[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

It's not really something one has the "right" to be or not be... It's just something that someone is, surely? Like saying that a racist person doesn't have the right to be racist isn't going to somehow stop them from being internally racist.

If the question is "should people have the right to commit externally racist / sexist / -ist acts or discriminate on those grounds" then the answer is obviously no.

The murky part is whether or not people should have the right to benign(?)ly voice those opinions. That's the only part open to debate. For me personally... I would rather know what ugly thoughts lurk in peoples heads rather than have them pretend to be something that they're not. It's the only way you can ever assess your real opinions of a person .

...sorry I’m finding difficulty at bolding with this bit of technology I’m using atm...but with the last paragraph..?...yeah I agree those benign voices should be heard, but then what...I mean our own opinion is surely less important ../ ..just more self indulgent..than our actions in ‘facing’ that ism...and not throwing names at it, like calling it an ist and walking away or repeatedly calling it an ist etc..(...if that makes sense..)...so the all importance is the communication with these things, otherwise the reaction to someone’s beliefs can be too similar to the beliefs themselves...

[jaxie]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...sorry I’m finding difficulty at bolding with this bit of technology I’m using atm...but with the last paragraph..?...yeah I agree those benign voices should be heard, but then what...I mean our own opinion is surely less important ../ ..just more self indulgent..than our actions in ‘facing’ that ism...and not throwing names at it, like calling it an ist and walking away or repeatedly calling it an ist etc..(...if that makes sense..)...so the all importance is the communication with these things, otherwise the reaction to someone’s beliefs can be too similar to the beliefs themselves...

Great post Ammi. I think the key is being able to discuss and debate and hope that people will learn to think differently. Just calling people a name for their views is pointless and is as bad as the view in the first place.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by jaxie

Great post Ammi. I think the key is being able to discuss and debate and hope that people will learn to think differently. Just calling people a name for their views is pointless and is as bad as the view in the first place.

If you mean just screaming "YOU ARE A RACIST I WILL NO LONGER DISCUSS THIS" then sure. But that's not the same as saying "In my opinion, what you have said here is racism because ______". People are quick to take the latter as "name calling" when it's nothing of the sort.

When IS it acceptable to call something out as racism? If the answer is "never", then this is completely stifling to any open and honest discussion, and just as much a shut-down as name calling.

[Withano]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

It's not really something one has the "right" to be or not be... It's just something that someone is, surely? Like saying that a racist person doesn't have the right to be racist isn't going to somehow stop them from being internally racist.
:.

Oh yeh, there was a thread with people claiming that John from Big Brother was entitled to his homophobic opinion, and I was just like "is he tho?"

I'm still not entirely convinced that I know where I stand on it. Like can you be entitled to hate an entire group of people? Does he have that 'right'? I know it cant be policed, but is it really within your entitlement to hate a group of others?

[Paula D]

Originally Posted by Withano

Oh yeh, there was a thread with people claiming that John from Big Brother was entitled to his homophobic opinion, and I was just like "is he tho?"

I'm still not entirely convinced that I know where I stand on it. Like can you be entitled to hate an entire group of people? Does he have that 'right'? I know it cant be policed, but is it really within your entitlement to hate a group of others?

Okay you see this is an example of going too far.

John NEVER said he hated gay people. That's just you putting words into people's mouth again.

I actually thought Shane J's/Courtney's approach was fantastic on it, he called him out on it, listened to his view, told him he disagree, full stop.

He's not going around screaming homophobe so why should other people on his behalf?

It actually drives me mad people getting offended on others behalf.

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[Withano]

Originally Posted by Paula D

Okay you see this is an example of going too far.

John NEVER said he hated gay people. That's just you putting words into people's mouth again.

I actually thought Shane J's/Courtney's approach was fantastic on it, he called him out on it, listened to his view, told him he disagree, full stop.

He's not going around screaming homophobe so why should other people on his behalf?

It actually drives me mad people getting offended on others behalf.

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No thats not an example, I'm aware of what John said and didnt say, but that is what inspired the thread.

[Paula D]

Originally Posted by Withano

No thats not an example, I'm aware of what John said and didnt say, but that is what inspired the thread.

No, you're backing out now because you said the wrong thing With. You can not ask the question is John B entitled to hate people without inferring that he does when he quite clearly doesn't.

This is where arguments are lost, when people make up ****.

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[user104658]

Originally Posted by Withano

I'm still not entirely convinced that I know where I stand on it. Like can you be entitled to hate an entire group of people? Does he have that 'right'? I know it cant be policed, but is it really within your entitlement to hate a group of others?

But you're lumping the thought itself in with any action that might be taken based on that thought. Taking direct action motivated by hate of an entire group should never be accepted. Openly directing verbal hate at an entire group is "debatable" (in that it can logically be debated, debate is possible...)

The actual thought attitude itself, though, doesn't logically fall under the banner of rights or entitlements. It has nothing to do with either... It makes no logical sense to try to apply restrictions on inner thought. You could say "no one is entitled to think racist things!" but it's literally not going to stop anyone from thinking racist things... They don't choose to indulge in thinking racist things. They just DO think them. It's like saying to an amputee "no one is entitled to only have one arm" and expecting them to sprout a new one.


So like I said I don't think it's really open to debate whether or not active discrimination, or violent hatred (which would include directed abusive language and aggression, not just physical assault) is ever acceptable. Any civilised person would not accept that behaviour. But also, people's inner thoughts are also not open to debate or possible to restrict. It's just not a thing.

So that leaves the debatable part as simple discussion; are people "entitled" to express those inner thoughts verbally in a calm manner during a debate or discussion. That's the only question and it really comes down to personal preference and again... I would far rather hear those views and form an opinion of the person holding those views accordingly, than have everyone suppress and pretend based on what's "allowed".

I have experienced a quite vivid realnworld example of this. An older customer, who I had liked, on a "bad day" started spouting some really vile opinions about pretty much everything. Race came into it, homosexuality came into it, just a full on rant... Punctuated with "but you're not allowed to say these things any more." Quite clearly demonstrating that he always THINKS these things, he just doesn't say them. This was a customer that I honestly feel like I was "tricked" into thinking was a solid, decent guy... but who is clearly just repressing a whole heap of toxic nonsense. I would rather have known from the start. Surely most people would rather know? My idea of this individual was completely and utterly false.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

It's not really something one has the "right" to be or not be... It's just something that someone is, surely? Like saying that a racist person doesn't have the right to be racist isn't going to somehow stop them from being internally racist.

If the question is "should people have the right to commit externally racist / sexist / -ist acts or discriminate on those grounds" then the answer is obviously no.

The murky part is whether or not people should have the right to benign(?)ly voice those opinions. That's the only part open to debate. For me personally... I would rather know what ugly thoughts lurk in peoples heads rather than have them pretend to be something that they're not. It's the only way you can ever assess your real opinions of a person .

Great response.

I agree with this.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

As long as it doesn't translate into action then anyone has the right to be a bigot but everyone else has the right to call them out on their bull****.

Freedom of Speech is not a shield to protect people from being criticised or from having other people form their own opinions on other people's opinions. As I've said for years on this site, Freedom of Speech is a two way street. A person cannot cling to it to justify their opinions but then try to deny someone else from employing their right to freedom of speech to criticise them.

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

It's not really something one has the "right" to be or not be... It's just something that someone is, surely? Like saying that a racist person doesn't have the right to be racist isn't going to somehow stop them from being internally racist.

If the question is "should people have the right to commit externally racist / sexist / -ist acts or discriminate on those grounds" then the answer is obviously no.

The murky part is whether or not people should have the right to benign(?)ly voice those opinions. That's the only part open to debate. For me personally... I would rather know what ugly thoughts lurk in peoples heads rather than have them pretend to be something that they're not. It's the only way you can ever assess your real opinions of a person .

Both of these said what I would answer but much more eloquently than I would put it^

[montblanc]

no wtf

[JerseyWins]

They kind of are entitled to it but I'll say "sometimes" because their thoughts/opinions/beliefs can still turn into verbal abuse in the same token. But other than that or unless it involves physical abuse obviously, they're entitled to their opinion even if it's wrong.

Basically if they think it but don't act on it to be unfair or cruel to others, they're entitled to what they think and express but they will get the consequences because society has changed whether they like it or not.

[bots]

let's for a moment imagine a world where Donald T didn't have access to twitter, where all directives came from the whitehouse after being sanitised. We would have no idea what a crazy loop Trump is. That's the type of thing that can happen when people are not allowed to express themselves.

[jaxie]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

let's for a moment imagine a world where Donald T didn't have access to twitter, where all directives came from the whitehouse after being sanitised. We would have no idea what a crazy loop Trump is. That's the type of thing that can happen when people are not allowed to express themselves.

Very good point!

[Ashley.]

Of course they're entitled. We don't have to agree with them, though.

[Crimson Dynamo]

i must move in the wrong circles because I dont come across anyone being racist/homophobic/sexist

the only time is on here

I hear the odd person at an auction say "coloured bloke" but its hardly KKK and they are not saying it with any malice. I dont know any gay people and dont talk about them or black people so apart from the odd joke about women its not something on my radar tbh

[Marsh.]

Of course they're entitled to whatever views they feel.

People are, however, entitled to challenge those views and call out bigotry. And can do so without having "but it's free speech" used as a lame excuse.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Of course they're entitled to whatever views they feel.

People are, however, entitled to challenge those views and call out bigotry. And can do so without having "but it's free speech" used as a lame excuse.

Yes it continually amazes me how so many people use this when someone challenges their views. Do they not realize free speech goes both ways or something?!

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by Withano

Do they have that right in today's society?

People can be badly educated and may therefore express opinions that most of society would find objectionable.

[Ammi]

..people can also be very highly educated../..well read etc and also have equally homophobic/racist/sexist etc views as well...

[Northern Monkey]

Well firstly I can’t vote in the poll as it’s too simplistic.

I think this thread is almost a first.Seems like everyone is mostly in agreement.Some very excellent posts in here.
My opinion probably just reflects what’s already been said.
Should we be able to abuse somebody racially or on sexuality or whatever?(i.e ‘you f’king .......) No obviously not.There are laws against hate and harassment and causing distress etc.
Should people have a legal right to express their views?
Yes and you should have the right to counter views you disagree with.
Suppressed views are much more dangerous than views that are out and open to be debated.Nobody can have their mind changed if you don’t know what they think.
A plain example was the rise of the BNP.The last Labour government totally ignored the country’s concerns on immigration and people started reaching out for an extreme party in desperation as no other party(at the time) would listen as they were too scared to be branded racist and be aligned with the BNP.
As for calling people racist,bigot etc.That’s got a bad rap now due to it being used way too frequently and inappropriately these days.The word has been ruined by the sjw hard leftie types using it as an insult.
Of course it is legitimate to call someone racist if you think they are and then it’s not an insult but as Dezzy says an accusation.If you think it’s slanderous then you can refute it with your point of view.
Throwing ‘racist’ out willy nilly has devalued it though so it’s met with skepticism alot.
Also you don’t change minds by calling them names and putting them on the defensive.It’s pretty fruitless.

And yes,John Barnes has every right to express his opinion and Shane J very maturely called him out on it without insults etc.

One point i disagreed with that i read somewhere was that nobody ever changes their views.
At high school age i was and infact many people at school were very homophobic.I did get my view changed from working with gay people and going in gay clubs because they were open later and had good music.Exposure is the best thing to change a view like that.

Most disputes on racism/homophobia etc aren’t over blatant name calling as everyone knows that’s wrong,but a disagreement as to what constitutes racism in usually grey disputable areas.

[Shaun]

I voted yes in the sense that they're entitled to have such views and as such are entitled to be ridiculed for having them.

[Morgan.]

They can have the views but should keep them to themselves

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Blurryface

They can have the views but should keep them to themselves

Why? Everything can be challenged. If people can’t express their opinions, in a reasonable non-attacking way - that is censorship and shut-down tactics which are not appropriate in a democracy.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Blurryface

They can have the views but should keep them to themselves

I disagree, people should share their opinion if they wish to do so and they should expect, like all opinions, to be up for criticism and to be challenged.