Azle homeowner displays 'Hispanics Keep Out' sign

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by CutiePie2000

Quick question (and on another note): In your country, if some jackass yelled out "FIRE!" in a crowded theatre and there was no fire, could they hide behind the 'Freedom of Speech' plea? Just wondering.

No. That's where we draw the line; that's the standard example of the limit of free speech.

The distinction perhaps can be summed up this way: The government cannot regulate the content of speech. In the case of "FIRE!" in a crowded theater, or speech that actually puts someone in reasonable fear of personal safety, then it's not the content that's being regulated, but the effect of the speech.

All this sign says is "Hispanics Keep Out." That may be stupid, but it's clearly protected speech.

I'll admit it -- I think laws prohibiting someone from saying hateful things are inane and counterproductive. They create the illusion that everyone is getting along rather than just laying things on the table. I prefer to leave in a society where the idiots are free to say their hateful things and the rest of us are free to say "You're an idiot." I also think that what constitutues "hate speech" is so subjective as to be useless in a criminal context.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I prefer to leave in a society where the idiots are free to say their hateful things and the rest of us are free to say "You're an idiot." I also think that what constitutues "hate speech" is so subjective as to be useless in a criminal context.

That would be fine here too, as it is not "against an identifiable group based on colour, race, religion, ethnic origin or sexual orientation".

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by CutiePie2000

That would be fine here too, as it is not "against an identifiable group based on colour, race, religion, ethnic origin or sexual orientation".

I think you missed my point. What I meant was, I prefer to live in a society where someone is free to say "I hate all Hispanic people and I wish they would go back where they came from now," and others are free to say "You are an idiot."

Canada, as you and KSigkid haven't noted, has chosen to balance interests differently. When I say that I think that hate speech laws are inane and counterproductive, I'm not so much trying to diss Canada as to say that I have never been convinced that hate speech laws serve society better than the free exchange of ideas. Canadians obviously have come to a different conclusion, which is certainly their right.