On Sun, May 27, 2001 at 05:40:48AM +0900, Sam Joseph wrote:
> > Freedom of Speech is all about
> > tolerating things of which you disapprove, since you expect
> > people who disapprove of your opinions to tolerate your right
> > to express them.
>
> Is it? Okay fair enough. But what about tolerating those who are doing
> things contrary to the rights of other people?
If all they are doing is expressing an opinion, then yes, you should
tolerate that.
> Should we defend the rights of those disseminating ideas that help
> governments oppress individuals?
Free speech is defending people's right to disseminating *any* idea,
whether we like it or not.
> but isn't that different from your right to
> disseminate images of me doing unspeakable things to donkeys, or
> whatever?
In practice no, since if we permit the tools to censor any kind of
information, then we have permitted the tools to censor all kinds of
information.
> Seems to me like there is a fundamental gap between the right to
> expressing one's opinion and the right to distribute images, files,
> whatever.
And who decides what is a valid opinion, and what isn't? Your
government? You? The church of scientology?
> Maybe the bottom line is that we have to make it free to distribute all
> kinds of data under any circumstances, which is what Freenet advocates,
> right? Why does that make me feel uncomfortable? Am I just some crazy
> facist who has to overcome his terrible inhibitions and embrace the
> brave new world?
I think that you need to accept that freedom of speech must apply to all
opinions, not just those with which you are comfortable.
Ian.
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