Wow, things have changed since the free-wheeling 70s when I was in college. My dorm mates would have probably been expelled or worse for hanging out a large banner saying "Nuke Iran" after the American hostages were taken in Tehran in 1979.
The problem with any kind of speech control is ultimately the interpretation of what constitute…
Wow, things have changed since the free-wheeling 70s when I was in college. My dorm mates would have probably been expelled or worse for hanging out a large banner saying "Nuke Iran" after the American hostages were taken in Tehran in 1979.
The problem with any kind of speech control is ultimately the interpretation of what constitutes hateful or threatening speech, or, as in the case of the proposed Board of Disinformation proposed by the Biden Administration, disinformation. Without distinct guidelines, you get cases where just the mention of the KKK warrants action, even when it's in the confines of literature or history.
When I was in college, Saturday Night Live was at its peak of enjoyment and entertainment, and nothing was sacred. I haven't watched in over 35 some years, but I suspect now it's a watered down version and apparently geared more toward mocking conservatives than anyone else. I also suspect George Carlin would likely be turned away for his brutal humor, not to mention Andrew Dice Clay or Lenny Bruce.
When even the ability to poke fun at ourselves is lost for fear of "offending" someone, we become no better than humor Nazis. I sincerely hope that never happens.
Wow, things have changed since the free-wheeling 70s when I was in college. My dorm mates would have probably been expelled or worse for hanging out a large banner saying "Nuke Iran" after the American hostages were taken in Tehran in 1979.
The problem with any kind of speech control is ultimately the interpretation of what constitutes hateful or threatening speech, or, as in the case of the proposed Board of Disinformation proposed by the Biden Administration, disinformation. Without distinct guidelines, you get cases where just the mention of the KKK warrants action, even when it's in the confines of literature or history.
When I was in college, Saturday Night Live was at its peak of enjoyment and entertainment, and nothing was sacred. I haven't watched in over 35 some years, but I suspect now it's a watered down version and apparently geared more toward mocking conservatives than anyone else. I also suspect George Carlin would likely be turned away for his brutal humor, not to mention Andrew Dice Clay or Lenny Bruce.
When even the ability to poke fun at ourselves is lost for fear of "offending" someone, we become no better than humor Nazis. I sincerely hope that never happens.
I still remember a specific item of dorm bathroom graffiti circa 1979 that said "Nuke the gay Iranian whales."
There are freedom places in the world as parts of America where gay couples can own guns to protect their cannabis farms :)