Author's Note: Free Speech Abuse...

And what you can do about it...

Free Speech Abuse…

Growing up, we all try out the edgy, often dangerous speech and expression at some stages of our existence. This may involve wearing what someone (admittedly older) once told me was their “get bent” hat, or echoing nonsensical terminology like “6-7.” As children, we test boundaries. That’s what children do.

But as we grow older, we see the consequences of such things. We see our friend who spends a week not leaving the house because their feelings were hurt or they are being bullied. We learn that physical pain and emotional pain trigger the same receptors in the brain, so for humans experiencing these things, there is little difference. We see when trust is stripped away, when we say something rude or dismissive. We learn that our speech has more consequences than just the immediate ones. We learn—some of us—that speech and the improper use of it can spark danger to others beyond what are counted as accepted limitations to the First Amendment, and that there’s a difference between chatting in a bar with friends and blasting hate through a megaphone.

Our communities set the rules for how we talk to each other, and we enforce those rules by following them, leading each other by example.

But our rules…our norms…can change.

And that’s part of what we’re seeing here in society today: norms are being atrophied away because so few of us were around when the rules were adopted, and we’ve forgotten what those norms were for. There are reasons we have something called “political correctness,” and it’s not to thought-police people. It’s because some things can’t be unsaid. Period. And once you say them, once your words go into the ether, then they have influence, and that influence can be good…or bad. Enough bad and the consequences can destroy a nation.

This brings me back to our First Amendment. The First Amendment makes it difficult, if not impossible, to guard our nation against the type of atrophy that happens as social norms begin to slip. Take, for example, the entire MAGA movement. There are real limits to what you can and can’t say if you’re MAGA, more so than the “normies.” For example, to be MAGA and to say that the 2020 election wasn’t rigged is a non-starter. In fact, saying anything negative about Donald Trump was anathema to the movement—just how anathema we’ll see depending on MTG’s treatment now that she’s done so. There’s more freedom in one direction: say whatever you want, because hate speech—as long as it’s not directed at DJT—is perfectly acceptable.

And when you get 30% of the country spouting hate speech, using clever tricks like “I’m not saying, but…” and “not sure how true this is, but…,” or “you’re not wrong,” for example, when talking about hurtful stereotypes, then it’s far too easy for those habits to be adopted widely. These types of speech chisel away at our empathy until we can’t recognize others as humans. Society depends on us being able to respect people we’ve never met in person.

…and What You Can Do About It

Don’t let it slide. There are those right now who are saying that the “left is too strict” when it comes to how people are treated and what you can/can’t say to one another, and to that I say, hogwash. Double hogwash when MAGA says it, because they are one of the most freedom-limiting groups I’ve ever seen. I’ll rephrase that: there’s as much freedom in MAGA as there is sex in the notorious champagne room, to date myself a little bit there. They like to talk about free speech, but take Elon Musk and Twitter, or the X dumpster fire, and you’ll very quickly learn what “free speech” means to MAGA. Unless you’re punching down, they have no use for it.

What can you do? Call them out. Real-time. There are no consequences like immediate consequences, and not every cares about the societal impact of degrading social norms. But you do, and I do, and rightfully so. We are interdependent, and we have to work together to solve problems. We can’t do that if we’re spouting hate speech and normalizing calling, for example, other human beings “vermin” and “the worst kinds of people.” It’s impossible to solve problems with someone whom you’ve taught, through your speech, not to trust you.

So step up. Intervene. Say something. That’s what you can do. Even if it’s nonverbal, like a hard glare, don’t let the bad speech go unanswered. Yes, free speech is a right, but it’s also a norm, and if MAGA can change it for the worse, we can change it for the better, baby step by baby step. The important thing isn’t the size of the correction you make, but the consistency with which you do it. Don’t let up, and don’t buy into the “you’re being too sensitive” talking point. You are not. They are being too insensitive. Full stop.

Get out there and get your society back!