(April 20, 2014 at 1:15 pm)SteelCurtain Wrote: That's why I clarified. I realize he wasn't equivocating the two, but my issue with what he said was making atheism responsible for the idiocy of bigots. This isn't about a tag that reads "GODSUX" or "FUCKGOD" or something like that. This is about a tag that simply says "8THEIST." It's not provocative in any way. If I were to get assaulted by a theist for saying publicly that there is no such thing as a god, is that my fault for provoking? Or is that the fault of the person who attacked me (and btw as a result got his ass kicked) for believing differently?Based on the discussion so far, I don't think anybody here, including Haywood, has a problem with "8THEIST" on a tag. I also think we all agree that "8THEIST" shouldn't result in assault or vandalism, but a quick Google search will reveal that cars have been vandalized for less; e.g., FSM and Darwin emblems. These manifestations of speech are not in any way responsible for the vandalism, which is the point you are driving at.
I just don't see the nuance in it. You allow things that aren't provocative. I don't see any reason why a statement of belief (or lack thereof) should be disallowed.
Heywood,
Do you agree with the last statement? One of your options was to allow all speech and accept the consequences. What I can't infer is what you mean by 'accept the consequences'. Do you mean that people should expect to be assaulted or have their vehicles vandalized as a result of their speech? Or do you allow that if assault and/or vandalism occurs that the aggressor should be convicted or made to pay reparations as the case merits?
