There was an interesting talk about free speech on NPR this morning. Evidently, the Supreme Court is hearing a case about what speech constitutes a threat and what does not on line. And a caller pointed out that the men phoning in were more interested in protecting the right to make a threat, and the women were adamant that when someone says he's going to kill you, you take it seriously, as domestic violence is a familiar part of women's lives.
One woman said threatening, and verbal abuse, is often as harmful if said to manipulate, as it is if the purpose is to state an immanent threat. Boy, I know this phenomenon inside out, having worked in shelters and many decades ago having been a battered wife myself. What haunted me was his threat to hurt my whole family and to take the kids and disappear. My behavior changed dramatically as a result. And I did feel terror all the time. After I left him, I wrote a will and hid out for a year. At 27. That's how seriously I took it. Threatening to kill anyone is harmful, devastating speech, and there should be consequences for the person who feels he/she is "just teasing", "angry but would never follow through" and all the other excuses that people use when they are being irresponsible and careless.
Speech is powerful. All of our rights are predicated on not harming others. There is a balance that needs to be maintained not just for civility but for order and not chaos to rule.
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