Verbal Abuse is Real — But Not All Unpleasant Speech Qualifies as Verbal Violence
A free society must respect the difference
Comedian Ricky Gervais has famously said:
Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right.
One could also say…
Just because you’re offended (or emotionally hurt) doesn’t mean you’re the victim of verbal violence (or abuse).
It’s commendable that more of the world’s societies, particularly in the West, have become more sensitive to the pain caused by words.
But we mustn’t let our desire to stop verbal abuse lead to a decline in free speech. If we do, democracy suffers. And the concept of civilization itself is imperiled.
We must understand the difference between actual verbal abuse on the one hand and unpleasant speech on the other.
Important disclaimer: I’m not an attorney. I write as a concerned citizen who believes in democracy and free speech. And also as someone who genuinely cares about the mental and emotional health (and certainly the physical safety) of all human beings.
