This is probably the wrong section but who cares.
What I do care about however, is what I see happening here.
Listen I have been over weight at different times in my life. I was 230, 5'9. (now I am 160, 5'9")Yes, people looked at me, and yes I felt something. I knew they looked because I was fat. I had no problem with others being disgusted with my fatness, I was disgusted with it myself, but too ashamed, to be honest with myself. I used exercise, I still do, no diet, I dislike fads.
Now, I totality agree with the above post that; as distasteful as Punks post may or may not be has raised some concerns about the rights and ability to share ones opinion over the Internet that may be considered objectionable, but don't intend to be. Freedom of speech is something linked to democratic societies and is linked to freedom of thought, freedom of assembly, the right to present dissenting opinions and to engage in an ongoing process of free and rational debate, and the freedom to publish.
Lets take racial discrimination on the Internet. It happens all day long every min,sec,hour,day,month, year, and is a complicated issue as there is no legislation specific to online racism. United States and Canada, still has not found an intermediary between silencing new or different opinions and allowing defamation to run rampant. And while I find THAT distasteful, in some cases we cannot censor it, [If ]we want to preserve our democratic privilege of freedom of speech and expression.
I do realize that many post on this forum is discussing subject matters that challenges current societal and individual values and pushes boundaries beyond their limits. But if speech is something that pushes the limits of accepted standards of decency, censorship will restrain that notion in the digital age. Believe me courts have the power to decide if printed material is classed obscene in relation to current standards. How it is determined is what we do not know yet.
Fortunately, for many of us the Internet is a good medium to express ideas, that challenge current opinions, which may be censored someday because they may not meet the new standards. Moreover, what many of us fail to respect is the notion that we live in an intellectual vigorous society in which issues can be debated freely without condemnation of one another.
Being black I understand racial discrimination first hand. By itself it is complicated. Racial discrimination on the Internet is an even more complicated issue as there is no legislation specific to online racism. It's printed. In some ways it helps me and et al, to study and learn the many faces of hate and why people hate. So as distasteful as it is, we cannot seek to silence these people. I want you to also know that I have suffered greatly at the hands of racist here in Moncton. They know who thy are too. I find it amusing when people say: Moncton no, not Moncton. My question is always why not Moncton. What differentiates Moncton from the rest of the World? Is it so unlikely that racism would exists here? if so why?
It is only through the continual understanding that we will be able to preserve a democratic privilege of freedom of speech and expression that is accommodating to current societal values.
Now if you tell me to go "blank" myself or that I am full of poop, I would try to understand you. I would challenge you to better understand why you feel a certain way. I may not respect you but I would try to understand. Even the hardcore racist, fascists, bigot fascinates me cause in the end they are people who need to be heard.
I speak freely and so should you!
Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then. ~ Katharine Hepburn
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