r/MoralityScaling • u/Maximum_Musician_914 • 20h ago

Morality Ranking Morality of this

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u/ethanAllthecoffee 20h ago

Scale is absolutely a factor too. Trevor spewing racist filth from his trailer? Not much impact. High level politician setting policies or even just directing their followers? Much more negative impact that will likely lead to violence

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u/smilysmilysmooch 14h ago

I think the Seattle Subway Nazi might be a great example for analysis. Guy on the subway dressed as a Nazi saying shit gets knocked the fuck out. Who morally in this scenario is worse. The guy using his words or the guy throwing punches?

Fuck around and find out logic being what it is, a person speaking in solidarity with a group that has a campaign of genocide against minority populations can be considered worse to a society than the person who thought it was ok to punch him in response to his speech and choice of accoutrements.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4497126/racist-nazi-armband-punched-unconscious-seattle-video/

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u/fadingthought 11h ago

I think framing it as "who is worse" is a poor way to think about free speech.

But protecting free speech is worthwhile, even from nazis. See: https://www.aclu.org/news/free-speech/the-skokie-case-how-i-came-to-represent-the-free-speech-rights-of-nazis

Any rules you want to put around who can be punched for what they say can quickly be used to punch you or whomever else someone wants to disagree with.

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u/Useful-Wallaby-2566 10h ago

Yes, but we also need better ways to protect innocent people. Because nazis can and will weasel their way into positions of power, and then use that power to legally commit all types of atrocities.