tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-674192606176078067.post385160537697006286..comments2023-05-02T11:34:45.330-04:00Comments on Thinking for Free: Today's the DayKizhe the Couch Czarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04046357500651886319noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-674192606176078067.post-40593717225056578232009-10-13T23:06:13.651-04:002009-10-13T23:06:13.651-04:00Well, that requires a bit of untangling.
First, I...Well, that requires a bit of untangling.<br /><br />First, I'm mostly convinced that sec.13 of the CHRA should be scrapped, and the HRCs should get out of the speech-regulating business altogether (my reservations are the subject of yet another Blog Post That I Really Should Get Around To Writing).<br /><br />However, that really doesn't answer the question, as even without referring to specific hate-speech legislation the transit authorities can legitimately refuse some ads -- I'm sure we can both think of expressions that we would agree should be legally allowable <b>somewhere</b>, but are still not appropriate for bus-side display. So the question becomes: could the transit authority legitimately refuse an ad from a religious group calling homosexuality a sin?<br /><br />I don't know what the advertising policies are, but I imagine it's got something to do with "offense" -- a concept I find problematic). My own inclination would be to lean towards the free-speech side, though it might depend on the exact wording. For example, merely saying "Homosexuality is a sin" is a true statement to the effect that the speaker's god doesn't like homosexuality -- to which my response is to simply ignore the speaker and his little god, too. And maybe to kick in a few bucks for a counter-campaign. But I think I would draw the line at saying something like "Gays are gross". Such a statement is not a simple equivalent to the Atheist Bus slogan, as it constitutes an attack on people, specifically on a group which has been a historical target of abuse. "There's Probably No God" OTOH insults no one but God, who presumably can defend his own dignity should he care to. So I think there's a legitimate argument to be made for refusing ads of that nature.Eamon Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04262012749524758120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-674192606176078067.post-40258475174861141022009-10-11T14:27:04.050-04:002009-10-11T14:27:04.050-04:00Do your thoughts about the importance of free spee...Do your thoughts about the importance of free speech in bus ads extend to ads that refer to homosexuality being a sin? These have been prevented by the Human Rights Commission. Were they violating people's right to free speech or was this appropriate?Jaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01748938305995451513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-674192606176078067.post-19827339819567833252009-10-01T13:38:11.911-04:002009-10-01T13:38:11.911-04:00It's really beautifully true, here.
I mean, I...It's really beautifully true, here.<br /><br />I mean, I always sorta feel I gotta do my bit, hearing the horror stories out of the bible belt... kids whose parents freak out if they catch 'em reading anything not on the Sunday School's reading list... So sure, I'll happily, say a few words, make it clear: this is BS, I think so, a lot of people think so... If you think you're alone, get this part clear: you're not.<br /><br />But right now, where I'm having lunch, at the next table a coupla 60-somethin' or 65-somethin' guys are shooting the shit over their coffee... And the conversation's been bits of 'yeah... my kid's thinking of marrying a Catholic... just warning her what she's getting into with priests and the like... Lotta BS comes from there...'<br /><br />Don't even know if they're so much godless. But it's the very attitude. He says, explicitly: I wanted my kids to think for 'emselves. I want my grandkids to think for 'emselves, too...<br /><br />It's no big thing, being godless here, for most of us. There's griping from some quarters, sure, but you make your way without much trouble, easily enough.<br /><br />Me, I forget about Blasphemy Day. Again.<br /><br />What can I say. I was busy. I'll make a note to be slightly more sarcastic about various superstitions for the next week...<br /><br />(/Sure, that's setting something of a bar... But penance, y'know...)AJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01997146731281514599noreply@blogger.com