Probable
Topics
An
idea of the direction that the discussions may take can be seen on the WRT
235message boards, where many of the discussions focused on the legality of
hate speech. Legality discussions will likely focus on the First Amendment and
if it should protect people who practice hate speech. Some people will likely
defend the position that it is incitement; and that this incitement is similar
to shouting fire in a theatre or saying bomb on an airplane, something your
freedom of speech does not allow for.
Another
large topic of discussion that can be expected from a hate speech message board
is the discussion of perception. This will focus on peopleÕs interpretation of
things as hate speech. People telling questionable jokes will be included in
this thread as one of the primary examples of perception. For example, a Polish
joke told by someone who is actually Polish may elicit a different response
than one told by an Irishman. Another example can be seen with the use of the
word Nigger by rappers as opposed to its usage by skinheads and Klansmen.
Summed up, what one person sees as offensive intended or not, can be seen by
someone else as harmless. When thinking about hate speech, one must always
remember that there are many different points of view on all topics.
A
third major area of discussion is likely to fall into the area of the causes of
hate speech. People are likely to say that hate speechÕs distribution is
furthered by the Internet, and in turn causes it to be a more widespread
problem. Arguments against this are likely to include people saying that in
order for someone to practice hate speech, there has to already be a seed in
them, that the internet is not likely to take a person who has no prejudices
and cause them to suddenly turn into a member of the Aryan Nation or a similar
group. Both sides will have valid points in this discussion and this may become
very heated, as the idea of attack hate speech at its source may take the place
of attacking the right to speech and completely eliminate the idea of
perceptions.
