@TickTockMan,
I don't like Savage's veiws either, but I think the ban has only acheived granting him publicity. It's not as if we don't have native journalists and disc jockeys who say similar things to Savage. Chris Moyles is incredibly boorish - and incredibly popular. You don't hear so much of Richard Littlejohn these days, but he was popular a few years ago and wrote pejorative rants similar in tone and intent to Savage's views.
Having worked in close proximity to children with Asperger's Syndrome I also feel a little sympathy with some of his reported remarks - a certain proportion of parents did absolve their children of responsibility due to their condition, and these children were - by and large - 'brattier' than those whose parents drew boundaries to antisocial behaviour and taught their kids to be respectful despite the difficulty of communicating such ideals to an autistic child.
It's as if British society is full of wonderful people who have all come to an enlightened consensus of what's polite and acceptable - which isn't true. Whilst denying a forum to out and out hate-mongers who do call for death and war might seem apparently wise - when the case is borderline as with Savage or Geert Wilders it just seems the action of a nanny state who believe we are incapable of treating their (admittedly obnoxious) views with adult attitudes.
I do think there are certain limits to free speech. For example I have seen the way the Phelps family picket funerals and think something should be done to prevent that, but I also think it's OK that they have other forums to spread their message - like YouTube or whatever.
To deny such a forum altogether runs counter to what I see as admirable Voltarian standards and gives an impression that our leaders think we need to be wrapped up in cotton wool to protect us from such people's opinions.
Finally, because we have a media who love to comment on things like this, such bans actually result in great publicity for these people.
Before Spycatcher was banned no one cared, after it became a best seller.
Before Geert Wilders was banned no one knew who he was - afterwards fitna became one of the most watched films on YouTube.
Before Savage was banned no one cared - now he's all over the news.
It's just stupid.
---------- Post added at 10:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:30 AM ----------
manored wrote:Isnt banning racism racism against racism?
No, but it is bigotry towards bigots and intolerance of the intolerant.
I think it's poetic justice in a way - but I oppose it because I think it speaks of a wider patronising attitude.