Should it be legal to use ethnic slurs as insults? (7 Viewers)

[Atreus21]

Been following the Shiloh Hendrix show, and was curious.

 

[reflechissez]

Been following the Shiloh Hendrix show, and was curious.

I don't know that person.

 

[Atreus21]

I don't know that person.

The lady who called a black kid the n-word.

 

[Peter]

It's not nice and anyone who uses racist language should be told to shut the hell up but I don't think it should be illegal.
Racist and enciting violence is another matter entirely and should be illegal.

 

[dmpi]

You need to give examples of what constitutes 'ethnic slurs'. Because if it's true, then truth overrides demeaning, hostility and degradation.

 

[Gatsby]

Yes, it should be legal to say whatever you want as an insult, as long as it isn't defamatory. (And even then it should only be a matter for civil suits, not a crime.)

Been following the Shiloh Hendrix show, and was curious.

I don't know who he/she is, but no one should be arrested for saying something stupid.

 

[Chomsky]

Been following the Shiloh Hendrix show, and was curious.

The only Hendrix I'm familiar with is Jimi, but I can say ethnic slurs and hate speech are protected by the First Amendment.

As a Constitutionalist, I support the Constitution and voted accordingly.

 

[Chock Full o Nuts]

Is there another way to use a slur other than insult? Kind of the point, isn't it?

Of course calling someone 'whatever'(however bad...not that its right) should remain legal.
It's when you end up getting your ass beat you get your due.

 

[Chomsky]

Yes, it should be legal to say whatever you want as an insult, as long as it isn't defamatory. (And even then it should only be a matter for civil suits, not a crime.)


I don't know who he/she is, but no one should be arrested for saying something stupid.

Yep. Defamation is not Criminal. But it is a Civil Tort.

 

[phoenix2020]

I voted "it depends" - in general I think it should be legal to do so, however I think there is a line to be drawn for those in certain professions such as law enforcement. If a person is legally authorized to shoot and kill me in order to "protect the community" then I hold them to a higher bar. What I'm not sure of is precisely how much higher that bar should be. Would I want a police officer fired and never permitted to hold enforcement office for the rest of their life for using an ethnic slur? Minimally. Would I want them jailed? Probably not. But, I'm not sure what else there is between those two.

 

[Loulit01]

So if a white person calls a Black person the N word it's illegal, but if a Black person calls a Black person the N word it's legal?

 

[Loulit01]

I voted "it depends" - in general I think it should be legal to do so, however I think there is a line to be drawn for those in certain professions such as law enforcement. If a person is legally authorized to shoot and kill me in order to "protect the community" then I hold them to a higher bar. What I'm not sure of is precisely how much higher that bar should be. Would I want a police officer fired and never permitted to hold enforcement office for the rest of their life for using an ethnic slur? Minimally. Would I want them jailed? Probably not. But, I'm not sure what else there is between those two.

Fired?

 

[ElChupacabra]

The plot thickens:

For those unfamiliar with the story:

Police Complete Investigation into ‘Disturbing’ Video That Appeared to Show Woman Hurling Racist Slur at Child

Police in Minnesota have completed their investigation into a viral video that appeared to show a woman using a racist slur against a Black child on a playground

people.com

 

[Risky Thicket]

Legal or not get used to it. Trump and the MAGAs will continue to lower the level of civility regardless.

Personally, I do not condone it in my presence among people I am associating with at the time. Why say things that are hateful and hurtful to other people? Once you put it out there, whether it is heard by the object of your derision or not, it's out there in the world. It defines and diminishes you. You may not know it but it does.


Be the change you wish to see in the world, as Gandhi said.

 

[Fearandloathing]

As a Constitutionalist, I support the Constitution and voted accordingly.

Your flawed constitution provides for any form of insult or label to be placed on anyone.

Canada's superior constitution bans such identification as 'hate speech"

Interesting what you can do with words, eh?

 

[Loulit01]

Your flawed constitution provides for any form of insult or label to be placed on anyone.

I think that's a positive attribute.

Canada's superior constitution bans such identification as 'hate speech"

Bans as in illegal? That sucks.

Interesting what you can do with words, eh?

Oh, yes.

 

[Fearandloathing]

I think that's a positive attribute.

Bans as in illegal? That sucks.

Oh, yes.

No.

Some statements are simply not to be used in a public setting.

Calling a woman a 'slut' can be a crime here but would more likely be a civil proceeding.

Our constitution provides for "freedom of expression" with general provisos that you cannot libel or otherwise misconstrue information regarding an individual. You can say Joe Blow is a regular at the Night Club, but you cannot say he's a drunk.

 

[Loulit01]

No.

Some statements are simply not to be used in a public setting.

You haven't seen any of our Black comedians throw the N word around like it's confetti in front of national audiences?

Calling a woman a 'slut' can be a crime here but would more likely be a civil proceeding.

Okay.

Our constitution provides for "freedom of expression" with general provisos that you cannot libel or otherwise misconstrue information regarding an individual.

Ours too.

You can say Joe Blow is a regular at the Night Club, but you cannot say he's a drunk.

You can if he's a drunk. The truth cannot be libel or slander.

 

[Chomsky]

Your flawed constitution provides for any form of insult or label to be placed on anyone.

Canada's superior constitution bans such identification as 'hate speech"

Interesting what you can do with words, eh?

I don't know if I'd call the bolded superior.

Best - IMO - to not have Freedom of Speech infringed upon, if it's otherwise lawful behaviour.

Sorry, but I'd rather err on the side of freedom in this issue.

 

[Chomsky]

No.

Some statements are simply not to be used in a public setting.

Calling a woman a 'slut' can be a crime here but would more likely be a civil proceeding.

Our constitution provides for "freedom of expression" with general provisos that you cannot libel or otherwise misconstrue information regarding an individual.

You can say Joe Blow is a regular at the Night Club, but you cannot say he's a drunk.

Is the bolded Tort, or Criminal? There's a big difference.

 

[Fearandloathing]

Is the bolded Tort, or Criminal? There's a big difference.

Could rock either way...............in theory.

Now remember in our system you have to convince a prosecutor the case has 'value' in a democratic environment. There's a lot of personality in the US criminal justice system. It is severely frowned on up here. the kind of grand standing your lawyers do would land them in contempt.

 

[Fearandloathing]

I don't know if I'd call the bolded superior.

Best - IMO - to not have Freedom of Speech infringed upon, if it's otherwise lawful behaviour.

Sorry, but I'd rather err on the side of freedom in this issue.

Most scholars agree that Canada's version constructed over the course of 20 years is superior to the one written over 200 years ago and amended HOW MANY times?

Sorry, bu world scholars and leading legal experts would NEVER put the US constitution anywhere near the top of anything!

take a look at your government!

Trump is a ****ing dictator and you're all standing around smiling as he wipes his ass with your precious constitution! That's sure working for you now!!!!
Technically Trump wouldn't even be allowed to run as an MP. He's a convicted rapist!

Great laws you got there.

Jesus, arguing superiority with Trump smashing everything breakable is hilarious!!!

 

[Fearandloathing]

You haven't seen any of our Black comedians throw the N word around like it's confetti in front of national audiences?

Okay.

Ours too.

You can if he's a drunk. The truth cannot be libel or slander.

Not here.


It would be ruled impugning a reputation.

 

[Chomsky]

Could rock either way...............in theory.

Now remember in our system you have to convince a prosecutor the case has 'value' in a democratic environment. There's a lot of personality in the US criminal justice system. It is severely frowned on up here. the kind of grand standing your lawyers do would land them in contempt.

Interesting.

It's Torts down here.

I dunno'. I draw distinction between societal norms and criminal behavior. We have to be very careful of what we criminalize.

Remember the Monarchy didn't have Freedom of Speech, and this was a big deal to the Colonists. And in fact, Britain until today has no Freedom of Speech. They waited until the late 1990's to pass something known as "Freedom of Expression", which appears to be watered down and not Freedom of Speech at all.

 

[Chomsky]

Most scholars agree that Canada's version constructed over the course of 20 years is superior to the one written over 200 years ago and amended HOW MANY times?

Sorry, bu world scholars and leading legal experts would NEVER put the US constitution anywhere near the top of anything!

take a look at your government!

Trump is a ****ing dictator and you're all standing around smiling as he wipes his ass with your precious constitution! That's sure working for you now!!!!
Technically Trump wouldn't even be allowed to run as an MP. He's a convicted rapist!

Great laws you got there.

Jesus, arguing superiority with Trump smashing everything breakable is hilarious!!!

We're speaking specifically to the 1st A, and that's what I'm defending.

The U.S. has always ranked near the very top worldwide in personal Freedom of Speech, though it has slipped several spots in the past several years.

However U.S. Freedom of the Press has really fallen, and I am not at all happy with this.

Again, I'd prefer to err on the side of Freedom. Which is why I cast the vote I did.