THIS - is one of the reasons I detest the whole concept of "hate speech" and censuring people because their speech is "offensive". Hate speech is a dumb - "crime". It's not prosecuted unless part of an ACTUAL crime. (Because - actual crimes are done - out of - love?)
It's used, as a club, to silence criticism - and you can't have a functioning society which silences criticism, even if it's unfair. Let me repeat that - stuff that's unkind and unfair is ALSO protected speech - when a fool speaks his mind, he lets everyone KNOW he is a fool.
I have KEPT my sig line now, for years - it best encapsulates my sentiments about freedom of speech - smart opinions - dumb ones - ignorant ones - hateful ones - wise ones. As long as people are free to express and listen, and reason is allowed to confront where necessary - it's all out there, where it belongs.
When someone says something dumb - the whole world gets to hear and judge it. When you silence an opinion, the world doesn't get to see why the unsilenced opinion might also be dumb.
The Bible says something about this - "The first to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and examines him",
Unless of course, you make sure the second one never talks.