:28 PM	#15
Leo656 The Franchise Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,696	I banged your Mom. D'you hate me yet? __________________ "I left some words quite far from here to be a short reminder... I laid them out in stone, in case they need to last forever..." "But hey... I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know." nWo Tech: The Official Thread Poison of the Technodrome Forums https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxr...awnHgDz1ceDcfA https://theroxxshow.blogspot.com/

12-17-2018, 05:56 PM	#18
IndigoErth Team Blue Boy Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: U.S., East Coast Posts: 15,242	No. But people who like to spout off in that way need to get it through their thick and presumably somewhat empty skulls that not being arrested/charged for it is where the "right" to do it ends. Freedom of speech does not grant them a right to not be called out on their behavior. And it doesn't require others to just tolerate your garbage in silence if you're being an ass.