Deep thoughts

[torquill]

My god, it's content.

I was watching Bullshit! last night, and it's had me thinking. Penn went on a big long rant about how easily offended people are, and how it's started limiting free speech. While I agree with him that people are awfully thin-skinned, I'm not sure I'm totally with him.

Society has started to assume that we have a right not to be offended, not to be uncomfortable. Unfortunately, that's in direct opposition to the First Amendment -- the more free speech is, the less we can protect ourselves from offense. You can't have it both ways; you can't have both as full rights.

There's also the problem of what the line is between offense and abuse. Where does harassment shade from simple irritation or discomfort to actual injury? Workplaces make for such hairy problems, but schools do too. Where do you go from saying "get over it" and start punishing the one doing harm? Who determines whether harm is being done?

I'm still mulling all this over. Comments welcome.

Comments

[tiggerypum.livejournal.com]

One distinction, but not the only one - has to do with personal attacks vs. being able to say what you think.

I'm dealing with this in a staff chatroom where we're looking at stuff people uploaded...

Too thin skinned:
If someone likes it and someone else says "I think it looks weird" or whatever, we sometimes have people get _personally_ offended - I guess because they are taking the comment as a personal attack that their judgment is not up to whatever. Some days I swear everyone must just be pms'ing at the same time there. This is going too far - the criticism isn't even about something the person made themselves! Often people will even give constructive/specific comments - like I don't like how that .... does .... about it. And still sometimes I see someone getting offended. Bleah.

On the other hand, saying 'what are you blind, that's a piece of total crap' - now that might be calling as one sees it, but that I think is rude and if it continues, can be seen as abuse.

There seems to be a lot of 'us' vs 'them' going around in our society right now - people don't seem to have many tools for dealing with healthy debate or disagreement. The frenzy is added to on the political side right now because things like 'freedom' and 'safety' seem to be on the line, and if you're not - say - for the president - then you must be 'for the other side' or some such insanity.

As for... other things - well, first people at work or school should primarily be talking about their work or school. What happens socially in terms of people treading into area that involve beliefs/politics/etc should be done with some care - that's not why people are there. Harassment vs. free speech? Being able to say what you think if a topic comes up with some politeness is free speech. Bringing up the topic all the time around someone you know doesn't agree with you - probably harassment. Or making snide comments, etc. A couple times, fine. Beyond that, it's a 'cut it out and play nice' situation - we're here to work, not have you make comments about gays/politics/etc.

Wish I'd seen the show so I'd have more common reference.