Anthony Kellett | Rowan Atkinson - Feel Free to Insult Me @AnthonyKellett | Uploaded May 2019 | Updated October 2024, 36 minutes ago.
I appreciate this has appeared in numerous places, since 2012, when it heralded the ‘Campaign Against Section 5’, which referred to Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. Effectively, it proscribed “insult”, which was very much a subjective judgment. Whilst that campaign was successful in removing the reference, I’m unsure how that alteration has affected the real-world outcome, in terms of how the law (and law enforcers) actually operate.
I notice free speech videos and social media pages seem less visited than those for and against various political wings, and the highly polarised views on ‘social justice’, in its more extreme forms. This seems strange, to me, as free speech and, most importantly, the freedom to hear free speech, is paramount and central to all these issues.
Tedious though it may be, I’ll continue to wave the flag for all sides of all debates to say what they think and espouse what they believe; and for us all to hear those opinions so we may come to conclusions about them. I cannot grasp the concept that, good or bad or utterly vile, all opinions should not be heard, so they can be evaluated and be open to critical responses. To allow bad ideas to fester, underground and unchallenged, seems to me to be a recipe for disaster. That every educated person cannot see this, is utterly beyond me. Moreover, for some sections of society to believe they’re immune from this reprehensible trend, in western society, is naivety in the extreme.
Website: defendfreespeech.org.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/defendfreespeech
Twitter: twitter.com/speechdefenders
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UCQrJSZqagqHCls2Vkrubkzg
I appreciate this has appeared in numerous places, since 2012, when it heralded the ‘Campaign Against Section 5’, which referred to Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. Effectively, it proscribed “insult”, which was very much a subjective judgment. Whilst that campaign was successful in removing the reference, I’m unsure how that alteration has affected the real-world outcome, in terms of how the law (and law enforcers) actually operate.
I notice free speech videos and social media pages seem less visited than those for and against various political wings, and the highly polarised views on ‘social justice’, in its more extreme forms. This seems strange, to me, as free speech and, most importantly, the freedom to hear free speech, is paramount and central to all these issues.
Tedious though it may be, I’ll continue to wave the flag for all sides of all debates to say what they think and espouse what they believe; and for us all to hear those opinions so we may come to conclusions about them. I cannot grasp the concept that, good or bad or utterly vile, all opinions should not be heard, so they can be evaluated and be open to critical responses. To allow bad ideas to fester, underground and unchallenged, seems to me to be a recipe for disaster. That every educated person cannot see this, is utterly beyond me. Moreover, for some sections of society to believe they’re immune from this reprehensible trend, in western society, is naivety in the extreme.
Website: defendfreespeech.org.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/defendfreespeech
Twitter: twitter.com/speechdefenders
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UCQrJSZqagqHCls2Vkrubkzg
