But at the same time, it feels there's a tendency for these things to go between criticism and into harassment, with the latter being outright encouraged by certain groups on all sides of the political spectrum.

For instance, quite a few people have seen themselves doxxed for things said on social media sites, with people going as far as to contact their employers to get them fired or attempting to get their families to disown them by tracking them down and yelling at them about their associates words. That can be for anything from attacking others online to merely saying something uncomfortable (like a joke someone disliked at a conference) to hobbies or interests that simply aren't safe for work.

Is that a fair response? Should freedom of speech have 'expose someone and attempt to destroy their career' as an allowed reaction to a comment online?

How about (in some extreme cases) trying to have them blacklisted from an industry? I've seen that before, and it's just as chilling to see it happen with someone for being politically incorrect as it was for someone being a 'communist sympathiser' back in the Cold War.

Criticism is fine, but there has to be some line between criticism and calling out and basically exiling someone from society and destroying their future chances of making a living.

>That's one option. I can also call you out for being insensitive to my feelings.

One of the things about emotionally mature people is realizing that few people really give a crap about your feelings, just your friends, coworkers, and family.

That is the point of shaming. That is the consequence, not a financial fine or jail time. You want to bring the government into the situation when you make an off-color joke at work?

Also way to generate a throwaway account to comment on a controversial topic.