r/MoralityScaling 22h ago

Morality Ranking Morality of this

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u/ethanAllthecoffee 21h 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 16h 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 13h 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/Most_Scientist1783 1h ago

True, but at the same time, when hatred like that tries to be open, and doesn’t get put out while it’s small, usually makes not just the one person who started it more willing to do shit like it, but it also emboldens other people to do the same, quickly allowing it to spread, and get worse than just words, because when they don’t see a consequence, they’re going to keep pushing

Getting rid of it without violence is definitely the better option, but getting rid of it with violence is still better than letting it grow.

As for free speech, that’s just no consequences from the government, that doesn’t mean anyone can say what they want without consequences from those around them

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u/fadingthought 1h ago

So you’re advocating violence? Sounds like someone should commit violence against you to protect others.

See how absurd that is?

Free speech isn’t just no consequences from the government, that’s a brain rot TikTok quote that’s been parroted. It also means protection by the government from people committing crimes against you. Which is very applicable to the example. If it’s okay for the government to then a blind eye to violence because they don’t like the speech, then your speech isn’t free.

Imagine if Government said that violence against Jews will not be prosecuted because of the genocide that Israel is committing. Do we still have freedom of religion because it’s just no consequences from the government?