> Freedom of speech applies to expression of socio-political issues.
Way to massively limit freedom of speech there.
Can it not also apply to self expression? religous freedom? scientific endeavour?
> Personally I'm not optimistic about your chances of finding a case where someone's so-called right to call someone else a cunt or make degrading comments about their character has been successfully defended in court.
Well, I would.
And the area of law would be libel /defamation of character- and knowing what I do about defamation it has very strict laws as to what is classed as defamatory or not.
If you're then moving on to task about harassment, then there's a whole bunch of laws dealing with that as well.
I'm just going to pop it right out: you don't know what you're talking about.
> Freedom of speech does not apply to threatening comments and behaviour or such charges as intimidation, extortion or abuse would not exist.
No it doesn't - but also, you need to put that in context.
Two boxers who're about to have a fight are clearly threatening each other and shit talking - are they going to be arrested for harassment? of course not. Because they've agreed to that kind of behaviour - and we shouldn't stop them from doing it.
You can't stop people from doign what they voluntarilty accept.
Read my comment again:
> However, if you have to go there, then let it be voluntary - a kid shouldn't open the game, load it up and find themselves a victim of sexist or racist abuse that they haven't invited into their lives.
I clearly stated that the default position for any computer game or whatever should be abuse free. You chose to ignore that.
I then added, that a lot of people liek to scream and shit talk eachother - and you need to accept that's what people do.
Boxers shit talking each other, lovers saying they are going to spank one another etc. you can't stop people from sayign what they want to say.
Now, extend that metaphor - there should certainly be a chat room available on games where if people want to abuse each other they can. I don't know if you've ever spent time in the company of men but very often we verbally abuse one another for various reasons (bonding, social competitiveness, dispay of intellect etc. - you can read about it here if you fancy learning about it).
You don't have to sign up for this room, and if you don't feel you want to have 14 year old virgins scream about how they are going to rape your mum then I suggest you dont.
But luckily you don't get to decide other people's morality and your obvious lack of humour and experience is a good reason why you shouldn't be able to.