“Words aren’t dangerous” is one of the greatest misnomers of all time. Words have, repeatedly throughout human history, demonstrably been the catalyst for action.
Normalizing hate speech is a signal that hate itself can be normal. Hate speech has become violence so many times that I can not fathom not understanding that words have real power.
Regarding who may be making the problem worse, I’ll let a better spoken man field a response: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Sure, I understand the arguments. I’ve had this debate plenty of times, virtually and in person. I’ve even lost a couple of friends over it. Some people see things my way, some people see things yours. Your way is in the ascendant, it’s undeniable. But you must know that there are other ways of interpreting the same facts, that people - yes, even good people - have different values to you. For me you are selling a creed of victimhood, of fragility, of hypersensitivity, in which people are incentivized to find offense, where everyone comes out a loser. Again: you seem to be a decent well-meaning person, you’re not throwing insults around like others here, and I hear the points you make. I’m sure you’re intelligent and I completely respect you. But I fundamentally disagree with your analysis. Good night.
“Words aren’t dangerous” is one of the greatest misnomers of all time. Words have, repeatedly throughout human history, demonstrably been the catalyst for action.
Normalizing hate speech is a signal that hate itself can be normal. Hate speech has become violence so many times that I can not fathom not understanding that words have real power.
Regarding who may be making the problem worse, I’ll let a better spoken man field a response: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Sure, I understand the arguments. I’ve had this debate plenty of times, virtually and in person. I’ve even lost a couple of friends over it. Some people see things my way, some people see things yours. Your way is in the ascendant, it’s undeniable. But you must know that there are other ways of interpreting the same facts, that people - yes, even good people - have different values to you. For me you are selling a creed of victimhood, of fragility, of hypersensitivity, in which people are incentivized to find offense, where everyone comes out a loser. Again: you seem to be a decent well-meaning person, you’re not throwing insults around like others here, and I hear the points you make. I’m sure you’re intelligent and I completely respect you. But I fundamentally disagree with your analysis. Good night.