Comments on: Freedom of speech http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2006/09/freedom-of-speech-2/ Two lawyers on law, legislation and liberty. And other stuff. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:13:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Legal Eagle http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2006/09/freedom-of-speech-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9851 Legal Eagle Tue, 26 Sep 2006 02:24:32 +0000 http://legalsoapbox.wordpress.com/2006/09/25/freedom-of-speech-2/#comment-9851 Totally. The difficulty is, as you say, assessing the harm. What about violent porn films or the like? Personally, I draw the line well and truly at something like that. This is because it involves physical harm to others.<br/><br/>Another example: my gut instinct would be to ban anti-Semitic literature because of its harmful impact on a particular sector of society who have suffered persecution and genocide in the past, partially because of writings and expressions of speech which validated those actions. But then my logical mind thinks "Isn't it better to let these things be said, and to argue back that what has been said isn't true or should not be said?"<br/><br/>As I say, it's a thorny question with no easy answers. I guess what I am saying is that we shouldn't just ban everything that we personally find offensive. Totally. The difficulty is, as you say, assessing the harm. What about violent porn films or the like? Personally, I draw the line well and truly at something like that. This is because it involves physical harm to others.

Another example: my gut instinct would be to ban anti-Semitic literature because of its harmful impact on a particular sector of society who have suffered persecution and genocide in the past, partially because of writings and expressions of speech which validated those actions. But then my logical mind thinks “Isn’t it better to let these things be said, and to argue back that what has been said isn’t true or should not be said?”

As I say, it’s a thorny question with no easy answers. I guess what I am saying is that we shouldn’t just ban everything that we personally find offensive.

]]> By: ky http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2006/09/freedom-of-speech-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9850 ky Tue, 26 Sep 2006 02:13:10 +0000 http://legalsoapbox.wordpress.com/2006/09/25/freedom-of-speech-2/#comment-9850 But is there some point at which there has to be a limit? Surely the "harm principle" applies - but the difficulty is assessing the notion of "harm"... But is there some point at which there has to be a limit? Surely the “harm principle” applies - but the difficulty is assessing the notion of “harm”…

]]> By: Legal Eagle http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2006/09/freedom-of-speech-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9849 Legal Eagle Tue, 26 Sep 2006 00:13:26 +0000 http://legalsoapbox.wordpress.com/2006/09/25/freedom-of-speech-2/#comment-9849 Yeah, I checked and as far as I can tell, the legislation still hasn't been passed yet. Yeah, I checked and as far as I can tell, the legislation still hasn’t been passed yet.

]]> By: pornstudent http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2006/09/freedom-of-speech-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9848 pornstudent Tue, 26 Sep 2006 00:04:51 +0000 http://legalsoapbox.wordpress.com/2006/09/25/freedom-of-speech-2/#comment-9848 I've been following the Indonesia porn law story. Haven't heard anything new about it since May. The Anti-Pornography and Pornographic Acts Bill was first drafted in 1998. The bill was revived in 2005. Yoyoh Yusroh, the deputy chairwoman of the House special committee deliberating the bill, expected the draft to be passed into law this past June. I suppose it will make all the news outlets when/if it does. I’ve been following the Indonesia porn law story. Haven’t heard anything new about it since May. The Anti-Pornography and Pornographic Acts Bill was first drafted in 1998. The bill was revived in 2005. Yoyoh Yusroh, the deputy chairwoman of the House special committee deliberating the bill, expected the draft to be passed into law this past June. I suppose it will make all the news outlets when/if it does.

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