> I can't go in to a job interview and call the panel a bunch of cunts and then expect to be hired. That's a consequence of speech "administered outside the law".
I think there is a distinction between speech as an insult directed at specific people and speech that tries to argue for a general idea or opinion (for example see "fighting words").
> Free association is also a right that needs to be protected.
But we already limit it. For example, unless you are a religious institution hiring for a specific religious role, you cannot use "free association" to hire only members of your preferred religion. A church can require that it's pastor be a Christian. In-n-Out Burger cannot require that the cashier be a Christian.
If you look at the struggle for equality in the United States and elsewhere, the oppressed have relied on the right and principle of free speech to call attention to and better the injustice. The people in power, have heavily relied on the right of free association to preserve their privilege: for example clubs that only admitted men, or excluded Jews or Black people.
I find it interesting that in this time when we are so concerned about privilege, the right that has been used by the privileged ("Free Association") is being elevated while the right that has actually been used by the oppressed ("Free Speech") is coming under a lot of criticism.
I think there is a distinction between speech as an insult directed at specific people and speech that tries to argue for a general idea or opinion (for example see "fighting words").
> Free association is also a right that needs to be protected.
But we already limit it. For example, unless you are a religious institution hiring for a specific religious role, you cannot use "free association" to hire only members of your preferred religion. A church can require that it's pastor be a Christian. In-n-Out Burger cannot require that the cashier be a Christian.
If you look at the struggle for equality in the United States and elsewhere, the oppressed have relied on the right and principle of free speech to call attention to and better the injustice. The people in power, have heavily relied on the right of free association to preserve their privilege: for example clubs that only admitted men, or excluded Jews or Black people.
I find it interesting that in this time when we are so concerned about privilege, the right that has been used by the privileged ("Free Association") is being elevated while the right that has actually been used by the oppressed ("Free Speech") is coming under a lot of criticism.