Look, we get it and we all know it: Free speech is ugly, messy, and can be downright deplorable. That's why it is protected. And that's why there's this famous assessment: "because it is ugly and messy--this is precisely why free speech must be protected--as nobody has a problem with speech that offends nobody..."
Yes, I get that. And although I detest the idea of it--I understand why the courts and the ACLU defend speech that is despicable (flag burning, bible burning, the "piss" Christ, etc....)
But free speech is not without its limitation. You cannot yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater.
Here on my own blog which has steadily drawn more and more visitors and commenters--I noticed this trend of just downright despicable comments being made. The main ones I really detest are the comments that body shame folks. I also don't condone the attacks on family members of public figures.
So other sites, chat sites, can do what they want. They can condone and allow vicious, body shaming ad hominem personal attacks. They can cultivate that. I'm not, though. Because I certainly don't, and NOBODY should--condone body shaming.
For my part--I'm going to start keeping posts in moderation, and I will not approve any going forward, that body-shame anyone or drag anybody's (public figure) family members into the gutter with ad hominem's.
So yes, I'm sure anonymous commenters will still submit these to the blog, I just won't post them.
Yes, I believe in free speech. Yes, anonymous speech is free speech. But there has to be some civility--much more than what I am seeing. And so family members are off limits from this point forward on this blog. And body shaming or any sexual references or inuendos will also not be approved.
Let's have free speech. Let's have vigorous disagreements. But let's not devolve into body shaming people and dragging family members of public figures through the mud. Family members did not sign up for this.
