[naasking]

> Except Free Speech is a Binary, and that is exactly what Canada is doing,... punishing thought crimes.

A "spoken crime" is not a "thought crime". There's no chip in your head, you're free to think whatever you like, even if you're not necessarily free to say anything you like.

[tomcam]

"thought crime" is a term from Orwell's 1984--worth a read

[djrogers]

You cross the line into thought crimes when you ascribe intent and presume to know the state of mind and thought process behind a given piece of speech.

[Forlien]

Hmm, do you think there are some things you can say that would classify as an action you could be arrested for rather than an idea?

For example, yelling "Fire!" in a crowded building, offering a bribe, and threatening someone all seem like actions you could be arrested for in the USA where the only evidence is your speech (or a recording of it). Would these qualify as thought crimes to you and if so do you think there is a developed nation with free speech where they are accepted?

[djrogers]

How about threatening violence against a member of a protected class? Is the crime worse because of that persons protected status, even if that didn’t matter to the perpetrator?

[syshum]

There should not be protected classes..

All people should be treated the exact same under the law

[naasking]

The intent isn't relevant to actually breaking the law in this case. At best, it might be relevant to sentencing. So no thought crime.