Protection for the ignorant
#16
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Protection for the ignorant
How exactly are they the 'Thought Police'? You are allowed to think what you like. I think you're being a little ignorant to the issue here as this isn't about restricting your thoughts or even your right to express your opinion. If your opinion is that a person/group/race are a bunch of whatever, why do you need the right to express that and offend? Do you defend racist verbal abuse? This government seems to. Should Sport associations give up trying to protect athletes from attacks from fans and other athletes?
Should people who have actually been verbally abused be totally ok with it and not have a means of standing up for themselves without throwing back an insult?
Should people who have actually been verbally abused be totally ok with it and not have a means of standing up for themselves without throwing back an insult?
Where is the line : it seems someone is now drawing a line - Zulu our straight-talking friend has made it clear that it is possible to cross that line and I am sure that he would not condone racism. He takes a dim view of the way Islam can create a fervent radical person - that is clear. Whilst everyone has prejudices, I am sure that no reasonable person would want to be racist. See - there is a line between prejudice and racism. When a bunch of blokes get on the train at night I am inclined by my understanding of form and social demographics to be somewhat prejudiced unfortunately but I would not consider myself to be racist.
In my view, your average Joe is entitled to be shielded from abuse - and essentially assault because we lived in a civilised society.
Debate is always ok. This new thing seems interesting because it looks like perhaps you are allowed to debate prejudice and issues and even have negative views but you can't assault someone (verbally). It's all in the delivery it would appear.
#17
Re: Protection for the ignorant
But there is already a line. You are allowed to have your views and share/debate them. The current law protects people form being abused by your views.
If you need to divided up even further, then you are classifying what abuse is acceptable and what isn't. How does a privileged government decide what is acceptable and what isn't in the best interests of the Australian people? I don't believe they are thinking about your free speech but rather the sensationalist media who got them into power. The media, ie Andrew Bolt, are the ones kicking up about it. This looks to me like the government are protecting the support they get from them.
If you need to divided up even further, then you are classifying what abuse is acceptable and what isn't. How does a privileged government decide what is acceptable and what isn't in the best interests of the Australian people? I don't believe they are thinking about your free speech but rather the sensationalist media who got them into power. The media, ie Andrew Bolt, are the ones kicking up about it. This looks to me like the government are protecting the support they get from them.
#18
Re: Protection for the ignorant
Political correctness is the bane of our future. It causes more harm than good.
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Protection for the ignorant
But there is already a line. You are allowed to have your views and share/debate them. The current law protects people form being abused by your views.
If you need to divided up even further, then you are classifying what abuse is acceptable and what isn't. How does a privileged government decide what is acceptable and what isn't in the best interests of the Australian people?
If you need to divided up even further, then you are classifying what abuse is acceptable and what isn't. How does a privileged government decide what is acceptable and what isn't in the best interests of the Australian people?
The laws we have arising out of Common law (and even out of common decency and good sense) and most of our systems in place does a good job.
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Protection for the ignorant
Day to day - political correctness doesn't mean a great deal to me nor does it effect me : I suppose the weak-willed and meek might draw some comfort from it and it might even create employment for people that might otherwise be unemployable ! I am talking about social workers now - not the truly marginalised!
#21
Re: Protection for the ignorant
What's the issue? The government are standing up for the biggots and their biggot mates in the media and want to change the law that no-one seems to be complaining about or being prosecuted incorrectly from. That's the issue as I see it. Why not leave it alone? It's becoming quite clear that they want to send Australia back to the good old days as they saw it. Protecting your right to be a biggot is not progress, neither is reintroducing Knights and Dames of Australia for that matter.
#22
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,230
Re: Protection for the ignorant
I think that is pretty much the crux of it. This has been driven almost wholly by that nasty, sniveling little piece of shit Bolt.
#23
Re: Protection for the ignorant
I agree with what this dude has to say:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/2...obel-laureate/
Freedom of speech should mean just that - even if you offend
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/2...obel-laureate/
Freedom of speech should mean just that - even if you offend
#24
Re: Protection for the ignorant
I agree with what this dude has to say:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/2...obel-laureate/
Freedom of speech should mean just that - even if you offend
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/2...obel-laureate/
Freedom of speech should mean just that - even if you offend
I'm not surprised that you referenced that article. It's wrong. As I said, you can speak about and share your views, that is currently protected. What the AG is fighting for is, essentially the right to be racist at a football match. I can't see where anyone other than media and the ignorant benefit from this.
#25
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: Protection for the ignorant
I agree with what this dude has to say:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/2...obel-laureate/
Freedom of speech should mean just that - even if you offend
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/2...obel-laureate/
Freedom of speech should mean just that - even if you offend
#26
Re: Protection for the ignorant
Our socialist elite hate free speech - hence the outcry
Last edited by Amazulu; Mar 26th 2014 at 1:01 pm.
#30
Bitter and twisted
Joined: Dec 2003
Location: Upmarket
Posts: 17,503
Re: Protection for the ignorant
....and so does Abbott....unless it concerns 'boat people' of course