Reference:- Apparently we hear a lot of " hate speech " these days .

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 ?