indeed, an astoundingly small proportion of arguments ‘for free speech’ & ‘against censorship’ or ‘banning’ are, in fact, about free speech, censorship or banning. it is depressing to have to point out, yet again, that there is a distinction between having the legal right to say something & having the moral right not to be held accountable for what you say. being asked to apologise for saying something unconscionable is not the same as being stripped of the legal right to say it. it’s really not very fucking complicated. cry free speech in such contexts, you are demanding the right to speak any bilge you wish without apology or fear of comeback. you are demanding not legal rights but an end to debate about & criticism of what you say. when did bigotry get so needy?
