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Originally Posted by Mystic Mock
I don't really like that argument.
Freedom of speech means freedom of consequences, otherwise you're not free to say whatever you want because you might lose Job opportunities, therefore there's no freedom of speech.
And imo if there's no freedom of speech because there's no freedom of consequences, it means that we're not much different to countries like China and Russia.
Now, that doesn't mean that people can't dislike Kate Forbes views or Kate Forbes herself, because again freedom to disagree with someone is a very important thing to any half decent country that claims to be in a democratic society.
But no people should not face punishments for opinions, it's that kind of thinking that's seeing the western world regress so much over recent years.
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It truly depends on what the speech is and what the consequence is.
For example, you have the
freedom to say that you support Trump and all he stands for and the consequence of that might be that your friend decides they don't want to be your friend anymore because you have wildly different values.
I think we've spoken about this before but sometimes words, without specifically asking for hatred, do incite it. Public rhetoric against already marginalised groups emboldens people who already hate that group to do it publicly. Which leads to abuse, harassment and sometimes physical violence.
Which means, while opinions are allowed, people - particularly those who are in positions of power - have to understand that some opinions, if it could lead to incitement of hatred, have consequences. That's not not free speech. You can still say it.
Do I think people should lose their job for their political affiliation? No.
Do I think a business can decide they do not want the custom of someone because of the very public views they have, views that can, have and might do in the past lead to legislation that negatively impacts the lives of people for the way they were born? Yes.
I'll give you a hypothetical situation. Nigel Farage wins the Election. He swiftly bans gay marriage, which invalidates my own marriage and/or effects my friends ability to marry the person they love. Let's say I own a cafe and he comes into the cafe. Do you think I should be forced to serve a man who made my life - and the lives of those around me - significantly worse because of his views and what those views led to, even though everything that came under those views was lawful and a result of free speech.