Re:Anil Dash's analysis of Sam Altman's free speach essay
by dnsco on Friday December 15, 2017 @09:20PM
(#15937032)
Anil's argument was that tolerating hatred of groups emboldens those who would be violent against those groups. In that, I agree violent speech threatens the lives of those who it is is violent against.
There also degrees to this. There are certainly instances of people being drunk on their own self righteousness.
- If I were a non-christian and you were to wish me "Merry Christmas", if I took the interpretation that you were threatening my life that would be unreasonable.
- If you were to announce "I'm not killing anybody, but I pray that all the gays are killed" I think my understanding of that as endangering my life (as a gay person) is totally reasonable.
This is a nuanced conversation, it helps to remember that different people have different things at stake, and it's difficult to say things that apply to every level.
And preventing the restriction of ideas such that "augmenting intelligence" or "radical life extension" are not suddenly unspeakable is very much unlike being intolerant of others anyway.
Self-preservation is important, but it's also important for people to avoid being drunk on their own self-righteousness.