German Online Hate Speeh Ban

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I think it's hard for us Americans to understand such anti-hate speech laws, considering that we consider freedom of speech and press to be the cornerstones of free government. Then again, we haven't had the same historical experience as Germany has had.

Astonishingly, half said that snuffing out upsetting speech — rather than, presumably, rebutting or even ignoring it — would be appropriate. Democrats were more likely than Republicans to find this response acceptable (62 percent to 39 percent), and men were more likely than women (57 percent to 47 percent). Even so, sizable shares of all groups agreed.

It gets even worse.

Respondents were also asked if it would be acceptable for a student group to use violence to prevent that same controversial speaker from talking. Here, 19 percent said yes

There were no statistically significant differences in response by political party affiliation. Men, however, were three times as likely as women to endorse using physical force to silence controversial views (30 percent of men vs. 10 percent of women).

Take YouGov’s October poll about what kinds of books ought to be banned from various libraries. On nearly every type of potentially controversial book YouGov asked about, and for nearly every type of library, older and Republican respondents were more likely to support censorship.

Half of respondents age 65 or older thought such books should be banned from elementary school libraries.

This poll asked a national sample of Americans whether U.S. colleges and universities should be a place where people refrain from using language that is hurtful and offensive. Democrats were more likely than Republicans to say they agreed strongly or somewhat (60 percent vs. 45 percent, respectively). But older people were more likely than younger people to say colleges should be a place where people avoid hurtful or offensive language:

What about books containing explicit racism, which one might assume millennials and Democrats are more sensitive to shielding children from, given “trigger warnings” and whatnot?

In K-12 libraries, seniors and Republicans are still more open to censorship

For example, a series of questions asked about whether executives and employees should be fired for holding various beliefs or participating in various kinds of political dissent. Liberals were more likely to support firing for racist beliefs and so on; but conservatives were more likely to support firing for political dissent such as flag-burning.

Echoing our president, a majority of Republicans says that Americans who burn the American flag — a constitutionally protected act — should have their citizenship revoked.

Speaking of flagrant violations of the First Amendment, nearly half of Republicans would favor a law banning the building of mosques in their community.

Relatedly, in fact, a recent Pew Research Center global survey found that a majority of Americans were supportive of nondemocratic forms of government, such as rule by the military or by a “a strong leader who can make decisions without interference from parliament or the courts.”

Correct, it wasn't. People from the UK were among the murderers though.

Gotta wonder if the Welsh see it that way.

We do?

A chilling study shows how hostile college students are toward free speech


Older people and Republicans, threatening free speech

I like to believe that that's still not most Americans.