A Lot About The Free Speech Union

[Paigntonian]

on Newsnight tonight. I joined. Maybe fellow ABers might be interested as I'm sure we must all agree with free speech.

[pixie374]

Yes, I have to disagree with criminalising any kind of speech. Behaviour- is up to an individual, but people should be able to say whatever they like.

[sevenOP]

"Behaviour- is up to an individual, but people should be able to say whatever they like."

So an individual can decide to say what they like ???

[ichkeria]

“The right to express one’s thoughts freely in public” according to Chambers.

[Ellipsis]

> //is Holocaust denial in the UK free speech ?//
>> I think it is stupid, flies against the facts, but it is probably considered freedom of speech in the UK, particularly since it regained its independence.

If MrX, a member of the FSU, posts on Twitter denying the Holocaust, and is "targeted by a digital outrage mob" for doing so, is it the remit of the FSU to "mobilise an army of supporters" for MrX, and are you prepared for your subscription money to be used in such a way?

[Khandro]

Who is "MrX", a figment of your imagination?

[Ellipsis]

Future tense, Khandro, so an example of how your fees could be used.

[Khandro]

A really scurrilous attempt to besmirch the FSU by specious argument.

[Ellipsis]

As long as you know when, how, on whom and for what purpose your money will be spent, there's no problem is there? When I'm putting money into a cause, I want to know things like that.

[Khandro]

// I want to know things like that.//

It isn't a "thing" it has no substance, it is YOUR invention.

[ichkeria]

That’s about as specious as it gets

[1ozzy]

// I think I'm top of the list to be boiled in oil or something like that//

Hope you are nicely battered first 10Clarionst

[Ellipsis]

> It isn't a "thing" it has no substance, it is YOUR invention.

You appear to be confused, Khandro. The "things" I refer to are, as I stated at 08:17:

* when money will be spent
* how money will be spent
* on whom money will be spent
* for what purpose your money will be spent

Because if it was my money, and it was to be spent on, for example, supporting holocaust denial, I wouldn't want to put that money in in the first place.

I do similar research if I'm going to give money to a new charity, or a JustGiving page, or a Crowdfunder project.

[Khandro]

//That’s about as specious as it gets//

Now Tweeledum joins Tweedledee!
Both imagine yourselves in a court of law proposing to prosecute someone for something of your invention which the defendant MIGHT say. How far do you think you would get with that line?

[Ellipsis]

It's not even a good analogy.

Cutting to the chase, would the FSU support somebody who wanted to voice their Holocaust denial?

A) Yes
B) No
C) Don't know / not sure

[Khandro]

B. Sans doute

[Atheist]

Like it or not, 'free speech' is curtailed in some circumstances. I don't know much about the law on this, but I wonder what the FSU think of the right of e.g. imams to preach online or face to face in favour of murdering 'unbelievers'. What about people's right to stand outside someone's house shouting out that it's the house of a paedophile? What about my 'right' to be directly abusive to posters on AB?

[Ellipsis]

> B. Sans doute

How do you know this? I've been searching for something to back that up and can't find anything. Perhaps you have a link.

[naomi24]

Atheist, People should be able to say what they want to say - but if they say something that is against the law - for example, as you mentioned, an Imam inciting others to murder - then they must face the consequences of breaking the law. In that instance I doubt this organisation would defend that. I get the impression that this is rather aimed at the nonsense that is the current fashion for 'woke' and political correctness.

[Ellipsis]

Against the law of which country, Naomi?

[Atheist]

Naomi, I agree (nearly said 'so') free speech is not a simple blanket thing, it needs some legal control. But the idea of free speech is often used by rather disgusting people to justify rather disgusting behaviour.