Quote:
Originally posted by seretogis
Even if the shirt said "U of M are a bunch of fags", I think it would be a huge leap to assume that it is "hate speech" towards homosexuals, and not just a jab at Michigan students of all sexual persuasions. If you call someone a "retard", you are insulting that one person -- not every mentally handicapped person in the world. Every group (even rich white boys) can have the negative aspects of it used to be insulting.
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And now I'm agreeing with Seretogis. Wow.
Exactly what I was trying to say. Saying the word "fag" or "cocksucker" doesn't equal "hate speech". It may be "dumb" speech or "juvenile" speech, but not hate.
I grew up in a racist family. My mom and dad both talked about "Nigger this" and "Nigger that". It's a fact, nothing I can do to change history. Some of that rubbed off on me, and it wasn't until I got to college that my eyes got opened. I think these college students are learning an important lesson about what they can say and do in public versus in private. In the same way, Abercrombie & Fitch learned a lesson a few years ago when they put out a t-shirt that offended asians. Did I think A&F was practicing "hate speech"? No, they were just being a bit tactless.
Jumping to say "hate speech" stifles productive discussion.