Does the state have a responsibility to foster an atmosphere of mutual respect?

Question

Re: hate speech, is it the states responsibility to ensure that different groups are afforded respect? Or should it be left to the discretion of the citizens (i.e. one retorts, not censors, so called offensive speech)

Answer 1

No, not really.

But is the state us? If we are the state (or think we are) then don't we have a responsibility somehow?

Retorting ignorance is a good step, but what if the those who object gain power and then get lazy? Perhaps they might find that censorship is much easier.. and then we'll all be f*cked.

Answer 2

The less the state can be involved in our 'social' responsibilities, the better.  All groups should be afforded free speech, but that is far different than affording respect.  We cannot allow for the legislating of respect...

Answer 3

I think the entire PC thing, is mostly a knee jerk reaction....

and I find it disdainful, boring and unnecessary

Besides, it just stifles or mutes people rather than change perceptions, in my opinion

Answer 4

read mills and Hobbes social contract theories , Man leave the state of nature in order to be government for the benfit of all . Or Read Weber and Foucault or Kant to under stand policy of power and to understand agency and suture's .

Answer 5

Yeah, if you're not threatening anyone and you're not specifically harassing individuals, it falls under freedom of speech.

Answer 6

Only to the extent that public activities carried out for the purpose of hate (i.e. neo-n**i marches, etc.) are stopped. Beyond that, citizens have a responsibility to respect each other.

Answer 7

I'm anti-big brother and against the more and more and more ,petty , specific laws that are passed.

The states responsibility is to protect from harm, it's citizens and a lack of respect is not harm.

That said , keeping the peace as a preemptive measure by avoiding conflicts makes sense, but not at the cost of freedom of speech or expression.

I don't know about the rest of the world, but the U.S has become so thin skinned about any negative comment it is embarrassing to me.

What, if someone says "Bikers suck" I should run to congress for protection laws?

Answer 8

It is the state's responsibility.  Otherwise, different groups or individuals will resort to various ways to ensure they are respected and this will be very dangerous for the state and society.

Lions and other such animals who can cause great harm to each other never fight a real fight for mating rights etc.  They have rules and they somehow manage to resolve the issue of power and respect.  Only rarely the matter escalates in to a fight between two individuals and is left to individual's discretion (as to who is the boss)

If the state or Y!A will not ensure a person is respected, that person might resort not only to retorting, but also to hacking people's computers instead of reporting the matter to Y!A to get the hate speech removed.

Answer 9

No, the state has no business in censorship. As parents we need to teach our kids to think logically about what they are told and what they hear. Instill good values and morals and a firm grasp of common sense and let them think for themselves.

Answer 10

It depends on whether it's non-threatening hate speech, as in, "I hate all _____s, they are worthless and nasty creatures" and speech that incites violence, "Kill all _______, as the only good ___ is a dead _____."

The law sees a big difference in those two scenarios, and rightly so. The former is everybody's right, the latter is not.

Answer 11

They should read our minds and send us to camps if we don't think the 'right' way.

This question would probably be grounds for re-education.

Answer 12

Responsibility to whom?  The thinkers, writers, students, and professors?  Or lobbyists? The media?

Sadly that is a subjective question.

Answer 13

Offhand, I'd say no.  (Is Y!A "the state"?  Offhand, I'd say yes.)  If one produces hate speech, then one should be prepared to receive same.  It just makes sense.  If the citizens don't like it, the citizens will extract their own justice, and then one's asz is grasz.