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Germany Cracks Down On Illegal Speech On Social Media. (smh.com.au)

ArmoredDragon writes: German police have raided 36 homes of people accused of using illegal speech on Facebook and Twitter. Much of it was aimed at political speech. According to the article, "Most of the raids concerned politically motivated right-wing incitement, according to the Federal Criminal Police Office, whose officers conducted home searches and interrogations. But the raids also targeted two people accused of left-wing extremist content, as well as one person accused of making threats or harassment based on someone's sexual orientation."

This comes just as a new law is being debated that can fine social media platforms $53 million for not removing 70% of illegal speech (including political, defamatory, and hateful speech) within 24 hours of it being posted, which Facebook argues will make it obligatory for them to delete posts and ban users for speech that isn't clearly illegal.

535 comments

  1. Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You're doing it wrong!

    1. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, I am all for it. We should do same in USA.
      -creimer

    2. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Europeans have historically been laughably bad at self-governing. America made a large mistake after WWII thinking the German perple were up to the task of leading themselves. They clearly can't handle it.

    3. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Never mind. We have trump.
      -creimer

    4. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >He thinks Germany isn't an occupied territory

      Kids are cute.

    5. Re:Free Speech by Vinegar+Joe · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Scratch a Progressive and you'll always find a Nazi underneath.

      --
      "The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old......They literally know nothing." - Ben Rhodes
    6. Re:Free Speech by meglon · · Score: 0, Troll

      Considering Nazi's were right wing fascists, i find you post odd... and either pure sarcasm, or pure ignorance.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    7. Re:Free Speech by KiloByte · · Score: 1

      You haven't seen Progressives of this decade in action, have you?

      --
      The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
    8. Re: Free Speech by aliquis · · Score: 3, Informative

      They wereally weak socialists and strong nationalists.
      Way better than the bolsjeviks.

    9. Re: Free Speech by meglon · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Everyone in the word, except uneducated inbred conservative dipshits in the US know that the Nazi's were right wing fascists. All you're doing is showing you're a worthless fucking uneducated moron.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    10. Re:Free Speech by meglon · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You mean that ultra-nationalism, military worship, hatred of anyone different, scapegoating of "them," fanatical religious adherence, hatred of gays, socialists, and non-christians... i think you're confusing "progressive" with the typical conservative fascist.

      Neo-Nazi's here in the states voted for Trump, calling him the white mans savior. They're fascists, they know it, and the difference between them and other conservatives is that they don't care when people call them what they are.... they readily accept it. The other difference is, the other conservatives are too fucking stupid, with their heads buried so far up their asses, they can't see what they've become.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    11. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No nation on earth, including the United States, permits absolutely free speech. For example, the US Supreme court has recognized on numerous occasions that making an immediate threat of death or great bodily harm against another individual is not protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Every society finds it necessary on some level to regulate speech and reasonable nations can disagree up to a point and still be considered democratic, as Germany is today.

    12. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Neither are we. The US has some serious problems to contend with and we have a nut in the Whitehouse and our state legislatures are arguing about what bathrooms we can use.

      People get the government they deserve. And we deserve Trump and those legislatures.

    13. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, you're right, the national socialist workers party was totally right wing, because right wing is all about large centralized government that controls the means of production...

    14. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Keep telling yourselves that and keep losing elections moron. Your side has lost the debate because you bring no intellectual value to the table other than calling the people you disagree with fascists and racists like a bunch of children. Sorry but the rest of the country is a lot smarter than you give them credit for and want something other than the same shitty rehashed politicians rammed down their throats every 4 years. Wake the fuck up sheep.

    15. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The SCOTUS requires speech restrictions to be content neutral, which these are most certainly not. Sorry, but this policy throws western liberalism out the window. Democratic tyranny is still tyranny.

    16. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dear mister Reimer,

      I see a great opportunity for you to help us by pretending to be pro-Trump. Your participation would be greatly appreciated.

      Sincerely yours,
      -Bill Clinton

    17. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Calling literally millions of people "too fucking stupid" while you lump them all into one ignorant basket of stereotyping is irony at it's best.

      While you might think they have their heads "buried so far up their asses" you seem to have yours so deep that someone would need to cut in switchback trails just to find it. How the fuck this ever got some insightful points just shows exactly how far Slashdot has fallen.

    18. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yet who is the one spewing hate? You leftist have to learn to control your anger. Ever look in the mirror, Mr. Hypocrite?

    19. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To be fair, liberals lose elections because people keep falling for it when Karl Rove tells people the other guys are pedophiles or they had a black baby, not because they dislike islamophobes and people dumb enough to think Black Lives Matter is a synonym for White Lives Don't.

    20. Re: Free Speech by penandpaper · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Is the US raiding homes because of speech? News to me, got a source?

      The bathroom debate is more about a poorly written version of post-modern law, i.e. should the state recognize the gender you choose at any given time or should it use objective standards that represent 99% of the population. To quote Ted Cruz: "it isn't about the Caitlyn Jenners of the world. But if the law is such that any man if he feels like it can go into a womens restroom and you can't ask him to leave that opens the doors for predators.". Poorly written laws with good intentions are still bad laws. I don't like the idea that if you feel a certain way you can do anything you want. A pedophile feels attracted to children, does that mean I should be tolerant of that because of their feelings? No. I will not capitulate to feelings that disregard objectivity and the vulnerable.

      Whether you agree that the law should have a post-modern influence or not is very much different than raiding your home because you said wrong-speak. I would rather a Trump than a benevolent dictator.

    21. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ally is some android dictionary bullshit.

    22. Re: Free Speech by aliquis · · Score: 1

      Or well. Scratch socialists in the supportive way maybe. Only in the taxation for building the nation way?

    23. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No kidding. Just the term "illegal speech" has fascist totalitarianism written all over it and conjures up images of jack booted thugs marching in lockstep.

    24. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Germany's Socialist Workers party was right wing?

      k

    25. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you are an idiot.. antifa are neo nazis..

    26. Re: Free Speech by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      No, right wing is all about large centralized government that controls what people are allowed to do inside their own homes. Thus the nazis were both extreme right and left wing. They really don't fit on conventional political maps, and neither do the Italian fascists.

    27. Re:Free Speech by myid · · Score: 2

      The other difference is, the other conservatives are too fucking stupid, with their heads buried so far up their asses, they can't see what they've become.

      There are all sort of conservatives - not just the extremes and "the other conservatives". For example, I'm a moderate conservative; I'm a mixture of liberal and conservative.

      Like a liberal,
      - I'm concerned about the environment,
      - I think we should get our military out of the Middle East,
      - I believe in gun control,
      - I think what consenting adults do in the bedroom is their own business, and
      - I think people should reach out and help each other.
      - Also back in the 1970s, liberals were concerned about overpopulation. I haven't heard warnings about overpopulation for a long time, but I'm worried about it.

      But like a conservative,
      - I believe in a balanced national budget with no national debt,
      - small and efficient national and local governments, and
      - local control of schools.
      - I also believe in taking people as an individual as much as possible, in contrast to "identity" classifications based on race, gender, or sexual orientation. I don't think people should act a certain way, or refrain from "cultural appropriation" because of their race or gender.
      - I don't hate people who are different from me.

      I wasn't happy with the choices we had for president. I voted for Trump because I didn't want the Clintons back in the White House.

      Some of my conservative friends and family members were more conservative than I, and some were more liberal. So there's a big range of conservative viewpoints.

    28. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then explain why the Left Wing wants to tell me that I can't sit in my own home with a gun and a cigatette, drinking sugary soda and eating fatty meats.

      Both sides are in favor of government telling you what to do, it's just the specifics that vary.

    29. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the difference between them and other conservatives is that they don't care when people call them what they are.... they readily accept it.

      Of course they care. Why else would they have to come up with new terms like "alt-right" to describe themselves so their snowflake feelings wouldn't be hurt by the more conventional terms for what they are?

    30. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hear, hear! You certainly won't find a fair and decent gent like you or me underneath! Nah, those darn Progressives just like to divvy people up into little simple boxes so they can make blanket statements and write off whole categories of people. Not like you and me ol' buddy, am I right or am I right or am I right? *wink wink nudge nudge*

    31. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Heh ? The whole point is they are cracking down on the sort of speech that led to WW2.

      If pre-WW2 we could've banned Hitler's speeches you don't think that would've been a good idea ?

    32. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's a neat comment from your alternate reality.

      But here in THIS reality. Nazis are left wing. always have been. always will be.
      Be proud of your history you nazi fuck. We're not buying your projection.

    33. Re:Free Speech by triffid_98 · · Score: 1

      Neo-Nazi's here in the states voted for Trump, calling him the white mans savior

      Because Hitler's master plan involved idiots with bad spray tans? I must have missed that chapter in Mein Kampf

    34. Re:Free Speech by triffid_98 · · Score: 0

      There are all sort of conservatives - not just the extremes and "the other conservatives".

      Anyone with half a brain is neither liberal or conservative. They're looking at the situation at hand and deciding the best way of handling it versus referring to some sort of football play-book handed to them by party leaders.

      We call Republicans conservative but lets hearken back oh...9 years or so. Lets see, 2 wars in the middle east (with a great start on war#3 in Syria), that's a good 4 trillion dollars right there, 700 billion dollars in bailouts to big business, massive monitoring programs to spy on american citizens, etc. If that's what constitutes "conservative", let's look at the flip side, our last 8 years...of the exact same thing under the "liberal" Democrats.

      Fine idiots, now you have Trump. I (and many others) voted for him because we're sick and tired of your bullshit. I certainly don't agree with everything he said he wanted to do but
      A. he told us what he wanted to do during his campaign, unlike Hillary
      B. he's now doing it. Not four years down the road after "consensus" building, right freaking now.

      I find that highly refreshing. It's almost like he's not a career politician at all. A+++ service, would vote for again.

    35. Re:Free Speech by AmiMoJo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      This comes down to different definitions of freedom in the EU and the US. In the US it's all about freedom from interference by the government, in the EU there is also the freedom to live without fear and oppression in your life.

      In this case the stuff people have been posting is either direct harassment/threats to individuals, which is actually illegal in the US as well, or more controversially speech promoting violence and hatred of groups based on their ethnicity or religion.

      It's interesting that the US was founded by people escaping from religious oppression in Europe. The US constitution guarantees no discrimination or oppression of religion by the government, but not by other citizens. I should stress that it's not about religious views, those should be open to criticism, it's about discrimination along the lines of a sign that says "no Jews". In Germany that got particularly bad a while back.

      In the EU the right to "enjoy" life is a basic human right. By "enjoy" it doesn't mean you have to be happy, it just means you have to have the opportunity to use your freedoms without undue burdens like having to fear for your life or request police protection just to go outside. Thus not just threats against individuals are illegal, like in the US, but also threats against identifiable groups or incitements to violence against them.

      Personally I find the incitement part problematic... I understand why it is there, but it's something that must be interpreted very narrowly to avoid restricting freedom of speech.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    36. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No.

      Also please note that the post-hoc justification you are using for speech content leading to WW2 isn't correct, and wouldn't have been available at the time.

    37. Re: Free Speech by Rockoon · · Score: 2, Interesting

      You dumbshits...

      The Nazi's were in power for two decades.


      The redefinition that came afterwards, the one that labeled the Nazi's as "right wing" is based on the notion that fascism is right wing, but it isn't. Every major case of fascism so far in the world has been from the left. The Nazi's rose to power as the workers party, and so did the Fascists of Italy.

      Adolf Hitler - Rose to power via NAZI - National Socialist Workers Party
      Mussolini - Rose to power via PSI - Italian Socialist Party

      You dont get to change the facts of history buddy. Fascism comes from the left, again and again.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    38. Re: Free Speech by Rockoon · · Score: 1

      The left also killed millions of people in Russia.

      You are right, the biggest atrocities in history came from the left.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    39. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is the US raiding homes because of speech? News to me, got a source?

      How do you think terrorists are caught? Everything they've done up til the moment they run over a crowd or set off a bomb is speech.
      It is called conspiring to commit a crime and is illegal.

      If you just tell someone "I'll give you $10,000 if you kill this person." it is just speech.
      No business transaction happens until the actual murder.
      It is still illegal.

      Free speech laws in the US aren't that different from those in Germany.
      There isn't a strict line to point at and say "We don't cross this one while they do."

    40. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Indeed. Drone striking those homes is the American way!

    41. Re: Free Speech by MoarSauce123 · · Score: 1

      Another child left behind....no wonder, ever read Texan history school books?

    42. Re:Free Speech by MoarSauce123 · · Score: 1

      Do you even know what "progressive" means? I explain it to you: it means moving forward. Apparently, you prefer to stay stuck in the past.

    43. Re: Free Speech by Kjella · · Score: 0

      The bathroom debate is more about a poorly written version of post-modern law, i.e. should the state recognize the gender you choose at any given time or should it use objective standards that represent 99% of the population. To quote Ted Cruz: "it isn't about the Caitlyn Jenners of the world. But if the law is such that any man if he feels like it can go into a womens restroom and you can't ask him to leave that opens the doors for predators.".

      I think the more fun will be when a school boy insists that he feels like a girl today and demands to use the girls' locker room and showers. You have to either tell him his "gender identity" issues are a load of bollocks or let him do it. Where exactly does a ladyboy with tits and a dick or woman taking testosterone with beard like a man and a pussy fit in anyway? I think the idea of a "third gender" is at least stupid because it turns out that Facebook now has 71(!) gender options to make everybody happy. For practical facilities do male, female, unisex. In the latter all 71 variations are welcome, in the former male and female. If you've done a full transition to reconstruct your sex organs, fine. Otherwise I think it should be as binding as the "employee only" sign, you don't get to be one just by dressing up in an employee uniform.

      --
      Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
    44. Re: Free Speech by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

      If the Nazis were left wing then how come the left wingers think he was the anti Christ and right wing lunatics venerate his name? Try doing some thinking for a change.

    45. Re: Free Speech by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

      Stormfront is a left wing website then?

    46. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They are fed up of their jobs being offshored, the local employer closing down due to federal policies, affirmative action policies blocking them from the remaining government, college and university positions. They see the social housing being given away to illegals, crime going up, English becoming a second language and having to go to the back of the queue for medical care. When they realize that education is the only way out, and organize booster events to raise more money for their local school, the school board steps in, snatches away the money and redistributes it to the other schools. They are fed up of the police becoming milititarized with armor plated trucks, body armour, and a shoot first, ask later policies. Then they vote for Trump out of desperation.

      They see the USA has become a battle between working and middle class whites and illegals, ruled over by liberals who live in their safe gated communities away from the problems they have wished on everyone else.

    47. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I want to know if Caitlyn Jenners is really called Ralph but that is only because every time he speaks he reminds me of 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert'.

    48. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Absolutely! In the US the Dunning down if education for leftist propaganda purposes has been astounding. My father's generation, for example, having far fewer resources (yes my Dad had to walk miles to school) were far better educated than today's ignorant snowflakes.

    49. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Truth hurts. Socialism is a leftist ideology plain and simple. Nazis were socialists. The right ring nationalists would be the Allied powers that were protecting their borders sovereignty from the Nazis invading.

    50. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The issue here is mostly that American and European political terms of left and right are conflated. In some cases they can be used interchangeably, but in many cases they cannot.

      For example in the US you would see 'Liberals' as leftwingers. In Europe most liberal parties follow the ideology of classical liberalism or neo-liberalism. And if you examine their stances you'd put them on the right or at least centre of your political spectrum.
      It's true that Fascism was born out of the left-wing (both US and European definition). However after that Fascism was seen as being right wing in Europe (US and UK definitions differ) because of their strong nationalism combined with emphasis on a military state, military discipline and conquest through war. While the traditional 'Left' in Europe were more like intellectuals who abhorred war and military rule.

    51. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So if Trump rose to power by appealing to the working man he's was a left wing candidate?

    52. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your sex is determined by looking at what's between your legs. Your "feelings" does not matter. Furthermore, it is wrong for anyone to say "I have always felt like I'm supposed to be a woman" because that implies some sort of standard for what a woman is like - beyond the stuff between her legs.

      So what does it mean to be a woman then? That you aspire to be a fighter pilot or a submarine captain? (My country has women in both those roles - and they would protest strongly if you tell them women ought to work in kindergarten.)

      A man who feel like wearing a dress and lipstick can do that all he wants for me - freedom of expression and all that. He is still a man though. An unconventional man perhaps - but any more unconventional than the female fighter pilot?

      If they have toilets "for people wearing dress & lipstick" then the transvestite can go there, and the traditional man (or the woman in jeans) cannot. If they have toilets "for women" then it really is for those with a vagina - not for those with some ideas about what it is like to be "female".

      You can certainly choose a liftestyle - you can't choose your sex. Just live with that, or see a shrink if you can't.

    53. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Die in a fire, shit pedo.

    54. Re: Free Speech by ud0 · · Score: 5, Informative

      German here. The National Socialists were considered right wing at the time, not afterwards, and they still are. This categorization is not based on whether they were fascists or not, although most Germans still associate fascism with the radical right (and where the radical right is active in Germany today, they usually also have a fascist agenda). The Nazis were a rightist worker party with an absolutist agenda that was almost entirely based on race and national identity. Even today, after the meaning of our terms has slipped somewhat, this fingerprint cannot be considered "left" by any standard.

      If I were to hazard a guess, the US' public confusion and outright denial about the Nazi-rightist connection comes from several factors: First, the Nazi ideology was strongly collectivist, and collectivism is often associated with extremist left-wing regimes, plus the American right has a strong dislike for socialism and thereby is strongly anti-collectivist. Second, and I realize this may sound a little bit mean, but sympathizing even with extreme right-wing ideas is so mainstream in the US right now, that some redefinition of words was necessary in order to clean up the image of mass-supported rightist extremism, to purge it from harmful historical associations.

      It's important to keep in mind that the Nazi party is not a blueprint for whatever is happening in the world right now, and it's neither fair nor accurate to brand the mainstream rightist movements currently sweeping many Western democracies in this light. In my opinion, people should also be aware that the currently leading rightist and leftist movements both are thoroughly authoritarian ideologies. In fact, authoritarianism is so popular that it even wins over centrists. I'm pointing this out, because people seem to be lost in escalating left vs. right debates leading nowhere, while their freedoms are taken away underneath them.

    55. Re: Free Speech by ffreeloader · · Score: 1, Informative

      You need to read a little history.

      The leading Marxists in Germany were very influential in bringing in the Nazi's. And the leading progressive/socialist intelligensia here in the United States were publicly saying that Hitler was the solution to the "German problem" and that Mussolini was the right man for the job in Italy. They kept on saying it until it became absolutely undeniable that the Nazi's were killing Jews by the millions, and that Mussolini was destroying Italy.

      The Marxist labor movement in Germany led most of the young German idealists and laborers into the Nazi camp. Men such as Fichte, Rodbertus, and Lasalle, leaders in socialist thought in Europe during their day also were the ancestors of Nazism. Werner Sombart, a German Marxist Socialist professor, who was considered to be the epitome of the persecuted Socialist intelligensia, taught that war was the sacred duty of all Germans. He, and other German socialists, saw WWI as the great war of socialism against liberal thought. (Liberal as in the historic sense of liberalism that originated in England in the 1700s with men like Adam Smith, not in today's hijacked sense of the word.)

      Socialism had been embedded in Germany for a long time by the time Hitler came along. It was the dominant political thought. All HItler really did was fuse nationalism and the socialism already existing in Germany together.

      --
      "while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude." de Tocqueville
    56. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Conspiracy to murder someone is a crime. It isn't the speech, you imbecile. It's the planning of the act, independent of the means of communication.

      Germany has made the expression of language itself a crime, which is an altogether different and evil thing.

    57. Re:Free Speech by TFAFalcon · · Score: 3, Informative

      They were escaping from the inability to oppress others, not from being oppressed.

    58. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do you even know what "progressive" means?

      To progress away from common sense policies.

    59. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fine idiots, now you have Trump. I (and many others) voted for him because we're sick and tired of your bullshit. I certainly don't agree with everything he said he wanted to do but

      You voted for Trump, because you're tired of bullshit? What the fuck is wrong with you?

      Perot (remember him?) I could understand, but Trump's a grade-A Bullshit Provider, always has been, always will be.

      A. he told us what he wanted to do during his campaign, unlike Hillary

      During the campaign, he offered extensive amounts of bullshit, including about what he wanted to do.

      (Hillary Clinton, BTW, had numerous statements of her plans, so there's a load of bullshit on your part.)

      B. he's now doing it. Not four years down the road after "consensus" building, right freaking now.

      He's now bullshitting about what he's done, in fact, he started on that with his bullshit over Carrier. Not to mention his claims of an electoral landslide.

      Notice all the bullshit over his bans, his craptastic Trumpcare (done in Secret!), his lack of an accurate budget, his lies over his business dealings, his cabinet's incompetence and dishonest, the whole business with firing Comey, that Syrian attack, and more.

      I find that highly refreshing. It's almost like he's not a career politician at all. A+++ service, would vote for again.

      You find a load of steaming bullshit being dumped over you refreshing? Something that Trump has made a career of doing? Man, I wonder how you lie so brazenly.

    60. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hitler also had a keen interest in the American Progressive movement. During that time, Progressives were all about eugenics and prohibition.

    61. Re: Free Speech by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      should the state recognize the gender you choose at any given time

      That's a gross mischaracterization of the issue.

      To quote Ted Cruz

      Ted Cruz has invented an imaginary threat to justify his religious belief.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    62. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No it's the 3rd way. It has aspects of left and right.

    63. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >Neo-Nazi's here in the states voted for Trump . . .

      And the New Black Panther Party supported Barack Obama. Who did the Pastafarians support? Who cares?

    64. Re: Free Speech by aliquis · · Score: 0

      Of course this may be written to fit the leftard agenda:
      https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

      http://www.bruceonpolitics.com...
      http://www.bruceonpolitics.com...

      Both sound socialist.

      http://media.factmyth.com/2016...

      https://www.thoughtco.com/g00/...
      "Thereâ(TM)s no way anyone can, or ever should, defend Hitler, and so things like health-care reform are equated with something terrible, a Nazi regime which sought to conquer an empire and commit several genocides. The problem is, this is a distortion of history."
      Of course wishing to preserve your people, nation and culture shouldn't be viewed as imperialism, genocide and slavery either. But that's what they claim it result in. With borders and no immigrants the risks would had been close to none. Then again even in the case of civil war and deportations genocide is some way off.

      Reading those texts seem about as dumb as wasting too much time on the subject and calling people diagnoses.
      In the end what title you throw at it may not explain all and all which use the same title may not be the same, because people and in this case politics may be more complex than just one single trait.

      http://www.azquotes.com/pictur...

    65. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean that ultra-nationalism, military worship, hatred of anyone different, scapegoating of "them," fanatical religious adherence, hatred of gays, socialists, and non-christians....

      Replace the phrase "non-christians" with "non-muslims" and you've get the perfect description of islam... which is what the traitor german government and unelected eu is importing in by the millions. I'm sure most of the "illegal speech" targeted was against anti migrant speech.

    66. Re: Free Speech by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      Is the US raiding homes because of speech? News to me, got a source?

      Where the hell was that said?? Why do you make stuff up and put words in peoples' mouths?

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    67. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't forget Mao Zedong and his 45 million+ kills... also another leftist

    68. Re: Free Speech by penandpaper · · Score: 1

      Then what is the issue if not poorly written post-modern law? What is the objective basis that the law uses to account for the 1% that will be affected by the law? Again, a poorly written law with good intentions is still a bad law.

      In that interview, Cruz didn't mention his religion. His religion may inform his policy but if he can justify law or policy without referencing that religion as justification I don't care his religion.

    69. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      They were also "escaping" in the sense of "barely escaping with their lives". They were a bunch of overbearing cunts that were basically chased out of town and went to set up their own theocratic dystopia.

    70. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      The lack of education in your post is nearly unbearable, especially in combination with the fact that equally uneducated moderators have modded you up. Since when have so many people become completely ignorant? You should really read some history books.

      National socialism is and always has been a right-wing movement, both in their own terms and according to every reasonable description that has ever been made of them. They were fighting socialists and communists and put them in Concentration Camps. Not only that, nearly every fascist right-wing movement in modern times has claimed to help workers and has mimicked false concern about the working class. That's why people have expressed so many fears about Trump, because he uses exactly this far right-wing rhetoric.

      Like many people you're confusing a mixture of classical liberalism (e.g. Smith, Locke), utilitarianism and democratic conservatism with the rantings of the far right, which have nearly always been "pro workers class and for the rights of the 'small people" just like socialism and communism. The far right and the far left are similar in many respects, since they are both promoting different forms of totalitarianism, but they are based on different principles. Both of them have few things to do with moderate democratic positions like left- and right-wing liberalism, conservatives in general (who can be leaning left or right), those who are called 'progressives' in the US (i.e., mostly center left conservatives and left-wing liberals), or social democrats.

      Also, your statements are way too general. For example, both the Franco regime in Spain and the Salazar regime in Portugal were certainly fascist, but they were neither left-wing like communists nor radical right-wing in the sense of Nazis, they were rather conservative, catholic right-wing fascist movements (though of course not 'fascism' in the sense of its Italian origins). No offense, but these two examples alone illustrate how mistaken you are.

      You need to get away from your limited partisan views and take a look at the actual ideologies that were defended, and then you will quite quickly find out that blanket statements are simply false. Neither is Italian fascism a pure worker's movement, not does being pro workers indicate a left-wing position, nor is e.g. Italian fascism on a par with Nazis. And let's not even get started that you seem to be unwilling to even distinguish different forms of left-wing traditions such as anarchism, socialism, democratic socialism, Marxism, Leninism, Stalinism, Maoism, etc., as if they were all the same.

      In countries like Portugal communists were tortured or died fighting against fascism. That doesn't mean you need to become a communist, but you should at least show some respect by getting a hint of an education before opening your uninformed mouth.

    71. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The nazis murdered the left.
      They killed socialists and thought communists == Jews.
      Idiot.

    72. Re: Free Speech by boa · · Score: 1

      You're correct.

      The problem with arguments like this one, is that the left/right labels are meaningless. They don't describe anything well.

      Nazists were socialists, but not internationally oriented socialists. They didn't subscribe to Marx & Engels' notion of international solidarity of the working class. Instead, they put Germans first, and were more or less willing to kill everyone else (See Holocaust and The Hunger Plan for an example).

      Having said that, the soviets were willing to kill almost anyone too, but not because of race/etnicity, but for being traitors, enemies of the state, contra revolutionaries, or whatever perceived threat to their dictatorship.

      The lefties call nazis for right-wing extremists because the nazis were extreme nationalists. In reality, anyone wanting collectivism and a strong state instead of individualism and human rights, are like nazis.

      Some may object that nazis did Holocaust. That's true, but our human history is full of more or less similar atrocities, except for the gas chambers. Soviet's Holodomor, China's Great Leap, Cambodia's Killing Fields, Belgium's mass murder in Congo, France and England's starvation of Germany right after WWI, Turkey's annihilation of the Armenians, to mention some.

    73. Re: Free Speech by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      There is no issue. Show me an example of someone making use of this supposed problem.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    74. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Congratulations. That's an outstanding one sentence strawman.

    75. Re: Free Speech by alexgieg · · Score: 1

      Nazis (and fascists in general) defined themselves as a third way opposed to both to the right and the left of their time. They adopted a few things from the then right, a few things from the the left, and added a few things of their own the other two camps didn't do.

      Trying to make them fit the "right" or the "left" label is nonsense. Both alternatives are wrong.

      The same can be said of lots of other political movements. Even Libertarian's cherished two-axis/four-quadrants "political compass" fails to encompass how many neither-left-nor-right stuff exists out there.

      --
      Conservatism: (n.) love of the existing evils. Liberalism: (n.) desire to substitute new evils for the existing ones.
    76. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Too true. People forget Nazi was short for National Socialism. You cant get much more left than that.

    77. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Yes, it's true that authoritarianism is the real problem. I think their point was that this authoritarianism attaches to whatever ideas happen to be popular and in recent times many of the worst were attaching to the idea that we can make a more fair or just world by robbing all the rich people who we blame for everything that's wrong (the 1% or the Jews, take your pick).

      The right/left thing is mostly people trying to push it off on someone else to deflect blame. Kind of like how the Democratic party claims that everything switched under FDR, never mind that they fillibustered the Civil Rights Act, held a clanbake as their national convention, and never once did anything to dissociate themselves from notable racists like LBJ or Sen. Byrd.

    78. Re: Free Speech by prefec2 · · Score: 1

      Some people think free speech means they can say anything without consequence and others have to listen to it. However, this is not the case. For example "there are too many migrants in the country " is an opinion. "All n*****s are apes" is hate speech. First it uses a word to describe black people negatively and second it relates them to animals in an effort to dehumanize them. In Germany the latter statement is forbidden.

    79. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just like SJWs have invented new genders to justify their support of socialist power grabs.

    80. Re: Free Speech by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately, the fascists [masquerading as progressives] know exactly how to do it.

    81. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Reading this stuff is a waste of my time.

    82. Re: Free Speech by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      Is the US raiding homes because of speech?

      Don't be naive; it depends entirely on how large of an audience you've got.

    83. Re: Free Speech by Northdot · · Score: 1

      If the bathroom law had simply indicated allowed gender as indicated by government issued photo ID (rather than birth gender), then I can't see there being any major issue. Making it birth gender clearly is discriminatory to genuine transsexual persons. And on the flip side, nobody wants casual cross-dressers having absolute rights to the public washroom of their choosing.

      As for school washrooms, that is probably more nuanced and should be left to the school administrators. (And a bathroom with private stalls is obviously a different, ahem, ballgame than a locker room/shower situation.)

    84. Re:Free Speech by epyT-R · · Score: 3

      Moving forward towards what exactly?

    85. Re: Free Speech by epyT-R · · Score: 1

      Speech did not lead to WW2.

    86. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In the U.S., conservative politics is characterized by a wealthy minority with all sorts of political persuasions from extreme libertarian Utopianism to sado masochistic authoritarianism, fleshed out by a much larger base composed of idiots. Neither has any allegiance to historical fact or empiricism of any kind. This is why it is still fashionable for American "conservatives" to appeal to their lineage to Lincoln and crow about how the KKK was started by Democrats. Both are true, in the same sense that it is still dark outside if you haven't been out since dawn.

      To the American conservative, everything bad is attributable to the "other", and thus collectivist hippys are of a piece with the Nazis (Hitler was a vegetarian!) There is no point in trying to introduce nuance to the conversation, because their thought process begins and ends with whatever vindicates their personal biases against anyone who is not them.

      Of course American liberals are touchy-feely bleeding hearts who refuse to believe that all a non-Christians are evil, and that imperfect systems are worth preserving. So both sides have their issues.

    87. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      German here.

      Okay you are from a country that caused all this. Your government is sternly anti free speech and has a history of revisionism of its past. That is why we recorded so much footage of concentration camps. Everyone knew that Germans would rewrite their history given a chance. In fact, that is why Germany lacks free speech. It was forced upon them to ensure they would not revise their history.

      Yet you still managed to find a way. You managed to find a way to make a worker's party that socialized working conditions, benefits, healthcare, infrastructure, employment, and many other things as being right wing. You managed to twist reality and claim that collectivism is more right than left, when that is the foundation of leftism. It's a pathetic affront to lessons not learned in the past for a German to revise their own history of an event that so many people fought hard to ensure Germans would not be able to revise.

      You should take a long hard look in the mirror and see you are no different than common citizens of Germany in 1938.

    88. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > extreme right-wing ideas is so mainstream in the US right now

      Extreme? That's rich coming from a country that marched 6 million jews to their deaths.

    89. Re: Free Speech by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

      Dude, stop spreading the lies from that stupid book. Socialists were forbidden in Germany starting 1878 by the fucking law - just 7 years after Germany came into existence as an actual country. The law was not renewed after 1890, but socialists still were suppressed for decades to come. Especialy in the Weimar republic the government allowed righ wing paramilitary organisations (Freikorps and later SA) extrajudicial killings of socialists.

      --
      "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
    90. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh shut your assmouth up. A trans kid will require multiple parent visits, affidavits from shrinks and probably a suicide attempt before a school even admits their existence. It's not something a kid can just "decide".

    91. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Nazi's were as socialist as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are democratic. For a long time, people in power have been using big words to disguise what they are and fool simple people like Rockoon.

    92. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Look up nazi election campaign material.

      They were socialists, it in there very name. Most of the election promises were social programs and social welfare.

      They were not right wing.

    93. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I like kids, deal with it. I like little girls best between 9 and 11. I love to see those little nubs grow and guide her curiosity. So innocently eager!
      And that's why I am going to vote Hillary in 2020 and every other Democrat after Hillary until we live in a society that can only call itself truly tolerant but outright empowering!

    94. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please show more respect here. The name of the party is not "NAZI", but Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, abbreviated NSDAP. That's in English the Nationalsocialist German Worker's Partei.

      My grandfather, a world war I veteran, was in the first 300 to join.

    95. Re: Free Speech by penandpaper · · Score: 1

      http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news...

      What should the state use in defining gender if not the giblets at birth? I don't care so long as it isn't anything like "gender fluid".

    96. Re: Free Speech by PaulRivers10 · · Score: 1

      You can literally just google it and find them. It's not hard. I don't understand why anyone installs a video camera in a toilet to video women peeing, but there are numerous cases of that as well, and those kind of people would be happy to use this.

    97. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Their first promise was to bring back jobs through a massive increase in military spending. Also, I have a bridge to sell you.

    98. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Second, and I realize this may sound a little bit mean, but sympathizing even with extreme right-wing ideas is so mainstream in the US right now, that some redefinition of words was necessary in order to clean up the image of mass-supported rightist extremism, to purge it from harmful historical associations.

      Certainly from a European perspective, since Europe (certainly the EU and the vassal leaderships) hasn't stopped moving leftward. In the US probably also, since SJWism is a thing there, which is... quite extremely leftist compared to 50s feminism (which itself really isn't comparable to what today counts for "feminism"). Compare European Progressivism with, say, Bolshewism.

      It's important to keep in mind that the Nazi party is not a blueprint for whatever is happening in the world right now,

      Tell it to Recep Tayyip "goatfucker" Erdogan. No, not the ideology proper, but certainly the "enlightened leader" part (literally sprinkled liberally over his speeches), the return of (in his case, islam-based) strength through traditional values, and moreover, he's got the playbook down pat.

      and it's neither fair nor accurate to brand the mainstream rightist movements currently sweeping many Western democracies in this light.

      The left certainly likes to bandy that around a lot. To the exclusion of most everything else. Certainly haven't heard anything contentual lately, it's all character assassination. (SJWs have a similar mode: Say something they don't like and at best your opinion is "awful", therefore a non-opinion, and you're a non-person for saying it. So much for reasoned discussion of viewpoints.)

      Example? In my country it's quite common for people on the leftist spectrum to complain about "the tone" of the argument, or to insinuate that if someone's arguments are allowed to be heard, then surely "the trains to the east will be running again shortly". Creatively Invoking Godwin 101 is apparently an important part of the curriculum these days. And yes, large parts of academia are leftist here too.

      In my opinion, people should also be aware that the currently leading rightist and leftist movements both are thoroughly authoritarian ideologies. In fact, authoritarianism is so popular that it even wins over centrists. I'm pointing this out, because people seem to be lost in escalating left vs. right debates leading nowhere, while their freedoms are taken away underneath them.

      Looks like a worthy legacy from the 68er and their generation.

    99. Re: Free Speech by bongey · · Score: 1

      The entire notion that Nazi's are right wing is socialist propaganda by socialists historians that lie to themselves to try to rationalize that socialism is a good thing still. No one consider in 1940-1960s that the Nazis were right wing, but suddenly in the late 60s some leftist historians re-defined that the Nazi's are right wing.

    100. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      America made a large mistake after WWII thinking the German perple were up to the task of leading themselves.

      If America really thought that, then why did she force the Germans to include anti-free speech (de-Nazification) provisions in the new Constitution for the new Federal German Republic? American thinking after WWII was that free speech is all very good at home, but wherever else we can, we're going to restrict it to serve our favor.

    101. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Allies made the expression of language by Germans itself a crime

      FTFY

    102. Re:Free Speech by myid · · Score: 1

      Anyone with half a brain is neither liberal or conservative. They're looking at the situation at hand and deciding the best way of handling it versus referring to some sort of football play-book handed to them by party leaders.

      Right. And if I use my own judgement instead of taking the party's recommendations, and if I recommend that others do the same, then I won't think that someone who thinks differently from me is a traitor to the party, or to the cause, or whatever.

    103. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just like SJWs have invented new genders to justify their support of socialist power grabs.

      Oh damn, you're onto us! Today it's the crazy freedom of invented new genders ... tomorrow it's all genderless blue boiler-suits, Victory gin and gulags!

    104. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Could you list the factors that made the Nazi party left wing in your opinion? Them being racist nationalists locked into a fierce conflict with the communists at the time doesn't seem particularly leftist to me. Or do you consider those traits propaganda as well? Not trying to be antagonistic, I just would really like to hear your reasoning.

    105. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No you wouldn't. There are ample comments above that detail this yet you've chosen to ignore them all and jump to this one and ask for "proof". Typical.

    106. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was asking for your opinion, the word proof was never mentioned.

    107. Re: Free Speech by scatbomb · · Score: 1

      I think they were nice to the Germans post WWII just to fuck with Russia.

    108. Re: Free Speech by scatbomb · · Score: 1

      Yeah, because "We are socialists, we are enemies of today’s capitalistic economic system for the exploitation of the economically weak, with its unfair salaries, with its unseemly evaluation of a human being according to wealth and property instead of responsibility and performance, and we are determined to destroy this system under all conditions" totally doesn't sound like something Bernie Sanders would say. Sounds ultra right-wing to me. Dumbass.

    109. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      +5 Informative for the German in denial of the forces that lead to Nazi uprising and destruction of millions of lives. Bravo.

    110. Re: Free Speech by meglon · · Score: 0

      You are a fucking idiot. Learn to read, and quit lying like a fucking idiot. Lying sacks of shit like you, and others on this thread, are why people say conservatives are the party of stupid.

      https://www.britannica.com/top...

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    111. Re: Free Speech by meglon · · Score: 1

      No. You are simply a fucking liar. My dad grew up during the war, and had plenty to say (negatively) after the fucking fascist Bircher's started their propaganda in the 1950's. You are a fucking gullible idiot who's bought into their bullshit. The only people in the world that don't know Nazi's were right wing conservative nationalists, just like the neo-nazi's here in the US, are worthless piece of shit conservatives here in the US who are too chickenshit to admit what they are.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    112. Re: Free Speech by meglon · · Score: 1

      You need to pull your head out of your ass and read real history from people who are fascist neo-nazi's. Early on, Hitler had sent more Marxists to concentration camps than he had Jews. Quit being such a lying fuckwad.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    113. Re:Free Speech by meglon · · Score: 1

      I'm tired of fucking little lying pieces of shit... like you. What's the matter, snowflake... don't like it when other people aren't "PC" towards you?

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    114. Re: Free Speech by meglon · · Score: 1

      HAH. I'd love to see any of these idiots who claim the Nazi's were socialist to go to a neo-nazi compound and tell them that to their faces. They'd get a real quick lesson on reality... and pain.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    115. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So if Trump rose to power by appealing to the working man he's was a left wing candidate?

      It's possible to use left-wing (pro-worker) rhetoric, while meaning to introduce right-wing (pro-capistal) policies. This is traditionally called 'Right Populism.'

      But you have foregrounded an American political problem, inasmuch as the Dems ever stood for blue-collar workers, they have by now clearly abandoned them. There's no serious party in the US that prioritizes the needs of working men and women.

      In any case, Trump is obviously to the left of either Hitler or Mussolini ... Bannon OTOH I'm not too sure.

    116. Re: Free Speech by Rujiel · · Score: 3, Informative

      Yeah, damn those progressives and their hatred of immigrants, unwillingness to deal with members of minority religions, hatred of homosexuals amd cripples, authoritarian leanings and appeals to religious authority... oh wait, that's a conservative I just described. Now are you going to complain to me about safe spaces and the war on christmas?

    117. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Could you list the factors that made the Nazi party left wing in your opinion?

      Well they collectivized German heavy industry into state ownership, didn't they? Because that would be the litmus test.

    118. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No one consider in 1940-1960s that the Nazis were right wing, but suddenly in the late 60s some leftist historians re-defined that the Nazi's are right wing.

      No. The Nazis were considered right-wing (which in fact they were) from the 1920s onward.

      Just actually hit the archives and consult some contemporary sources. Or even read histories written in the 1950s and early to mid 60s (to prove to yourself the line about late 60s historians is a lie that has been fed to you) ... or even better read Kershaw (for the best English language account to date).

    119. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Conspiracy to murder someone is a crime. It isn't the speech, you imbecile.

      It's speech if it's spoken, or even written. What it isn't is protected speech. Every right has a limit.

      The limits on free speech --partly due to the insistence of the US that limits relating to pro-Nazi speech be included in the new German constitution --are greater in Germany than elsewhere in the West. There are consequences to losing a World War.

    120. Re: Free Speech by stealth_finger · · Score: 1

      Is the US raiding homes because of speech? News to me, got a source?

      Are you joking? SWAT teams are so happy to raid a place all they need is a nudge. Doesn't even matter if there's any evidence of anything, ring 'em up and send 'em round. Also ask the people who have onion routers or other perfectly legal thing the autorities don't like

      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swatting

      http://www.networkworld.com/ar...

      http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/seatt...

      --
      Wanna buy a shirt?
      https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
    121. Re: Free Speech by trawg · · Score: 1

      It's almost like trying to summarise complicated political, social and economic views as either "left" or "right" is a bad idea

    122. Re: Free Speech by stealth_finger · · Score: 2

      Your side has lost the debate because you bring no intellectual value to the table other than calling the people you disagree with fascists and racists like a bunch of children.

      I'm sorry but isn't that basically how Trump won?

      --
      Wanna buy a shirt?
      https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
    123. Re: Free Speech by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      So the problem you are addressing is people installing covert cameras in the women's bathroom, and your solution is to force trans men to go trim their beards and piss standing up in there.

      You don't seem to have thought this through. If anything, it makes the problem worse because a guy doesn't even have to put on a dress, they can just say "I'm a trans man" and walk into the women's. Not that this is a real threat anyway.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    124. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Bravo, you fell for the "populist" part of Nazi propaganda - you just forgot the "and unlike those other socialist's, we really are on your side" part.

      Pretty similar to the populist attacks on Wall Street by Trump during the campaign - sounded exactly like something Sanders would say, and people believed him, and now Wall Street runs the government finances.

      If the Nazis were Socialists, why did they propagate the "We lost the World War because the Socialists backstabbed our military" myth and still had the support of the military? If they were left-wing, why did they come to power by allying with the right-wing parties who wanted to prevent the left from coming to power?

      See how that "the Nazis were left-wing" thing only makes sense if you believe what they said instead of what they did?

    125. Re: Free Speech by boa · · Score: 1

      Especialy in the Weimar republic the government allowed righ wing paramilitary organisations (Freikorps and later SA) extrajudicial killings of socialists.

      Source, please?

      I highly doubt that the German government allowed killings of socialists(SDP, SAP, and such). Participants in Operation Consul, which did a lot of these killings, were hunted by the authorities, not celebrated or silently accepted.

      Maybe you confuse socialists with violent communists, and the hundreds of dead, on both sides, due to fighting between nazis and commies in e.g. Red Berlin?

      Trivia: The commies in Berlin used to call the nazies for "steaks". Why, because the nazis, like steaks, were brown on the outside and red on the inside.

    126. Re: Free Speech by KozmoStevnNaut · · Score: 1

      Europe (certainly the EU and the vassal leaderships) hasn't stopped moving leftward.

      You may want to actually learn a damn thing about European politics. Right-wing parties have been on a wild rise for the last 15-20 years, and it's only recently that the left has managed to push back and cause a small move back towards more sensible politics.

      --
      Eat the rich.
    127. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Free speech is not the right to say whatever you want, to mock and insult. People have died for their right to free speech, did you think it was all for the sake of petty little Americans as yourself, so you could call other people poor, or mock people from other countries, or because they're muslim?

    128. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That just means that (a large part of) the population doesn't really agree with the ruling elite about the progress of "progressivism", not that the move to the left isn't happening. Which it is.

      The "push back", against the population's hesitations toward continued progressivism, in the form of "cordons sanitaire" and flat-out forbidding people to say what they really think* is really very loudly attempting to ignore the sound of their fleeting legitimacy. You apparently call that "sensible politics", but I certainly would not.

      If the ruling elite hadn't been so enamoured with their progressivism, and even condescending to the point of calling voters too stupid to vote (various, including *unelected* EU commissars, go check), but instead had deigned to meaningfully address the population's reservations, there'd been no room for anything now termed "extreme right", which amazingly now starts at what once was well left of centre. So by rights, it's the left's own failure that's doing this. Which stands to reason; they were in power and could have addressed the population's concerns, but chose not to.

      * In the way that, for example, no terrorist attack ever has anything whatsoever to do with islam, according to our dear politicians, even if the attackers were reciting their holy book out loud and waving islamic flags, sporting large beards and traditional garb, explicitly saying they were acting in name of their imaginary friend. They're really doing an admirable "Baghdad Bob" there. Or in the way that saying anything about the vast stream of refugees^Wfortune seekers at all instantly makes you a racist. Unless, of course, you're a card-carrying labour party member, then you might get away with it. If you're not, it's loud and incessant attacks on your character from all over the left for you. This does kill people (it's how Pim Fortuyn got killed), but it doesn't make the left "sensible".

    129. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The far right and the far left are similar in many respects, since they are both promoting different forms of totalitarianism, but they are based on different principles.

      The are based on different excuses. "For the Volk" and "for the Proletariat" are functionally the same in their purpose of overriding individual rights and enabling totalitarianism.

    130. Re: Free Speech by KozmoStevnNaut · · Score: 1

      You're building a whole forest of strawmen, founded in extreme ignorance and pigheadedness. It's actually kind of impressive, and sad.

      --
      Eat the rich.
    131. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Nazi's were as socialist as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are democratic. For a long time, people in power have been using big words to disguise what they are and fool simple people like you.

    132. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean that ultra-nationalism, military worship, hatred of anyone different, scapegoating of "them," fanatical religious adherence, hatred of gays, socialists, and non-christians... i think you're confusing "progressive" with the typical conservative fascist.

      Neo-Nazi's here in the states voted for Trump, calling him the white mans savior. They're fascists, they know it, and the difference between them and other conservatives is that they don't care when people call them what they are.... they readily accept it. The other difference is, the other conservatives are too fucking stupid, with their heads buried so far up their asses, they can't see what they've become.

      Have you ever heard the saying "when you pick up a hammer, everything looks like a nail"? Well, when you join Antifa, everything looks like a fascist. Go ahead and join that loony brown shirt club, you'll fit right in.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc_lFjfs068

    133. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're not allowed to say rational and well thought out things when discussing politics online!! Especially as a conservative. According to the left you're just supposed to bash rocks together like a caveman and say racist things!

    134. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and you are one of those beings that will make sure we are using the correct definition of 'asteroid and not comet' when a fucking massive piece of rock is coming our way... you are a pathetic little 'definitions-nazi' that add no usefulness to a discussion and only disperse it in its pointless tiniest atoms. You sir are the ass-hat that cannot grasp an overviewed concept ..not the OP.

    135. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I notice that you have no rebuttal whatsoever and therefore resort to finding fault with my character.

      Exactly the thing the ruling leftists are doing while playing Baghdad Bob, as described above. That really only confirms my hunch about you and your in-group affiliations, who're collectively and individually unwilling to consider that anybody besides them might have a point, possibly maybe. That doesn't make for constructive political discourse but leaves lots of dissenting people out in the cold. Who then naturally find someone else to vote for. Quelle surprise.

      It might have been interesting if you could actually show how each individual in the forest is a straw man, for hey, I might be open to being convinced of a superior point of view. The only superiority I note is the position of your nose, as in, stuck right up in the air. Which doesn't surprise, but you could have. Do note, you have failed to communicate the superiority of your points of view to me. Instead, you've progressively managed to alienate someone, ie me, which doesn't seem very inclusive to me.

      You've complained I didn't know what I was talking about, and I demonstrated otherwise. Your answer is again devoid of argumentation, substituting arrogance. I again say, it's this arrogance that's going to do the whole thing in, eventually. So do carry on, eh.

    136. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If we don't respect freedom of speech for the people we despise, we aren't any better.

    137. Re:Free Speech by Topwiz · · Score: 1

      The Mayflower had 25-30 crew and 102 passengers. Only 49 were what we now call Pilgrims. There also were 12 servants belonging to the pilgrims. The remaining passengers were recruited by a group known as London Merchant Adventurers, including 6 servants.

    138. Re:Free Speech by ai4px · · Score: 1

      Moving forward in which direction? Moving towards a more free society or moving towards a society in which everyone is compelled to do what the government says? Having an educated population is a wonderful idea, but it brought about taxes and schools that are self motivated and have lost sight of what is best for students.... but those schools were touted in the early 1900's by the /progressives/.

    139. Re: Free Speech by ai4px · · Score: 0

      Wish I had mod points.... so many times I see people calling the NAZI's "fascists" when they were in fact socialists. Yes Martha, socialism killed millions of Jews and militarized an entire economy. But the sell job these days is that socialism is this nicey nice thing that takes care of it's citizens.

    140. Re: Free Speech by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Nazists were socialists, but not internationally oriented socialists

      Nazis weren't socialists when they were in power. They had a socialist wing until Hitler had most of it murdered. Socialism, as a political movement, is internationally oriented. It's based on the idea that a working-class Frenchman is more similar to a working-class Italian than an upper-class Frenchman. (WWI, when working-class Germans fought working-class Frenchmen, was a serious blow to socialism who'd hoped that it would make national war obsolete.) Extreme nationalists are not socialists politically. (This doesn't hold for all instances of proposed economic socialism, like the "Nationalism" movement caused by Bellamy's "Looking Backward" in the US, or the right-wing idea of the Showa Restoration in Japan.)

      The lefties call nazis for right-wing extremists because the nazis were extreme nationalists.

      That's because lefties have a clue. Extreme nationalism is normally right-wing. Extreme classisim is normally left-wing.

      In reality, anyone wanting collectivism and a strong state instead of individualism and human rights, are like nazis.

      In that they want collectivism and a strong state, that's true. There's different ways to get there. Communism talks about the withering away of the state as an endgame, so it's not like National Socialism in that regard.

      It's interesting to look at how the big factions of WWII generally saw each other. The West saw the Nazis and Communists (and the militaristic Japanese) as totalitarian and collectivist. Germany and Japan saw the West and Communists as sticking to materialism, ignoring the supreme power of national will. The Soviets saw the rest of WWII as a fight between the imperialist capitalists and the fascist capitalists.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    141. Re: Free Speech by david_thornley · · Score: 2

      Nazis were not left-wing in any sense while in power. The left wing of the party was terminated with extreme prejudice in the 1930s, and they hadn't had significant influence in Hitler's governing up until then..

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    142. Re: Free Speech by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      In the US, both statements are legal. Over here, we have the attitude that free speech means you get to say almost anything, and the overly racist remarks are normally disapproved in public. This doesn't mean speech is necessarily free of consequences, nor does it mean that anyone has to listen or offer a venue to speech they dislike.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    143. Re: Free Speech by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Right now, I can walk into a ladies' room. It isn't locked. People are going to wonder what I'm doing there and take precautions accordingly, since I'm either being very confused or up to no good. There's really no excuse. In the meantime, if a trans female walks in, looking female and dressing female and acting female, there's not going to be any fuss or any harm. Common sense works here.

      Now, with bathroom laws in effect, how is anyone going to know for sure whether I'm an actual male, and therefore forbidden from the ladies' room, or a trans male who still legally counts as female, and is required to use the ladies' room? Some trans males look a lot more masculine than I do. A bathroom law forces women to accept people who are, to all intents and appearances, male in the ladies' room.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    144. Re: Free Speech by KozmoStevnNaut · · Score: 1

      Good for you, man *thumbs up*

      --
      Eat the rich.
    145. Re: Free Speech by lsatenstein · · Score: 1

      Is the US raiding homes because of speech? News to me, got a source?

      The bathroom debate is more about a poorly written version of post-modern law, i.e. should the state recognize the gender you choose at any given time or should it use objective standards that represent 99% of the population. To quote Ted Cruz: "it isn't about the Caitlyn Jenners of the world. But if the law is such that any man if he feels like it can go into a womens restroom and you can't ask him to leave that opens the doors for predators.". Poorly written laws with good intentions are still bad laws. I don't like the idea that if you feel a certain way you can do anything you want. A pedophile feels attracted to children, does that mean I should be tolerant of that because of their feelings? No. I will not capitulate to feelings that disregard objectivity and the vulnerable.

      Whether you agree that the law should have a post-modern influence or not is very much different than raiding your home because you said wrong-speak. I would rather a Trump than a benevolent dictator.

      I believe that a transgender person would be dressing in clothes that match his gender. If he is as a woman, he should be permitted to use the woman's washroom.
      Cruz is mixing up normal males, dressed as males, going to a woman's washroom. Is that really going to happen? So who is going to wear woman's clothes and visit a man's bathroom or vice versa? Its just a great example of applied stupidity 101.

      --
      Leslie Satenstein Montreal Quebec Canada
    146. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The QUESTION is -- How many of the "big range of conservative viewpoints" held by members of your family are illegal? That is , what the hell is legal and what is not? Did the Supreme Court just today engage in "illegal hate speech" when it ruled in Trump's favor?

    147. Re: Free Speech by andyteleco · · Score: 1

      Which (western) European country is currently ruled by a right-wing party? Don't tell me that the Spanish, British or German governments are "right wing" (even if the radical left likes to call them "fascists") when they are spending like crazy on social benefits, welcoming and blowing rapefugees, imposing a dictatorship of political correctness, pushing agendas of gender ideology, etc.

    148. Re: Free Speech by andyteleco · · Score: 1

      I agree with most of what you say, with just a few comments:
      - Franco was a real socialist from an economic point of view: Spanish workers never had so many rights and protection as during his rule, and all the governments that came after his death have slowly destroyed all those rights.
      - Hitler and Mussolini were also kind of socialists in that aspect, with a slightly different approach
      - Many old people whom I have talked to who lived in Spain during Franco's regime say that there was actually more freedom than today (excepting politics, of course). "Democracy" is actually breaking down on all kinds of freedoms, and Spain also has similar laws to the one that allowed the crackdown in Germany.

      What I mean to say is that things are neither black nor white. It is possible to be a socialist from an economical perspective but utterly right-wing from a social view, and viceversa.

    149. Re:Free Speech by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      In what context?

      Politically: 'Progressives' are reactionaries, hoping to return to the politics of the 1930s.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    150. Re:Free Speech by SandWyrm · · Score: 1

      Moving forward towards what exactly?

      This.

      And what if the past was, in many ways, better? Change for change sake is not "progress", but chaos.

    151. Re: Free Speech by algoa456 · · Score: 0

      >He thinks Germany isn't an occupied territory

      Kids are cute.

      Are you as stupid in real life as you appear on /. ?

    152. Re:Free Speech by SandWyrm · · Score: 1

      In what context?

      Politically: 'Progressives' are reactionaries, hoping to return to the politics of the 1930s.

      It would be more honest to call them "Regressives". Since what they're pushing is limits to free speech that will ultimately destroy the democratic process.

    153. Re: Free Speech by SandWyrm · · Score: 1

      Yeah, damn those progressives and their hatred of immigrants, unwillingness to deal with members of minority religions, hatred of homosexuals amd cripples, authoritarian leanings and appeals to religious authority... oh wait, that's a conservative I just described. Now are you going to complain to me about safe spaces and the war on christmas?

      No, I'm just going to point out the hypocritical racism and bigotry inherent in dividing everyone into politically convenient groups based on race/gender/sexuality and then punishing them socially if they don't then act, speak, or vote in accordance with your dogmatic, narrow-minded preconceptions. "Individual Justice" is what we all need. Not "Social Justice" group non-think imposed with force, by trust fund "warriors" who never actually interact with those they pretend to "help". Just so they can slap each other on the back in a useless virtue-signaling circle-jerk.

      Try taking a drive through the ghost cities of Pontiac, Michigan. Or Camden, New Jersey. There you will see what "progressivism" (i.e. Globalist Socialism) has done to what were once affluent, vibrant cities full of people and jobs. Then you will understand how someone like Trump managed to get elected.

      You aren't the resistance, you're just establishment tools. Or "useful idiots" as Lenin would say.

    154. Re: Free Speech by SandWyrm · · Score: 1

      Your side has lost the debate because you bring no intellectual value to the table other than calling the people you disagree with fascists and racists like a bunch of children.

      I'm sorry but isn't that basically how Trump won?

      Yes, that is how Trump won. That's also how the Republican party is continuing to win. Because despite their many flaws, the left has nothing to offer the American public but childish temper tantrums.

    155. Re: Free Speech by scatbomb · · Score: 1

      Bravo, you fell for the "populist" part of Nazi propaganda - you just forgot the "and unlike those other socialist's, we really are on your side" part.

      Pretty similar to the populist attacks on Wall Street by Trump during the campaign - sounded exactly like something Sanders would say, and people believed him, and now Wall Street runs the government finances.

      OK, "now" Wall Street runs the government finances? "Now"??? Where the hell have you been??? I dislike many things about Trump and don't think there's any need to invent new ones. The Fed, Wall Street, etc has been this way for a while.

      See how that "the Nazis were left-wing" thing only makes sense if you believe what they said instead of what they did?

      Way to contradict yourself there. They did *exactly* what you'd expect of left-wing authoritarians. They seized all the manufacturing, seized the economy etc. Just another radical left-wing authoritarian takeover. We've seen it again and again throughout history in Italy, Russia, China, etc.

    156. Re:Free Speech by KingBenny · · Score: 1

      u HUH ... 0_o ... "germany raids houses of whoever speaks against the law hm?" ... free speech is no longer free but 'illegal' ... sounds worse than 'hate' speech even whats the most stupid shit you can do when it comes to fringe movements ? pushing them out of sight, right ? so they keep making the same mistake over and over and over ... disperse, to where nobody sees it, as if lining it over with a marker makes it go away instead of skulk in dark places where its no longer in plain sight and clearly visible as to what it thinks and feels im 100% opposed to blocking any account for saying anything (posting videos of decapitated people might not be the same as "saying anything" ... thats detabable) but raiding houses REALLY ? this will definitely not have a counter-productive effect on extremist mindsets ... definitely not thats oil on the fire, mädchen .. (is it still you cos i really dont watch tv ... hellgium and europe makes me nauseous) ... oil on the fire, how can you be so stupid or should i say "scared" ?

      --
      Free speech was meant to be free for all... how can anyone grow up in a nanny state ?
    157. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "progressives" just told gay men they need to step aside from LGBTQ leadership positions because they are no longer facing 'real' problems. And leave it to a progressive to use a word like cripple when play acting as a conservative. Or do you think its ok to be derisive towards handicapped people just because you were playacting as someone you hate?

    158. Re: Free Speech by KozmoStevnNaut · · Score: 1

      From the extreme insane right, I guess all political parties seem left-wing to you.

      --
      Eat the rich.
    159. Re: Free Speech by andyteleco · · Score: 1

      How do you know what I am? Can you answer my question and tell me which country in Europe is ruled by the right?

    160. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And you know this from experience?
      Stop advocating for others without being appointed by them. Even if you were that kid, that STILL doesn't make you a spokes person for others like you.
      For all we (or you) know, your suicide attempt could be because of how you were raised - that lack of father or mother, unwanted "attention" of another adult or older teen. If that's what had happened, my heart goes out to you, but don't use that to push a political agenda - you turn confused kids into hidden hunger strikers, holding democracy hostage: do what I say or the kids dies! That's not democracy; it is free speech, but it is dangerous and reprehensible nonetheless, and if you had any sense of decency you would stop doing it.

    161. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm pointing this out, because people seem to be lost in escalating left vs. right debates leading nowhere, while their freedoms are taken away underneath them.

      How about you fix your shit, cuckold, before talking about anyone elses'.

    162. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      nazism obv

    163. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      [In restricting free speech] I think they were nice to the Germans post WWII just to fuck with Russia.

      Not everyone here would agree with you that restricting free speech is being "nice."

    164. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wish I had mod points...

      Given your obvious misunderstanding, it's just as well you didn't.

      The Nazis stopped being Socialist by about the time Hitler took over the Party, and most of the senior remaining leftist- or union-oriented membership were purged in the Night of the Long Knives. Nor did Hitler, once in power, nationalize BMW, Krupps Stahl, or any of the major German industrial concerns (Do you even understand what 'socialism' actually means?)** ... quite the opposite, he expressly regarded them as institutions which uniquely were to be exempt from Gleichschaltung.

      Arguably describing the NSDAP as 'fascist' oversimplifies the uniqueness of German "fascism." It remains, however, a far more accurate than describing Nazism by the name of its polar opposite.

      FFS, read some actual history of the period.

      [**i.e. NOT the welfare state, which was after all the invention of German conservatives (for which see Bismarck's fight against socialism)]

    165. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You need to read a little history.

      You need to read some history ... as opposed to this counterfactual muck that you've swallowed. I'd suggest starting with Kershaw's The Nazi Dictatorship: Problems and Perspectives as that will bring you up to speed with the controversies among the different writers of serious history of the period.

      The leading Marxists in Germany were very influential in bringing in the Nazi's.

      But only in the sense that the fighting the KPD in the streets was one of the main actions that brought NSDAP to the public attention. As with the Fascists in Italy, it was their overy anti-socialism from which most of their support derived.

      The Marxist labor movement in Germany led most of the young German idealists and laborers into the Nazi camp.

      Absolute nonsense. The SPD remained, so long as fair elections persisted, the most supported Party in Germany, the KPD too increased their share of the vote in the final years of the Weimar Republic. The socialist labour movement, in the main, maintained their support for socialism. It was mainly from the conservative nationalist DNVP and the failing middle class parties that the NSDAP took their electoral support.

    166. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bravo, you fell for the "populist" part of Nazi propaganda - you just forgot the "and unlike those other socialist's, we really are on your side" part.

      Pretty similar to the populist attacks on Wall Street by Trump during the campaign - sounded exactly like something Sanders would say, and people believed him, and now Wall Street runs the government finances.

      OK, "now" Wall Street runs the government finances? "Now"??? Where the hell have you been??? I dislike many things about Trump and don't think there's any need to invent new ones. The Fed, Wall Street, etc has been this way for a while.

      Listen, smarty pants: Trump hired 3 high ranking Goldman Sachs bankers for his cabinet. Plus some more from other banks. Not just people supposedly "friendly" towards Wall Street. You fell for him big time.

    167. Re: Free Speech by KozmoStevnNaut · · Score: 2

      Just off the cuff Denmark and Great Britain.

      Dismantling public services, fucking over the poor while giving tax breaks to the wealthy, passing laws to allow greater pollution and construction in previously-protected nature areas, increased military spending, the list goes on and on.

      --
      Eat the rich.
    168. Re: Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Says the people who elected Trump as their leader

    169. Re: Free Speech by andyteleco · · Score: 1

      UK? Don't make me laugh! with hundreds of thousands living off benefits, people being jailed for criticizing Islam, citizens being told "they should simply get used to terrorism", crazy "positive-discrimination" laws, etc. Very right-wing, yes.

      But I will concede that perhaps Denmark is a bit of an exception to the norm. Although it's a small country with very little weight in the EU.

    170. Re: Free Speech by KozmoStevnNaut · · Score: 1

      Haha OK whatever dude.

      --
      Eat the rich.
    171. Re: Free Speech by ai4px · · Score: 1

      Although you are A.C. and probably won't ever see this .... thanks for the pointer to night of the long knives. It is clearer to me now. I've just read about Ernst Roehm.

    172. Re:Free Speech by ncc74656 · · Score: 1

      Pigheaded ignorance like yours is how you got Trump, and it's how you'll keep getting Trump and his successors.

      --
      20 January 2017: the End of an Error.
    173. Re:Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      CAREFUL. If you criticize too much, you might just "disappear" one evening and wind up in a camp. This is Germany we're talking about, after all.

  2. So This Is How Liberty Dies... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    With Thunderous Applause.

    1. Re: So This Is How Liberty Dies... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Star Wars Prequel quote alert!

      -500 pts.

    2. Re: So This Is How Liberty Dies... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Put down the prequels and open a history book. Show me where they've ever had liberty... if you even know what that word means.

    3. Re:So This Is How Liberty Dies... by MoarSauce123 · · Score: 1

      This is how liberty is preserved! Voicing an opinion is fine, yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater just to rile folks up is criminal. There is a fine line between opposing views and hate speech, but there is a line. Just look at all the crime haters like Alex Jones generate.

    4. Re:So This Is How Liberty Dies... by silverkniveshotmail. · · Score: 1

      Can we ever talk about speech without that fucking analogy?

    5. Re:So This Is How Liberty Dies... by Zorpheus · · Score: 1

      They don't state anywhere for what exact postings they are raiding. So you can imagine what effect these raids have.

  3. Illegal speech? by bongey · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There should be no such thing as illegal speech.

    1. Re:Illegal speech? by Brett+Buck · · Score: 2

      The players change, but the script remains the same.

    2. Re:Illegal speech? by LWATCDR · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Yes, there should.
      The classic yelling fire in a crowded theater is a good example. Asking someone to commit murder is another example.
      In this case, each nation has a different history and culture. The US has a very different history when it comes to Nazi's and antisemitism than many European nations. We allow Neo-Nazis to say the trash that they say because we believe that evil thrives in the dark and hates the light. Germany is a free democratic nation so if the citizens of Germany want to have those limitations then that is up to them.
      I admit that I prefer the system in the US where you can express any idea or political thought but we limit profanity and sexual content. Those limitations do not prevent people from expressing ideas they just limit the words and images used to express them.
      Each free and democratic nation must try and find the balance that works for them.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    3. Re:Illegal speech? by lucasnate1 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I am not sure whether racist speech should be limited or not. I am sure that I prefer limiting racist speech over limiting sexual content (assuming consent). I don't get it what's up with you americans and sexuality.

    4. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      that sounds like something a totalitarian would say

    5. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The glory of language control is that those supporting these laws would claim to agree with you, because they are not punishing people for illegal speech, but rather inform you that these wrongthinkers have committed the crime of 'hate speech.' Therefore, you are overreacting, your comment supports hate speech, and Germany still has freedom of speech.

    6. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that sounds like something a child molester and every other person has the right to say

      Fixed that for you. But if you still insist some speech is more free than other, I hope you get executed by the thought police someday.

    7. Re:Illegal speech? by JBMcB · · Score: 5, Informative

      The classic yelling fire in a crowded theater is a good example.

      This is not illegal. Google it.

      Asking someone to commit murder is another example.

      The standard is - if there is a reasonable expectation of your speech directly causing harm of someone specifically, then that can be considered incitement to commit violence or murder.

      That's it. That's all that should be covered. The other exception is if you are motivated by hatred for some reason or another to commit a crime, which would be a hate crime - then your words can be used against you. But they can't be used to convict you of a crime alone, they have to be coupled with another crime.

      --
      My Other Computer Is A Data General Nova III.
    8. Re:Illegal speech? by bongey · · Score: 1

      Realized that just didn't want a long post.

    9. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      People that try to speak that don't agree with our rulers need to be beaten and arrested. Germany once again leads the free world.

    10. Re:Illegal speech? by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 5, Insightful

      There should be no such thing as illegal speech.

      Absolute free speech is a great idea... until you add human emotion to the equation. There must be basic limitations on things such as death threats. I'm not siding with Germany here, I'm just siding with common sense.

      --
      Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    11. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Republicans support free speech which means they are racists.

    12. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Illegal Speech". It's a phrase I've never heard before.

      Am I reading that right, that the German government is kicking in doors over tweets?...

      We should have fought back harder. Should never have let things get this far...

    13. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To support free speech is to support death.

    14. Re:Illegal speech? by Brett+Buck · · Score: 5, Interesting

      This is not "yelling fire in a crowded theater", in any way, shape, or form. That theory is used incessantly to justify suppression of speech. In this case, it is being used to *intentionally suppress political speech that is not in accordance with the current government position*, which is the sort of speech that requires the most protection.

            Germany's history of anti-semitism is not the issue. If you examined the history of anti-semitism of Germany, it's hardly any different in theory from anyplace els - anti-semitism has been a recurring theme throughout history.

              What *is* different is their history of oppression that led to the most appalling - and efficient - attempt at genocide in human history. The root of this was permitting repression in favor of the government, leading to a dictatorship. This allowed thugs with delusions of racial superiority to take over.

          The Germans are *dead wrong* to criminalize speech, because as soon as you do, you permit someone else to decide what "hate" means - just like 1933.

             

    15. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Illegal speech: Speech which anyone disagrees with.

      It becomes more illegal when you say it in places where someone could hear it, e.g. Facebook.

      Later: It will become illegal if Alexa hears it.

      Later still: It will become illegal if thought of.

    16. Re:Illegal speech? by alvinrod · · Score: 2

      No one is saying there shouldn't be consequences for a person's actions, just that the government should leave as much of that to the free exercise of individuals as possible. Causing injury through ones actions (speech or otherwise) can be handled in civil courts reasonably well in most cases without the government needing to make specific or narrowly defined speech illegal. The best weapon against speech with which you disagree is always free speech of your own. When deciding whether or not government should have particular powers, it's typically best to imagine the people you'd least like to be in charge being in control of that government.

    17. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The US solves the problem by privatising the presses and limiting speech through corporate editorial policy and terms of use. It's a less honest/democratic way of arriving at the same thing.

    18. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Freedom of speech as a concept is not the same thing as the action of communication. Clearly, there are limits on things, even verbal things you can do, This is why noise ordinances area thing, or why trying to hire a hitman is illegal. I don't think this, conceptually, is the same as putting a limit on free speech.

    19. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Converse. Only racists support freedom of speech.

    20. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      *sigh* trolls... can't live with 'em, can't kill 'em.
      You can mod them down, but sometimes I think that's just what they want, moderators to burn up their mod points, to effectively DOS the mod system for more meaningful posts.
      Maybe it's better to just ignore them, even in moderation, I mean. Don't waste your mod points on their nonsense.

    21. Re:Illegal speech? by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      How does conspiracy factor into that? In essence, a conspiracy is communicating for the intent to commit a crime. As with treason, conspiracy both involves the use of an accused's words as evidence of intent and as the crime itself.

      Even in the United States speech has never been an absolute liberty (also see obscenity laws).

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    22. Re:Illegal speech? by Stormy+Dragon · · Score: 2

      The classic yelling fire in a crowded theater is a good example.

      You do realize this quote was the Supreme Court's justification of why it's okay for the government to jail anti-war protesters?

    23. Re:Illegal speech? by rmdingler · · Score: 1
      Conspiracy?

      This comes just as a new law is being debated that can fine social media platforms $53 million for not removing 70% of illegal speech...

      Exactly $53 million you say... and Zuck had $11.5 million in his checking account and just sold some stock.

      Hmmm...

      --
      Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

      Ernest Hemingway

    24. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Which is why they hate Nazis since they were more free than modern America.

    25. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Speech never DIRECTLY causes someone else harm unless you're that guy from marvel comics that can destroy cities by shouting.

      Speech should always be legal. Period.

      Fuck hatespeech laws.

    26. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Republicans support free speech which means they are racists.

      I miss the good old days when it was the liberals that supported free speech. Of course, that was over 45 years ago.

    27. Re: Illegal speech? by Entrope · · Score: 2

      Also that the original quote was limited to falsely crying that there was a fire, meaning it was always about claims of objective fact rather than opinion or emotion. On top of that, the justice who wrote it later recanted and said it was a wrong argument in the first place.

    28. Re:Illegal speech? by rmdingler · · Score: 1

      I am not sure whether racist speech should be limited or not. I am sure that I prefer limiting racist speech over limiting sexual content (assuming consent). I don't get it what's up with you americans and sexuality.

      Of course, once you begin limiting the free speech, beginning with the variety you find most offensive, it becomes so expensive that no one can afford it.

      --
      Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

      Ernest Hemingway

    29. Re:Illegal speech? by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 1, Insightful

      The Germans are *dead wrong* to criminalize speech, because as soon as you do, you permit someone else to decide what "hate" means - just like 1933.

      Precisely so.

      Good thing we in the US don't have any major institutions with Orwellian speech codes, adjudicated by absurd kangaroo pseudo-courts ...

    30. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The old irrational slippery slope, American's favorite way to defend their wacky land.

    31. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It depends. What should be legal? You deciding? Ha. Why? Where do YOU draw your freedom from?

    32. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can't tell you what pornography is, but I know it when I see it.
      Thats whats up wif 'merkins.

    33. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Death threats? You pussy.

      Try not to let your cowardice ruin democracy.

      Although, there's a lot of that going around...

    34. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      limiting speech through corporate editorial policy

      Sir, this is my soapbox. You are free to yell atop a soapbox, just not on top of MY soapbox.

    35. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The old irrational slippery slope, American's favorite way to defend their wacky land.

      Number of dictators in American in the last 200 years: 0

      Number of dictators in Europe in the last 200 years: lost count

      Yeah America is the whacky land.

    36. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One mans troll is anothers freedom fighter. But thanks for presuming to suggest how I moderate. Whats next on your slippery slope, permission to moderate?

    37. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can't tell you what fascism is, but I know it when I see it.

      Fixed that for you.

    38. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, there should.
      The classic yelling fire in a crowded theater is a good example.

      No, its not. Unless you are willing to admit you are a stupid and panicky animal.

      It is your duty / responsibility as a non-stupid person to LOOK AROUND and see if there is a fire.

    39. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're right. Problem for you is, we've watched it happen. Suppress speech and arms and then subjugate the people. Steps 1 & 2 usually occur simultaneously and are applied to only one side of the political spectrum. If it were *actually* done evenly, across the board, then the slope wouldn't exist.

    40. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Party of death.

    41. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This allowing them to speak hurts the people.

    42. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Difference is, those who were jacked can (and have, successfully) sue the institutes in court - real court. In a totalitarian state, you cannot.

    43. Re:Illegal speech? by scatbomb · · Score: 1

      I think it's absolutely hilarious that Europeans have looked down their noses at Americans for so long yet immediately after they begin diluting their monocultures with immigration they completely melt down. We've lacked a unified culture since forever and have held up a lot better than they are. Ha!

    44. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Rose glasses. They were never supportive of free speech. I can recall from early on watching them protest and shout down those then don't agree with.

    45. Re:Illegal speech? by allcoolnameswheretak · · Score: 1

      There should be no such thing as illegal speech.

      I disagree. Democracy and liberty need to defend themselves against disinformation, lies, hate speech and propaganda that attempts to destabilize and ultimately abolish it.

      Free speech doesn't mean we need to listen and tolerate it if someone shouts "death to all Jews" or "kill all the infidels".

    46. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Normally, this sort of thing would be a troll. But in context...

      I agree 100%. Fuck the freedom hating GP.

    47. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      THANK YOU. if you yell "fire" and people flip out we should gas the ones that panicked and give you a reward for outing the subhumans.

    48. Re:Illegal speech? by Scorch_Mechanic · · Score: 2

      In the United States, there are some exceedingly narrow limitations on the freedom of expression outside the public airwaves (which I will not address because frankly I don't know much about them). One of the exceptional few them is outlined by Ohoio v. Brandenburg: "Freedoms of speech and press do not permit a State to forbid advocacy of the use of force or of law violation except where such advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action."

      In order for speech to not be protected by the first amendment under Brandenberg, it must pass both requirements present in the last few words of the quote. You will note that generic death threats almost never pass this test. You will further note that this is nothing nearly like the overused "fire in a crowded theater" platitude that is quite wrong.

      The correct response to speech you dislike is more speech (i.e. your own) or taking advantage of the numerous technologies available to personally block out speech you find disagreeable (freedom of expression does not require that other people listen).

      I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. You have to pay for that. If however you are an interested layman, like myself, I encourage you to read several articles published by noted First Amendment advocate and actual lawyer for same (in addition to his usual criminal defense gig) Ken White, who operates the lawblog "Popehat".

      --
      You should turn signatures off.
    49. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The classic yelling fire in a crowded theater is a good example.

      You do realize this quote was the Supreme Court's justification of why it's okay for the government to jail anti-war protesters?

      You do realize by reading the actual quote, that your objection has little merit:

      The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic. It does not even protect a man from an injunction against uttering words that may have all the effect of force. Gompers v. Bucks Stove & Range Co., 221 U.S. 418, 439

      There was no relation of the offenses of those in the case and the example, which reflected upon the law.

      Bad enough we have the pedants with their tendentious griping over not including the word "falsely" as part of it, we don't need people misrepresenting the actual opinion.

      Do check the opinion, and the facts of the case, before getting all sanctimonious.

    50. Re:Illegal speech? by Mr.+Shotgun · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The classic yelling fire in a crowded theater is a good example.

      The line was actually "The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic." which would be more akin to immediately inciting a riot than mere words on facebook. But even at that the quote was part of a decision in Schenck vs. United States which justified imprisonment of Socialist protesters of the draft during World War I.

      If we were to apply the logic and decisions of that court case to the modern times every member of Code pink would be serving ten years in prison and Bernie Sanders would have long been sent to the gallows. While that quote is the goto response for people supporting censorship people should look into the circumstances, least they find themselves supporting a very terrible decision.

      --
      Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the (supposed) good of its victims may be the most oppressive
    51. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      > ... There should be no such thing as illegal speech

      Not according to Herr Angela Burqa - as her new found 'peaceful' religion will never permit anyone to criticize anything related to that so-called 'peaceful' religion

    52. Re:Illegal speech? by meglon · · Score: 1

      All our conservatives over here feel threatened by vagina, which is kind of odd considering most of them are cowardly pussies.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    53. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Inasmuch as those are unprotected death threats, that's true, but in that case the speech is being banned for the truth it contains, i.e. that one might actually act upon them to kill someone.

      Inasmuch as you hope to defend us from lies and misinformation, those are not widely agreed upon in politics. One side would ban the Washington Post, another would ban RT, another might ban any story that was anonymously sourced.

    54. Re:Illegal speech? by squiggleslash · · Score: 1

      That doesn't make it wrong, it just means it was misused as an example.

      In practice we ban a variety of forms of speech completely legitimately, usually with less lethal consequences than shouting "FIre" in a crowded theater. We ban fraud and defamation, to give but two examples.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    55. Re:Illegal speech? by Mr307 · · Score: 1

      The 'classic' yelling fire in a crowded theater example was never law, and the case in which it was said was overturned in 1969.

      The original author Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes just 1 year later ruled completely the opposite in a similar case. In that 2nd case Holmes has a line which ought to be more quoted by everyone when talking about free speech:

      "The ultimate good desired is better reached by free trade in ideas - that the best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market, and that truth is the only ground upon which their wishes safely can be carried out."

    56. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your argument is basically that any speech which hurts your feelings should be suppressed. You'd do well in the communist party, where insulting the government was a one way ticket to the gulag.

    57. Re: Illegal speech? by aliquis · · Score: 1

      Except Germany and Sweden for instance aren't democracies, partly because you can't have a democracy with restricted speech & information exchange. Obviously.
      We are democratures.

    58. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mod this up.

    59. Re: Illegal speech? by aliquis · · Score: 1

      Lol. If intolerant against intolerance why do they love the Muslim islamist jihadist invasion?

    60. Re: Illegal speech? by aliquis · · Score: 1

      Being alive.

    61. Re: Illegal speech? by aliquis · · Score: 1

      No.
      What you need is counterarguments. No dictatorship.
      But you'll never understand it because you're a dictator ass hole.

      Also the dictators are the liars and unsupported. That's why they fear freedom of speech and actual diversity.

    62. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      God allows men to take female children as brides, including in cases of rape (Deuteronomy ch 22, v. 28-29, hebrew)

    63. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Come! Slide down our slippery slope to depravity!

    64. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sexual content is only restricted from broadcast TV and radio. There's plenty of porn in the US otherwise, trust me, I've checked.

    65. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Germany enacted the Nazi speech laws so their citizens wouldn't be reminded of the Nazi atrocities carried out in WW2.

      I knew if we waited long enough someone would do something stupid enough that would actually make Trump look good. He sure as hell would not take kindly to some one censoring his Twitter missives. I am totally shocked that the German government would try to introduce "illegal speech" laws. This sounds like something NK would do. Have the German's been meeting with officials in China to learn how to effectively firewall the entire country to keep out "illegal speech" and any speech deemed as incitement?
      Are the Germans going to lobby the EU as a whole to implement similar laws? The German people best stop bashing the US every chance they get and start looking at their own government. This type of law shows nothing but weakness. If a government is not strong enough to refute and confront incitement and illegal speech openly than that state or government might not be worth saving.

      Funny example of the German political thought process as applied to reality. When Snowden released all his pilfered documents a large number of German officials and regular German citizens all ran towards the nearest bullhorn denouncing the US for invading their privacy. It took about 2 days for the German foreign intelligence officials to pull Merkel aside and quietly inform her and the other government blowhards to dial back their histrionics because the information on German citizens the NSA had access to was actually collected, stored, prioritized, sorted, and shared with the NSA by Germany's intelligence services. The complaints and recriminations from the German government stopped in just a few days. The EU doubled down on whole US privacy invading by creating laws that required all information on any of it's citizens to be hosted in the EU and not the US. Once again a large percentage of EU countries were collecting their citizens data and sharing that information with the NSA so I fail to see hosting in the EU to provide any more privacy. Germanys and the EU actions in this area is nothing more than the continuation of the shakedown operations targeting large US corporations such as Google, Twitter, Apple, MS, and Facebook. There are no comparable corporations in Europe capable of competing globally with any of these companies so they enact retroactive tax regulations and demand billions of dollars and now they have a tiered pricing model all based on the percentage of "illegal speech".

    66. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The old irrational slippery slope

      The problem with considering a slippery slope a fallacy is that plenty of times, the slopes are indeed slippery. Look at what's happening with privacy - it's pretty much a slippery slope by definition. Do you really think that it's even vaguely irrational to believe that Microsoft, Facebook and Google are going to stop invasive data gathering, inserting what amounts to spyware, and trying to take control over devices? If you do, then you're following a slippery slope thought pattern. If you don't, then you're naive at best.

      Either way, ultimately, recognizing the reality of slippery slope situations is essentially pattern and trend recognition, and it's rather irrational in and of itself to try to isolate such situations as though every single action occurred in what amounts to a vacuum.

    67. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > The classic yelling fire in a crowded theater is a good example.

      No. It's almost the worst possible example. The exceptions to First Amendment protection are narrow and well-defined. SCOTUS has also _very_ strongly resisted attempts to widen these exceptions. You should read:

      https://www.popehat.com/2012/09/19/three-generations-of-a-hackneyed-apologia-for-censorship-are-enough/

      https://www.popehat.com/2015/05/19/how-to-spot-and-critique-censorship-tropes-in-the-medias-coverage-of-free-speech-controversies/

      The articles are long, but well worth reading and fully digesting.

      > Asking someone to commit murder is another example.

      This one isn't as simple as you'd like it to be. _Intent_ is a _huge_ part of the analysis here. It's totally legal for me to walk up to someone and ask them to kill another person. What's not protected is if I intend for (or would reasonably expect that) the person I'm speaking to to actually commit the crime.

    68. Re:Illegal speech? by William+Baric · · Score: 1

      Neither of your examples are "good examples". Free speech is about expressing ideas. The classic "yelling fire in a crowded theater" is not about expressing an idea, it's about blatantly lying in order to specifically cause a panic reaction. It's akin to fraud, not akin to free speech. As for asking someone to commit "murder", I'm guessing you are confusing exerting influence to push someone to commit murder with simply expressing an idea. For example, ff we were not allowed to discuss "murdering" someone, then expressing the idea of killing Abubakar Shekau (the leader of Boko Haram) in order to save innocent victims would be forbidden. Is that really what you want?

      Even if I'm guessing what I consider as "trash" is quite different than what you consider as trash, like you I believe that expressing all ideas should always be allowed. Saying nations have different history is not a justification for forbidding free speech. Some Germans may not like free speech, some Germans may prefer to restrict freedom of speech in order to have a government in control, but in my point of view they are both morally and socially wrong.

      As for limiting profanity and sexual content, I disagree with you. In the case of using profanity, it is about the expression of an emotion. For example, we use profanity to express our disgust or our hatred. You may not like the emotion someone else may have, you may feel "offended" by someone else's emotion, but your own feelings should not limit the freedom of expression of others.

      As for sexual content, while I agree it should be limited when minors are part of the audience, I don't see why we should limit it when adults are the audience.

    69. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the US where you can express any idea or political thought but we limit profanity and sexual content.

      I laugh every time I happen to see a sentence in an adult talk show being sensibly disrupted by a discreet beep. Then I cry because it killed my ears.

    70. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      But it's not always legal. Even in the USA.

      For example:
      http://ktla.com/2017/06/16/woman-found-guilty-of-manslaughter-in-texting-influenced-suicide-of-her-then-teen-boyfriend-in-massachusetts/

    71. Re: Illegal speech? by KGIII · · Score: 1

      The defense to that is not to ban it, but to counter it with speech.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    72. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is a perfect example of the creeping fascism that we should be pushing back against. Hard.

      Also, I'd argue that it's not legal, because it's not constitutional.

    73. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Given how in America corporations are the dictators, you can add lost count to America as well sunny jim.

    74. Re:Illegal speech? by RightwingNutjob · · Score: 0

      And in America there isn't. Europe doesn't understand freedom and it never really had the "government with the consent of the governed" thing we've got going over here. Hell, a good number of them still have kings and queens they have to bow to, and a good number who don't act like they do. It's a shame, but history shows you can't expect them to live up to our standards. It's not in their culture, it's not in their environment, it's not in their thinking.

    75. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      That's really not the point of those laws and no one in Germany has forgotten WW2.

      The point is to ban the kind of speech that led to ww2.

    76. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I am not sure whether racist speech should be limited or not.

      I'm fucking sure it shouldn't be.

    77. Re:Illegal speech? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 4, Informative

      Just to be clear here, racist speech is legal in Germany. It becomes illegal when it goes from "X are all scum" to "X should be driven from our land". In other words, it's the threat part that is illegal. Unlike some countries it doesn't have to be a specific threat against an individual, it can be against large groups.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    78. Re: Illegal speech? by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      They hate competition, perhaps?

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    79. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except science has a lot of racist "not-everyone-is-equal" data if you dig under the nice cover they give it. Guess under your regime, lucasnate1, we need to bury our head in the sands too for the sake of feelings.

      Or history. Wanna see the collapse of all US cities? Just look at the demographics over time. Hint: Detroit used to be called the Paris of the West. Guess what happened?

      Guess the Europeans would love to fine me for HATE SPEECH. Facts are racist!

    80. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All speech is actually illegal as a baseline. Some speech is permitted if it meets certain criteria. Why do I say this? If you can not answer the question is X legal? With an unconditional; Yes. Then it is illegal. There are conditions that you must meet to be allowed to do that thing.

      Is driving a car legal? No.
      Is breathing legal? Yes.
      Is speaking legal? No.
      Is thinking legal? ...well, not really but it is hard to prove a crime.

    81. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are a complete idiot.

      Yelling "fire" in a crowded theater is OK as long as you reasonably believe it to be true. The example actually shows that there should be no intent to restrict that kind of speech - it should never be illegal to yell "fire" in a crowded theater since it is sometimes necessary. If not, the shouter may face consequences.

      And that is precisely how it was used - to show that there are practical and natural limitations which apply to the legal limitations anyone may put on free speech.

    82. Re: Illegal speech? by Rockoon · · Score: 0

      Number of world wars America has started: 0

      The fact is that the NAZI's rose to power on socialism, the workers party. They drummed up support vilifying the one percent - Mostly Jews in that case. Once they had a lock on power they took away everyones guns and more importantly took over the schools. It took 20 years to raise the generation that went to war.

      If taking away guns, taking over the schools, vilifying the rich, all on the pretense of being socialists... being the party of the workers... is in any way "right wing" I must not know what right wing means, because its exactly what the left is today. Bullet point for bullet point exactly the same.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    83. Re:Illegal speech? by ctid · · Score: 1

      How's #45 getting on?

      --
      Reality is defined by the maddest person in the room
    84. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "There must be basic limitations on things such as death threats."

      There is, it's called the SECOND amendment.

    85. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nazi speech and symbols were mostly banned because the Allied enforced it after the war, in order to get rid of the remaining Nazis as fast as possible.
      And if you really knew a bit about Germany then you'd also know that Nazi atrocities are shoved down the threads of children in school. History classes cover the WW2 period in detail. There are field trips to concentration camps, they have to listen to the stories of survivors (maybe not in the future) and ask them questions. That's part of the reason why WWII is an extremely sensitive topic with most Germans. When you call them Nazi, they don't think of fat Schultz from Hogan's Heores but rather of agonized faces piled up in heaps of contorted dead bodies. Think of the white-shaming that movements like BLM does, except that this happens on a federal level and it's the legacy of the allied forces.

    86. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You don't "ban" any of those three (fire, fraud, defamation), you subject the emitter to consequences after the fact.

    87. Re: Illegal speech? by dunkelfalke · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Care to explain how vilifying the rich resulted in Hitler being funded by big business?
      Or maybe you can explain how NSDAP, being socialist, sent all socialists and communists to concentration camps immediately after seizing power?
      The schools were taken over so the children could be raised in a patriotic way, starting very much like your very own pledge of allegiance.
      Oh by the way, what idiot told you that nazis disarmed the general population? That never happened. Only jews, gypsies and socialists were disarmed, everyone else could buy any amount of long guns or munition they wanted without any paperwork.
      Only handguns were regulated, but the permit was very easy to obtain. With a special permit citizens could even buy tanks or military airplanes - not disarmed, mind you,

      How is any of this not right wing to you?

      --
      "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
    88. Re: Illegal speech? by Entrope · · Score: 1

      How do you square your claim with https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/..., which explains that basically any thing that could be called "hate speech" is illegal in Germany as long as it is done "in a manner capable of disturbing the public peace"? To me, that seems like it is about the vaguest possible threshold.

    89. Re: Illegal speech? by Entrope · · Score: 1

      We ban fraud, but only make defamation a tort. (There are a few criminal defamation laws in various US states, but they are essentially dead letters. Given current precedent, they would almost certainly be ruled unconstitutional at the first challenge.)

    90. Re:Illegal speech? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Why?

      And why it is rated "insightful"? As a German I find such a statement rather dumb.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    91. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So much winning we're starting to get bored of it.

    92. Re:Illegal speech? by fazig · · Score: 1

      What this article fails to convey is that there are current laws for hate speech in Germany except when it comes to denying WW2 events. The socialist parts of the current government wants to legislate such laws, but there are currently none.
      There are laws against incitement of the masses. This is defined as calling for committing illegal or at least arbitrary acts against individuals, subsets or entire populations. Similar things apply to coercion or for personal threats of committing a crime, like assault or murder. Or in general if you declare the intend of committing a crime it can already get you in trouble.
      And if you still think this is unique to Germany, try to make a death threat in the presence of an officer of the law and see if that is protected speech and allows you to get away with it so easily.

    93. Re:Illegal speech? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      In this case, it is being used to *intentionally suppress political speech that is not in accordance with the current government position*
      Actually it is not. Search warrants and arrest warrants are issued by judges, based on law. The government has no influence on ghat.

      The Germans are *dead wrong* to criminalize speech, because as soon as you do, you permit someone else to decide what "hate" means - just like 1933. And you are a dead wrong idiot.
      Before 1933 we had no hate speech laws, that did not work out very well, for us, for the jews and others and the rest of the world.
      Since 1946 we have hate speech laws, it seems it served us over 75 years quite well.
      What hate speech is, is quite obvious, there is no one needed to 'define' it for anyone.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    94. Re: Illegal speech? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Did you read that article? It's pretty clear that it only refers to incitement.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    95. Re: Illegal speech? by Entrope · · Score: 1

      Yes, and claims like "X are all scum" have been prosecuted as incitement to hatred in other European countries. As just one example, Vegdeland and Others v. Sweden, where the ECHR unanimously upheld convictions for what amounted to "gays are all scum".

    96. Re: Illegal speech? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      And who's responsibility is to counter it?
      A special government agency? Aren't we back on square one then?
      Or do you expect the citizens to form an NPO and counter it?
      Or do you want to accept that no one is standing up to prevent it?

      Isn't there this american slogan (simplified):
      When they came for Bill, I did not stand up and said anything.
      When they came for Joe, I did not stand up and said anything.
      Now they come for me, and there is no one left to stand up for me.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    97. Re:Illegal speech? by lucasnate1 · · Score: 1

      My argument was not for limiting freedom of speech, I said that limitation against racism makes more sense than against sex (and maybe both don't make much sense). We have no argument.

    98. Re:Illegal speech? by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

      Actually since 1871. Not that it helped in any way.

      --
      "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
    99. Re:Illegal speech? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Your link is broken.
      I guess it is an older 'hate speech law'? I gogole it ...

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    100. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Number of world wars America has started: 0

      Number of countries violently assaulted by America in its imperial viciousness? Over half a dozen. The Philippines, Cuba, Iraq, Afghanistan, Panama, Hawaii, the Native Americans across North America, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua...there's a long history, and I doubt you've even cracked a history book to look at it.

      Number of innocent people killed as a result of the actions of American imperialism? Millions. The largest single share? From America's own vicious in-fighting for the right to suppress individuals with the binds of ownership.

      The fact is that America has its history of vilification, oppression, and abuse. Numerous countries have suffered from American imperialism, and within the country, besides the obvious oppression of Native Americans, there are the decades of slavery with its obvious abuses, and then the further decades of segregation and its abuses.

      All done without the pretense of socialism.

      But yes, the Right-wing in America is attempting to take-over the schools, you are familiar with Betsy DeVos, right? The right-wing in America also likes to vilify the rich, just the particular rich they hate, and oh my yes, they did take away guns and firearms, just look at how many of them vote for mass incarceration policies and disenfranchisement of minorities.

      So I'm assessing, that no, you do not know what right-wing means. Let alone what it actually is.

    101. Re:Illegal speech? by argStyopa · · Score: 1

      I actually disagree.

      "Death threats" are not intrinsically harmful. Hell, most public figures get thousands, if not more.
      So they shouldn't be intrinsically illegal.

      Again, you should be able to say anything you want. However, you should not be free from the CONSEQUENCES of that speech - ie if you issue a death threat to someone, it would be reasonable for the local police to say "I'm sorry, you're clearly a dangerous person whose behavior should be watched/constrained."
      Shout fire in a theater, not illegal. However, you should be held liable for injuries/deaths that would logically ensue.

      Not sure if I'm making my point, as it's a pretty subtle distinction but I believe an important one.

      --
      -Styopa
    102. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Have you seen a vagina? Who would not feel threatened by a Sarlacc?

    103. Re: Illegal speech? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      That's not actually true, is it'? Lots of detail here:

      https://strasbourgobservers.co...
      http://merlin.obs.coe.int/iris...

      Note that the court accepted that much of the content of the leaflet was legitimate and protected free speech. They were clearly trying to strike a balance between allowing controversial ideas to be discussed, in a school setting with children no less, and leaflets that are likely to restrict the freedom of gay people by subjecting them to homophobia.

      That's the main difference between the EU and the US. The US sets the bar for speech that harms others much higher, and as a result we see that people do get severely harassed but there isn't much that can be done about it. In the EU there is more of a balance, seeking to both allow controversial ideas and to provide some protection to others.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    104. Re: Illegal speech? by Entrope · · Score: 1

      Yes, that is really true. "In the Courtâ(TM)s opinion, although these statements did not directly recommend individuals to commit hateful acts, they are serious and prejudicial allegations." That's more along the lines of "all X are scum" than "all X should be driven from our land".

    105. Re: Illegal speech? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      It's not, if you read the detailed judgement it's clear that they took multiple statements together and considered the overall message. It wasn't merely an insult, it was the narrative that homosexuality is subversive and dangerous, something to be feared. They judged that such a narrative would likely have very negative consequences for gay people.

      It's the consequences, not mere insults which are the problem.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    106. Re: Illegal speech? by Entrope · · Score: 1

      So your original description of what makes speech illegal was simply wrong.

      I also suggest that if the law says -- as I think you are saying -- that it's okay to randomly insult and disparage a group, but illegal to be specific about why you don't like them, that's a really awful law.

    107. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Stop it. Your're projecting.

    108. Re:Illegal speech? by Khyber · · Score: 1

      "The classic yelling fire in a crowded theater is a good example"

      No it's not since I've heard plenty of people yelling "Fire!" during firing squad scenes. And I've worked in a theater.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    109. Re:Illegal speech? by misexistentialist · · Score: 1

      "whites should be driven out of Germany" = 100% legal, amirite?

    110. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I actually disagree.

      "Death threats" are not intrinsically harmful. Hell, most public figures get thousands, if not more.
      So they shouldn't be intrinsically illegal.

      Ok, why not? You haven't provided a reasoning, just the claim that most public figures get thousands, if not more. That is not persuasive.

      Again, you should be able to say anything you want. However, you should not be free from the CONSEQUENCES of that speech - ie if you issue a death threat to someone, it would be reasonable for the local police to say "I'm sorry, you're clearly a dangerous person whose behavior should be watched/constrained."

      Then you aren't free to say anything you want, which is the exact point being made.

      Shout fire in a theater, not illegal. However, you should be held liable for injuries/deaths that would logically ensue.

      Really, I warn people about a fire in a theater, and I'm liable for the injuries and deaths that would logically ensue?

      Not sure if I'm making my point, as it's a pretty subtle distinction but I believe an important one.

      You aren't. You're just trying to make a point, not realizing how tendentious it is, and doing it poorly to boot. This is sort of thing has been widespread in this thread though. It creates a barrier to communication, and prevents honest discussion.

      It isn't illegal, but it is lamentable.

    111. Re: Illegal speech? by boa · · Score: 1

      Care to explain how vilifying the rich resulted in Hitler being funded by big business?

      The original program was very anti-capitalist. Hitler made a distinction between jewish and non-jewish capitalists in 1928, in order to get the support of German capitalists.

      Or maybe you can explain how NSDAP, being socialist, sent all socialists and communists to concentration camps immediately after seizing power?

      Dictators always imprison or kill potential rivals, regardless of political views. Look what Hitler did to his own during Night of the Long Knives (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Long_Knives )

      The schools were taken over so the children could be raised in a patriotic way, starting very much like your very own pledge of allegiance.

      All rulers to this, regardless of political color.

      Oh by the way, what idiot told you that nazis disarmed the general population? That never happened. Only jews, gypsies and socialists were disarmed, everyone else could buy any amount of long guns or munition they wanted without any paperwork.

      Nah, mate. Google Translate of the German law you linked to, says that Section 15: Arms purchase or warrants may only be issued to persons whose reliability is not a concern, and only if proof of a need exists. So if there's a need and if you're trustworthy, then you can get a gun. There were exceptions for members of the state machinery, like SS. Quite the opposite of what you wrote, isn't it?

    112. Re:Illegal speech? by boa · · Score: 1

      Since 1946 we have hate speech laws, it seems it served us over 75 years quite well.

      Post hoc, ergo propter hoc.

    113. Re: Illegal speech? by ffreeloader · · Score: 1

      Maybe you ought to read some real history rather than Wikipedia....

      Read Friedrich Hayek's "The Road to Serfdom", especially the chapter on the roots of Nazism. He documents, quite carefully, in that chapter how socialism was the foundation of political thought in Germany long before WWI. He also documents how Marxists led out in turning the population towards the Nazi camp. It's a very interesting read, that is if you want to actually challenge your political beliefs and see if what you think is actually true.

      There isn't much actual difference between all forms of collectivism. They all end up with the government telling everyone what to think, what to do, and controlling all economic activity. And since economic freedom, as even Karl Marx admitted, is the very foundation upon which all political and personal liberty has been built personal and political liberty is destroyed under collectivism. That being the case your ideas will ultimately destroy the very right you now have to hold political opinions other than the one the government will tell you to hold once you get your "ideal" of socialism.

      The graph of political thought is a straight line. On one end we have the absence of all government: anarchy. On the other end we have total government control: all forms of collectivism. The United States was started on that continuum quite a bit closer to anarchy than to collectivism, as we started out with a very small, very limited, federal government. We grew rapidly under that form of government into the largest economic powerhouse the world has ever seen. We have just moved a long ways away from our constitutional laws as the federal government has usurped more and more of power the Constitution reserved to the individual states. Now we have bureaucrats in Washington D.C. making decisions for people living on the opposite end of the country and those bureaucrats have no idea as to what local conditions are really like. We also have bureaucrats, unelected officials, telling people how to run their businesses, how to run their lives, what they can believe and what they cannot speak about without government punishment, etc....

      Another good book for you to read would be Rose Wilder Lane's "Give Me Liberty". It's a free download from multiple places on the internet. It's available in both pdf and epub formats.

      --
      "while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude." de Tocqueville
    114. Re:Illegal speech? by ffreeloader · · Score: 1

      Britain has basically done the same thing.

      http://www.theargus.co.uk/news...

      --
      "while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude." de Tocqueville
    115. Re: Illegal speech? by ffreeloader · · Score: 1

      It wasn't the speech of private citizens that led to WWII. That is a non-starter. It was the German government's actions that led to WWII.

      --
      "while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude." de Tocqueville
    116. Re: Illegal speech? by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

      The original program was very anti-capitalist. Hitler made a distinction between jewish and non-jewish capitalists in 1928, in order to get the support of German capitalists.

      The original program was before Hitler.

      Look what Hitler did to his own during Night of the Long Knives

      The funny thing is that you yourself haven't read what you have linked. It says there clearly that Hitler didn't care about the "socialism" part, hence the purge.

      All rulers to this, regardless of political color.

      Care to explain why I didn't have a daily recitation of some stupid oath in my childhood - in an actual socialist country, no less?

      Nah, mate. Google Translate of the German law you linked to, says that Section 15: Arms purchase or warrants may only be issued to persons whose reliability is not a concern, and only if proof of a need exists. So if there's a need and if you're trustworthy, then you can get a gun.

      Well, as a German I can tell you that Google translate is not that correct and you have deliberately misunderstood it anyway. The law clearly says (Â11 (1)) that handguns - and only handguns - need a purchase permit (Waffenerwerbsschein), and this is exactly what I have written. Long guns could be acquired without a permit - except for jews, gypsies, socialists and communists - this is what is meant by "unreliable persons". Exactly what I have written.
      Carrying, on the other hand, needs another permit (Waffenschein - Â14), which is also exactly what I have written.

      --
      "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
    117. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > There should be no such thing as illegal speech.

      Read the article carefully: " raids concerned politically motivated right-wing incitement, according to the Federal Criminal Police Office, whose officers conducted home searches and interrogations. But the raids also targeted two people accused of left-wing extremist content."

      Let me translate that european style politically correct wording to plain english:

      "politically motivated right-wing incitement" = nazism, with a proven track record of 25+ million dead and having brought total war ruin to Germany by the end of its brief 12 year rule. Their speech, which you aim to protect was to "gas all the jews and gipsy and the slavs, cause those inferior races prevent nordic aryan greatness".

      "left-wing extremist content" = communism, with with a proven track record of 100+ million killed worldwide, including 40 million in the Soviet Union and its satellite states, including brutal military crushing of the 1953 popular uprising in Berlin and 1956 in Budapest. It opressed the eastern half of Germany for 40+ years with a military dictatorship that shot dead many thousands of people who tried to scale the infamous Berlin Wall to seek better life in a market economy democracy called West Germany.

      The communists' speech, which you aim to protect was: let's kill all the people who are not industrial workers, agricultural workers or progressive intelligentisa (i.e. communist propaganda monkeys). Especially the clerical reaction (priests and church school teachers), kulakhs (large landowning farmers), capitalist pigs (factory owners) and former aristocrats must be annihilated quickly and mercilessly to achieve the new "perfect" world.

      You see it is not just a play of words or some kind of a game of wits in Europe, as the old continent has a long history of inciteful speech readily being turned into massive bloodshed, between nations, ethnicities, religious factions and various social classes. Can you imagine a catholic-protestant holy war, involving USA, Canada and Mexico, where muslims, masons, santeria and hubbardist followers also participate and whole states are depopulated by fighting? That's a useful analogy to understand what's at stake.

      Please also look at Africa, where the 1+ million dead Rwanda genocide of bahutu vs. watutsi tribes was started by propaganda of incitement and ended in people killing each other with sticks, stones and machetes (most didn't even have or needed the AK-47 to cause all that carnage). Note how that happened circa 1995, in a post cold war world, where everybody was assuming free speech and the nascent net are the ultimate good.

    118. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, Holmes never said it was a wrong argument to assert that crying fire in a crowded theater in order to incite a panic demonstrates an example of something not covered under free speech.

      He tried, and you can worry over his success, to convince the court to better follow his standards, but he never repudiated his example.

    119. Re: Illegal speech? by prefec2 · · Score: 1

      Spreading hate that s not free speech. Also you cannot demand that someone kill someone else or commit other kinds of crimes. Like all human rights they are limited by the rights of other humans.

    120. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Since 1946 we have hate speech laws, it seems it served us over 75 years quite well.

      My grandfather carried this tiger-protection rock around with him since 1946, it protected him from tigers for over 75 years quite well...

      What hate speech is, is quite obvious, there is no one needed to 'define' it for anyone.

      Of course! It means whatever we want it to mean. If you are not guilty, what do you need a 'definition' for?

      /stupid

    121. Re: Illegal speech? by prefec2 · · Score: 1

      The NSDAP was not a socialist party. Socialists are internationalists. The opposite of nationalists. Also the Nazis had a pro industry program and were supported be rich people. Where did you have your history classes?

    122. Re: Illegal speech? by boa · · Score: 1

      The original program was very anti-capitalist. Hitler made a distinction between jewish and non-jewish capitalists in 1928, in order to get the support of German capitalists.

      The original program was before Hitler.

      The original program was written by Adolf Hitler and Anton Drexler, and presented to the public February 24th, 1920. Source: http://hitler.org/writings/pro... (But you may not want to open that link if you're in Germany...)

      We can talk all night about the Strasser brothers, Goebbels' early hang for socialism, Hitler's pragmatism, how NSDAP slowly left their socialist views behind, and whatever else you want to talk about. How about the Thule Society and its influence on early, German nazism?

      Look what Hitler did to his own during Night of the Long Knives

      The funny thing is that you yourself haven't read what you have linked. It says there clearly that Hitler didn't care about the "socialism" part, hence the purge.

      It looks as if you didn't get the point, so I repeat it: Dictators always eliminate rivals, regardless of political views. Nazis killed nazis (and others), just like communists killed communists (and others). Your argument, "The nazis weren't socialists since they imprisoned socialists", is void.

      All rulers to this, regardless of political color.

      Care to explain why I didn't have a daily recitation of some stupid oath in my childhood - in an actual socialist country, no less?

      How do you know you didn't? ;) The Ruling Classes are much more subtle these days.

      Nah, mate. Google Translate of the German law you linked to, says that Section 15: Arms purchase or warrants may only be issued to persons whose reliability is not a concern, and only if proof of a need exists. So if there's a need and if you're trustworthy, then you can get a gun.

      Well, as a German I can tell you that Google translate is not that correct and you have deliberately misunderstood it anyway. The law clearly says (Â11 (1)) that handguns - and only handguns - need a purchase permit (Waffenerwerbsschein), and this is exactly what I have written. Long guns could be acquired without a permit - except for jews, gypsies, socialists and communists - this is what is meant by "unreliable persons". Exactly what I have written.
      Carrying, on the other hand, needs another permit (Waffenschein - Â14), which is also exactly what I have written.

      First of all, stop being an ass accusing me for "deliberately misunderstanding" German gun laws from 1938. I don't read German. You posted a link to a long document written in German, without any references at all, on an English web site. WTF do you expect from your readers?

      BTW, I grew up in a socialist country too, still anyone older than 16 could buy a shotgun, no questions asked, until 1985. In the UK, anyone could buy machine guns until 1934, IIRC. And in some parts of the US, shotguns are sold next to milk and bread.

      Weapon laws don't prove that a country is ruled by nazis.

    123. Re:Illegal speech? by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

      Paragraph 130 StGB Deutsches Reich.
      Same paragraph as today and the wording is also seemingly similar, but back in the day it was meant to suppress socialists.

      --
      "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
    124. Re:Illegal speech? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Probably your: Post hoc, ergo propter hoc.

      I only stated that the laws served us quite well sine 1945.

      If there is a causality or not is up to you. If you want to prove there is none, it is up to you as well.

      Sorry, throwing around latin in the time of the internet (and I actually had latin in school) to look bright is rather foolish.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    125. Re: Illegal speech? by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

      It looks as if you didn't get the point, so I repeat it: Dictators always eliminate rivals, regardless of political views. Nazis killed nazis (and others), just like communists killed communists (and others). Your argument, "The nazis weren't socialists since they imprisoned socialists", is void.

      The three aspects of a crime are means, motive and opportunity. The motive is important, and that is what was different about killing off the SA compared to your examples. They were killed because they were socialists of some sort.

      How do you know you didn't?

      Because I remember my childhood quite well.

      Weapon laws don't prove that a country is ruled by nazis.

      The original point was that nazis were left wing because they have disarmed the population, which was a lie because they didn't.

      --
      "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
    126. Re: Illegal speech? by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

      How exactly is "the road to serfdom" real history and not some musings that are hypothetical at best and bullshit at worst? It is basically the same crap as Ayn Rand wrote, only written as a non-fiction book. Only interesting for free market fundamentalists.

      --
      "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
    127. Re:Illegal speech? by boa · · Score: 1

      Probably your: Post hoc, ergo propter hoc.

      I only stated that the laws served us quite well sine 1945.

      Well, you certainly _implied_ that there was causality between post-WWII laws and some unstated benefit from having those laws. The relative peace enjoyed in Germany after the fall of Hitler is most likely *not* due to hate speech laws, since countries without those laws have enjoyed the same peace.

      If there is a causality or not is up to you. If you want to prove there is none, it is up to you as well.

      The way I see it, you either made a claim about causality, or your statement was without meaning. You tell us which's which. It's not my job to argue for you.

      Sorry, throwing around latin in the time of the internet (and I actually had latin in school) to look bright is rather foolish.

      Ad Hominem and argumentum ad verecundiam :) Who cares if you had Latin in school unless you were good at it. For all your readers know, you sucked at Latin.

      Seriously, it's a good idea to use the Latin names. It reduces confusion and most names are easily googlable for those you want to read up. One could say that Latin is the Lingua Franca of fallacies (Yup, that was also a joke)

    128. Re: Illegal speech? by KGIII · · Score: 1

      You are responsible. Rights come with responsibilities.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    129. Re: Illegal speech? by boa · · Score: 1

      It looks as if you didn't get the point, so I repeat it: Dictators always eliminate rivals, regardless of political views. Nazis killed nazis (and others), just like communists killed communists (and others). Your argument, "The nazis weren't socialists since they imprisoned socialists", is void.

      The three aspects of a crime are means, motive and opportunity. The motive is important, and that is what was different about killing off the SA compared to your examples. They were killed because they were socialists of some sort.

      Nope, the motive is to secure power. They were killed because they were perceived as a threat. Their political view weren't important, and communists migrated en masse to the nazi party too.

      BTW, in the beginning, many political opponents weren't even killed. They were arrested and imprisoned in Dachau, where HÃss was in charge. You remember him, right? Many of them were released from Dachau too, at least in the early phase of the terror regime.

      How do you know you didn't?

      Because I remember my childhood quite well.

      Good for you, but the real test is if your current beliefs are true or not. Here are a couple of controversial, and hopefully interesting, issues "the ruling classes" don't talk much about and hence the average European doesn't know much about. Why did we have the Crusades? How many Europeans died as slaves between 1500 and 1800? None, you say? Why did Germany turn nazi in 1933? What were the goals of the nazis by going to war? How many Germans were killed, after 1945, when they were expelled from Eastern Europe after the war? Not part of the curriculum, you say? Does Islam mean "peace" and is Islam "a religion of peace"? Is immigration profitable for the receiving countries? What's the origin of the expression "Arbeit macht frei"? Was Hitler a drug addict? What's the logic behind Romano Prodi's and EU's Ring of Friends strategy and why do they want to "share everything but institutions" with the arab countries in North Africa? Was there ever an Islamic "Golden Age" and did the muslims preserve old Greek knowledge? Is the Welfare State sustainable? Who were the driving forces behind the Euro?

      As I mentioned, I also had the pleasure of growing up in post war Europe, in a more or less socialistic country. We were served lots of lies and half-truths, and lots were omitted too. The situation wasn't too bad until late seventies, but we had one teacher fired for political agitation.

      Today, the situation is much worse, especially regarding immigration and Islam. Our pupils are served blatant lies.

      Weapon laws don't prove that a country is ruled by nazis.

      The original point was that nazis were left wing because they have disarmed the population, which was a lie because they didn't.

      OK, thanks for clearing that up.

    130. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It was the energetic enthusiasm of the German citizens that empowered Hitler. The Germans didn't start having any reservations about their governments actions until they started losing the war. Of course the war was made possible primarily by the idiotic French and English who placed the entire blame for WW1 totally on Germany and then did nothing to enforce the terms of the Treaty of Versaille. If you are going to impose sever restrictions on a countries ability to grow their military capabilities and then tell the same country they also have to pay for all the damages caused in WW1 you best enforce those terms. The Europeans didn't even try and Germany didn't even bother to hid their military build up prior to WW2. The Germans even used the Spanish Civil War to field test their new planes and artillery in real battlefield conditions.

      And the world has still not learned the lesson of how WW2 was the result of the WW1 terms not being enforced. In 1991 the largest international coalition ever created imposed terms on the Iraqi government to end the war. This international "coalition" then refused to support anything that would actually enforce those terms which pretty much left the US and Britain holding the bag. The UN Oil for Food program was circumvented by UN member countries to make a few dollars and provide Iraq with hard currency that was used to rebuild old palaces and build new palaces instead converting the oil income into food stuffs. And the US was promptly accused of staring the Iraqi's. Restrictions were placed on Iraq's remaining military assets that barred them from punishing the Kurds in the north and the Iraqi population in the southern part of the country for providing less than adequate support during and after the war. Once again the US and Britain had to provide permanent air assets to enforce that restriction. They regularly had to destroy active air defense systems (which were also banned in the surrender agreement) and helicopter forays all designed to test the will of the "international coalition" of spineless bastards living large in NY City pretending they contribute anything positive to the world. If the 9/11 attackers had targeted the UN building there would probably be a new US holiday added to the calendar celebrating the worlds good fortune. The chaos in the ME can be laid squarely at the feet of the UN. The US is just the bouncer called in after all the drunken diplomats fuck everything up. Sort of like the US having no diplomatic contact with NK but after the set off their first nuke in SK or Japan the US will be expected to put an end to NK once and for all. Don't people know that the very first nuclear weapon NK launches in any direction will result in a full on nuclear retaliatory strike from the US? Fallout damage in SK or China or anywhere else in the region will just be written off as the cost of doing business. A single US nuclear submarine off the coast of NK can decimate the entire country in under 3 minutes. The only other option the US has is to abandon SK and Japan to their own devices and allow full scale war to erupt across the whole region. The SK's alive today did not experience the war when NK invaded almost 80% of the country. They have lived under the military protection provided to the US and foolishly think the US will always protect them no matter how much criticism and insults they hurl at the US. They have not realized that the US of today will need a really good reason to protect any country because they know that outside of Britain and maybe Australia there is not a single country that would help protect the US if needed. Too many countries operate under the assumption they can expect help from the US in times of war and natural disasters while simultaneously raging against any thing American. There are consequences to this type of behavior and those consequences are not going to be very pleasant for anyone.

    131. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you limit racist speech you are limiting free speech. The only speech that shouldn't be allowed is violent threats. Besides who decides what is racist speech? Is advocating drastically lower immigration levels considered racist speech?

    132. Re: Illegal speech? by bongey · · Score: 1

      Can you give ONE example were Communists or Socialists coming to power didn't exterminant their political competition?
      The pledge of allegiance was around since 1892 and pledges to one's country/king have been around for centuries. For some reason very very few patriotic groups turned into something like the Nazis,so you need new argument idiot, it doesn't make any sense at all.
      Jews were forbidden from owning guns,along with a bunch of other restrictions on Jews so nice strawman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/....

    133. Re:Illegal speech? by bongey · · Score: 1

      Does Germany have many laws on the books the curtail speech? The answer is YES, stop trying to convince yourself and the world that you have free speech, but the fine print says otherwise.

    134. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ok then lets follow this train of thought for a bit. Do you think black people would have been prosecuted with this law during the civil rights movement?

    135. Re:Illegal speech? by kelanos · · Score: 1

      "X should be driven from our land"

      is not a threat....you're talking non-sense

      Kind of wondering why you get modded up like it's some one's job to give you points even though your comments are low quality

    136. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The "President" isn't the real President, you ought to know that. Do you really think they'd let us decide how to govern ourselves? This is all just for show, and they're reaaaally having to crank the volume to keep people interested lately. Sounds like you're enjoying the show though. Good for you! Captcha: publicly

    137. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Only if you insist that racist speech is free speech. If you don't, then you're not.

      And if you do think that racist speech is free speech, then you're a racist.

    138. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They were. MLK was under watch and harassed because of his speeches that were 100% pro-peace but 100% anti-racism. He was as much, if not more, under watch by the federal government than the leaders of the Black Panthers. And they exhorted people by their speech to violence (and they did violence).

      Please answer me what non-speech thing Abu Hamsa did to get arrested and tried in the USA?

    139. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So it;s not OK to shout fire in a crowded theatre, it only may be, if you give valid reason. Which means you have to defend your speech against being declared illegal. Probably in some sort of jury-like scenario. In front of someone who will judge whether your reason is valid based on evidence given by the defence of your act and the evidence or argument against that defence that someone prosecuting your act for the damage and distress done by it presents.

      In what way is this not a court case with your actions needing defence, aka illegal speech?

    140. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You haven't used your head for long enough if you think that. There's a thousand things people could say to other to make them angry, sad, hopeless, useless, or to break them down completely. Should it be tolerated to hurt people in this way?

    141. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      because all those things happened in the USSR and to a greater degree

      all those things happen in israel

    142. Re: Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So... nobody in the German population was disarmed by the Nazis, except everyone the Nazi's didn't like. Got it. Totally different than disarming the population. Totally.

    143. Re: Illegal speech? by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Read Friedrich Hayek's "The Road to Serfdom", especially the chapter on the roots of Nazism. He documents, quite carefully, in that chapter how socialism was the foundation of political thought in Germany long before WWI.

      In other words, he's so far wrong he's not worth a look. There were socialists in Germany before WWI, true, but they had little or no power. Bismarck put through some social programs as a way of disarming the socialists, so they had some indirect influence, but Bismarck was very definitely not a socialist. Most German politicians were OK with sending people in the German working class to fight their class brethren in Russia, Belgium, and France.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    144. Re: Illegal speech? by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      The Nazis rose to power based on nationalism. If they'd been rising to power on socialism, they'd have been a lot friendlier with the socialists and communists. They drummed up support vilifying the Jews while getting cozy with the rest of the 1%. If you read Mein Kampf, there's a lot of vituperation against Jews, but little or nothing against non-Jewish capitalists. Once they had a lock on power, they let people keep their guns, by and large, unless they were Jews or something like that.

      Based on what I've observed is taught in some right-wing states, distorting science and pushing right-wing and nationalist policies is just fine with the extreme right.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    145. Re:Illegal speech? by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      How does conspiracy factor into that? In essence, a conspiracy is communicating for the intent to commit a crime.

      IANAL, but I had the impression is that conspiracy was not a crime if it involved talking only, but required some tangible act towards the specific crime being discussed. This has of course been severely abused at times. Treason is not just speech, either.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    146. Re: Illegal speech? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Exactly.

      And because the ordinary citizen is to cowardice we have a law, so the law enforcement can jump in.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    147. Re:Illegal speech? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      The relative peace enjoyed in Germany after the fall of Hitler is most likely *not* due to hate speech laws, since countries without those laws have enjoyed the same peace.
      Which country do you mean? There are not many countries that have no hate speech laws.
      If you mean the USA, then you are very bad in history. Kuklux Klan, Martin Luther King, Malcom X, the Arpardheit Riots, etc. p.p.

      For all your readers know, you sucked at Latin.
      The readers don't know anything about my latin. I sucked in grades, but can read it quite good :D

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    148. Re:Illegal speech? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Interesting, I was of the opinion that those laws pooped up under the influence of the occupying forces.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    149. Re:Illegal speech? by martinfb · · Score: 1

      Agreed. Sort-of.

      Yelling "FIRE" in a movie theater would indeed incite a potentially harmful incident.
      Yet, would yelling "TERRORIST" at a Trump rally carry the same weight?

      --


      Self-importance and self-indulgence is the root of ALL evil.
    150. Re: Illegal speech? by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Go look up 'dictator' in a dictionary you halfwit.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    151. Re: Illegal speech? by KGIII · · Score: 1

      Which is a fundamental difference between your country and my own,

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    152. Re: Illegal speech? by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      You can't have a classical free market with information asymmetry either, but we manage with what we've got.

      Complete freedom of speech is not part of any definition of "democracy" I've ever seen.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    153. Re: Illegal speech? by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      It was at least partly the speech of citizens that led to Germany's government.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    154. Re: Illegal speech? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      It is not.
      In your country it only makes more press when on "stands up".
      That is why you think there is a difference.

      People are everywhere the same.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    155. Re: Illegal speech? by KGIII · · Score: 1

      We are all pretty much the same, but we will allow degenerate Nazis to march down the street in our capitol AND we'll give them police protection.

      It's a very, very big difference.

      You still have scumbag Nazis. They just stay in the shadows, more often than not.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    156. Re:Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Germany is a free democratic nation so if the citizens of Germany want to have those limitations then that is up to them.

      There are some parts of the German constitution that plainly cannot be amended, and advocating for their change (through political means, not violence) is against the law.

    157. Re: Illegal speech? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      It's a very, very big difference.
      No it is not.

      We are all pretty much the same, but we will allow degenerate Nazis to march down the street in our capitol AND we'll give them police protection.
      We do the same. As long as they don't trigger any laws that is fine. E.g. showing "Hitler greetings" or wearing SS runes.

      You still have scumbag Nazis. They just stay in the shadows, more often than not.
      So have you.
      And we both only know about those that don't stay in the shadow.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    158. Re: Illegal speech? by KGIII · · Score: 1

      Ours don't have much reason to remain in the shadow. They parade down Main Street. That'd be so illegal in your country. They salute, yell slogans, hand out papers, and solicit new members - in the open. The vast majority of us don't like them, but we respect their right to political speech. We have that right. It's a pretty big distinction between our countries.

      Note: I am not saying this way is the only way. I'm just saying this is how we do it. I would also say that I prefer it.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    159. Re: Illegal speech? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      They parade down Main Street. That'd be so illegal in your country.
      It is not.
      They salute, yell slogans, hand out papers, and solicit new members - in the open.
      Depending on the "salutes" and content of the papers etc. this is legal here too.

      We have that right. It's a pretty big distinction between our countries.
      In our countries, certainly not, in your mind, yes.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    160. Re: Illegal speech? by KGIII · · Score: 1

      Once again, they can dress in full Nazi regalia, say "Hitler did no wrong." say that Jews should be killed, do the Nazi salute, and we'll give them police protection while they march down the street.

      I have no idea why you're trying to say that sort of thing is legal where you live. It's not. We both know it isn't. That you don't see it, or acknowledge it, is okay by me. I'm happy that you remain blissfully unaware. It's probably for the best.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    161. Re: Illegal speech? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      "Hitler did no wrong."
      They can say that here too.
      say that Jews should be killed,
      They can't.
      do the Nazi salute,
      They can't.
      and we'll give them police protection while they march down the street.
      They have that.

      I have no idea why you're trying to say that sort of thing is legal where you live. It's not. We both know it isn't.
      We both lnow
      I only tlaked aboout the demonstration, not about nazi saluts and kill all jews parols, so why do you try to twist my words?

      That you don't see it, or acknowledge it, is okay by me. I'm happy that you remain blissfully unaware. It's probably for the best.
      I'm quite aware about the minor differences, and I'm proud we implemented them. After all my country was the worst Nazi country so far. Call it an overreaction if you want ...

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    162. Re: Illegal speech? by KGIII · · Score: 1

      I am not twisting your words. I'm demonstrating the fundamental differences between my country and your country. We allow our scum to speak, demonstrate, and say what they want. You disallow that, by law. That's a huge difference.

      You have repeated that we're the same. We're culturally very different, in these regards. Our scum doesn't have to hide. Our scum gets police protection - regardless of what they say, how they salute, or what insignia they wear. They don't have to hide. They have no motive to hide. Hell, they're kinda happy (seemingly) with the press they get.

      Your country, as evidenced by this very article, raid people - for hate speech. We don't have to worry about that.

      I'm glad it works out for you - but I'd rather be able to identify the hate and counter it with reason, as opposed to letting it fester and grow in the shadows.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    163. Re: Illegal speech? by ncc74656 · · Score: 1

      Or maybe you can explain how NSDAP, being socialist, sent all socialists and communists to concentration camps immediately after seizing power?

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS-0Az7dgRY

      --
      20 January 2017: the End of an Error.
    164. Re: Illegal speech? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      GKill, with all due respect.
      What is wrong with you?
      There is no _huge_ difference.
      There are exactly _3_ or if you want to get nitpicking _4_
      1) you may not trigger violence, aka hate speech
      2) you may not display nazi symbols
      3) you may not defame religions
      4) you may not insult foreign heads of state

      All the other gazillion things your free speech grants you, our free speech grants us, too
      So get a damn clue: there is no big difference!

      Yes, their houses got raided. And what is your point? They broke the law so they got a visit from the police.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  4. JAWOLL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Ungewöhnliche Zeiten erfordern ungewöhnliche Maßnahmen" ...

    1. Re:JAWOLL by slashrio · · Score: 1

      (Jawohl)

      --
      "Trump!!", the new Godwin.
  5. Fourth Reich by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Fourth Reich will employ "Thought Police".

    1. Re: Fourth Reich by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At least this time they'll be politically correct and gas people based on their thoughts instead of race or religion...

  6. Censorship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Threats aren't protected speech. Directly inciting riots and violence isn't protected speech, referring to someone actually trying to organize violent acts. However, a lot of this seems like censorship, for the purpose of suppressing some ridiculous opinions and political views. While those views might be repugnant, it is still censorship, and should not be tolerated. The state cannot be trusted to determine which political views are acceptable and which are not.

    1. Re:Censorship by epyT-R · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Threats aren't protected speech.

      They should be. In the highly unlikely scenario where someone truly intends to do me harm, I'd rather know about it than have it sprung as a surprise later. In the highly likely scenario of idle threats and foolish blustering, there's no point in worrying about it.

    2. Re:Censorship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is a book that is full of threats and incites its followers to violence. I wonder if Germany will have a go at banning that one?

    3. Re:Censorship by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      The state cannot be trusted to determine which political views are acceptable and which are not.
      And the state is not doing this, as the state has no power to tell judges or stare attorneys what to do, facepalm.

      Also we are not talking about political views anyway. We are talking about hate speech, that has nothing to do with current politics but with your ill state of mind.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  7. Germany .... taking by bongey · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Authoritarian governments to the extreme since 1933.

    1. Re:Germany .... taking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did you mean 1939?

    2. Re:Germany .... taking by bongey · · Score: 1

      Um Hitler rose to power in 1933, 1939 is when he went complete bat-shit crazy, not that he wasn't crazy before. One thing to think I am going to take over the world, completely another to actually try to take over the world.

    3. Re:Germany .... taking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      1933 was when Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor by Hindenburg.

      1939 was when Germany invaded Poland and England/France declared war on Germany.

      But in truth Germany was authoritarian long before 1933.

      And Merkel is proving that she is just as bad as the Nazis.

    4. Re: Germany .... taking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No he means 1933. When the Nazi's we're elected into power in Germany with Hitler as their leader you ignorant sod.

    5. Re:Germany .... taking by mossy+the+mole · · Score: 1

      Authoritarian governments to the extreme since 1933.

      Not that I agree with Germany's restrictions on speech but I'd say it much more a desperate attempt to avoid another authoritarian governemnt

    6. Re:Germany .... taking by OYAHHH · · Score: 1

      Huh?

      --
      Caution: Contents under pressure
    7. Re:Germany .... taking by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      Merkel is killing millions of Jews, occupying Europe and bombing Britain?

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    8. Re: Germany .... taking by Entrope · · Score: 1

      Since when has it been okay to be an authoritarian government in order to prevent your government from becoming authoritarian?

    9. Re: Germany .... taking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Think of it like swallowing a spider to catch the fly. Same logic and it will eventually end the same way.

    10. Re:Germany .... taking by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      All the skilled telco workers then had to select sides after 1945.
      Protect East Germany from the West.
      Help protect West Germany from the communists.
      Report to Moscow or the CIA, GCHQ or NSA over the decades.
      Generations of German staff enjoying overtime and the most advanced telco tech.
      Now a new generation gets to watch over all communication in Germany.
      Say or write anything wrong and the police get a report.
      No freedom of speech. No freedom after speech.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    11. Re:Germany .... taking by squiggleslash · · Score: 2

      The glazed over look of someone who has never done any research at all into why the thing they're condemning is being done.

      It usually makes sense to actually find out why someone is doing something before criticizing them. Even if you end up disagreeing with their reasons, you'll at least be able to address them.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    12. Re: Germany .... taking by aliquis · · Score: 0

      Was 1939 Germany worse than 2017 Germany and Sweden?

    13. Re:Germany .... taking by mvdwege · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Guess who insisted that criminalising Nazism was a pre-condition for an independent Germany?

      Oh wait, it was those enlightened Free Speech activists known as the USA.

      --
      "I know I will be modded down for this": where's the option '-1, Asking for it'?
    14. Re:Germany .... taking by Mr.+Shotgun · · Score: 1

      Not that I agree with Germany's restrictions on speech but I'd say it much more a desperate attempt to avoid another authoritarian government

      So a coordinated campaign against 36 people, across 14 states, for words on the internet does not seem authoritarian to you?
      Hmm, so how is North Korea this time of year? Is is any good? How is Jong-un doing these days, hanging in there?

      --
      Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the (supposed) good of its victims may be the most oppressive
    15. Re:Germany .... taking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Merkel is inviting plenty of potential Jew killers to occupy Europe and you'd bet Merkel wants Britain to bomb.

    16. Re: Germany .... taking by aliquis · · Score: 1

      No. She's destroying Germany, the Germans and Europe. Traitor.

    17. Re:Germany .... taking by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Following the law is not authoritarian.
      The law is not prosecuted by the government.
      It is enforced by police, judges and state attorneys.

      The government has absolutely no say in that. Ever heard about dividing the forces?

      So, we have razzias in 14 states where law enforcement is arresting right wing terrorists. Oh, they did not bomb yet, only called for bombings ... calling for bombings is illegal in my country. And luckily those idiots are so dumb to call in public so it is easy to catch them. Now they get investigated, do they have bomb materials? Do they have friends that have bomb materials? Without our laws we had no way to investigate, you stupid moron.

      What is next? A Moslem is making an attack somewhere and you shout: why don't you have laws to catch/prosecute/detain Moslems in advance? Hu? You can not have it both ways!

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    18. Re:Germany .... taking by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Now a new generation gets to watch over all communication in Germany.
      Say or write anything wrong and the police get a report.
      No freedom of speech. No freedom after speech.

      Why are you writing nonsense like this?

      Even you idiot should know: hate speech is only relevant if it is done in public. In my 4 walls I can say what I want and even if it is recorded (for which they would need a warrant, hard to get) it is harmless for me as: it is not in public. In other words, I can also say via phone or WhatsApp what ever I want ...

      Anyway, your idea that everything in Germany gets recorded is utter nonsense anyway.

      I can even say: 'Down with Jews, kill all Moslems!' here on /. as every one can see that was sarcastic, stupid idiot.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    19. Re:Germany .... taking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Prisoners don't get the same rights as free people.

    20. Re: Germany .... taking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's called "outsourcing". It works.

    21. Re:Germany .... taking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Guess who also didn't criminalize speech in their own country while insisting that the criminally unhinged, genocidal, serial-world-war-starting Germans be muzzled? As the other AC said, "Prisoners don't get the same rights as free people."

    22. Re: Germany .... taking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Could you guys all just shut up? You are all so reactionary. You don't spend any time thinking before you write things.

    23. Re: Germany .... taking by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      That's something a Nazi would have said about a head of the Weimar Republic.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    24. Re: Germany .... taking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't follow what you are saying but I assume it wasn't important anyway.

    25. Re: Germany .... taking by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Really? A Nazi in the 1920s and early 1930s would be quite comfortable saying that a head of the Weimar Republic was "destroying Germany, the Germans and Europe. Traitor." Seems simple enough to me.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  8. Title should be... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Germany cracking down on Free Speech.

    Nice to see their police state mentality still survives.

  9. governments are scared by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    governments are scared of the internet... they are trying to slowly kill it

    1. Re:governments are scared by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Parent post is one of the more insightful posts in the thread. It's too bad AC's start at 0.

      For what it's worth, I agree fully. The genie accidentally got out of the bottle, and there's an all out effort to get it back in again, and they look on course to succeed. Lots of parties from lots of countries for lots of reasons, but freedom of communication scared those in power. It cannot and will not be permitted. It is being taken away bit by bit, so there isn't too much complaining about any little piece when it goes.

    2. Re:governments are scared by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nah, they don't want to kill it. They just want to control it, know everything going on in it, know who everyone is, and know what they are thinking at all times.

  10. Germany The Left's paradise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Social engineering + censorship. Global Socialism.

  11. Meanwhile in the US . . . by DreadCthulhu · · Score: 5, Informative

    Thankfully, here in the US the Supreme Court unanimously disagrees with this "hate speech" BS. Letting governments censor any sort of political speech is just a bad idea. https://www.washingtonpost.com...

    1. Re:Meanwhile in the US . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      America Fuck Yeah!

    2. Re:Meanwhile in the US . . . by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      The SJW are working hard on that in the USA.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  12. Words are scary! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When you can't form a cohesive argument to counter content or speech you don't like.

  13. German people need to go 1776 on their government by pecosdave · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I'm not saying "work within the system" the system is corrupt and does not represent it's people, any attempt to work with the system just creates more prisoners. The people have a duty to replace their government with a government that represents them.

    --
    The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
  14. narrowly avoided this in the US by ooloorie · · Score: 0

    We narrowly avoided this crap in the last election, because one of the candidates was hell-bent to follow European models.

    1. Re:narrowly avoided this in the US by meglon · · Score: 1

      Pull your head out of your ass and take a look around.

      --
      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    2. Re:narrowly avoided this in the US by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You should heed your own advice.

  15. speech control & multiculturalism/immigration by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    they are domesticating western culture by controlling speech

  16. How disappointing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Germany must be abolished: it is another failed state left in the wake of the U.S. Playing world police.

    This one has taken a little longer to implode than the others but the result is the same.

    Time to line 'em up and hand out the shovels.

    1. Re:How disappointing by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure how you can call one of the most successful and prosperous countries in the world a "failed state", but then again I suspect you have private definitions of common words and phrases so you can shock and overawe those of lesser wit than yourself.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    2. Re: How disappointing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Everyone's definitions are private. Some are more similar than others.

      What definition makes Germany successful and prosperous? Perhaps it is, if you mean it is a faithful and subservient vassal state of the U.S. As far as U.S. occupied territories go they are at least calm little bitches and don't fight back anymore.

    3. Re:How disappointing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It will be a failed state in about 20-40 years. Demographics don't lie. Short-term prosperity at the sale of long term viability is no success. You can't import a ton of 3rd worlders and expect 1st world citizens or ideas to take over. All you will get is Detroit.

  17. Germany leader of the free world by bongey · · Score: 1

    Of Governments doing whatever the hell they want to do the people and telling the people to stfu. You say Trump is the dictator, maybe you should look in the mirror first.

    1. Re:Germany leader of the free world by MightyMartian · · Score: 4, Informative

      Germany's limitations on far right speech have been around for seven decades, and were born out of the Allied Occupation and Allied Denazification policies. We can argue whether those laws are justifiable now, but the intent, as with banning the Imperial form of Shinto by the US during the occupation of Japan, was to assure that the militaristic regimes that had killed hundreds of millions would not rise again.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    2. Re: Germany leader of the free world by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem is banning 'hate speech' would need 'hate' to be defined.
      Now in Germany, just saying illegals should be sent back home is considered 'hate speech', while it is actually only asking laws to be enforced.

    3. Re:Germany leader of the free world by kelanos · · Score: 0

      militaristic regimes that had killed hundreds of millions

      You mean like the United States and Great Britain?

      It hurts my heart to see the usual clowns getting modded up for their total idiocy. You and AmiMoJo and some others

    4. Re:Germany leader of the free world by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      I'm attempting to explain how far right speech came to be censored in Germany. Yes, Britain and the US have both been militaristic, but their chief responsibility for the Second World War was in basically sitting on their hands from the 1920s onward as first the Weimar Republic, and then later the Third Reich violated Versailles with barely a whimper from the two largest Allied Powers. A nice time for Britain and the US to get extremely militaristic would have been in 1935 when Hitler flagrantly violated the Treaty of Versailles and sent a small, largely symbolic military force into the Rhineland. At that point a few divisions of Allied troops marching into Berlin and toppling a still fairly weak Nazi regime would have pretty much solved the problem with little bloodshed.

      But back to the point, in both Germany and Japan the Allies were faced with how to deal with militaristic and authoritarian regimes which, even in ruins, might rise again. So whatever you think of British or American belligerence at various points in history, they and the Soviets were the preeminent powers at the end of the Second World War, and their hard-won victory over the Axis delivered into their hands the power and responsibility to prevent another vast conflagration. So, you force laws through in the occupied zones of post-War Germany outlawing the Nazi Party, the public honoring of Hitler or any other Nazi, and putting limits on the ability of far right groups to broadcast their message in. In Japan, you outlaw the Imperial Cult and cull it from the Shinto religion.

      And you know what, both policies actually worked. West Germany and Japan became within a couple of decades of the Second World War major economic powers and firm allies of the Western Powers. We can debate all day whether the various restrictions built into the constitutions and laws of the Federal Republic of Germany and in Japan are still necessary, but I'd say in the immediate post-war era they were absolutely critical to the rehabilitation of both nations. And really, it had its historical precedents, in particular the Reconstruction Era in the US after the Civil War where the former Confederate States, after a period of military occupation, were rehabilitated and became proper members of the Union once again.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  18. Coming soon to a country near you... by srichard25 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Coming soon to a country near you with all the snowflakes who will want legally mandated safe spaces.

    1. Re:Coming soon to a country near you... by djinn6 · · Score: 1

      Oh they can have as many safe spaces as they want, just leave public spaces alone.

  19. How to remove 70% of illegal posts on your site by chudnall · · Score: 1

    1) Count how many posts are made each day.
    2) "Arrange" for 2.5 as many illegal posts to be made.
    3) Remove all the posts from step 2.
    4) P- You know.

    --
    Disclaimer: Evolution comes with NO WARRANTY, except for the IMPLIED WARRANTY of FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
  20. Re:German people need to go 1776 on their governme by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The need to go 1917 on their government.

  21. Wrong icon by onyxruby · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Shouldn't this be under the censorship icon?

    1. Re:Wrong icon by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      SJW like reporting users. SJW see it as a positive.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    2. Re:Wrong icon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      AHuxley has it right. Libs see all government as positive and all positives as government.

  22. Re: German people need to go 1776 on their governm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Too late; the government has taken the guns, taken the spirit, taken the freedom. Germany is a nation of children now, too dependent on the system to upset it. The duty of the German people is now to do as their masters command. Suggest otherwise... see headline.

  23. Re:Thought police by The+Grim+Reefer · · Score: 2

    Assresting [sic] people for speech you don't like is something Hitler would do.

    So is metabolizing oxygen. Well, when he was alive. So is drinking water and eating food.

    I don't agree with what is going on with regards to curtailing speech, but comparing everything to Hitler and Nazis is just stupid.

    Eisenhower also got the idea for the interstate highway system from Hitler's Autobahn. Should we also remove those? How about jet engines and rockets?

  24. Re: German people need to go 1776 on their governm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So what your saying is the German people should just line up single file for the ovens.

  25. CorpGovMedia using immig to prop up ponzi economy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    white populist speech threatens multiculti/immigration, and that scares corp/gov/media

  26. Illegal speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    That's fucked up!

  27. From TFA by Dunbal · · Score: 2

    "Our free society must not allow a climate of fear, threat, criminal violence and violence either on the street or on the internet."

    So we'll kick in your door if you make an internet post we don't like.

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  28. Checking... Nope. Still Great. by SuperKendall · · Score: 0

    Absolute free speech is a great idea... until you add human emotion to the equation.

    That's when it becomes an EVEN BETTER idea. Because otherwise, high emotions get in the way of what people can say.

    It's when you stop letting people talking that they go on to more... vigorous activity.

    There must be basic limitations on things such as death threats.

    Speaking as someone who has had creepy death threats sent to them before, I would far rather someone vocalize and allow me to categorize the threat, rather than simply having them show up to kill me unwarned...

    You do realize that meaningful death threats are illegal, right? That's the whole point of free speech; you are free to say anything but NOT free of consequences from what you say.

    I'm just siding with common sense.

    "Common Sense" in this case of course, meaning "Fascist Mob Rule" (and yes you are being the very definition of a fascist "a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control").

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Checking... Nope. Still Great. by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You do realize that meaningful death threats are illegal, right?

      Yes, that was my point.

      That's the whole point of free speech; you are free to say anything but NOT free of consequences from what you say.

      Incorrect. The point of free speech is to keep the government from jailing you for speaking out against them.

      Everything else in your post is sheer drivel.

      --
      Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    2. Re: Checking... Nope. Still Great. by aliquis · · Score: 1

      I 100% believes this.
      If no peaceful way to express yourself and effect things then what?

      Express speech is the best and nicest alternative. Fuck the authorities.

    3. Re:Checking... Nope. Still Great. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's the whole point of free speech; you are free to say anything but NOT free of consequences from what you say.

      If that's the case, then every citizen in North Korea - indeed, every last person on Earth - enjoys complete freedom of speech.

      But somehow, I doubt that most would agree.

    4. Re:Checking... Nope. Still Great. by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      keep the government from jailing you

      This right here! It is amazing the number of people who will quote the colloquial title of the applicable part of the constitution as the law itself, but can't even get to reading the first word of the text which limits the application of the entire first amendment to only apply to congress.

      Yet, they try to use free speech as an excuse for everything from arranging drug deals, to defending against libel.

      Maybe the colloquial name should change to

      "Free* speech".

      *Some speech is still restricted

    5. Re:Checking... Nope. Still Great. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The point of free speech is to keep the government from jailing you for speaking out against them.

      No, that is the point of the first amendment. Free speech itself has many more faucets to it.

  29. Why can't we be more like Europe?!.. by mi · · Score: 1

    The classic yelling fire in a crowded theater is a good example.

    It is, actually, a horrible example. Because the Supreme Court Justice, who used the analogy to reaffirm a lower court's conviction of a man, who advocated against draft, regretted the decision later in his life. And, obviously, Americans do not think, advocating against a war is a crime.

    The US has a very different history when it comes to Nazi's and antisemitism than many European nations.

    Maybe, the differences in our history are due to us having the First Amendment? That as long as someone limits himself to words, we usually let them be; and any would-be dictator would need to pass a major — indeed unpassable — hurdle to subdue the country's media?

    Germany is a free democratic nation so if the citizens of Germany want to have those limitations then that is up to them.

    Are they a free nation, if they can't express certain thoughts as words (not deeds)?

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    1. Re: Why can't we be more like Europe?!.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except that Trump is trying his best to limit the freedom of the press.

    2. Re: Why can't we be more like Europe?!.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because the Supreme Court Justice, who used the analogy to reaffirm a lower court's conviction of a man, who advocated against draft, regretted the decision later in his life.

      He never, however, to the best of my knowledge, expressed any regret for the conviction of any man or woman for falsely yelling "fire" in a crowded theater.

      Unless you have any evidence to indicate otherwise, it remains a highly relevant example of criminality.

    3. Re: Why can't we be more like Europe?!.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, he is trying to get them to TELL THE TRUTH for a change. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!

    4. Re:Why can't we be more like Europe?!.. by Rockoon · · Score: 1

      Please its not the media that protects America from getting a dictator, its the sprawling system of power, and although not perfect was a really good first attempt at a Peoples Government.

      Even after the Federal government grew in power enormously relative to the States, it still cannot happen. Thats how resilient the system was when it started. I think if the founding fathers had foreknowledge they would have done it a bit differently, as obviously the Federal government is way too removed from people to justify that much power. A fascist health care plan, for instance, gets passed in spite of the majority of the country having been against it, precisely because the Federal government is so far removed from The People.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    5. Re:Why can't we be more like Europe?!.. by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Just because you disagree with something, it is not fascist.

      A fascist health care plan, for instance, gets passed in spite of the majority of the country having been against it, precisely because the Federal government is so far removed from The People.

      I suggest to google, what Fascist means.

      In a fascist health care system only the super rich had healthcare and when ever they needed an organ transplant they would organize a hunting party for the youth of the super rich to hunt down some poor sods to harvest the blood and the organs, and they would call it: sports.

      By definition 90% or more of the population would be in favour for that law .... uh, not population, but the elite that is allowed to vote.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  30. tit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Facebook should just delete any post made by any politician advocating censorship.

  31. Just pull out of Germany by jonwil · · Score: 2

    If Facebook and other social media companies dont like these new laws they should shut down all their German operations and have no employees, no servers, no infrastructure and no business presence in Germany and then say "we no longer have a presence in Germany therefore German law doesn't apply to us"

    1. Re:Just pull out of Germany by misexistentialist · · Score: 1

      all they care about is money, a slimeball like Zuckerberg no doubt would like speech regulations in the USA since competitors can't afford to comply

  32. Angie brings back Stasi; what Germans really want: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Auntie Angie is bringing back the Stasi, but what Germans really seem to want is some kind of a Wall!

  33. What happened to free speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    So people aren't supposed to have opinions anymore?

    1. Re: What happened to free speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. People do not have enough information or understanding to form an opinion which is in any case irrelevant. People must follow their leaders without question.

  34. Nazi Germany by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's nice to see the return of Drittes Reich.

    Heil Merkel.

  35. Re: German people need to go 1776 on their governm by pecosdave · · Score: 1

    The thing is the government itself if full of petty cowards. You ever seen what happens to a petty coward when they're legitimately threatened or challenged? Petty cowards show courage when they're walking around with a clipboard citing laws and regulations and they have you over a barrel with protocol. When protocol is gone and you're enacting the laws of nature they crack - quickly. If the people wanted an old fashioned rabble - the modern equivalent of showing up with pitchforks and torches, maybe a tar and feathering or two would take care of it.

    I know here in the U.S. our law enforcement, especially the sheriffs departments, being decentralized and pretty much independent in each case were things as bad here as they are there would probably in many counties stand with the people. So would many of our veterans, which is just as good if not better in many cases.

    Unfortunately I'm afraid your description of Germany is probably what's accurate, the Germans are famous for keeping excellent records and making sure their systems work smoothly meaning it's unlikely anyone in the power structure would side with the people and the people are too whipped into believing delegated power is supreme.

    I constantly preach to stay off the dole, be responsible for yourself, vote against ANY regulation or increase in authority for government and take care of your own - however you define that - and encourage them to do the same. It's the people I know and other like them that are keeping things in check and prevented us from going over the edge like Germany has. We're dangerously close to that edge, most metropolitan areas in the U.S. have already slipped over and are being held back from actually falling by more rural areas.

    --
    The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
  36. Simple as that. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's free speech if you are a fucking hollywood flavoured libtard. (http://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/23/opinions/johnny-depp-crude-remark-cevallos/index.html). Or if you are a fucking goat fucker muslim. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3240295/Imam-tells-Muslim-migrants-breed-children-Europeans-conquer-countries-vows-trample-underfoot-Allah-willing.html). It's free speech if you are an ugly bat-shit crazy feminist. (https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/5gkkj5/is-reducing-the-male-population-by-90-percent-the-solution-to-all-our-problems).

    It's hate speech if you are a sane white male of clear european descent worried about the future of your own race.

    This post is protected by free speech. If you don't agree you are a Nazi (tm).

    1. Re:Simple as that. by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      It's hate speech if you are a sane white male of clear european descent worried about the future of your own race.

      Could you rephrase that question so it doesn't contradict itself?

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  37. I disagree by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    Genocide is nothing new. It's roots are like most things economic. The Germans needed money to lift their economy despite of the sanctions and fuel a war machine suitable for empire building. The Jews happen to have enough money for that and being an insular people were easy enough to put to the sword for the purpose of taking their wealth.

    Take any awful thing that's been done in history and it's always about money when all's said and done. If you want to stop Genocide, oppression and everything else that's bad it's simple really: take care of your poor, don't screw them over. Otherwise somebody's gonna come along and mobilize them.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re:I disagree by burni2 · · Score: 1

      No that's wrong, you do show the cause and effect in a wrong way.

      robbing possession
      As it is true that the Nazis robbed or coerced jewish people - those that were able to leave the country or those getting slaughtered - off their possession, the basic cause for the prosecution was a racistic - racial ideology - view on humans, their physiognomic properties and their suggested different worth for society.

      pseudo-scientific racial "theory"
      This pseudo-scientific racial theory/ideology, in contrast to the "normal" anti-semitism that the church - protestant and catholic alike - propagated had resided in the culture since arround the mid to late 19th century, within various classes of society.

      For example the historic "Martin Luther" published his anti-semitic views and this was also used in the prosecution of the jews in the 20th century.

      the wealthy jew
      The wealth only some jewish entrepeneurs earned resulted in envy, indeed. It's one of those anti-semetic myths that jews in general are wealthy. But if one is to belong to a another group it is very easy to envy them, this is said to contrast the wealth gain of other entrepeneurs during similar times (Siemens, Krupp just to name a few)

      And this way the view on so called "sub-humans" jews merged with the old legend of the jews as being the killers of jesus and general evil-doers - aided by the envy.

      Jews were part of the society
      But the jewish people in the begining of those times were mostly far from being insular people, but the plan of the Nazis was to exclude the jews from the society ("Don't buy from jews", was painted by the "SA" - onto the window of jewish owned shops)

      Popular jews of the time for example "Albert Einstein" also a certain amount of actors. Jews mostly were assimilated into the population, and sometimes only learned of their heritage when by the "Ariernachweis" - documenting their heritage of having jews or no-jews up to the grandparents level in their ancestry.

      And btw. the Nazis sucked money everywhere - gold possession for example, (e.g. use of gold for wedding rings).

      Genocide
      The appearance of a genocide is not bound to people being poor and others being rich. Its based on hate and the possibility to express that hate freely and to incite action against others.

      Examples:
      "Huti / Tutsi" / 1990s
      "Turks / Armenians" 1915

      Explanation:
      SA - "Sturmabteilung" - a group of violent street thugs of the NSDAP - put into uniform and later made deputies of the police
      to uphold the "public safety". In contrast to the SS "Sturmstaffel" which was the militarized section of the NSDAP

      NSDAP - the Nazi party - Acronym translateion "National Socialistic German Workers Party"

    2. Re:I disagree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Money had a lot to do with it.
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayer#World_War_II

    3. Re:I disagree by burni2 · · Score: 1

      The article section you referenced does only say things about the involvement in humans being used as test subjects and the involvement of the Bayer company in the holocaust.

      And this was only possible because people were seen as being of less worth than others - as so called "Untermenschen" (-> sub-humans). And these people could to anything with those so called "Untermenschen", and gain profit.

      However you missed the initial point that the holocaust was only to gain money from robbing jews of their possession, the robbing was a by-product, the basic intend was to wipe out the jewish population, and not to forget all other "races" that the Nazis deemed not life-worthy - mostly the population of eastern europe.

    4. Re:I disagree by Rockoon · · Score: 1

      You are missing it, thereby fucking up cause and effect.

      The workers party. Fighting the good fight against the rich. The Jews became the poster child for their 1%, the people that had to be stopped, but the hatred of the Jews wasnt the cause, it was the effect. Had to make a villain.

      All the ethnic and racial hatred was the effect, not the cause. The modern day left still decries the rich, manufactures easily classified villains from it.

      The left are the problem not because of their ideals, but because they so commonly transition from jealousy to hatred, and then cant stop the genocides that they triggered because "the workers party" is a super majority. The left is always trying to get people to hate a small group of people. Every once in awhile the left has so much power, such large numbers, that it turns into an unstoppable genocide.

      Fuck the left. I propose a new direction: Up, with some of the ideals of the left but none of the jealousy that enrages the left.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    5. Re:I disagree by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      SS originally meant "Schutzstaffel", not "Sturmstaffel".

      The SA was one reason for the success of the Nazis: they stormed and disrupted party events of other parties or marches/demonstrations of other parties in the streets.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    6. Re:I disagree by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      However you missed the initial point that the holocaust was only to gain money from robbing jews of their possession, the robbing was a by-product, the basic intend was to wipe out the jewish population, and not to forget all other "races" that the Nazis deemed not life-worthy - mostly the population of eastern europe.
      You mixing up cause and effect, too!
      First they wanted the money of the Jews, then they needed a plan to get it. So they invented that race and ideology bullshit, and when they realized how good that worked with the Jews they extended it to other areas as eastern europe.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    7. Re:I disagree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're delusional.
      You're literally creating a boogeyman scapegoat of this poorly defined "left" (like the jews), and pretending to be persecuted by it.

      Hitler hated the middle class, you revisionist twat.

    8. Re:I disagree by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Sigh. The Nazis were not against the rich. The Nazis were against Jews. The propaganda was that Jews were rich, to stir up envy and the desire to plunder. Read Mein Kampf if you're going to continue to spout nonsense (it does make an appropriate punishment, as anyone who's tried reading the thing knows).

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  38. Re: German people need to go 1776 on their governm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The idea is more individual liberty, not oppressive tyranny with millions of their own people murdered and starved to death. But hey, can I interest you in a free helicopter ride?

  39. Re: German people need to go 1776 on their governm by aliquis · · Score: 1

    I agree but the individual risks are enourmous.

    The world should recognize the genocides of the European peoples, the lack of democracy and demand and help pus through change and repatriations.

  40. Re:German people need to go 1776 on their governme by AHuxley · · Score: 1

    Germany is now stuck with very powerful laws that should have only been used to protect democracy from communists or fascists taking over.
    Laws that should have protected from communist and fascist parties, their meetings, fund raising and publishing.
    Such laws are now been used to stop any and all comments on the policies of todays German political policy.
    Report on local issues, how local services are been used, what governments are doing, the results of illegal immigration and risk a police interview.
    Social media hands over the ip so the brand can keep selling in Germany.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  41. This is the real evil, not the speech itself by fnj · · Score: 2

    "Illegal speech" is only one tiny step away from "illegal thought". You can stuff these laws in your keester.

  42. Re:Free Speech - Free Thought by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The next step is to make radial right/left wing thoughts illegal too.

    Everyone has to confirm to the thoughts favoured by the majority.

  43. Re:Angie brings back Stasi; what Germans really wa by AHuxley · · Score: 2

    Germans have been reporting on each other since the 1920's.
    Before WW2, during WW2.
    After WW2 the Stasi had files on a lot of people. In the West the groups like the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... ensured the new West German democracy stayed really safe.
    Germany kept its powerful laws and political comments start interviews and investigations.
    People report comments. Social media report people. Freedom after speech is a legal matter.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  44. s/Illegal/Conservative/ by sethstorm · · Score: 2

    Merkel only seeks to silence opposition under the banner of political correctness.

    --
    Twitter supports and protects racists - by smearing their critics with the "Hate Speech" label.
    1. Re:s/Illegal/Conservative/ by ctid · · Score: 1

      No she doesn't. And there are VERY good reasons for Germany to fear the reemergence of insane right-wing demagogues.

      --
      Reality is defined by the maddest person in the room
    2. Re:s/Illegal/Conservative/ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do you mean the reemergence of insane petrol-bomb laden left-wing anarchists and young Antifa SA groups with signs: "DON'T BUY FROM JEW...." oh no, I meant: "DOWN WITH FREE THOUGHT! IGNORANCE IS STRENGHT! WAR IS PEACE! FREEDOM IS SLAVERY! GOOD IS BAD! BAD IS GOOD FOR YOU!"

      Tss, tss, tss....

    3. Re:s/Illegal/Conservative/ by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Merkel only seeks to silence opposition under the banner of political correctness.

      Merkel has nothing to do with that.
      Those laws where imposed on Germany around 1946 by the occupying american forces, idiot.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    4. Re:s/Illegal/Conservative/ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Germany will stop right wing thought at any costs, even if we have to put conservatives in concentration camps to do it!

  45. Those Germans by Bender+Unit+22 · · Score: 2

    It's not like they have a history of overreacting. :D

    1. Re:Those Germans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you sure they weren't really terrorists? Better check them out before they put immigrant centers on fire, bomb city halls or high-speed trains, or kidnap another executive. No reaction is too much to collect them'all!

  46. Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    But not enough. People must understand that they must think, speak and act as the Government tells them to. There cannot be any room for dissension. Malcontents and dissenters must be silenced and punished. If the great dream of one Europe, united from the Atlantic to the Urals, who will decide alone over the destinies of the world, as the great De Gaulle said, all Europeans must think one thing, speak one think and do one think. Those who disagree are Nazis and must be hunted down like vermin and killed. End of debate. Those who do not agree with me are breaking the law.

  47. There is illegal speech, even in the US by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Try making a photo like painted picture of child porn : in many state this is forbidden and is taken akin to spreading illegal child porn. Then there is the classical threat to president, or yelling threats in a crowd to induce panic.

  48. Give Europe the 1st Amendment by StarkAbyss · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The foundational cornerstone of American democracy are the first and second amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The guarantee against government interference of free speech and the right of citizens to arm themselves. Everything else, all the other rights and amendments laid out in that document flow from and depend on the first two.

    If you look at Europe today, that is exactly what European "democracies" lack, real U.S. strength 1st and 2nd amendments. What they lack are real free speech rights and the ability to defend themselves from their governments or the thug migrants that rape, murder and steal en masse in Europe. This is why they don't really have democracy in Europe. The EU is made up of a bunch of watered down, pseudo-democracies essentially run by Merkel via Brussels. Granted governments have tanks, etc, but there's no question that intimidating an armed people is a hella lot harder than an unarmed people.

    What needs to happen is for a U.S. citizen(s) to set up a social media / discussion board hosted in the U.S. for the sole purpose of giving the people of Europe actual free speech. Give them the ability to say political things that their governments or Merkel doesn't like, without repercussion. The site/app, having no actual presence in Europe and based in the U.S., would be immune from any European country trying to obtain user info / ip addresses. People could use whatever user name they want and not worry about Germany, England or Sweden forcing the host site to give up any info, "we are Americans, piss off".

    It might be blacklisted in Europe, there are ways around that. I realize that there is Tor, etc but that is too hard for most end users right now. And there are various U.S. based sites that could sort of do this now, but it really needs to be focused on Europe and advertise itself as a site for repressed Europeans to enjoy U.S. strength free speech. If they don't have the ability to speak freely, they have no hope.

    Political Correctness is fascism pretending to be Manners. -- George Carlin

    1. Re:Give Europe the 1st Amendment by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

      Give them the ability to say political things that their governments or Merkel doesn't like

      they already have that.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    2. Re:Give Europe the 1st Amendment by ctid · · Score: 1

      I think we can get along fine without lessons on democracy from the USA, thanks!

      --
      Reality is defined by the maddest person in the room
    3. Re:Give Europe the 1st Amendment by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      What they lack are real free speech rights
      Europe, especially germany, has the same free speech rights than you have.
      The stuff we are talking about here had nothing to do with government, but with idiots inflaming hate versus others, that is a legal crime here. Prosecuted by the state attorney, not the government.

      and the ability to defend themselves from their governments or the thug migrants that rape, murder and steal en masse in Europe.
      There are no murdering, thieving, raping thugs running around in Europe. We are in Europe, not in the USA ... idiot.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    4. Re: Give Europe the 1st Amendment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Care to call anyone "idiot" to their faces, kid? Or do you feel safe only hiding behind your computer? Internet anonymity, is a myth, you know. You can be found. One day... Sooner than you think.

    5. Re:Give Europe the 1st Amendment by JustNiz · · Score: 1

      >> Europe, especially germany, has the same free speech rights than you have

      No you don't You even admitted it yourself:

      >> .... inflaming hate versus others, that is a legal crime here.

    6. Re:Give Europe the 1st Amendment by JustNiz · · Score: 1

      >> There are no murdering, thieving, raping thugs running around in Europe.

      So how is that whole "living in denial" thing working out for you?

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
      https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/...

    7. Re:Give Europe the 1st Amendment by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      No, I did not admit it myself.

      You admit that you have no clue about your own free speech limitations.

      Free speech, in German as well as in the USA, limits the power of the government to prosecute citizens using speech *against* that government.

      In neither country it is allowed for a citizen or a party to call for murder, rape or genocide. If you think you can do that in the USA without being prosecuted you are in idiot.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    8. Re:Give Europe the 1st Amendment by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      How would it be if you read what you post?

      Hu? Sexual assault is not rape!

      We are all aware of such problems, but obviously you are not aware that they have a long arm of "organization" behind it. And that are not muslim arms but nazi arms, idiot.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    9. Re:Give Europe the 1st Amendment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Between the two, only one has started two world wars, a long series of dictators, tyrants, the systematic, mechanized slaughter of innocent people by the millions and took money from the other for decades to rebuild after shitting their own bed.

      The other likes fireworks, talking shit, taco Tuesdays, self-reflection and criticism, and the international advancement of democratic ideals.

    10. Re: Give Europe the 1st Amendment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You sure? Last time we had to teach you democracy by bombing the crap out of you and then defend it for half a century against the Soviets becausr chickenshit europeans love badmouthing Americans while hiding behind our nukes. Maybe the next time we'll just bomb the crap out of you and leave it at that.

    11. Re:Give Europe the 1st Amendment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What Europe actually needs is to get rid of the EU. The US of A may wish for somekind of 'US of E', but it won't stand a chance and in the end Germany will be left alone. Actually, Europe will have even more independent countries in the future as certain areas will eventually claim their independence and the EU will be remembered only as some stupid phase and failed experience.

    12. Re:Give Europe the 1st Amendment by StarkAbyss · · Score: 1

      What they lack are real free speech rights Europe, especially germany, has the same free speech rights than you have. The stuff we are talking about here had nothing to do with government, but with idiots inflaming hate versus others, that is a legal crime here. Prosecuted by the state attorney, not the government.

      Obviously you don't have the same free speech rights that we have in the U.S. as evidenced by the fact the police in Germany are raiding homes for "inflaming hate versus others", apparently a crime in Germany but legal speech in the U.S.

      Of course, "inflaming hate versus others" can easily be interpreted so widely that it can be used by the government to censor speech where the government feels most vulnerable, like Merkel's migrant policy, which is exactly what is happening. In other words, political censorship. And it has a chilling effect on speech. Maybe you want to write on Facebook about the rising crime rate attributed to migrants in the country but don't because you don't want an interview with the police or to end up on some government watch list. Maybe you won't get arrested but censor yourself as you don't want to worry if government pressure or being on such a list will affect your ability to earn a living.

      U.S. Supreme Court has said over and over again that it is the most controversial speech that is most in need of 1st Amendment protection and has long recognized the chilling effect on speech that censorship can have. So NO, we don't have the same free speech rights as Europeans, idiot. What we have is far better, hence original point.

      There are no murdering, thieving, raping thugs running around in Europe. We are in Europe, not in the USA ... idiot.

      Obviously you do...moron. We are in the U.S.A, not Europe and if they tried the stuff you see in the (very short, could be infinitely longer) list below, very well armed U.S. citizens would defend themselves.
      Something on the scale of Rotherham would never happen here because enraged Fathers, AR15 in hand, would hunt them down like the animals they are. Good thing I'm not in Europe, I'd arrested for saying that....

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotherham_child_sexual_exploitation_scandal/
      http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4546450/Rochdale-horror-goes-abuse-rife-10-years-on.html/
      http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/06/03/grooming-scandal-200-sex-crimes-town/
      http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/03/22/timeline-twelve-years-terror-attacks-uk/
      http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/03/02/belgian-police-moroccan-raped-230-women/
      http://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/09/24/swedish-police-admit-loss-control-55-no-go-areas/
      http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/06/13/sweden-50-per-cent-rise-no-go-zones/
      http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/sverige-har-fatt-fler-problemomraden-krisstamning-inom-polisledningen/
      http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/03/23

    13. Re:Give Europe the 1st Amendment by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Of course, "inflaming hate versus others" can easily be interpreted so widely that it can be used by the government to censor speech
      No it can't as told you now several times. The government has no influence on judges and police.

      where the government feels most vulnerable, like Merkel's migrant policy, which is exactly what is happening.
      There is nothing happening in that regard.
      There are not even protests against her politics. 90% of the germans stand fully behind it.

      Something on the scale of Rotherham would never happen here because enraged Fathers, AR15 in hand, would hunt them down like the animals they are. Good thing I'm not in Europe, I'd arrested for saying that....
      You would not be arrested, why would you? Are you really that stupid?
      What you say is wrong, but who cares? You would be arrested after you had hunted them down. Here, and in your country. And then convicted. Here and in your country.

      Can't be so hard to grasp what "hate speech" is ... your examples are none.

      So NO, we don't have the same free speech rights as Europeans, idiot. What we have is far better, hence original point.
      As many slashdot posters _from the USA_ have pointed out in this thread: your rights are more or less the same as we have in Europe. The only difference is, in rare cases, that you need to invoke civil law - that means the offended has to go to court, while we have _rare cases_ where a state attorney can call for prosecution. You have cases, too, where a state attorney did call for prosecution and won. So: you have hate speech "case law".

      All your link examples above are pretty pointless. I would suggest to check which people actually get brought to court for "hate speech" instead of sending random links about other crimes. Your links have nothing to do with hate speech at all ... only rape and other bullshit. What do you want to imply with them is beyond me.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    14. Re:Give Europe the 1st Amendment by StarkAbyss · · Score: 1

      Of course, "inflaming hate versus others" can easily be interpreted so widely that it can be used by the government to censor speech No it can't as told you now several times. The government has no influence on judges and police.

      Wrong again. Yes it can, as I've told you many times now. Need yet another example of out of control "hate speech" laws being used for political censorship? Well look no further than the recent case of the 62 year old German woman fined 1,000 Euros for a meme, a harmless joke on Facebook:

      http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/06/04/62-year-old-german-woman-fined-1000-euros-sharing-anti-migrant-joke-online/

      http://www.snopes.com/german-woman-fined-facebook-meme-refugees/

      And by the way, Judges and the Police are actually government entities, so of course the government has influence over them. In Rotherham, England the Police knew for at least 10 years of the mass, organized, systematic raping of children by Pakistanis and Afghans but refused to stop it because they were under government pressure to avoid the perception of being racist. So the government's policy of political correctness won over protecting children. Any country that makes that choice has no future, nor deserves one.

      There is nothing happening in that regard. There are not even protests against her politics. 90% of the germans stand fully behind it.

      It only seems that way because the German news media has been in full pro-migrant propaganda mode for years now and most Germans are too afraid to say how they really feel, lest they end up fired from their jobs, "interviewed" by the police, fined, arrested or have their homes raided. So go on and live in that 90% fantasy world of yours

      You would not be arrested, why would you? Are you really that stupid? What you say is wrong, but who cares? You would be arrested after you had hunted them down. Here, and in your country. And then convicted. Here and in your country.

      Are you really that stupid? If a 15 yr old can be arrested in Europe for an offensive tweet aimed at a football player who scored a goal against his favorite team, anything goes. No violence threatened, just offensive. And as for the theoretical American AR15 armed Father, he's likely thought out the consequences and found them worth taking for his hunting expedition since neither the police nor the justice system will protect his children. Furthermore, he's likely to find a sympathetic ear or two on an American jury for his temporary rage driven insanity, not necessarily convicted at all.

      Can't be so hard to grasp what "hate speech" is ... your examples are none.

      Again, "hate speech" is whatever the government and prevailing political correctness/thought police culture wants it to be. I've provided numerous examples and could provide many more. The example of the 62 yr old German woman makes it clear. Why is it so hard for you to grasp that "hate speech" is whatever the German/English/Swedish..government wants it to be?

      So: you have hate speech "case law".

      Regarding the First Amendment all State and Federal law is subject to the U.S. Supreme Court's interpretation which requires "imminent lawless action" which means it is both imminent action (right now) and likely to actually happen, in order to restrict speech. Anything else goes including advocating that at some point in the future it would be a good idea for some people to take some illegal action, even if that "good idea" is violent. Any attempt to suppress that speech w

    15. Re:Give Europe the 1st Amendment by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Probably you don't understand German.

      The first link is a "click bait" stating she only liked and shared a joke on Facebook.
      And you think she was convicted for that?

      If you read the article you would see she was convicted for something else, sharing a ling story about refugees, starting with: "Frage: Haben Sie etwas gegen Flüchtlinge? Antwort: Ja, Maschinenpistolen und Handgrananten."

      Translation: "Question: Do 'you have anything against refugees?' Answer: 'Yes, Machine Guns and hand grenades!' "

      That "story" goes on ... but is not in the article, so I don't know how "violence inspiring" it is.
      For the judges that was "Volksverhetzung". Means: "inspiring the population to violence".

      My links are not pointless at all, in fact they are a very small sampling of the countless lives destroyed or facing a lifetime of pain as a result of crime related to migration to Europe from the Middle East and Africa,
      If that was true, what has it to do with "hate speech"? (in fact it is not true as there happened no rapes)

      Rape and "other bullshit" (murder? theft? terrorism?) as you say, are not actually "bullshit". They are violent crime. And you seem to have a curious, perp like, lack of empathy for the victims of those crimes
      All this has nothing to do with "hate speech laws" asshole. Grasp it. Or stop for funk sake arguing.

      The middle part of your post I did not even read. You seem to mix up refugees, and the violence they do, with hate speech laws.

      What would change regarding refugees if we had no hate speech laws? Nothing obviously, as the topics are not related at all. How can you be so dumb?

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  49. Wrong. They're doing it differently to you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Unless you can provide proof that your definitions of free speech (and remember, since the German government is not the US federal government, exactly like the state government is not the federal government, your constitution allows them to do this) that trump their version of free speech (which you can see in the EU Declaration of Human Rights, which most of these RWNJ retards are dead set against anyway, making their complaints about their rights moot), your can not say it's wrong, just that you don't agree with it.

    Go ahead, don't agree with it.

  50. Re:German people need to go 1776 on their governme by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

    The people have a duty to replace their government with a government that represents them.

    What makes you think the government doesn't represent them?

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  51. North Korea is a democratic republic???? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    k.

  52. Please tell me where they say that. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Because they don't. Gun control is not telling YOU you can't sit at home oiling your blue penis replacement every night unless you are a risk to have a gun due to, for example, mental instability.

    Are you admitting that you should not have a gun?

    Nor do they want you to stop smoking. Just stop making others have to breathe your smoke, they didn't choose it, you chose for them. You should be against that too: they never buy smokes back, but they do get the "benefit" of secondhand smoking.

    Nor do they tell you not to drink sugary soda. They just tell businesses trying to make you buy their stuff in a controlled area (you can't take your own soda into a cinema) what they can sell you outside your home for consumption in their premises.

    Neither do they make any claim about fatty meat.

    So precisely zero claims actually exist and are all fabrications, indicating the mental instability that make you unsafe to have a firearm that kills easily.

    1. Re: Please tell me where they say that. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, that poor strawman really got the shit beat out of him!

      Anyway, back to what the poster was saying. You're wrong.

    2. Re: Please tell me where they say that. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hmm. So the strawman is countering every single point the GP said precisely as they said it with you rightwing nutjobs?

      Oh, that's nothing like an argument, that's a fuckwit.

  53. German FB is dead for good. Thought police arrives by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now so much for all the thought-safe kitty & dancing babies videos. Yawn...

  54. Re:German people need to go 1776 on their governme by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

    Such laws are now been used to stop any and all comments on the policies of todays German political policy.
    That is wrong. The government has no legal way to suppress your free speech.

    Report on local issues, how local services are been used, what governments are doing, the results of illegal immigration and risk a police interview.
    That is wrong. See above.

    You are an idiot.

    --
    Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  55. Re: German people need to go 1776 on their governm by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

    Unlike the USA, Germany has a (somewhat) working democracy.
    So what is your point? The AC you answered to is an idiot.

    --
    Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  56. Re:Thought police by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

    And during WWII america found concentration camps a super good idea and put all american citizens of Japanese ancestry they could get their hands on into camps. Many died as health care was (nearly) non existing.

    --
    Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  57. Fascist healthcare by mi · · Score: 1

    Just because you disagree with something, it is not fascist.

    Very, very true...

    I suggest to google, what Fascist means.

    Good idea!

    In a fascist health care system only the super rich had healthcare

    Please, cite the source(s) you found, that support this statement.

    You can't. Because you are wrong — fantastically, spectacularly wrong. "Fascism" means just this:

    a political theory advocating an authoritarian hierarchical government

    See? Not a mention of "health care". But if we search the more elaborate Wikipedia article, we'll find, that it was the Fascists, who were worrying about "health of the nation". Hitler — the most famous among Fascists — even put that on his Programme

    21. The State must ensure that the nation's health standards are raised [...]

    And, upon coming to power, followed up on that by expanding Bismark's "Reich Insurance Act" to cover all Germans at the government's expense (single-payer much?). It sucked — because folks (volks) started going to a doctor for the slightest of reasons, greatly increasing their workloads and lines. (And, of course, there were "Death Panels".)

    Whether "Universal" — a dog-whistle for government-provided — health care is a good thing or not, it is not Fascist to be against it. Quite the opposite, indeed.

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    1. Re:Fascist healthcare by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      21. The State must ensure that the nation's health standards are raised [...]
      That is unfortunately wrong.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism
      This is unfortunately more concerned about what happened than explaining the fundamental ideology.
      The fundamental ideology of fascism is: there are upper class/ruling class and one or several lower classes, down to lower classes that have no right to vote. Law only exists to suppress the lower classes and to empower the ruling class. However it is considered acceptable if one changes class by becoming rich or gaining power in any way. And fights between the ruling class to topple some down to lower classes are fine, too. Bottom line the ideology favours a ruling of the strong over the masses. It is considered natural that some are strong and rule and some are weak and get ruled and exploited.

      Hence my example of your fascist health care system. That Hitler introduced health care for the masses is new to me ... it was introduced around 1870 by Bismarck.

      The most famous fascist probably is Leonidas from Sparta. And not Hitler.
      The most longest ruled fascist state probably was the Roman empire around Neros rule and afterwards.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    2. Re:Fascist healthcare by mi · · Score: 1

      The fundamental ideology of fascism is: there are upper class/ruling class and one or several lower classes

      I cited the dictionary for my definition. You continue to invent your own. If redefining terms is your way of "winning" an argument, I am not interested.

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    3. Re:Fascist healthcare by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      You did not cite a dictionary for a "definition".
      You cited a popular site which uses the observations of regimes during WW2 to make a "bogus definition" when the actual definition of the word is thousands of years old.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    4. Re:Fascist healthcare by mi · · Score: 1

      You did not cite a dictionary for a "definition".

      Dude, you can have your own opinions, but you can't have your own facts. I cited Princeton's Wordnet — an online dictionary. I'm still waiting for your citation of any resource, which defines "Fascism" as anything like "there are upper class/ruling class and one or several lower classes".

      And I did ask for this definition twice already. This is the third time. And yet, you would not.

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    5. Re:Fascist healthcare by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Hitler — the most famous among Fascists — even put that on his Programme [hitler.org]

      Do you have any evidence that there's any trace of truth in that, as opposed to propaganda? Hitler lied a whole lot.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    6. Re:Fascist healthcare by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      That is not the "definition" but common sense.
      That is how all fascist regimes worked, starting with the Spartans (because we don't know much about older ones), going over the Roman empires (from Emperor times on) to modern times.
      The webster definition is btw much closer to _MY_ definition than the link you posted before.

      Point is: there is no dictator needed, an oligarchy is enough. As soon as you have an oligarchy (which you in all history examples had, besides that Franko, Mussolini and Hitler where Dictators, they all had an oligarchy of direct supporters, industrial barons etc.) you have by definition a ruling class and a non ruling class (see your webster link).

      Besides that there are plenty of more Fascist states in that sense than your original link implied, e.g. North Korea, China before ca. 1990, Russia till end of Khrushchev, even east Germany could be counted till unification.

      Point is: a Dictator makes a ruling/government not necessarily a Fascist one. And being Fascist does not imply you have a dictator. It could be a democracy (limited to the voting class, e.g. see the southern part of the USA during the secession wars. They clearly considered them selves a democracy, but big parts of the population where slaves: Fascists. Not in the classical sense, as in a classical fascist system you have a slim chance to change class.).

      Your webster link clearly says that mankind is divided into "the better ones" and the less "good ones", it gives examples by race and nationality. That extents to my "classes".

      Instead of posting random links, but I admit it is a bit difficult, better read some history about it.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    7. Re:Fascist healthcare by mi · · Score: 1

      Do you have any evidence that there's any trace of truth in that, as opposed to propaganda?

      Not only do I have it, I already cited evidence of Hitler having put his "demands" for the government to take care of citizens into his Programme — national health was just one of the line-items.

      Hitler lied a whole lot.

      Ah, so you are questioning his sincerity... I dunno — did he lie like "if you like your health insurance plan, you can keep your health insurance plan"?

      But this is an entirely different topic — angelosphere insists, the healthcare system we used to have was "fascist", because people had to pay for themselves. I presented evidence, that his understanding of what "Fascist" means is entirely different from how the rest of the world defines it...

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  58. This may get me in trouble but it needs to be said by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Posting this anonymously, since as a German this might technically not legal for me to say: Limiting speech in the constitution was a mistake.

    After the horrors of the Nazi regime, people recognized that Germans were susceptible to certain ideologies, and so to prevent them from cropping up again, key points of Nazi rhetoric were banned outright. This was a mistake even at that time, because it drove Nazis underground where they were well-protected instead of having them exposed for all to see. Now, years later, "Germany" as a concept is fighting against the racist and totalitarian undercurrents. I'd rather know that my neighbor is a straight-up Nazi at heart, everybody would be better off knowing who everybody else really is.

    Now years later, we're radically expanding those initial restrictions on free speech beyond their originally intended purpose. The reason why the public is still cheering while jackboots are ransacking people's houses is that the people being raided are reprehensible. While this is easy to sympathize with on an emotional level right now, it's clearly a very bad sign in any democracy when people are being loaded into unmarked vans simply because they said something.

    Shouting "fire" in a crowded theatre is a popular example that is incorrectly understood. What makes this illegal, by any standard and independent of any free speech laws, is the intent and effect behind it. The means by which you caused a mass panic are secondary to the act of actually causing a mass panic, which by itself is already illegal.

    The most important lessons about the dictatorship years is now, and maybe always was, lost on Germans and many other nations. We're somehow still okay with the basic methods of authoritarianism, we just superficially reject some of beliefs it came with at the time.

  59. Re:German people need to go 1776 on their governme by AHuxley · · Score: 1

    Re The government has no legal way to .....
    Germany to pour cash into mass surveillance (08.09.2016)
    http://www.dw.com/en/germany-t...
    "particularly decrypting what the report calls "non-standardized telecommunications," meaning widely-used messaging services"

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  60. 'speech' is not a 'passive' action by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Cretins who seek to defame free speech use false examples like 'shouting fire in a crowded theatre'. However the law has always drawn a distinction between free speech, and 'speech' that is intened to be an immediate part of a continuum of illegal ACTION.

    So one robber telling another robber to shoot a cop is never ever ever seen as part of a 'free speech' equation. If your 'speech' is a direct command or conspiracy plot specifically intended to directly drive obviously illegal activity, it never even enters the domain of speech considered as 'free speech'.

    So the girl who told the boy to kill himslef was not tried for the words, but the belief that the words would certainly cause the boy to do so when he otherwise would not. And as such this would be no different from a doctor using his 'position' to 'persuade' a patient to unplug him/herself from a life-supprt machine for no other reason than the doctor wanted to see the patient die. No 'free speech' issue involved.

    Where the water is muddied- so to speak- is by devious anti-free-speech advocates who try to extend the definition of 'criminal' speech to speech that may have nebulous down-the-road 'criminal' 'consequences'. So, for instance. pointing out that the Torah/Old Testament was used to justify slavery because it states that dark-skinned Humans are 'lesser' becomes 'criminal' speech because it might make people prone to think judaism is fundamentally a negative influence on Humanity. Likewise pointing out that islam is effectively Judaism re-skinned.

    The slippery slope- always encouraged by 'friends of Israel'- always leads to the death of free speech. This is why the American approach- unique on the planet- and one of the few reasons to admire America- is that free speech is an absolute concept to be always protected from inevitable death from a thousand cuts.

    America understands speech is not passive action- so when a person does use words in the way we understand actions, the words are treated as actions- and thus in criminal cases easily separated from free speech. So a direct command like "lock that door" is never 'free speech' even if the command is harmless. It's verbal nature doesn't matter. And then if the command is criminal in intent, arguments about 'free speech' never come into it.

    Most hate speech never has the form of an illegal command, so remains fully legal in the USA- as it should be. And the correct societal response to hate speech should be other speech designed to counter it.

  61. Re:German people need to go 1776 on their governme by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

    You fail to explain what that has to do with the topic.

    Instead of "buying data" from the NSA we do our own "recordings".

    IMHO a good thing.

    Perhaps you should read and grasp what "mass surveillance" actually is and how it works.
    And then: please stand up and fight it in your country first. When you are successful we are all ears here to know how you do it and what you have achieved.

    --
    Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  62. Re: This may get me in trouble but it needs to be by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You're afraid to post that without fear of repercussion?

    Go get a gun and fight back, you pussy. Be a man and take your country back.

  63. No, No, No! by s.petry · · Score: 1

    Absolutely false claim that the Freedom of Speech is to protect against Governments! You simply have no clue what you are talking about! Read Locke, who predates the US Constitution which embodied Free Speech. How about Luther who predated Locke by about a century. Read Plato who predated Luther by a couple thousand years. The point of Free Speech is to be able to express ideas and thoughts that people may dislike.

    Government is a single aspect, but any power structure can and does limit speech to maintain and extend power. Be it the Catholic Church of old, Islamic Religion today, or any Government that ever existed. In fact, Universities were also notorious for demonizing people who had different ideas. You may in fact remember something in history regarding that exact topic. Universities today (yes, right now) demonize speech on Political views that don't match the Administration's. Not to be outdone by the Politicians, they also demonize science in areas that they can relate to politics, like Biology and Climate.

    Free Speech is UNIVERSAL! As should be accountability for your words.

    --

    -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

  64. Coming soon to America... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... unless you donate today to the Trump 2020 re-election campaign. Let's defeat the mental disease that is liberalism once and for all!

  65. Germany cracks down on Social Media. by najajomo · · Score: 1

    I disagree, the people have a right to say what they want, the rest of us have the right to take no notice.

  66. Stick 'em up! Your money or your freedom! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is time to make a choice.

    Either be European companies, and give up American notions of freedom.

    Or be an American company, and pay American taxes.

    This hybrid attempt to dodge taxes while complaining about restrictive regulations is just going to fail.

  67. Re: German people need to go 1776 on their governm by pecosdave · · Score: 2

    I would argue any time you can get arrested for expressing an opinion or belief you absolutely do not have democracy.

    Democracy is built on the concept of debate, discussion, and trying to persuade others to your ideas. If you get arrested for attempting to debate, discuss, or persuade you are nowhere near a democracy.

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  68. Re:German people need to go 1776 on their governme by pecosdave · · Score: 1

    Well the fact the people are getting upset about some of their governments actions and if they same something about it they get thrown in jail.

    If you're beating on my car with a bat and I ask you to stop and hit me with the bat I would argue you weren't representing my wishes even if I had already paid you to wash my car.

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  69. Germany doing it again by p51d007 · · Score: 1

    Didn't we go through all the book burning about 80 years ago? Oh, but people will say it's "hate" speech they are going after. Yeah, this time, but what about tomorrow? As long as it is speech you don't like, but what happens if they go against something YOU like?

  70. Fascism is Anti-Socialism by Capsaicin · · Score: 2, Informative

    You dont get to change the facts of history buddy.

    You're claiming a monopoly on that, yeah?

    The redefinition that came afterwards ... the one that labeled the Nazi's as "right wing"

    Yup, and we've always been at war with Eastasia ...

    The NSDAP, despite it's name (by the time it came to power it was as "Socialist" as the German Democratic Republic was "democratic"), was clearly understood to be a party of the right, at the time. It is true that at it's inception the NSDAP did include Socialistic aspects, as their pre-Hitler era policy reveals. However, by the time Hitler rose to power the party was explicitly both anti-leftists and anti-semetic, in the extreme. Indeed it took most of it's votes from the old arch-conservative DNVP. Even more tellingly, the NSDAP was part of an ever changing, and often bitterly infighting, right-wing coalition united only by their common aim in the first place to undermine Mueller's Grand Coalition, and then post 1930 to keep the SPD, (still then the largest party in the Reichstag) out of power. Thus, aided and abetted by Hindenburg, the governments of minority party leaders came and (except for the last) went at a furious pace, slipping ever rightwards, from Bruening, von Pappen, von Schleicher and finally Hitler. In direct contradistinction to your Orwellian re-writing of history, it was unambiguous at the time that Hitler stood far to the right on the political spectrum.

    Mussolini - Rose to power via PSI

    While it is true that Mussolini rose to prominence in the PSI, it is a simple falsehood to claim that he rose to political power in it. Quite the opposite, he rose to political power in the PNF (The National Fascist Party), a party explicitly and very visibly opposed with the PSI. It's also true that the ambiguity of where Italian fascism stood on the political spectrum persisted for longer (even for Mussolini himself). It is fair to say, I think, that the PNF did begin as a pro-militarist, but none the less leftist offshoot (it was, for instance, strongly syndicalist). In the event the PNF was taken to the right, not so much by its founders as by a swelling membership of anti-Socialists. It was seen as the party actively taking the Socialists on, and thus attracted anti-Socialists looking for action. Thus when Mussolini attempted to call off the war with the PSI, the membership revolted, forcing Mussolini to relinquish for a short time the leadership of the PNF.

    But again, by the time it came to power, as with the NSDAP, it's alignment was obvious. Unlike the luke-warm contemporary leftist, the aim of Socialists at the time was clear: remove the "means of production" from the "bourgeoisie" and hand them over the the "workers" (which is to say those socialists who control the state apparatus ... ahem). Both the NSDAP and the PNF were clearly on the side of industrialists who benefited greatly from their rule. Not only their ideology the, but their actions regarding this central question once in power, mark them out as being anti-left.

    As to international appraisal of Italian Fascism at the time, the foreword the Mussolini's English language My Autobiography in the original 1928 edition, by the erstwhile US Ambassador to Italy, Richard Washburn Child, ought to disabuse you regarding your mistaken beliefs as to the political alignment of Fascism.

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    Better to be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than ruined by too confident a security. --Edmund Burke
  71. What is "hateful" speech? Is it like "hate" speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What a joke. It's quite obvious to anybody with a brain that this is about silencing political dissent - right wingers being the 'dissenters' at the moment, as anybody who is right wing will know all too well...

    "The denial of free speech is the first act of tyranny."

  72. I just want to say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm really enjoying the butthurt of the Trumptard snowflakes in this thread. Please, do continue to rage against the idea that anyone anywhere should be held accountable for being a shitposting asshat.

  73. Not nearly far enough! by doccus · · Score: 1

    Sheesh! To be really thorough they should add "thought crimes" to the mix. Force everyone to have a brain scan and if they see something suspicious lock 'em up and throw away the key. Heck, why stop there? Test for "future crimes" in fact,, test newborns, and if they're gonna be terrists or other criminal persuasions just hack their tiny heads off! Just *think* of all the money saved in the court and prison system. And if you don't get to test them while they're that young wait till they're toddlers, so they can stand up, and line them up against the wall and execute them military style. THIS is the kind of society you're going to be getting if you keep pushing for your "nanny state"that will fix all your problems. Who was it that said something al;ong the lines of "those who would sacrifice liberty and human rights for a little bit of protection deserve neither". MAybe somebody here knows the correct quote...

  74. Re: German people need to go 1776 on their governm by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

    I would argue any time you can get arrested for expressing an opinion or belief you absolutely do not have democracy.
    You seem not to grasp it.
    You don't get arrested for expressing a believe or an opinion, facepalm.

    If you get arrested for attempting to debate, discuss, or persuade you are nowhere near a democracy.
    How can you be so dumb that you believe you can get arrested for "debate, discuss, or persuade"????

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    Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  75. Get the Fv(& out! by martinfb · · Score: 1

    Give us a break!

    WTF?!?!?!
    We are seeing global governments migrate towards a "1984" "Big Brother" state!

    We, the people, need to be sure that this does not happen.
    And, we all know that it is corporations that are behind all of this!

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    Self-importance and self-indulgence is the root of ALL evil.
  76. German "crackdown" on illegal speech.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    TOTAL insanity. TOTALITARIAN insanity!

    See US Constitution "FIRST AMENDMENT" and note that the US Supreme Court just ruled UNANIMOUSLY against so-called "hate speech" laws.

  77. Re: German people need to go 1776 on their governm by pecosdave · · Score: 1

    What if your opinion is considered "Hate Speech" by those that have power? It doesn't matter what they declare hate speech or what your opinion is, if you go to jail for it it's shut down.

    Looks like getting arrested for expressing your beliefs in Germany is quite common, especially if it's about migrants or the holocaust.

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  78. Re: German people need to go 1776 on their governm by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

    What if your opinion is considered "Hate Speech" by those that have power?
    Those "who have power" don't declare what is hate speech. A Judge does.

    Looks like getting arrested for expressing your beliefs in Germany is quite common, especially if it's about migrants or the holocaust.
    Erm, are you kidding me? Did you read any of the links your post gave?

    In Germany on average one person per year gets arrested for "hate speech". Probably less. And those persons have good luck that they got not beaten up or worth by the mob first.

    You are an idiot.

    --
    Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  79. The Obama administration wasn't progressive by Rujiel · · Score: 1

    Our political system is full of neocons and neoliberals. Progressives haven't been up to bat as a political power in this country since WWII.

    1. Re:The Obama administration wasn't progressive by SandWyrm · · Score: 1

      Our political system is full of neocons and neoliberals. Progressives haven't been up to bat as a political power in this country since WWII.

      Old labels fade, and are switched out for those less familiar. But the thoughts behind them remain the same. "Progressives" are just the "Leftist" version of "Neocon". Either of which could accurately describe Hillary Clinton or Barak Omama,

      Let's try rescuing "Liberal" in the classical European sense, as someone who believes in equality of opportunity instead of equality of outcomes.

  80. wat by Rujiel · · Score: 1

    1. You're holding all libs accountable to something one of them said about gay men? 2. Are there any handicapped people in this thread? Was I addressing them? If the answer to both of these was "yes" you'd have a point, otherwise it's just fake outrage.

  81. Re:German people need to go 1776 on their governme by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

    Well the fact the people are getting upset about some of their governments actions and if they same something about it they get thrown in jail. ... which is precisely not what is happening in Germany. So what on earth is your point?

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    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  82. Then explain her defense of rapefugees. by sethstorm · · Score: 1

    Explain why ordinary Germans cannot criticize her for fear of being smeared with the "hate crime" law, even if you're assaulted by someone in a "sexual emergency"?

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    Twitter supports and protects racists - by smearing their critics with the "Hate Speech" label.