[extropy-chat] thought space map on cartoons

[Samantha Atkins]

On Feb 12, 2006, at 2:44 AM, Jack Parkinson wrote:

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: spike
> For the sake of argument, let us make a thought space
> map.  Form four quadrants by asking oneself two questions:
>
> A.  Were the Danish newspapers right to publish the cartoons?

Funny we don't ask that of the stuff published against others in  
Muslim countries.   There is a lot of hypocrisy here.  I think  
religious cartoons are a good thing myself.  They are very different  
from the blatant hatred published in some Muslim rags.

> B.  Were the protesters right to react as they have?
>

Hell no.

> Position 3: yes, no.  Most journalists will go here, along
> with many westerners who are not 1s.
>
> ******Most westerners will/should be here I think, however this  
> position should be tempered by the knowledge that tolerance (free  
> speech) needs to be balanced with respect (sensitivity to the  
> feelings of others). Medieval jesters were permitted to mock the  
> royal personage and burlesque the accepted rules of court - so long  
> as they were witty, satirical, admirable, laughable, wry, and  
> amusing. But they walked a tightrope - gratuitously offensive  
> jesters could face the dungeons - or worse...
> In this respect it would perhaps be better to regard free speech as  
> a privilege - something hard-won and not to be senselessly  
> frittered away on trivial indulgence.
>

Free speech is all about it being A-OK to very bluntly and publicly  
disrespect idiocy or it is nothing at all.  Free speech is a right,  
not a privilege.  There is no right to have one's idiocy treated with  
respect.

- samantha

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