this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2023
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Free speech does not mean that you can say anything. You can't break the rights of others by using your own rights. For example, racial slurs violate human rights of those targeted by them.
Free speech means that you can say anything. That's the definition. We put practical limitations on it. For example defamation or calls to violence.
But every single limitation should be carefully articulated and considered. I don't see why a racial slur would violate anyone's human rights.
For example I can go up to someone and insult them for all sorts of things - "you're an ugly stupid worthless piece of trash" and that's ok but I say "you're a dirty [racial slur]" all of a sudden it's different?
If we want to protect people from the effects of words we should raise children with thicker skin - not try and regulate what people can and can't say. Hearing a word does not have to upset you.
If it makes you feel any better, telling someone "you’re an ugly stupid worthless piece of trash" would get you banned from my instance too, so it is not so different.