Quote:
Originally Posted by pokerodox
I think the UK mostly has free speech, and having it is what got them to where they are.
Not sure if the degree to which the UK has free speech is sufficient. The degree to which they abandon free speech principles will be the degree to which they sink into tyranny.
I agree it's about a lot of free speech although I suspect you would be very surprised at the limitations we have had at times in the UK. The argument on some limitations can take two forms (similar applies to big brother and other issues)
1) The restrictions/laws are dangerous to democracy in themselves i.e.democracy requires the right to be hateful
2) The particular restrictions /laws would be fine but there's a slippery slope
(technically there's also the 3rd argument about absolute rights preventing us starting at the bottom of the slope)
So people may agree/disagree with the hitler cat or rape example but the idea that this is some threat to democracy is risible isn't it? What could be a threat would be banning reporting of the cases or criticising the law but there's no plausible slippery slope threat here is there?.