I guess that's handy if you can truly say whatever you want. Although does that really mean *anything*? Can you shout the N-word at someone at the mall and face no consequences? Or call for violence against someone in public? Can you stalk and harass people and threaten to harm them and you're protected by free speech? Actually curious.
I agree it can be a slippery slope. I don't agree with people getting banged up for 2 years for an emotional FB comment. That's too extreme and could arguably backfire.
That's the govt. A lot of people don't agree with that either btw. Myself included. I want protections, but not to go overboard.
I deeply value my freedom to speak my mind too. I don't wanna live in a police state.
I personally think people should be able to challenge anything without being imprisoned, no matter how potentially offensive, even if it goes against what most science or consensus agrees with. As long as it's limited to questioning something and doesn't stray into actual hateful speech against anyone which could incite violence.
If you want to believe the world is flat, or the moon is made of green cheese, or Bill Gates is a lizard, or Trump is the Messiah, or Covid is a hoax and vaccines shouldn't ever be taken, then I think you should have the right to that, even though I disagree with you.
Some countries like Germany take a different approach due to their history.
If you want to deny the Holocaust (whether that's deny it even happened, or that it just didn't kill as many people), I personally think you shouldn't be arrested for that. But you should also be free to be criticized, debunked, and ridiculed to high heaven if you got it wrong. And you shouldn't be able to complain too much if people debunk your claims. Although equally they shouldn't be allowed to harass you or incite violence against you for your views.
Please define "traitors" and "colonized". London is a very multicultural and cosmopolitan city. 40% of Londoners were born outside the UK.
It's still very much British though. English is the language of daily life everywhere. British law still applies everywhere and English is the de facto language everywhere even though 300 languages are spoken in London (800 in New York, apparently – one of the most linguistically diverse places on earth, along with Papua New Guinea). The UK government is still in charge. In actual colonies, it's different. London hasn't been annexed by China or Russia quite yet. Although their billionaires have bought up a ton of property.
Also, London is not the whole UK. Might as well be its own microstate (some of them actually wanted that lol, and with 9 million people and a huge economy it could be quite a successful country). Go even 1 hour away and it's a different planet (by car, that is – might take a bit longer on public transport lol). The difference is striking.
Criminals will often use whatever they have at their disposal, yes. But the fact guns are so hard to get hold of makes a big difference. Unless you're the Hulk with Matrix reflexes, there's only so many people you can physically kill with a knife or machete before you get taken down.
But give a skinny weed with a vendetta an automatic weapon and see the difference. Mass shootings are common in the US. They're almost unheard of in Europe and I don't think most people worry about being killed in a shooting. It's just not a thing. And when it is, it's huge news and remembered for years.
And yet you cling to the Second Amendment like it's Gospel, because you believe it keeps you safe and free.
This is a huge cultural difference between Europe and the US.
In the US, everyone having access to guns = freedom from tyranny and it's baked into your cultural mentality and Constitution. In Europe and other countries, *not* allowing everyone to have access to guns = freedom. Europeans feel safer precisely because they know most people *don't* have access to extremely lethal weapons and only specially trained police officers, soldiers and members of gun clubs and so on are able to own a gun (after careful vetting). I think this is a cultural difference that both sides may never agree on. But I know which one I prefer.
I think it's similar in lots of European countries too.
Free speech is never absolute as you've demonstrated. You can't yell "Fire!" in a movie theater. You can't walk around town naked or wear a T-shirt that says sth ridiculous like "G*s the J*ws" or "L*nch the N-word".
So you don't have 100% free speech. You never did, I'm afraid.
There are limits. People forget this way too much. 100% free speech isn't a thing. It never was.
Freedom comes with responsibility.
Society has rules.
Free speech has limits. 100% free speech is only free for who?
Where does my freedom to insult you end and your freedom to be protected from harassment begin?
Big ethical debate.
Anyway the UK is not quite there yet. Some disturbing laws, yes. But ask your British friends It's not Russia or Afghanistan.
