Canadian comedian wins free speech case | Hacker News Reader

Canadian comedian wins free speech case

bbc.com

14 pointsversion_five6 comments

As a disabled person I didn't realize how much anger this story could provoke in me. I've always been on the side of free speech as a mean to improve society and enable humans reaching their potential. Telling nasty jokes toward someone locked in their body for no fault of theirs and no mean to escape is a perversion of the free speech idea. If I were a judge, I might've sided with the majority here, but I really really hope that there have been consequences for this guy.

It's a joke about a public figure. And a funny one at that. It's not inciting hatred. i think the pearl clutching is unnecessary.

> Telling nasty jokes toward someone locked in their body for no fault of theirs and no mean to escape is a perversion of the free speech idea

That is literally everyone.

So no more jokes. gostsamo on the internet will be offended /s.

from https://web.archive.org/web/20160324004049/http://www.maclea...

> Ward essentially gave a similar treatment to Jérémy Gabriel, a singer who rose to fame at the age of eight when he sang the national anthem at a Montreal Canadiens game. “Everyone said he sucked, but I defended him,” Ward says. “They said he was terrible, but I was like, ‘He’s dying but he’s living a dream, leave him alone.’ ” The niceties end when Ward figures out Gabriel isn’t actually dying. “He’s unkillable! I saw him at the water park, and I tried to drown him, but I couldn’t. Then I went on the Internet to figure out what was wrong with him, and you know what it was? He’s ugly, goddammit!”

For the record, someone flagged you and I vouched.

Where I disagree with you is "That is literally everyone". Like equality, some are more equal than others and very often this different is rubbed in your face. And this is not about my sjw feelings on the internet, but anger because I know what a number such jokes can do with one's psyche.

Those of us who are fully committed to the principle of free speech need reminders from time to time that many people -- such as yourself -- pay dearly for that right.

Thanks. My price wasn't that high compared to other's. The real issue is more complex than simple bullying though. It is much about self-doubt, about the elephant in the room sometimes that nobody wants to mention, and about the isolation when positive discrimination actually causes more issues than it solves.

> The jokes referenced Mr Gabriel's disability and mocked his appearance.

I am ever so grateful to the BBC for not including any examples of the jokes at the center of the case. My delicate sensibilities simply couldn't withstand such offensive humor, so I am all too happy to let the BBC judge them in my stead.

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