[ur-whale]

> We have reached a point where it has been a mainstream position to view the idea of defending free speech as disagreeable, or even deeply offensive.

I disagree.

There is a very vocal, very small minority that's ruining it for everyone else.

Certainly not mainstream.

[tharne]

> There is a very vocal, very small minority that's ruining it for everyone else.

You're both right. Unfortunately, that very small minority is culturally dominant, so it is the case that:

1) >> We have reached a point where it has been a mainstream position to view the idea of defending free speech as disagreeable, or even deeply offensive. And;

2) > There is a very vocal, very small minority that's ruining it for everyone else.

In the same way a relatively small but well-organized group like the Taliban can control an entire country despite lacking enthusiastic support from the majority of the population, a small but well-organized subculture can dominate and dictate what is/is not acceptable in mainstream American culture.

For a better and more nuanced explanation, see "The Minority Rule" by Nassim Taleb. https://nassimtaleb.org/2016/08/intolerant-wins-dictatorship...

[snicker7]

By "very small minority", do you mean "one of the two only viable political parties in the United States"?

[commandlinefan]

Well, it seems that the very vocal, very small minority are the gatekeepers to what can be widely disseminated enough to become mainstream.

[xhkkffbf]

Yes, that's my experience. Everyone in my circles is perfectly happy with the idea that everyone entitled to have opinions and express them politely. It's only a radical few that are pushing the cancel culture hard.

[syshum]

I have to ask, which side are you taking,

because I honestly do not know, and I dont think it is "small minority" on either side.

There are ALOT of people that oppose free speech as a concept, hiding behind statements like "hate speech is not free speech" or "words are violence"

So while think you are attempting to defend free speech, I can also see how your statement would be "free speech absolutist are ruining everything"