Freedom of speech (in game chat)
Why don't you want freedom of speech?
Why do you want freedom of speech?
12 Comments
Freedom of speech doesn't entitle you to be an asshole without consequences, and people will absolutely shit down your throat in the real world if you think it does. They will quickly use their freedom of speech to show you much harsher words and display far superior knowledge than you have brought. Make a racist remark as someone in a public service job? Look to get fired before close of business.
I served in the Navy as a Nuclear Machinist's Mate on-board Submarines. Freedom of speech is something very near and dear to me. With that being said, it gives entitled 14 year olds (and those who act like one) a blanket where they feel safe to say whatever they want and claim "FRIDUM OF SPEACH AND CHONG." When you go out into the real world and run into someone of say, Muslim descent and start throwing around racist slurs and country-based bomb threats, I can almost guarantee that everyone nearby will be in an uproar against you. You are bringing your own biased views and using them hurt the feelings of another person without any context on who they actually are. Same thing applies if you run into someone of African descent and start using clearly racist slurs (i.e. the "N" word). Regardless of how you want to view the world and talk behind a computer, there is someone with real thoughts and feelings behind the next screen.
Freedom of speech was established in part so we may critique our leaders without fear of punishment. When a monarch (king/queen) makes a decision that every Tuesday you must wear a purple hat or you will be executed, chances are that decision is unfair. Without freedom of speech, nothing would change in that regard and everyone would be wearing purple hats on Tuesdays. Freedom of speech allows us to say, publicly, "this decision is crap and should be changed" allowing for more people to join in with their views and inputs without fear of punishment - leading to a change in the rules and a better world for us all to live in.
The idea of Freedom of Speech was founded in tandem to a Democracy - everyone gets a vote and everyone gets a say. Everyone is equal in that regard. We are free to create communities that have more strict rules (hence why racism and hate speech is never tolerated even though you are, indeed, free to say such words) and enforce them in an appropriate manner. In League of Legends and nearly any online game, you will be dealt a swift ban if you're clearly being the aggressor and constantly attacking people. You can continue doing so, however you will almost always be punished for your actions. Your freedom of speech was not violated - you broke the Terms of Service that you agreed to uphold while playing their game. In a legal sense, you broke the law and are being punished for your actions. This is why you get pulled over for doing 100 MPH on the interstate where the speed limit is 60 MPH even with nobody around - you agreed to the Terms of Service when getting your license and violated a more strict code that was put in place. Usually these codes are designed to protect individuals, there's an idea of a Silent Majority. If you consistently break the Terms of Service (i.e. points on your license) you will have your license revoked and driving privileges suspended. This is the same in a game where you're constantly flaming and badgering teammates - your right to play will be suspended due to repeat offenses.
TL;DR: Freedom of speech doesn't allow you to say whatever you want and be immune to others reactions or consequences of your own. You can't change how people will react to what you say, which is why you shouldn't be racist/sexist/etc. and have biased views on an individual without even knowing who they are. If someone is genuinely being an asshole, ignore them and let them be an asshole by themselves. They will quickly find nobody wants to partake in their style of attitude.
So you are bullying people because you don't know how to disagree any other way.
Well to be fair the question is why or why do you not want freedom of speech in game chat. I mean, maybe he really is complaining about not being able to be rude in chat, but it wasn't a direct confrontation. I think freedom of speech should exist in game chat, in terms of political opinions, cultural nuances and constructive emotional expression. I think freedom of speech, if it were a factor in gaming, should not pertain to openly harmful views that belittle or threaten a class or culture of people, their beliefs or destructive emotional responses. I think many people arguing for free speech or freedoms in general argue that they want the freedom to restrict other people's freedoms, considering it a freedom to do so. This is a logical fallacy. For instance, a white supremacy group might argue that they want the freedom to oppress any religion, ethnicity or creed they see fit, as an expression of their beliefs. However, doing so is not logical, because there is no fair way of determining who's oppressive view is "correct" because they're all wrong. They see it as a freedom to express hatred, and refuse to accept that what they're asking for is in direct violation of the constitution.
You have freedom of speech, but don't have freedom of consequences, which folk of your ilk often confuse.
I always figured league didn't want it so they could better cater to their primary demographic of children.
Riot is a privately owned company, they don't have to follow the "Freedom of speech" rules, If they wanted to they could say typing "Banana" in chat is bannable, riot is a company not country, Well whats the difference - POTUS . Also when you accept the terms and services you are accepting consequences to actions such as toxicity.