Free Speech Deemed Contentious.

[Theland]

Our tradition of free speech is threatened by a growing trend find within it reasons to be offended where no offence was ever intended.
Such offence is manufactured, and validated by a subjective redefinition of meaning.
Surely this trend has its roots in post modernism and relativism, where any word or phrase can be deemed to be offensive when no offence was ever intended.
Will this idea ever be challenged successfully to reinstate the value and protection of free speech as it has always be understood?

[sevenOP]

"Theland, was the Dr David Mackereth employment tribunal case your reason for posting this thread? " @ 00:39 Sun 22nd Mar 2020

[Theland]

No. It was a comment from AB Spare Ed laying down the law. Using the phrase, ''deemed contentious.''

[Peter Pedant]

// The complicit European Court of Human Rights had to perform their perverse legalistic gymnastics to support their fellow Austrian Criminal Court toadies.//

so we have the ECHR to blame for saying it is lawful for someone to come out with utter crip like the above ?

shame on thos Johnnie Forriners - it just aint British !
Jesus

[Zacs-Master]

Theland, this isn’t the world in general, it’s Answerbank. The Ed has overall control and therefore the right to say what is, in his (or the editorial team’s) opinion is offensive.

[sevenOP]

OK Theland, I take your answer @ 22:34 Wed 15th Apr 2020 as being to my question @ 22:30 Wed 15th Apr 2020 as genuine.

My point is selectively celebrating one 'appeal' court ruling when it suits your fancy, but rejecting another 'appeal' court when it does not suit your fancy.

[Theland]

Thoughts cannot be policed.
By the way, regarding the Austrian blasphemy laws, I disagree with any blasphemy law.

[sevenOP]

Of course thoughts can be be policed - by ourself.
We are responsible for policing our own thoughts.

[Mozz71]

Of course you're right 7op, but we both know that isn't what Theland meant.

[sevenOP]

"Of course you're right 7op, but we both know that isn't what Theland meant."

Do you mean Theland and you Mozz71 when you say " but we both know that isn't what Theland meant." ?

If I knew what Theland meant I would not have posted my reply. Presumption is not a wise thing to do.

[Mozz71]

He clearly meant that thought cannot be governed by an outside force such as a police force or government. This is not an Orwellian dictatorship we are living in.

You're not stupid 7op, and it does you no credit to act that way.

[sevenOP]

An Orwellian dictatorship can only control thought in the fantasy world of print Mozz. ( I don't think it is even possible there)

Influencing thought seems to be sufficient in our world.

[Mozz71]

Theland said "policing thought" rather than "influencing thought". They are two very different acts. You can try and influence someone's way of thinking, all life is a learning curve, but no one can stop a thought from happening, or punish someone for thinking something. That, as you say, is pure science fiction.

[Theland]

Thanks Mozz.

[sevenOP]

Now 'gender blindness', without precise definition, is definitely a contentious term.

[naomi24]

SevenOP, //Now 'gender blindness', without precise definition, is definitely a contentious term.//

Who is to provide a universally acceptable definition?

//We are responsible for policing our own thoughts.//

By whose criteria? Our own - or someone else’s?

[sevenOP]

~~~"SevenOP, //Now 'gender blindness', without precise definition, is definitely a contentious term.//

Who is to provide a universally acceptable definition? ~~~

Consensus.

~~//We are responsible for policing our own thoughts.//

By whose criteria? Our own - or someone else’s? ~~

The sane individual is responsible.

[mibn2cweus]

//Now 'gender blindness', without precise definition, is definitely a contentious term.//
//Who is to provide a universally acceptable definition?//

The inability to see and identify the sex of exposed genitalia seems a reasonable definition to me.

[sevenOP]

Distinction without a difference, to determination without a definition.

Nice.

[naomi24]

How very enigmatic. No answer to my question though.

[sevenOP]

Which question are you referring to Naomi ?