Reference :- What is hate speech ?
Ken junior often asks me questions when he could easily find the answer on the interweb .
He did it again today , when he asked me whether I was able to define " hate speech " .
" Are you able to define " hate speech ? " , Ken junior said .
" Look it up on the interweb . " , I said .
" I did , but it doesn't say much . I think the definition needs updating . " Ken junior said .
After perusing the somewhat perfunctory definition available " online " , as they say , I can only agree with Ken junior's assessment .
Language is always changing , and the trusty Oxford Dictionary does require regular updates . Not just to ensure that new words are added to our lexicon , but to broaden the definition of existing words and terminology .
Formerly , " hate speech " referred to speech that denigrated a person or a group on the basis of colour , religion , race , social class , occupation , ideology etc ..... sometimes with violent intent .
The term seems much broader these days . And the question is , are we allowed to express dislike or disapproval , or condemn anyone or anything these days without being accused of promulgating "hate speech " ?
Obviously in a free society one should be allowed to dislike whatever offends one . Sometimes , when lured into hyperbole , we may emphasize our dislike by using the word " hate " , and a certain degree of leeway should be granted on such occasions .
We are all entitled to dislike cats . And one may say " I hate cats ." when a cat has just urinated on one's favourite Val Doonican L.P . cover . That does not mean that one would willingly kill or torture a cat . Even if one then went on to say " I could kill that damn mongrel urinating cat . " , that does not mean that one would carry out the threat . Such is the complex character of human discourse .
Anyway , please consider taking the time to answer the following survey , it is not lengthy .
To complete the survey , place a tick beside each statement you consider to be unambiguously " hate speech " .
I don't like the smell of cats .
I don't like cats .
I don't like Mozart's music .
I don't like Mozart .
I don't like the way the boss makes me get up early for work .
I don't like work .
I don't like the boss .
I don't like America's foreign policies .
I don't like America .
I don't like President Trump .
I don't like the waging of war in Gaza.
I don't like Hamas .
I don't like Palestinians .
I don't like Muslims .
I don't like Christians .
I don't like Catholics .
I don't like the United Nations .
I don't like the IDF .
I don't like Zionists .
I don't like Netanyahu .
I don't like Jews .
And lastly ...
I don't like stupid surveys .
Now , do the survey again , but this time substitute the word " hate " for " don't like " . Something that may happen in a lively impromptu conversation .
Gabbo makes some interesting points . He reckons one should be free to dislike anybody or anything . And be free to admit that dislike . And also , to be generously accommodated for occasional hyperbole . But one should not be free to stir hatred or violence on the basis of one's personal feelings . Most of all , since many or perhaps most of our dislikes are irrational , one should never attempt to justify one's dislikes using lies .
Gabbo's points seem valid to me .
PS . Gabbo also says that overworked nurses may , on occasion , shoot their mouths off when confronted by an annoying provocateur . Don't ask me why he said that . Has a nurse said something silly on the interweb lately ?
