I'm not worried about any of that.
Sounds comfortably naive, but feel free to replace by an example that does worry you or could potentially affect you personally (and than stop being selfish for a sec).
What surprises me is that you interpret allowing discussion of an ugly topic as toleration, even endorsement. .
Pretty sure I didn't say "endorsement"... which makes that a poor attempt to twist my words. Again freedom of speech is not a goal by itself (it's not that vital on it's own Dr. Greenhorn, it's a means not an end) and we have the responsibility to make sure it doesn't turn further into some cheap phrase used as an excuse and being afraid to stand up for what's right or lambast what is wrong (<-- thanks freedom of speech).
You twist my comments about Voltaire's quote not being appropriate for allowing neo-nazis to have a group at riu (themselves.......) into forbidding discussions in general.
In doing so, don't you risk engaging in just the sort of authoritarian behavior you profess to despise?
The question is such a cliche that seems like a cheap shot more than a genuine question, so I'll answer it with some questions instead of answers. The hypothetical risk of me turning in some authoritarian dictator worries you more than my examples or neo-nazism? Because such a risks exists one should just let it go... let it slide...? THAT's how the nazis were able to make so many jews disappear from my country and many others... because people looked the other way and pretended there was no risk to themselves. It's not the way to deal with (neo-)nazism, took a long hard lesson and many lives to learn that, but all I'm saying is that Voltaire's wise words should not be used to contribute in even the smallest way to make that mistake again (on whatever scale).
Imo the freedom to discuss it is vital in exposing it.
Yeah... really, the tattoos don't make it obvious who to aim at
It sounds to me like a cowardly excuse. Not sure what you are afraid of then though, that someone will try to shut you up some day? A genuine question yes, as it reminds me of a poster we had in the hallways back in school to battle homophobia. I spent 15 minutes searching cause it fits so extremely well, it's longer but "it goes a little something like this":
When the gypsies got deported I said nothing
When the jews got deported I said nothing
When the gays got beat up I said nothing
When it's my turn, who will speak up for me?
New neo-nazis recruits are typically outcasts, loners, they want to belong, and then Nazism is a dangerously infective ideology so of course they should have no 'group' at RIU (or anywhere else for that matter). They pose a real threat to real people (other people's families and kids... try on some empathy) and goes a little further than "saying stupid stuff". We would not be having this discussing if it were about a child-molesters or surprise-sex group (right? oh boy...)
Trousers said:
Just because you want to defend free speech does not mean you [have to] condone all free speech.
Fixed
but we seem to agree that even though something is old and corny it can still be fitting (e.g. when you grab something out of its context...).
