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Tell HN: Free speech has consequences' is a nonsensical statement

1•piratesAndSons•1h ago
I always find this statement stupid and nonsensical. The entire point of why freedom of speech was created is to manage consequences from speech. That is the raison d'être of freedom of speech.

It is like saying: just because you wore a high quality parachute does not mean you managed gravity. The entire point of a parachute, para (alongside) plus chute (to slide through), is to manage gravity while falling from the sky.

If freedom of speech was not created to manage consequences, there would be no point for it at all. Things that have no consequences require no "freedom" to or from them. To accept the sentiment that freedom of speech ought not to protect controversial opinion is to render the concept meaningless. In that reading, literally every government in the world could claim it upholds freedom of speech, just not freedom from consequences for that speech.

Comments

spacedcowboy•1h ago
"Free speech has consequences" almost never refers to those consequences being imposed by the government of the day. It's generally used when (to pull an example out of the air) some woman cycling around might come across the Trump and Trumpets out and about in their convoy. Said woman might clasp one bicep while vigorously pumping that arm up and down in the air, with one single finger extended towards the top.

Sadly, that woman's employer might be more delusional than herself, support the pedophile rapist, and decide to terminate her employment. Now those are indeed consequences of her exercising her right to free speech, at least in a symbolic form, but it wasn't the pedophile-in-power imposing them, it was the toadying employer.

allears•1h ago
Sounds better if you say "Free speech may have consequences." As in the classic example, you're not free to yell "Fire" in a crowded theater (unless there really is one I suppose). And "free speech" only addresses the government's responsibility not to restrict speech. Any citizen or business has no legal requirement to allow free speech. Right-wingers are using the term to claim that their views are discriminated against, but no publisher is legally required to publish anything that anybody submits. There's always some sort of discrimination that needs to be involved.
krapp•1h ago
>The entire point of why freedom of speech was created is to manage consequences from speech.

From government. From the men with the guns and the monopoly on violence.

"Consequences from speech" just means you live in a society where people are as free to disagree with you as you are with them, and aren't obligated to associate with you or give you a platform. Go to a black church or a synagogue and start talking like you're in a /pol/ thread - that's consequences.

Freedom of speech implies freedom from speech just as freedom of religion implies freedom from religion.

It's not a difficult concept. I don't know why so many people seem to have a difficult time with it.

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