I didn't say it wasn't offensive. I said it wasn't intentionally offensive. NB that is different from knowing it would cause offence. Of course we did, but it was an unavoidable side effect of our defence of free speech.
The only thing that's going to change is that many tens of thousands of people will be pointlessly alienated
I disagree with that. I hope that -- and the reason I support this movement is that -- we will all feel stronger as a society which values freedom of expression.
It certainly was not about feeling good about myself. I feel bad about offending anyone, but I think demonstrating our belief in free speech is more important.
I see zero practical difference between knowingly causing offense and intentionally causing offense. Either way: the vast, overwhelming majority of the people you're offending agree with and uphold our social contract. But at least you feel better now.
What's childish is the notion that there's no cost to offending people, or that the cost must not matter because there's a principle attached to it.
Thanks, you've put exactly into words the idea I've been struggling to sketch out for the last few days.
Re:Today is Everybody Draw Mohammed Day
by all_elements on Thursday May 20, 2010 @07:08PM
(#1365812)
Very well put
What's childish is the notion that there's no cost to offending people, or that the cost must not matter because there's a principle attached to it. You have free speech whether or not you choose to use it to offend Muslims. Muslims will tolerate your free speech, because that's the social contract, and we enforce the social contract with the enormous, virtually unstoppable resources of Western Civilization.
We knew that before this demonstration, we'll know it afterwards. The only thing that's going to change is that many tens of thousands of people will be pointlessly alienated so that people like you can feel good about themselves.