I read Tully's post about Charlotte's Law and in my mind I narrated an excellent rebuttal full of vim and vigour. Alas, I'm too lazy to type it out so instead I'll say this.
Freedom of speech should never be interefered with just because of someone's feelings. If you can't see how this is a bad thing then you need to learn more about the world.
Just imagine if Tony Abbott* could block people from saying stuff about him because he says what those people are saying make him sad. Think about that world. It's fucking shit.
Hey guess what, I'm a Christian or a Muslim or whatever and gay marriage offends me. Now shut the fuck up about it or I'll have you charged for offending me and you can go to jail. Silly you for thinking you could voice an opinion that makes me angry or sad or whatever other feeling.
Do you get the picture? Your feelings are irrelevant. If someone says they are going to kill you, then we have a law for that. If someone says something blatantly untrue and libellous then we have a law for that. We don't need laws to protect your stupid fucking feelings.
*Exchange Tony Abbott for any other political arsehole of choice. Whoops I just called Tony an arsehole. Luckily that's OK because we have some semblance of free speech, not enough but some.
I think that any new 'Law' should be about Treating People How You Would Like To Be Treated
Some People can wash the Vocal Crap away, that people chuck at them, with a shower, or with their own beliefs.
Others just absorb that crap, with the bucket load of cement that they are told is needed to "harden the F*%k Up" and end up sinking into wherever ....
I agree, you can't have Laws based on a persons feelings, but empathy is very much need in todays society.
We are not all brought up the same way. No one knows what any person has been though nor the belief systems that have been drummed into their heads from birth. So, people feel different things (feelings) and that is what makes us who we are.
Our own feelings make us unique, and also make us who we are. To be compassionate, towards those that need our support is a very selfless act. To give out positiveness and input love towards one other, can help.
To subject negative thoughts and verbal abuse on others, does not.
I so Dislike (OK, I SORTA HATE) that people say 'they hate this, that or whatever' ......... such a vicious circle, life and communication has become these day
